Today, idols, the cross, and worship among Christian believers are considered. For Christian believers, glory, praise and worship are directed to divinity, only. In the same way praising, uplifting, and bowing before material objects as though they contain, or themselves are sacred persons would be acts of idol worship, giving exclusive emotional, psychological and spiritual attention to, or continually expressing anger, bitterness, disbelief, and hostility by quarreling and reacting to emblems, tokens, and symbols (we say, making something out of nothing) all are expressions of idolatry and spiritual confusion. One of the fighters in the “Yahoo! Answers” forum using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile data shown) posted the following:
Are Jehovah's witnesses right for not using the CROSS IN WORSHIP? Pls, support answers with the Bible, is the CROSS truly biblical?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations. For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants. The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. (Psalms 135: 13-18, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Relying on Sacred “Evidence” (11/20/2017); All Divinity in ONE? (11/17/2017); Divinity Appears Using Form (07/26/2017); Redemption Through Ordinary Flesh? (04/20/2017); Resurrected With The Lord (04/16/2017); A Matter of Conscience (04/07/2017); The Title of “Savior” (01/27/2017); Believing In The Cross? (03/04/2016); Signs of Messianic Belief? (12/16/2012); Vows and Covenants? (12/17/2012)
“Anonymous”, trusting you and others will receive a spiritual benefit, many of us who are not versed in the doctrines, teachings and policies among believers who are Jehovah’s Witnesses, seek no debate or quarrel, and, as mature followers of Christ, are not willing to pursue a path of criticism or condemnation against any (Buddhist, Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, etc.). Even so, “born again” believers are willing to proclaim the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, his dying as an embodiment of sin, and the Savior’s resurrection, declaring our own faith in response to your question on worship and the cross. That GOD imparts divine Spirit to indwell created beings and living creatures is no violation of sacred law and process; and no cross, man-made idol, image, or other device is to be honored as a vessel containing divine person and spirit content. The operations of carnal reason, secular knowledge, and the domination of awareness and self-will by the operations of sin are to be opposed using multiple memorials and “reminders” that will continue uninterrupted consciousness of the active presence who is GOD. Included are church buildings, hymns, other believers, parables, prayers, preaching, prophecies, and songs. Consider the following that uses the language of the Bible, and therefore, may appear as familiar:
(1.) Deuteronomy 31: 16-22, King James Version (KJV): 16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us? 18 And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods. 19 Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. 20 For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant. 21 And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware. 22 Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.
(2.) John 4: 23-24, KJV: 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
(3.) 2nd Peter 1: 13-21, KJV: 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
(4.) 2nd Corinthians 4: 3-7, KJV: 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
There is far more to be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (5.) 1st Corinthians 1: 18-31, KJV: 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
No comments:
Post a Comment