“But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Daniel 3:18)
The action of worship, to bow down before, to prostrate one’s self before something or someone. Obelisks, golden calf’s, idols made by the hands of man, statues, sadly even, and with ill formed intent, even crosses. The action of the body, the position that one puts oneself into infers worship.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew in their heart that bowing to that statute did not mean subservient recognition to it, but to Nebuchadnezzar, and recognition of his own false perception that he was a god. They would rather die than do so, for it is the Living God they served.
I watched a short video the other day where the leaders of many religious organizations came before the perceived head of the Roman Catholic cult, the pope, many of them from what are considered Evangelical churches, and as they bowed before him, they kissed his ring. At that moment I knew the apostacy was in full swing.
That which we bow before we recognize as greater than ourselves, that object or person becomes a god to us, and usurps the Almighty’s position of absolute authority in our life. We offer ourselves to their control. “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” (Matt. 15:8)
They sit in the pews next to you, they bow their heads, they sing the songs, they place their bodies in positions of worship, but their hearts are not subservient to the will of the One they say they serve. The motions are played through each week, but not throughout the week, it is in a sense a type of forced self-attrition, deceiving themselves and meant, even perhaps without their knowledge, to deceive those around them.
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2nd Tim. 3:5)
Every works-based religious organization and nearly every Evangelical one sets those who are in positions of authority over them on a pedestal, acquiescing, whether intentionally or not, to the misconceived notion that they are “closer” to God than they are, and thereby, whether in the body or the mind, they bow down before them, they worship them. Romanism and others like that cult have concocted this notion by design, Godfearing men who stand behind the pulpit try to do all they can to dissuade those in attendance from doing so.
“The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.” (Matt. 10:24)
We have one Master, and while we will listen to those that the Lord has sent to teach us, we do not place them on a pedestal, we do not bow to them, we do not worship them, we worship God Almighty.
“Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.” (Rev. 22:9) Even John, after all those years, had to be taught this lesson, twice.
Fear and desire cause a man to worship something, the fear of the Lord is reverential trust and a hatred of evil, our desire is to be towards and for Him alone. The days have arrived where that may cost you dearly, are you truly prepared for that?
