Jesus came in human form. Should we worship him? Deuternomy 5:7 seems to say that we should not. Is this a contradiction?
Question:
Jesus is a human form. Should we worship him? I ask this because in D
eutronomy 5:7 God said do not make a an idol in any form. Jesus is inthe
flesh.but when Jesus? disciples worshiped him he acceptedit. It appears
to be a kind of contradiction.
Answer:
First comment is that it is worth remembering that Christians
are not subject to the rules and regulations found in the Law of Moses.
Leviticus also tells us to observe the Sabbath, but we, as Christians are
not required to refrain from work on Saturday. We are also able to eat
pork and do other things prohibited to the Jews under the First Covenant.
For this reason, it is not immediately obvious that Deuteronomy 5:7 is a
prohibition for us.
This is probably a moot point, as idolatry is condemned in
the New Testament as well (Galatians 5:20, 1 Peter 4:3 and others).
Idolatry is putting something up above God and worshipping it or giving
it honor above God. Given that Jesus is God, it cannot possibly be
idolatry to worship him. When the people in Lystra tried to worship Paul
and Barnabus, they adamantly refused (Acts 14:14-18). When John bowed
before an angel (Revelation 19:10) he refused to be worshipped. “Do not
do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers? However,
when Thomas worshipped Jesus, saying “My Lord and my God.” the Lord did
not refuse the worship. The reason is simple. Jesus is God. It is not
idolatry to worship God. In heaven we will all bow before Jesus,
worshipping him, as is portrayed in the book of Revelation.
Jesus came in a human form, but that does not mean he is
human. John 1:1-2 tells us that the Word is God. John 1:14 tells us that
the Word became flesh. God took on human form. Jesus was in human form
only temporarily. Philippians 2:6-11 makes it clear that Jesus, who is
God, voluntarily took on a human form, but that God raised him again to
the highest place. It goes on to say that all souls will worship Jesus as
Lord some day. There is nothing at all wrong with worshipping Jesus, and
there is no contradiction.
John Oakes, PhD
