More specifically for our uses of this blog article, let’s discuss the worship of men and angels as a means of a worship deviation. As odd as it may seem, mankind is worshipping in these ways more and more in recent times. This deviation is a result of ignorance mostly, but can come from a source of emotionalism and the occult in regard to angels, but pride and entitlement in regard to men.
We read of specific situations in the Bible where angel worship occurs and is condemned! In Revelation 22:8 and following, we read of the apostle John bowing down before an angel to worship him. Note the reaction of the angel, “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.” Despite this passage and others many people who would call themselves Christians pray to angels and offer worship to them as well. Particularly in the Catholic is the regular practice of offering petitions and thanksgiving to angels. This is a heretical deviation from the worship that God desires and such practice should be avoided and eradicated we wish to be pleasing to Him and offer the worship that He desires; that is, Worshipping God and Him only.
Along similar lines is the worship of men. It has been a long standing practice of the Catholic church and numerous religions across the globe to offer worship to the departed. The Catholic church has deified many departed people as “saints” and they pray to them for petitions and thanksgiving in a similar way as to angels. Still other cultures and religions will offer such requests, prayers and modes of worship to their departed ancestors. Let’s see what the Bible says about worshipping men. Note Acts 10:25-26, “And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.” Despite Cornelius being a religious and devout man, he was emotional and misguided. He bowed down to Peter for to worship him, but this worship was not accepted! Despite the fact that Peter denied worship, there are millions who have deified Peter and other apostles. If Peter and the apostles were present to witness some of the worship deviations being made in their name, they would do as Peter does with Cornelius; they would deny such worship. Despite Peters denial of such worship thousands visit St. Peter’s Cathedral at the Vatican in Rome to kiss the feet of the statue of what they perceive Peter to look like. They deify Peter so much that the feet of that statue is discolored from the rest of the statue because of the great many times the feet have been kissed.
This is but a few occurrences that demonstrate the deviation that man has taken from approved forms of worship. We would do well to remember Jesus’ words in John 4:23-25, “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.God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” To God be the glory.
Worship can be wrong even if when it is offered the sincerest person in the world has an honest will to worship.
Research: vatican.va