It seems to me that certain types of Christians have an unhealthy level of hero worship for Jesus. Jesus came to earth to preach the gospel of love and kindness and forgiveness. I have the feeling that were he to confront some modern Christians he would say “You guys are totally missing the point! Respect for me and God is fine, but what I really wanted you to get out of the whole thing was the message I was teaching!”
Anyone else feel this way?
Jesus isn’t just some guy. He’s not Christopher Hitchens or Tim Tebow. He’s someone who deserves to be worshipped.
Yeah, I don’t know who said it, but it was along the lines of “some Christians would rather praise Jesus than emulate him.”
I think you (OP) are ignoring all the bits where he claims to be the Son of God, and engages in (what would be for anyone else supremely arrogant) behavior such as praising a woman for pouring a month’s wages’ worth of oil over his head, because the poor would always be around but He would not. And though we’re used to it today, going around telling people to be of good cheer because their sins against God were forgiven – I don’t think we can appreciate today how horrifyingly blasphemous that must have been for his contemporaries, basically positioning himself in God’s place.
Unless you wanna just pick and choose the gospel of love as you like it, in which case you might as well be talking to yourself.
When Tebow asked if you loved your wife, would you just tell her once or would you tell her every single day, I couldn’t help thinking WTH. If I loved someone, I would be secure enough with myself and the other person that I wouldn’t have to say “I love you” a million times. Because if someone were to do this to me, it would be creepy and annoying and I’d start wondering if they were afraid of abandonment…or that they were overly dependent on my approval. Obsession is never good.
If you read the Psalm82 in KJV, or 81 In RC version and read What Jesus is quoted as saying in John 10 You will see that Jesus didn’t think of himself as anymore divine than any other human, The Psalmist is quoted as sayin,"I said you are Gods) and Jesus backs this up when accused of Blasphemy. It of course is a matter of translation. As I see it the Word God in olden times didn’t mean a Man in the sky. Even today the word has different meanings; look at all the different Religions.
No one and nothing “deserves” to be worshiped. Especially anyone or anything that wants to be or accepts being worshiped.
Yes but..
He knows this already, it is just the refinement by fire that God does with a soul. the refiner’s work is the Lord’s, not ours to do. So it is totally Jesus’ responsibility to get us there. Our part is just to ask Him to do it.
If Jesus was really looking at us as you described, He would have to remove the log out of His own eye, as He would be seeing His problem that He needs to do as a problem with us.
I do not feel this way. Along with the gospel of love and kindness and forgiveness, Jesus also taught about original sin, meaning that nobody can by their own power be perfectly loving and kind and forgiving. It is not in the nature of humanity to be perfectly loving and kind and forgiving towards our fellow human beings. According to Jesus, the only way to change our sinful nature is by turning away from selfish desires and towards God. Consequently, adoration of God is a necessary and integral part of the gospel of love and kindness and forgiveness.
Then why did none of his Apostles worship him, and why didn’t Jesus instruct his followers to worship him? (in fact, he directed them pointedly to worship God exclusively)
Pot, meet kettle.
Because unlike modern Christians, Jesus wasn’t in possession of all the facts.
Well, he is the son of God who died for all of humanity. Sooo… yeah. What do you expect?
That is so true! :eek:
** “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ** ~Matthew 7:21-23
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“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full."** ~Matthew 6:5
Athletes and entertainers inspire more love & worship than Jesus. Make of that what you will, Dopers.
Are you kidding? The Apostles adored Jesus, who didn’t have to demand that they worship Him. Yes, they kept falling asleep during His agony in the garden. Yes, they all ran away like scared cats when He was captured and crucified. But these were just men, after all. My own namesake, Peter, betrayed his Master three times-- but was reinstated afterward! St. Peter had an unfortunate streak of cowardice in his nature, as do I.
Sorry, Raindog- I know this is where we differ on interpretations- but Thomas’s worshipful exclamation at seeing Christ risen sure looks to me like it was directed to Jesus Himself. In the Acts & the Epistles, the Apostles & the early Church sure look like they are worshipping Jesus, as are the Heavenly Throngs in The Revelation to John (they are constantly giving the same Honor to 'The One Who Sits Upon the Throne" and “The Lamb”).
Btw, for those who don’t know- my Christian faith regards Jesus as co-equally & eternally Divine with the Father & the Spirit while Raindog’s regards Jesus as First & Foremost of Father God’s Creation & Sub-Creator of all else, Supreme Lord of all Creation but not Supreme Creator God.
Absolute bullshit. Name one.
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison & Ringo Starr at one time… according to John, at least.
