Should Christ be worshipped? (Jesus, ritual, Earth, Kingdom, beliefs)

[Yes Man]

A while ago, I was reading something on the Jehovah's Witnesses and I found out that they do not worship Jesus. They believe that God should only be worshipped. People who believe in the Trinity of Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit probably worship Jesus. However what of people who do not believe in the Trinity? I was wondering about how some of you thought about this. Thank you for your input.

[Ori]

Well i'm not a christian, but I used to be and I never saw the worship of Jesus valid in anyway, but there are so many denominations of christianity it's hard to know where to begin.

Either way, I hope you get some good advive off someone more knowledgeable.

[dawny0826]

Originally Posted by Yes Man

A while ago, I was reading something on the Jehovah's Witnesses and I ofund out that they do not worship Jesus. They believe that God should only be worshipped. Is this true? People who believe in the Trinity of Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit probably worship Jesus. However what of people who do not believe in the Trinity? I'm really confused about this and am anxious if any of you can give me any insight. Thank you.

I don't know what you believe or not but as Protestant (Pentecostal) Christian, I do accept the Trinity. I personally have trouble understanding how other Christian denominations cannot but I do respect other denominations and feel that the difference in beliefs boils down to differences in scriptural interpretation.

I personally believe that God loved us so much that He came to earth in the flesh to show us how to live for Him and to show us how to seek and develop a Parent/Child relationship with Him. He then in LOVE sacrificed Himself for us...and illustrated via Christ...that to die in HIM...is to truly LIVE alongside God for eternity (Christ was resurrected and sits at the right hand of the Father).

As I've been instructed in the Bible to accept Christ as the means to be reconciled to my Father...I do pray and worship Christ...who is/was a manifestation of my God.

I do not view God and Christ simply as ONE in purpose. I believe that Christ WAS my God in the flesh. And when I accepted Christ as my personal Saviour...I received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Father, Son and Holy Ghost...three separate manifestations of ONE GOD.

[Mike182]

i can give you my personal views of jesus, his place in my prayer life, and how this relates to God

i can't tell you how you should prey, or what significance any aspect of christianity should have in your life, thats for you to find

[Yes Man]

Hey guys. I've changed the wording in my post to better declare my thoughts. I'm not sure if I believe in the Trinity or not. I have been searching for answers about many things of God. Some questions I have answered, many I have not. Being one not devoted to a particular sect of Christianity I find it difficult to converse with other people about spiritual matters. I suppose that's why I come to religious forums. Thanks everyone.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Yes Man

A while ago, I was reading something on the Jehovah's Witnesses and I found out that they do not worship Jesus. They believe that God should only be worshipped. People who believe in the Trinity of Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit probably worship Jesus. However what of people who do not believe in the Trinity? I was wondering about how some of you thought about this. Thank you for your input.

Well, first off, I believe in the trinity. It was said, that Christ would come and his name would be Emanuel (which means God with us). However, I believe that you should direct your prayers towards God the father through Christ Jesus. Christ instructs us how we should pray and who we should direct our prayers to (see below). As you can see, the prayers are directed towards the Father. However, without Christ (who atoned for our sins), we would be unworthy (or unclean) to speak to God the father.

Originally Posted by bible

Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

That addresses prayer. However, as far as the trinity goes, Jesus says in Matthew 14:10 "Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work." This explains that they are one in the same as well as the Holy Spirit which is God the counselor. John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

I don't know if I made since of all of this or not, but this is my understanding.

[Karl R]

Originally Posted by Yes Man

People who believe in the Trinity of Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit probably worship Jesus. However what of people who do not believe in the Trinity?

I always pray to god non-specifically. When talking about "three-in-one", I focus a lot more on the "one" concept than the "three".

The trinity is never directly mentioned in the scriptures. It has been inferred based upon a few verses. It became doctrine at the Council of Nicea.

In the bible, both the father and son seem capable of independent thought and action. The holy spirit never appears to do either (at least in the canon scriptures).

I don't disbelieve in the trinity, but I don't strongly believe in it either. I have my doubts that the doctrine (as presented) is truly an accurate perspective of the reality.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Yes Man

Hey guys. I've changed the wording in my post to better declare my thoughts. I'm not sure if I believe in the Trinity or not. I have been searching for answers about many things of God. Some questions I have answered, many I have not. Being one not devoted to a particular sect of Christianity I find it difficult to converse with other people about spiritual matters. I suppose that's why I come to religious forums. Thanks everyone.

(Disclaimer: I'm not Christian, tho I've spent a lot of time thinking about these things.)

The word "trinity" never appears in scriptures. It is an interpretation. There are verses to support that interpretation. But there are also verses that suggest otherwise. The main argument about the trinity is whether "the Son" is equal to "the Father." I don't believe that Jesus himself ever said that he was equal to God.

John 14:28: "You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I."

He instructs us to pray "Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name." If Jesus is God, why does he need to pray to God? "Our father" suggests that Jesus viewed God as father of him and us.

Since his words are fresh in my mind from attending two Good Friday services (one Catholic and one Unitarian Universalist), let's go through them:

Mattthew 26:39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Mattthew 26:42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

Mattthew 27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

It seems to me that viewed himself as a faithful devotee of God, not God himself.

BUT... according to how I was taught by a Catholic professor, Jesus of Nazareth was a human being, wholely human, not God. He was crucified for his devotion to God. And God, being so pleased with Jesus and so displeased with the injustice of his crucifixion, ressurected him as Christ. According to this interpretation, Jesus was human up until his death. The resurrected Christ is divine. The resurrected Christ is the active force by which Christians experience God living in their hearts. That Christ is God. And that Christ is worshipped as God, because God the Father is too inaccessible to us humans. To reiterate, Jesus is not God but Christ is, and it is the ressurection that is key not the crucifixion. I like this interpretation a lot. But then again, I am not Christian. But then again, my professor is. Make of it what you will.