Comments on: Why Worship God?

By: Marla Swoffer

Marla Swoffer — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

This is a hard word, but it’s good to hear. This message doesn’t go over well with a world that is so steeped in humanism…but I guess it has been since the fall (i.e. self-centeredness).

Thanks for updating the link to my blog!

By: Monica

Monica — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

?We should worship God even if we knew that, at the end of our lives, we?d burn in Hell forever.?

This really provoked reflection for me, especially in reading the second to last paragraph. Thanks for posting, your blog is insightful.

By: Elle

Elle — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Profound. Thank you. I want to take your theology class!

By: alison

alison — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I’m voting with the guy who called it “absurd.” I think even the Apostle Paul (1 Cor. 15) would call it absurd. I know Paul is talking about the resurrection, but still …

On the other hand, maybe we could “worship” God, we just couldn’t or shouldn’t love Him, or have faith in him.

By: Robert Williams

Robert Williams — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Alison, I thought of 1 Cor 15 but didn’t bring it up to my pastor because I think you’re taking it entirely out of context. Paul’s point is that IF you are trusting in Christ for salvation, and you are wrong, you are to be pitied. Obviously in the hypothetical situation I described, you’d have no reason to hope in Christ for salvation.

God is worthy of worship and honor _because He is God_, not because He has certain traits that work out to our advantage.

By: alison

alison — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I realize that 1 Cor. 15 is Paul making an argument for the importance of the resurrection; however, my second paragraph still stands in that case. Plus, since God is all about planning for our salvation before the foundation of the world, the argument really is moot, so why bring it up? The comments of the pastor could only be considered hypothetical.

By: Robert Williams

Robert Williams — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

My (and his) point is simply that God is worthy of honor and worship _because He is God_, not because of what He does for us. This example is simple hyperbole. I’m sorry that you weren’t edified by it.

By: alison

alison — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Robert, there is no harm in disagreeing. I wouldn’t say I wasn’t edified, because anything that makes me think is good for me.

By: Rong

Rong — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

What if He were not particularly nice, and if He didn?t extend any grace and love aside from the common grace and benevolence that the entire creation gets?
I’m studying Pipers Desiring God and I guess I’m having an issue with this one statement. We worship God because it is in our best interest to do so, because of His promises. I think back to my military days when we were told to respect the rank if we couldn’t respect the person. I may fear a god as you describe but I would/could never worship him. Thankfully this is hypothetical, otherwise I’d have one major migraine.
I guess what I’m saying is I understand the idea but I’m skeptical of the explanation. I’ll give you one thing though, you’ve got one heck of a bold preacher.

By: Robert Williams

Robert Williams — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I have not read Desiring God, but I do respect John Piper. DG is on my reading list. It is true that it is in our best interest to worship God. I agree. And I also agree that is a perfectly valid motivation for worshipping Him. I have no issue at all with those ideas. That may even be our primary motivation - worship God out of gratitude for what He has done / will do, and because a life lived in obedience to God will have rewards in this life and the one to come. And I'm agreeable to that, too. What I want to point out though, is that it's not the only good motivation for worshipping God. God is worthy of worship just because He is God. John Piper shows us that it is smart to worship God. I'm just emphasizing that it's also right to do so. Romans 9:20 is a reminder, maybe a little bit shocking or harsh, that He is God and we are nothing compared to Him. That's the same sort of thing I'm trying to say here. You could easily find fault because God's grace and love are an integral part of Him, and if you took those things away He wouldn't be the same God. So maybe it's not technically a theologically perfect statement. But I thought it was a good way to remind me of things I forget about sometimes.