People often take words for granted (I think because they only know one language) and don't realize the word has no or at least not much meaning. Right now I have the word "worship" in mind. What is "worship?"
People go to Buddhist temple and there sits a huge statue of the Buddha in all his glory, and people get on their knees and bow to it. You ask these people what they are doing and you get an answer that is easy to translate "worship." But it isn't worship. Of course a Westerner translates it with that word, and thereby instantly doesn't understand what the Buddhist is do one iota.
The Buddha is in Nirvana. That means he is "at peace" or "in bliss" or in a kind of heaven where everyone meditates all the time, or dead (extinct)-- it largely depends on the Buddhist sect you ask -- but most Buddhists don't give it much thought (they leave such questions to monks) and perceive it as a blend of these states. As such the Buddha has no knowledge or even interest in the people honoring him in the Temple. "Honor" is probably the best translation.
Does the Christian god demand worship? There are certainly enough Biblical passages that refer to giving him glory. That, I suppose, is worship. Why? Our glory that we give him is not going to add even the tiniest bit to his infinite glory. You cannot add anything to infinity. These concepts are less than unsophisticated -- they are downright stupid and primitive.
OK, we "worship" God by loving him and doing his will and serving him here on the Earth. God commands us to do these things, not for his benefit but for ours. Think about that. Wouldn't it be better if we did these things on our own accord and not out of some indirect and less-than-honest left-handed motive? How about we love God because we love him? How about we do his will because his will is what is good and we do what is good on our own volition? As far as the last one goes, "serving God," this is not just absurd (what can we do compared to his infinite power?) but pretentious and arrogant on our part, for the same reason.'
When someone says "I'm doing God's work," I immediately recognize the person as arrogant and self-righteous and puffed up with themselves. I think this is one of the reasons people often mock Christians -- it is a statement worthy of mockery.
People go to Buddhist temple and there sits a huge statue of the Buddha in all his glory, and people get on their knees and bow to it. You ask these people what they are doing and you get an answer that is easy to translate "worship." But it isn't worship. Of course a Westerner translates it with that word, and thereby instantly doesn't understand what the Buddhist is do one iota.
The Buddha is in Nirvana. That means he is "at peace" or "in bliss" or in a kind of heaven where everyone meditates all the time, or dead (extinct)-- it largely depends on the Buddhist sect you ask -- but most Buddhists don't give it much thought (they leave such questions to monks) and perceive it as a blend of these states. As such the Buddha has no knowledge or even interest in the people honoring him in the Temple. "Honor" is probably the best translation.
Does the Christian god demand worship? There are certainly enough Biblical passages that refer to giving him glory. That, I suppose, is worship. Why? Our glory that we give him is not going to add even the tiniest bit to his infinite glory. You cannot add anything to infinity. These concepts are less than unsophisticated -- they are downright stupid and primitive.
OK, we "worship" God by loving him and doing his will and serving him here on the Earth. God commands us to do these things, not for his benefit but for ours. Think about that. Wouldn't it be better if we did these things on our own accord and not out of some indirect and less-than-honest left-handed motive? How about we love God because we love him? How about we do his will because his will is what is good and we do what is good on our own volition? As far as the last one goes, "serving God," this is not just absurd (what can we do compared to his infinite power?) but pretentious and arrogant on our part, for the same reason.'
When someone says "I'm doing God's work," I immediately recognize the person as arrogant and self-righteous and puffed up with themselves. I think this is one of the reasons people often mock Christians -- it is a statement worthy of mockery.
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