Post by servantofthelord on Jul 16, 2021 17:32:44 GMT -6
I want to preface this posting and this discussion with a few cautionary words. First off, please do not read opinion into any statements made in this discussion, by myself or anyone else, as a personal attack or an accusation. Discussion is supposed to provoke thought and meditation on a subject, not anger and emotional outburst. Facts are just facts, they are sometimes enlightening, sometimes hurtful, sometimes we like them, often we don't. But they don't convey opinion, only fact. Any discussion on this topic is going to be by nature controversial, that does not mean it is not beneficial to have. It just means people are going to have adamant opinions about it. I hope we can all express those opinions free from having to lift up one, or put down another to do so. As my grandpa used to say, everyone has an equal right to be a jerk, but not to be a jerk to me. A bit blunt, but it sure expresses the right sentiment. Older folks tend to speak straight to the point, and not worry so much about what you think of their opinions.
Ok, to the subject at hand. WORSHIP.
One terrible tendency we modern worshipers of the Lord seem to constantly, but understandably seem to have, is we read the bible with modern thought. Ancient people wrote these words, not modern ones. If you want genuine understanding, you need to know what the terms used meant to those who used it in the time it was written, not in todays terms.
We tend to think that what we understand something to “mean” now in our enlightened world, is the “true” meaning. After all we are far more advanced and intelligent than the ancients were. We have computers to tell us things they never even dreamed of. Problem is, they had a specific understanding and intention behind the words they used, which, unlike us, did not change with every passing year.
In our modern day, the language we use is ever evolving into more than it was the previous year. As a word becomes used enough to be most commonly understood to hold a new meaning, the dictionaries add that meaning to it's definition. So, we end up losing the original meaning as time goes by and as people adopt a word to a different context than it was originally intended.
This means we actually lose meaning of writings, the farther away we are in time to when it was originally written. This is the reason we have thousands of versions of the bible. It is at least in part why the LSV was needed. It is also part of the reason there is so much biblical interpretation. Depending on what meaning you apply to which words, you get an entirely different outcome from it.
Much more can be said on this, but it is sufficient for this discussion that we at least grasp the idea. This should be enough.
When we talk about worship, the tendency is to understand it by the act of worshipping, rather than the meaning of the word. For example “worship” probably brings to mind someone bowing in prayer or singing a hymn or this sort of thing. These are examples of the “act” of worshiping, not to be confused with what worship “is”.
For an accurate description/definition of what worship means in the old languages, we can look as far back as the 1800's when the english language was only made up of less than 800 or so words. For context, the modern english language consists of somewhere around 4,000 words.
Ironically what this indicates among other things, is we use a lot more words, that have a lot less meaning. When I do bible study, especially if I'm using the “Great Bible”, KJV (1611 or later), Breeches Bible, Geneva Bible, Young's, “The Scriptures”, or any late version, I keep my 1828 Webster's dictionary open online. You can find it here if you are interested in using it (1828 Webster's Dictionary) I do this because of the reasons stated, and because it happens to quote and use scripture to define almost all the words within it. So with most definitions, you get a corresponding scriptural reference to compare to. The definition of the word worship is as follows …..
WORSHIP, noun [See Worth.]
1. Excellence of character; dignity; worth; worthiness.
--Elfin born of noble state, and muckle worship in his native land.
In this sense, the word is nearly or quite obsolete; but hence,
2. A title of honor, used in addresses to certain magistrates and other of respectable character.
My father desires your worships company.
3. A term of ironical respect.
4. Chiefly and eminently, the act of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; or the reverence and homage paid to him in religious exercises, consisting in adoration, confession, prayer, thanksgiving and the like.
The worship of God is an eminent part of religion.
Prayer is a chief part of religious worship
5. The homage paid to idols or false gods by pagans; as the worship or Isis.
6. Honor; respect; civil deference.
Then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. Luke 14:10
7. Idolatry of lovers; obsequious or submissive respect.
WORSHIP, verb transitive
1. To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration.
Thou shalt worship no other God. Exodus 34:14.
2. To respect; to honor; to treat with civil reverence.
Nor worshipd with a waxen epitaph.
3. To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission; as a lover.
With bended knees I daily worship her.
WORSHIP, verb intransitive
1. To perform acts of adoration.
2. To perform religious service.
Our fathers worshiped in this mountain. John 4:20.
There is a common theme here on what worship means in the scriptural sense of the word. In basic terms it means to revere, hold in awe, respect and honor. Or any combination of those.
So when we are told we should worship no Gods besides the Father and Creator, or that we cannot worship God and Mammon, it isn't saying you just don't bow down to those things or not pray too them. It means you aren't to revere, honor, show undue respect, and that sort of thing. Doing acts of worship also falls into that category, but that is not the “meaning” of the word. It only describes a portion of the meaning.
So far your probably wondering why I went through all the trouble to warn you in the beginning, since this has yet to provoke to much opinion. Well, keep that inner peace a bit, there is much about worship to discuss, but this forst post will address a specific worship. The worship of Mammon.
Here I'm going to cut and paste for the first post. I do this because, for me at least, when I'm studying or reading an article that is filled with information, as I hope this is, I find it often times difficult to really digest it in one big lump. Often times, I get side tracked by life and don't get back to it till later and have lost some of the importance of what I already read. For those of you that do not experience this, you can now skip to the next posting and continue. I would however recommend, that if you don't agree with the statements made here thus far, you stop and do a quick bit of research and confirm. Otherwise the following posts will give you little insight and may just upset you, which is contrary to the purpose.
Ok, to the subject at hand. WORSHIP.
One terrible tendency we modern worshipers of the Lord seem to constantly, but understandably seem to have, is we read the bible with modern thought. Ancient people wrote these words, not modern ones. If you want genuine understanding, you need to know what the terms used meant to those who used it in the time it was written, not in todays terms.
We tend to think that what we understand something to “mean” now in our enlightened world, is the “true” meaning. After all we are far more advanced and intelligent than the ancients were. We have computers to tell us things they never even dreamed of. Problem is, they had a specific understanding and intention behind the words they used, which, unlike us, did not change with every passing year.
In our modern day, the language we use is ever evolving into more than it was the previous year. As a word becomes used enough to be most commonly understood to hold a new meaning, the dictionaries add that meaning to it's definition. So, we end up losing the original meaning as time goes by and as people adopt a word to a different context than it was originally intended.
This means we actually lose meaning of writings, the farther away we are in time to when it was originally written. This is the reason we have thousands of versions of the bible. It is at least in part why the LSV was needed. It is also part of the reason there is so much biblical interpretation. Depending on what meaning you apply to which words, you get an entirely different outcome from it.
Much more can be said on this, but it is sufficient for this discussion that we at least grasp the idea. This should be enough.
When we talk about worship, the tendency is to understand it by the act of worshipping, rather than the meaning of the word. For example “worship” probably brings to mind someone bowing in prayer or singing a hymn or this sort of thing. These are examples of the “act” of worshiping, not to be confused with what worship “is”.
For an accurate description/definition of what worship means in the old languages, we can look as far back as the 1800's when the english language was only made up of less than 800 or so words. For context, the modern english language consists of somewhere around 4,000 words.
Ironically what this indicates among other things, is we use a lot more words, that have a lot less meaning. When I do bible study, especially if I'm using the “Great Bible”, KJV (1611 or later), Breeches Bible, Geneva Bible, Young's, “The Scriptures”, or any late version, I keep my 1828 Webster's dictionary open online. You can find it here if you are interested in using it (1828 Webster's Dictionary) I do this because of the reasons stated, and because it happens to quote and use scripture to define almost all the words within it. So with most definitions, you get a corresponding scriptural reference to compare to. The definition of the word worship is as follows …..
WORSHIP, noun [See Worth.]
1. Excellence of character; dignity; worth; worthiness.
--Elfin born of noble state, and muckle worship in his native land.
In this sense, the word is nearly or quite obsolete; but hence,
2. A title of honor, used in addresses to certain magistrates and other of respectable character.
My father desires your worships company.
3. A term of ironical respect.
4. Chiefly and eminently, the act of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; or the reverence and homage paid to him in religious exercises, consisting in adoration, confession, prayer, thanksgiving and the like.
The worship of God is an eminent part of religion.
Prayer is a chief part of religious worship
5. The homage paid to idols or false gods by pagans; as the worship or Isis.
6. Honor; respect; civil deference.
Then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. Luke 14:10
7. Idolatry of lovers; obsequious or submissive respect.
WORSHIP, verb transitive
1. To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration.
Thou shalt worship no other God. Exodus 34:14.
2. To respect; to honor; to treat with civil reverence.
Nor worshipd with a waxen epitaph.
3. To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission; as a lover.
With bended knees I daily worship her.
WORSHIP, verb intransitive
1. To perform acts of adoration.
2. To perform religious service.
Our fathers worshiped in this mountain. John 4:20.
There is a common theme here on what worship means in the scriptural sense of the word. In basic terms it means to revere, hold in awe, respect and honor. Or any combination of those.
So when we are told we should worship no Gods besides the Father and Creator, or that we cannot worship God and Mammon, it isn't saying you just don't bow down to those things or not pray too them. It means you aren't to revere, honor, show undue respect, and that sort of thing. Doing acts of worship also falls into that category, but that is not the “meaning” of the word. It only describes a portion of the meaning.
So far your probably wondering why I went through all the trouble to warn you in the beginning, since this has yet to provoke to much opinion. Well, keep that inner peace a bit, there is much about worship to discuss, but this forst post will address a specific worship. The worship of Mammon.
Here I'm going to cut and paste for the first post. I do this because, for me at least, when I'm studying or reading an article that is filled with information, as I hope this is, I find it often times difficult to really digest it in one big lump. Often times, I get side tracked by life and don't get back to it till later and have lost some of the importance of what I already read. For those of you that do not experience this, you can now skip to the next posting and continue. I would however recommend, that if you don't agree with the statements made here thus far, you stop and do a quick bit of research and confirm. Otherwise the following posts will give you little insight and may just upset you, which is contrary to the purpose.