The Truth in Print Vol.
29, Issue 12, Jan 2024
A Publication of the
Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street,
Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Worship, Idolatry, A.I.
and False Worship
Here
is one of our newspaper articles for 2023 showing the fools who worship
supposedly with avatars. The core of edification is removed. This attacks the
duty to “edify one another” – to do so “together” and for “each other.” This
brief article is followed with notes concerning worship – important words,
definitions, and verses for consideration.
A.I.’s
Idolatrous Worshippers!
True Christians worship God only (Matt 4:10;
Jo. 4:24). Jesus is God and when here on earth being God He received worship
(Jo 1:1; Matt 2:11, 14:33, etc.). Being called through the gospel we are in
fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ (I Cor 1:9, 10:14-16). We do not worship:
(1) Man (Acts 10:25-26); (2) Angels (Rev 22:8-9); (3) The Devil “the god of
this world” (Matt 4:9-10; 2 Cor 4:4: Rev 13:14-15); (4) Devils or demons as
spiritual beings (I Co 10:20-21; Rev. 9:20); (5) Idols of material substance which
neither see, nor hear, nor walk (Isa 44:19-20; Rev 9:20); (6) Images of
emperors or rulers (Rev 13:14-15). There is no other God but one (I Cor 8:4).
Note this difference: 1. The difference in
worshipping a thing (an image made with hands) and worshipping a “man” or a
“spiritual being.” 2. The difference in thinking one is in fellowship with a
non-existent so-called god and being in fellowship with God. 3. The difference
in thinking one is in fellowship with a thing (something made, produced), and
being in fellowship with God and other Christians. Elijah mocked the lying
prophets of Baal (I Ki 18:27). Their
fellowship with a non-existent so-called god was only in their own minds. The
phony theologians who present worship through avatars that lead in worship and
prayer need to be mocked! The worshippers make fools of themselves by thinking
they are worshipping “with” the things! This is mission impossible! – to
worship “with” an image made with hands, ha! This is animated loony tunes!
Those who make and promote this “thing” are playing them like a fiddle!
The
Valley Church of Christ
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ
85364
(928) 782-5058 ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday Services – Classes
~10:00; Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm. Wednesday evening – 7:00 pm.
We
worship God only, as commanded.
Worship
God: Joh
4:24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
Not
Man:
Act
10:25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and
worshiped him.
Act
10:26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a
man."
Not
Angels:
Rev
22:8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell
down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
Rev
22:9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and
of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book:
worship God.
Not
the Devil:
Mat
4:8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed
Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
Mat
4:9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall
down and worship me."
Mat
4:10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written,
'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND HIM ONLY YOU SHALL SERVE.’
The
devil is the “god of this world” (2 Cor 4:4) > “god” [G2323 theos]
Thayer: of the devil, 2 Cor 4:4; the pers. or thing to which one is wholly
devoted, for which alone he lives, e.g., Phil 3:19 “god is their belly…” (Cf.
Eph 2:2; I Jo 5:19; Rev 12:9; Rev 13:7-8)
Not
Devils or Demons as Spiritual Beings:
1Co
10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice
to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with
devils.
1Co
10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be
partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
· “Fellowship” [G2844]
Thayer: 2b) partakers of (or with) demons 2b1) brought into fellowship with
them, because they are the authors of heathen worship.
>
Rev 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet
repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and
idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can
see, nor hear, nor walk:
>
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart
from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
· “deceiving spirits” (Cf. 2 Co 11:14-15).
· “doctrines” [G1319] Thayer: teachings, instructions. These were given by
demons.
Not
Idols Made with Hands
Rev
9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet
repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils,
and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither
can see, nor hear, nor walk:
In
Isa 44:20 they’re self-deceived and can’t say the idol in their hand they made
is a lie.
An
idol a man makes from wood:
Isa
44:19 And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor
understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have
baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and
shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock
of a tree?
Isa
44:20 He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he
cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
· On Mt Carmel they
really believed being deceived, and think they can have “fellowship” with Baal
a so-called god (1Ki 18:27-29). *The
fellowship is in their mind only.
The
Idol or Image is “nothing”– just a so-called god, for there is only one God.
1Co
8:4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an
idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.
1Co
8:5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as
there are many gods and many lords),
1Co
8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for
Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom
we live.
“Communion”
in the Lord’s Supper
1Co
10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
1Co
10:15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
1Co
10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood
of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of
Christ?
· “communion” [G2842]
Thayer: 1a) the share which one has in anything, participation.
1Co
10:17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers
of that one bread.
1Co
10:18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices
partakers of the altar?
1Co
10:19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in
sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1Co
10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice
to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with
devils.
Throughout
the Empire of Rome, they worshipped Satan, “the beast” (the emperor) and his
image.
They
worshipped Satan, the great dragon (Rev. 12:3,9).
Rev
13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave
power
unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the
beast? who is able to make war with him?
The
Beast of Sea (identified as the false prophet, 19:20) deceived them by working
signs from Satan:
Rev
13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the
means
of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to
them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast,
which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev
13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image
of
the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as
many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Rev
16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working
miracles,
which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather
them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Fellowship
Illustrated:
· “fellowship” means “to share
in” – involves cooperation or joint participation.
>
Acts 2:42 “fellowship” > illustrated with “of one accord” (Acts 2:46);
“distributed” from a collective treasury (Acts 4:34-35, 37).
>
Phil. 4:15 “shared” i.e., had “fellowship” – to support evangelists (Phil 1:5,
15-18).
Who
should I have fellowship “with”? I Jo. 1:6-7.
Who
should I worship “with”? I Cor 5:1-7.
THE
SAVED ARE ENGAGED IN “EDIFICATION”
1Co
14:26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a
psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation.
Let all things be done for edification.
· “edification” [G3619
oikodomē, n.] W.E. Vine: A. Noun. “…this is used only figuratively in the
N.T., in the sense of edification, the promotion of spiritual growth (lit., the
things of building up), e.g., 1 Cor. 14:3, 5, 12, 26.
“TOGETHER”
– Comfort, Edify
1Th
5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are
doing.
1Th
5:11 KJV Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as
also ye do.
ACCOMPLISHED
BY JOINT ATTENDANCE, COMMUNICATING ON MY WORK SCHEDULE AS IT RELATES TO MY OWN
ATTENDING, SERMONS, CLASSES, SINGING TO ONE ANOTHER, COMMENTING IN CLASS,
LISTENING, STAYING AWAKE AND COMMENTING IN CLASS, SERVING IN PRAYER, LISTENING,
THE LORD’S SUPPER (PROCLAIMING TOGETHER HIS DEATH), ALOWING YOUNG MEN TO DO
READINGS AND GIVING TALKS.
Continuous,
thoughtful care for one another that provokes to love and good works.
Heb
10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
Heb
10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of
some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day
approaching.
· “consider” [G2657
katanoeō] W.E. Vine: “of thoughtfully considering one another to provoke
unto love and good works.”
· “stir up” > [G3948
paroxusmos] Thayer: - incitement (to
good), or dispute (in anger): - contention, provoke unto.
· “exhorting” [G3870
parakaléō] Defined in a variety of senses some of which are: to help,
comfort, console, encourage, strengthen, instruct, admonish, entreat etc.
YOU
CAN’T GET AROUND THE RESPONSIBILITY STATED IN “ONE ANOTHER.”
To
understand the worship of the local church go to The Worship
of the Church http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com/articles/churchfive.htm “The Worship of the
Church.” This is Lesson Five in our Series: "Fundamental Lessons on the
Church." In this lesson you will be studying the items of WORSHIP for the
church:
1. The Lord's Supper upon the first day of
the week.
2. Instruction in God's word.
3. Singing.
4. Prayer.
5. Giving.
By studying these items of worship, you can
learn what "edification" means and how it was practiced in the
assemblies of the first century church.
Valley Church of Christ
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 782-5058 ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday Services – Classes ~10:00; Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.
Wednesday evening – 7:00 pm
To learn more call,
visit or visit our website at:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com