The Gospel for the Gentiles (2)
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21 ESV
Did not honor – Paul delineates two critical failures of those whom God consigns to futility. The first is that even though these people have plenty of evidence that God is their Creator, they do not “honor” Him. The Greek is a bit stronger. They do not edoxasan – glorify – Him. The Tanakh equivalent is kavod – honor. But obviously Paul has more in mind than simply paying respect. After all, we can honor a head of state without doing much more than acknowledging his position. Paul’s use of doxa in the context of kavod is a statement about worship. These people have every bit of evidence necessary to worship God but they do not do so. They ignore the evidence and worship their own accomplishments, ambitions and expressions. Paul does not say that they are devoid of any form of divinity. They just ignore the obvious – the one true God of creation.
Now that we see Paul’s word is more about worship than honor, we must also recognize that Paul does not have any form of worship in mind. To worship God is to follow His instructions about honoring Him. Alternatives are ultimately futile. After all, if He is God and He tells us how we are to worship Him, then who are we to decide that our own styles of worship are adequate? That question is settled in the acknowledgment that we are not God. The answer is of the same ilk as the answer to the question, “How should I live so that my life is pleasing to God?” Do we really think that we can just make up whatever answer we wish?
In the first century, proper rituals of worship were a real concern. The polytheistic civilization of the Roman Empire required that every citizen know precisely how to worship the god of each person’s choosing for fear that inappropriate actions would bring the wrath of the god upon the whole of society. No one made up religious rituals, at least no one who wanted to avoid punishment. Therefore, Paul is not speaking idly when he accuses these fools of despising appropriate worship of the one true God. Anyone who blasphemed with inadequate practices was subject to social censure and divine reprisals. Paul’s statement would not have been shocking to ears of first century Romans. Nor would it have been surprising to first century Jewish and Gentile believers in the Messiah. It might have been the case that Yeshua did not come to bring judgment. It might have been true that He stopped His reading of Isaiah in the middle of the verse. But that did not mean judgment would never come. The man found lacking in proper worship at the return of the King risked terrible consequences. He still does.
Paul is quite clear on this point. Failure to worship God according to God’s ways brings darkened understanding and eventual wrath. But what Paul does not include in his declaration of doom is just as important – and startling – as we shall discover tomorrow.
Topical Index: honor, worship, doxa, glorify, kavod, Romans 1:21
The more I read, the more I worry about attending “church” (even though I love the people and there is good teaching – even though sometimes it fails at considering the Hebrew perspective and connection). But many synagogues don’t necessarily follow or worship according to God’s ways, either. Or maybe I’m wrong. Does anyone know of a group in the Ocoee/Winter Garden/Orlando area that worships God according to God’s ways? How can I figure out if a gathering worships God according to His ways?
Just wondering.
Amanda, as we are exhorted in our Bible to ~ Not forsake the assembling of ourselves together ~ I would think it would be the right thing to do (I may be wrong) to pray and ask God for His leading or provision. My wife and I have been in your same situation and it is a “tumbling tumbleweed” feeling, not to have an “extended family” of brothers and sisters in the LORD. For us, God has provided, but there are many in your very same situation.
Not to oversimplify, (even though I am a simple man and confess in loving simplicity!) institute a “search” for people who love people, who love each other, and who love, serve, worship and work for God and who passionately proclaim, the “good news”- the long-promised Messiah has come!
In His words: ~ Ask, and YOU will receive!- Seek and YOU will find..! Knock (patiently- persistently) and it will be given unto you! Is it necessary that we live in community? Very much so. We need “one another!” Has God promised to supply all of our needs? Again.. very much so!- (amen!) -Philippians 4.19
It feels like a good opportunity for me to jump in and encourage you also. I finally had to quit going to the local “church” because of realizing after several heated confrontations from the pastor and his wife, which were initiated by them, that when I was there I was sitting under the authority of their church and not the authority of Yaweh. It was a hard and long process but after being out from under it I have experienced more peace. Sometimes sharing with people who are so indoctrinated is not what we are supposed to do. I still am given opportunity to share but it comes from things like why don’t I do Christmas and Easter or eat certain foods. I looked on the internet for Messianic congregations and found some an hour away. Mostly it becomes a place like Skip` site or 119 ministries that help me to have a form of fellowship. Keep trusting and praying Yaweh will satisfy the hunger!
We all seem to wrestle with a less than perfect
church or synogogue.
The good news is our relationship with God is genuine
and true. We are blessed to live at peace and are grateful
for His life of abundance in all circumstances.
We love Him above all, and follow His commands to love
not just Him, but others like ourselves. Even our enemies!
Therefore, wherever we are at any time, we can and should be
engaged in exercising this love. It’s supposed to be as quintessential
as breathing. Jesus put it this way:
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart
will flow rivers of living water. Jn 7:38
Churches and synogogues are ideal places to be lovers of others,
since so many attending these structures greatly need to experience
the genuine love of God. I pray with and for people every week at
church. Most admit to rarely reading God’s Word and spending even less
time in prayer. They’re hurting and empty.
In large part, that’s why so many of them go to church or synogogue
in the first place. Often times, it’s people like you and I who can
show them how real and genuine God’s love is.
I’ve never attended a church where the preaching was always spot on
or the worship “was according to God’s ways”. But if true believers who
truly love God are there, nonetheless, I believe God’s will is being done.
“Love never fails.” 1 Cor 13:8
Good words, Rich.
Amen Rich.. it’s not all about us! Worship God like He said to Peter..” feed My sheep”. While He tells us to watch and pray as their are many trying to deceive “even the elect”,
So shouldn’t we be under sound teaching and partaking of genuine praise to Our King….yes, we should. We should also be seeking opportunities to minister to others, and I think as I’ve experienced as much, that if God sends us to churches that have a form of Godliness but are denying His power, then maybe He wants us to be that example of His power and love there. Bottom line is, be in His word, walk in obedience to His leading by His Spirit and trust Him to work all for good and His glory!
I recently finished Mark Nanos’ book on Romans and am now reading “The Ways That Never Parted”. I definitively have had some of my historic bubbles burst. 🙂 I must admit that in the past I have wishfully imagined that my walk would have been so much better in the 1st and 2nd centuries… (Hmmm — that’s coveting as well as being foolish, isn’t it?) Surely, we are placed for such a time as this.
One thing I know: a local group of like-minded believers, who all search and study to find original intent of the Word, is probably not going to burst spontaneously into my community. I need to be thankful for the congregation of which I am a part. And I need to understand that my role is to be another voice, not another pew sitter.
Our congregation (and yes, it’s Messianic) is maddeningly frustrating at times as we go over the same stagnant doctrines repeatedly. Oh, how I long for more than the milk of the Hebraic movement! But on occasion a spark is ignited and I remember what originally drew me. In the interim, God is more than faithful to lead me to books and people (thank you Skip and TW family) who help me to understand what happened historically to the church.
You know, it was with some shock that I realized part of growing up was learning to feed myself rather than being spoon-fed at my local church. LOL! Knowing that has helped me to become less resentful of the “lack” in my local church – and to ask if it’s really their lack or my wrong expectation? I’m not at all sure that God ever intended the local church to be a place of one-stop shopping. It’s time to rethink what we think “church” is supposed to be.
“To worship God is to follow His instructions about honoring Him. Alternatives are ultimately futile.”
Perfectly said, Skip.
FEAR YHVH.
With regard to true worship, would this be what the Lord outlined in Isaiah 58? I see it as the heart of God.