Misplaced Worship
Misplaced Worship
Misplaced worship is one of our main sins against God. As we read Romans 1 we see that worship is the problem. We see a lack of honor. We see an exchange of the Glory of God for things lesser than God. We see the truth exchanged for a lie. We see the creature worshipped and served instead of the creator. We see that we do not acknowledge God.
Here is what God says about it.
Romans 1:18-23 ESV - [18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [19] For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. [20] For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. [21] 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. [22] Claiming to be wise, they became fools, [23] and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Romans 1:24-25 ESV - [24] Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, [25] because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Romans 1:28-32 ESV - [28] And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. [29] They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, [30] slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, [31] foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. [32] Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
The scary part of this passage is the description of God’s wrath against this misplaced worship.
Romans 1:24 ESV - [24] Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
Romans 1:26 ESV - [26] For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;
Romans 1:28 ESV - [28] And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
Three times is says that the wrath of God against this type of misplaced worship is that “God gave them up”. This means that God will let us have what we want which is something lesser than Him. God will give us up to our desires. He will let us have our own way.
So what is the answer to this dilemma?
Romans 2:4 ESV - [4] Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
The answer is God’s grace. The kindness of God’s grace and forgiveness is meant to lead us to repentance. Repentance means to turn from our sin of misplaced worship. We should do the opposite of what is written in Romans 1.
We should honor God
We should give thanks to God
We should glorify God
We should seek the truth about God in His word
We should serve the Creator not what he has created