Looking at the Bible, we answer the question many ask about who we should worship as God. Let's begin by looking at the Old Testament to examine some traditional beliefs about worshipping one deity:
Exodus 34:14 "Worship no other god."
Deuteronomy 8:19 if you, "follow other gods and serve them and worship them...you shall surely perish."
What are "idols" or "other gods?" The phrase "other gods" can be characterized, summed up, as "wrong beliefs," or "beliefs contrary to Truth (or God)." Jeremiah 13:10 proclaims that, "the worship of other gods (or untruths, wrong thoughts/beliefs) are unprofitable." An idol is something that replaces who God really is. It is religion and stands in place of or in the way of Truth, which is God. To merely worship another god or a "false idol" is simply to be mistaken in one's beliefs. Beliefs can change, as they are a mistake....forgivable. But, false beliefs still can be unprofitable...even hurtful to a person because of the bondage that can be created through religion. Untruths make God something different than who He is, even one to be feared. So, Who and How do we worship?
Isaiah 66:23 "All flesh shall come to worship before me."
Psalm 86:9 "All nations whom you have made shall come and worship before you..."
Psalm 95:6 ..."let us kneel before the Lord our maker."
These verses of scripture show that worship is an invitation unto all. All will come to God...Truth and leave false beliefs behind. Hence, all will be saved, which is to say, "All will know God!" "For All shall know me, from the least to the greatest."
Micah 5:13 "You shall no more worship the 'work' of your hands."
Works are "outward" expressions. All will be brought to no longer worshipping "outwardly." Why? Because God is found within the heart and soul of man. God is not far off nor is He separated from us. Mankind must be brought back to the knowledge of Truth...the knowledge of Oneness with the Heavenly Father...God. Satan (devil; the carnal mind of man - which means to be influenced by the external environment - led outwardly, physically through the mind and five senses) tried to deceive Jesus by saying in Matthew 4:9, "All these things (outward, physical things in this physical world) I will give you if you will fall down ("the fall" as in Genesis when Adam and Eve "fell" to a lower estate in their minds, not being inwardly led through the Spirit of God; outward worship or leading) and worship me." We too, can easily be enticed with all that the world offers and live for today, never seeking the Truth which only lives within us. That is what "falling" to a lower estate (than who we really are in God) is! This battle with Satan occurred within Jesus' heart and mind, and it also occurs today within each of us. Let us follow Jesus' example and be inwardly led, not outwardly led on our life's path. Jesus said, "Away with you Satan...for I am to worship God only and only serve Him." God is to be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth which is within our being; Satan is easily worshipped outwardly. Follow the gentle leading from within, not the ravaging world outside! Again, Who do we worship?
The Kingdom Within
Many proclaim we are to worship Jesus. "Bow to Jesus," they say. But, we do not believe this was Jesus' real message; otherwise, he would of stated so. Did he tell us, "Go build buildings on every street corner and call them churches; then teach everyone you meet to bow down and worship me as God?" If one wants to be truthful, the answer easily is "No." Better yet, did Jesus worship himself? No, he stated and demonstrated we are to worship the "Heavenly Father (his name for God, making God personal)." Bringing condemnation and attacking all beliefs contrary to their own, religious leaders will quote Jesus' statement, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, but by me." The religious are unable to hear what Jesus was truly saying. Jesus did not say bow and worship him; but in this verse he simply gave the example of his life as being the only way to the Father. "When you see my life and how I communicate with the Heavenly Father, you should see how you need to communicate with Him, as well," (Jesus was saying). Jesus also stated very plainly, "The Kingdom of God is within you," but religion's teachers often mis-interpret those words into a powerless, meaningless statement to support their own doctrines.
John 4:21 "...the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem worship the Father."
John 4:23 "the hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him."
The phrase, "neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem" refers to the "outward worship" the Jews historically performed. In both verses, Jesus points to the Father as the one who is to be worshipped from "within our being" (in Spirit and truth) and that the time is now to do so.
John 4:24 for "...God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth."
Again, Jesus clearly shows us who and how we are to worship God, the Father. He does not claim to be the Father, who is to be worshipped. Jesus did, however, make the statement, "I and my Father are One;" but that means "in spirit and in purpose." Why? I say in "spirit and purpose" because Jesus also prayed that we may also be One as he and His Father are one. To me, that means becoming One with our Heavenly Father in the same way Jesus was One with Him. Therefore, Jesus was not saying that he himself is the Father, who is to be worshipped; otherwise, he would be saying that we, too, could become Fathers to be worshipped! Jesus was demonstrating that if you connect as "One" with your Heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit within your very being, that "Oneness" will manifest outwardly into the physical realm.
Even Paul stated he was one of many Jews "who worship God in the Spirit (now inwardly; no longer outwardly), rejoice in Christ Jesus (what he taught and showed them as truth), and have no confidence in the flesh (no longer looking outside of themselves to systems of religion for God or answers to life's questions)." Apostle John's Revelation 19:10 and 22:9 also exclaim that we should not worship the messenger, but the living God (within all). Are you worshipping the messenger? Many are worshipping Jesus today instead of the Father. Jesus is the "firstfruits of many brethren." He is the "pattern son." According to Paul, you are a "Son of God," as well.
"...those who are led by the Spirit are Sons of God (Romans 8:14)."
So, who do you worship?