Acts 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.

How could a mere man receive homage as God, when an apostle rejected it with horror? The people at Lystra wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods after witnessing a miracle. They thought the gods had come down to visit them. Being Greeks and Romans, they were acquainted with their mythology of Jupiter and the various gods. They called Paul Mercury and Barnabas Jupiter.

Jupiter was the most powerful of all the gods of the ancients. His Greek name is Zeus. Some think they called Barnabas Jupiter because he was the older and the more imposing in appearance. Paul admitted that he was not impressive in looks (2Corinthians 10:10). Mercury, Greek name Hermes, was the god of eloquence and the messenger and attendant of Jupiter. Hermes is the origin of our word hermeneutics or science of interpretation.

But neither Paul nor Barnabas were elated? On the contrary, they rent their garments, expressing their shock and horror. They rejected their worship. He said he and Barnabas were only humans like them. He turned their attention from their vain idols, referring to Jupiter and Mercury, to teach them about the living God who made heaven and earth.

Worship belongs to the Divine alone. Paul and Barnabas would not dare accept worship from men. Even angels would not accept worship from an apostle (Revelations 19:10). How blasphemous it is for anyone to claim to be the representative of God and accepts worship from men. The catholic Pope makes himself the father and head of the church when Christ says we are to call no man our father upon the earth for one is our Father, which is in heaven, and we are all brethren (Matthew 23:8-9). And the scripture honours Christ as the only head of the church (Colossians 1:18). The Pope claims to be the successor of the apostle Peter but yet, Peter would not accept worship from any men (Acts 10:26).

The true teacher will never magnify himself but God. But today, we have preachers who come around and call themselves Reverend. The word of God says that Holy and Reverend is the name of God (Psalm 111:9). The only ones we are to reverend is God.

Paul says: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

The “treasure” refers to the gospel. The “earthen vessels” refers to the apostles and those who preach the word. They are just earthen vessels used by God to bring the gospel to the world. When a man believes in the gospel and is saved, it is due to the power of the gospel (Romans 1:16) and not the preachers. The glory belongs to God and not men.

Men like to idolise preachers. We see how the mega churches idolise their “pastor”. They are there to see and hear them and not the word of God. And their “pastors” love the attention they are receiving. “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:18).

When Satan tempted Jesus to bow down and worship him, Jesus responded, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Matthew 4:10). The devil knew from that day that not many would bow down to worship him and so he sends out his little devils and dressed them up as ministers of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:15).

Worship is to please God and not men. But many today go to church to feel good. And the devil is in the business to please men. He knows how to please men as long as they are drawn away from God. "We like it this way" or "it sounds good" or “It makes me feel good” and the list goes on. When folks say things like that, it is pretty evident that they have no desire to please God in their worship! But the scripture says that “For even Christ pleased not himself” (Romans 15:3). Christ’s desire is to please God.

Let us not idolise any preacher or anyone. Worship belongs only to God. Let us worship God when we come to church (John 4:24).

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.