What is generally called “Christendom” or “Christian churches” is divided into hundreds of denominations, and thousands of “multi-” and “non-” and “anti-” denominational groups (congregations and loose collections of congregations). All claiming to worship YHWH (Jehovah, God, the Creator, the Father, etc.). And most worshipping the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, either as part of the Trinity, the Godhead, or as an exalted being.
Many of these denominations and various other “christian” groups also worship the human governments, the state, the human rulers of their towns and districts and cities and States and nations.
Why do we say “worship” for this?
The word “worship” as found in most if not virtually all English translations of the Bible is clearly defined in both Hebrew (for the Torah and the Tanakh; Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament).
In Hebrew, there are eight words commonly translated as “worship.” Let’s look at them.
Here are some Hebrew words translated as worship:
Shabach: To shout loudly or command, often used in a call to proclaim God’s greatness.
Yadah: To throw out the hands or to worship with extended hands, inviting surrender to God.
Halal: To praise, celebrate, or boast, encouraging vocal and exuberant praise of God.
Zamar: To play musical instruments, reflecting the use of instruments to glorify God.
Barak: To kneel down, showing worship as an act of humility before God.
Todah: To give thanks or confession, emphasizing worship as a response to God’s actions.
Tehillah: To sing praises, encouraging expression of heart’s song to God.
Taqa: To clap or strike the hands together in praise, signifying joy and celebration in God’s presence.
If we substitute “X” for God in those definitions, we can see that virtually all of these actions can be and are done – even in religious settings – by substituting “government” or “the state” or “the king” or “the Congress!
Think of the numerous patriotic holidays celebrated in the States today: Independence Day, of course (Fourth of July for you heathens out there), President’s Day, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, all have activities that fit in one or more of the Hebrew words’ definitions. When we add the “no-time-off” holidays (like Armed Forces Day, Patriots Day, and more) it is even more obvious.
Moving on to the Greek in the New Testament, we find several also:
Proskuneo: To kiss toward, signifying reverence and homage.
Latreuo: To serve and devote oneself to God.
Sebazomai: To feel awe and reverence.
Eusebeo: To be godly and pious.
Agalliao: To jump for joy or rejoice.
The first two are the most common, by far. Pay homage (bow, praise, etc.) or Proskuneo is one. Serve deity or Latreuo being the second.
We see religious organizations – “churches” or “congregations” or denominations or synods or whatever term – which spend much of their time, even in their assemblies and in the building and maintenance of their meetingplaces, that pay homage to and serve human government. This includes religious groups (the Roman Catholic Church in particular) who once were able to make human governments serve them!
More to the point, many of these churches are acting as agents for the state. They are busy (and twisting the Bible) serving human government as institutions, organzations.
One key example is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The Mormon Church handbook states, “Churches are dedicated for the worship of God and as havens from the cares and concerns of the world. With the exception of current law enforcement officers, the carrying of lethal weapons on church property, concealed or otherwise, is prohibited.” LINK
(We point out that an LDS ward house or meetinghouse or even temple is not a “church.” The building is not supposed to be the “church” – it is the people who assemble there who are the church: the called-out of Christ, the ekklessia (another Greek word badly translated in modern English.)
The LDS General Authorities (those guys in Salt Lake City) believe that the US Constitution is a divine document. Less so than Bible or Book or Mormon, etc. but still divinely-inspired. Yet they want their members and visitors to go unarmed in their meeting places!
The LDS are not alone in this: many States and many religious groups have laws or requirements that everyone (except of course, the Jackbooted Thugs of “law enforcement) be disarmed. Unable to defende themselves, their families, their brothers and sisters in their faith. This is not what the Scriptures (the Bible) teaches. But they would (to contradict the words of the apostle Peter nearly 2000 years ago), tell us “We must obey men rather than God.”
More on this topic later!
About TPOL Nathan
Follower of Christ Jesus (a christian), Pahasapan (resident of the Black Hills), Westerner, Lover of Liberty, Free-Market Anarchist, Engineer, Army Officer, Husband, Father, Historian, Writer, Evangelist. Successor to Lady Susan (Mama Liberty) at TPOL.
The Price of Liberty 
Denominations and liberty
What is generally called “Christendom” or “Christian churches” is divided into hundreds of denominations, and thousands of “multi-” and “non-” and “anti-” denominational groups (congregations and loose collections of congregations). All claiming to worship YHWH (Jehovah, God, the Creator, the Father, etc.). And most worshipping the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, either as part of the Trinity, the Godhead, or as an exalted being.
Many of these denominations and various other “christian” groups also worship the human governments, the state, the human rulers of their towns and districts and cities and States and nations.
Why do we say “worship” for this?
The word “worship” as found in most if not virtually all English translations of the Bible is clearly defined in both Hebrew (for the Torah and the Tanakh; Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament).
In Hebrew, there are eight words commonly translated as “worship.” Let’s look at them.
Here are some Hebrew words translated as worship:
Shabach: To shout loudly or command, often used in a call to proclaim God’s greatness.
Yadah: To throw out the hands or to worship with extended hands, inviting surrender to God.
Halal: To praise, celebrate, or boast, encouraging vocal and exuberant praise of God.
Zamar: To play musical instruments, reflecting the use of instruments to glorify God.
Barak: To kneel down, showing worship as an act of humility before God.
Todah: To give thanks or confession, emphasizing worship as a response to God’s actions.
Tehillah: To sing praises, encouraging expression of heart’s song to God.
Taqa: To clap or strike the hands together in praise, signifying joy and celebration in God’s presence.
If we substitute “X” for God in those definitions, we can see that virtually all of these actions can be and are done – even in religious settings – by substituting “government” or “the state” or “the king” or “the Congress!
Think of the numerous patriotic holidays celebrated in the States today: Independence Day, of course (Fourth of July for you heathens out there), President’s Day, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, all have activities that fit in one or more of the Hebrew words’ definitions. When we add the “no-time-off” holidays (like Armed Forces Day, Patriots Day, and more) it is even more obvious.
Moving on to the Greek in the New Testament, we find several also:
Proskuneo: To kiss toward, signifying reverence and homage.
Latreuo: To serve and devote oneself to God.
Sebazomai: To feel awe and reverence.
Eusebeo: To be godly and pious.
Agalliao: To jump for joy or rejoice.
The first two are the most common, by far. Pay homage (bow, praise, etc.) or Proskuneo is one. Serve deity or Latreuo being the second.
We see religious organizations – “churches” or “congregations” or denominations or synods or whatever term – which spend much of their time, even in their assemblies and in the building and maintenance of their meetingplaces, that pay homage to and serve human government. This includes religious groups (the Roman Catholic Church in particular) who once were able to make human governments serve them!
More to the point, many of these churches are acting as agents for the state. They are busy (and twisting the Bible) serving human government as institutions, organzations.
One key example is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The Mormon Church handbook states, “Churches are dedicated for the worship of God and as havens from the cares and concerns of the world. With the exception of current law enforcement officers, the carrying of lethal weapons on church property, concealed or otherwise, is prohibited.” LINK
(We point out that an LDS ward house or meetinghouse or even temple is not a “church.” The building is not supposed to be the “church” – it is the people who assemble there who are the church: the called-out of Christ, the ekklessia (another Greek word badly translated in modern English.)
The LDS General Authorities (those guys in Salt Lake City) believe that the US Constitution is a divine document. Less so than Bible or Book or Mormon, etc. but still divinely-inspired. Yet they want their members and visitors to go unarmed in their meeting places!
The LDS are not alone in this: many States and many religious groups have laws or requirements that everyone (except of course, the Jackbooted Thugs of “law enforcement) be disarmed. Unable to defende themselves, their families, their brothers and sisters in their faith. This is not what the Scriptures (the Bible) teaches. But they would (to contradict the words of the apostle Peter nearly 2000 years ago), tell us “We must obey men rather than God.”
More on this topic later!
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About TPOL Nathan
Follower of Christ Jesus (a christian), Pahasapan (resident of the Black Hills), Westerner, Lover of Liberty, Free-Market Anarchist, Engineer, Army Officer, Husband, Father, Historian, Writer, Evangelist. Successor to Lady Susan (Mama Liberty) at TPOL.