Have you encountered non-believing friends or family members who think it's wrong or unreasonable for God to demand praise and worship from people? Don't worry – read on.
For non-believers, praising and worshipping God is a ridiculous thing. We were once like them: a people who relied on our own strengths to achieve great things, a people who used our wits to finish our tasks, and a people who would credit all our achievements to ourselves. After all, we worked hard for it, right?
For this reason, many non-believers, if not all, think God is unreasonable to demand praise from people. Don't be offended, dear brother or sister in Christ. We used to be like that. We should know better. We know that apart from God we're nothing, but non-believers don't know that.
Knowing Better
Romans 15:1-3 tells us, "We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn't live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, 'The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.'"
So how do we respond to non-believing friends who think God is unreasonably demanding praise? Here are some ideas.
1. The Inventor Approach
Isn't it ironic that inventions somehow give glory to their inventors, but creatures fail to give glory to God the Creator? Think about it.
If we ask anybody as to who made the iPhone, it's likely that that person will point to Steve Jobs and Apple. If we ask people who developed Windows and Microsoft, it's very likely they will answer Bill Gates. Same logic applies. God created man and everything that was made (see Genesis 1).
"All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." (John 1:3)
"The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known." (Psalm 19:1-2)
2. The Authority Approach
Everybody tends to honour whoever they deem is in authority. When the leader of a nation passes by, people bow to him and respect him. In our workplace, a good boss is honoured by his workers (hopefully). Why don't we honour the King of kings and Lord of lords, the One who reigns over all the earth and all creation?
"Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:15-16)
"He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honour and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:8-11)
3. The Worthiness Approach
Many of us tend to laud or praise people we find worthy of it. Whether it's a celebrity, an athlete we like, the author of a famous book, a person of influence, or pretty much anybody we consider praise-worthy, we often praise them and speak well of them. Why not praise God who created everything that was created, even the people who don't believe Him?
"For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary." (Psalm 96:4-6)
"You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created." (Revelation 4:11)
