THREAT TO BOW DOWN

There are problems with this bowing down business. The first problem being that we would analyze bowing down instead of bowing down. To analyze it is to resist it (like fasting and giving). It is often easier to talk about it than to do it. Next, is when the practice of bowing down is turned into a threat. It has been my experience to hear the passages on bowing down issued as a threat and a demand from many well-meaning but ill-informed persons for years. For example, Isaiah says, “I have sworn by Myself, the word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness and shall not return, that unto Me every knee will bow and every tongue shall swear allegiance” (45:23). From this thought of ‘every knee bowing and every tongue confessing’ (see Romans 14:10; Philippians 2:10) is issued as a threat to any who have not yet bowed down and not yet confessed. As we hear so often from some frustrated person, ‘Well, you’ll see, one of these days every knee will bow and every tongue will confess, you’ll see, you’ll see.’ This is not true bowing. It is a true threat.

“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” Jesus