I hear this during my school chapel every week. i'm not a christan so i'm confused by what they say. so here i am to clarify. they say stuff like "man's empty praise" then whats the use of praising God? if its empty? i also hear stuff like "God created us to bring glory to his name". if thats what God wanted, why create us? could he have made a robot which would praise him 24/7? dosent it sound selfish? and why do christians say they are a good "Christ-fearing man"? if Christ is son of God, why be afraid?
2006-09-02 02:51:05 · 24 answers · asked by crucio2_2005 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some good points here.
The "empty" praise is about going through the motions, praising God with everyone else at church, but not having a true love for God in your heart. Simply saying "I love you" to god, or anyone else, without having that love within you. Like it's just a "taken for granted" saying.
He created us to bring glory to His name, because we are created in His image. Praising Him for who He is, with love in our hearts, give Him glory. If you thank someone for cooking a good meal, that person receives your heart felt love and praise. You gave them glory for what they did. God didn't create us as robots who praise Him 24/7, because that would not be heart felt love and gratitude. To be love, it has to be freely given, not demanded.
A "Christ-fearing" or "God-fearing" person means that person respects God and His principles and commandments, not that they are emotionally "afraid". It simply means "respect".
2006-09-02 03:11:19 · answer #1 · answered by Bill Mac 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a number of questions, most of which would come to light if you took a little time every day and did just read your Bible, even if you don't believe it, it is good literature.
Most Christians don't want to admit this, but the Bible teaches that just before the return of Christ to this world, the church will fall away from God into what is called the "apostate church" or in another place in the Bible "the luke warm church". That is what the church is in to today. There are 4 characteristics of the lukewarm church given in 1 Corinthians 10 and one of those is that the church in its apostate days will become a "singing church" That is what has happened in the last 40 years or so. The church is full of Bible ignorance because all Christians want to do is sing and praise God. Now Christians are realizing how deficient they are in Bible truth and how much this music is just "lip service" to God and as no reality in for this life. So phrases like you mention are becoming common as the church realizes its short comings.
As to the fear of God, read Hebrews chapters 10-12 on your own and realize what the fear of God really means.
2006-09-02 10:06:41 · answer #2 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Man's empty praise? I am clueless. God inhabits the praise of his people. Praise and prayer is as close as you can get to God here on earth.
Yes God created us to bring glory to his name. Can you have any glory from a unwilling robot? How about people who choose to be willing 24/7 to praise you? That's something. Selfish? God sent his only son to die so you can walk right up to him and say "hiya Dad!" Look in a mirror, You are you not God. God wants you to spend eternity with him. That doesn't sound selfish to me.
We are afraid of God because without Christ we are going to answer to the creators of the universe representing ourselves. Think of some of the natural disasters that have happened over the years. That is not even the wrath of GOD. You cant take a breath outside of the will of God. I call him "Daddy" because of Christ. I know where I stand without Jesus. Nowhere :)
God Bless Ya.
2006-09-02 10:04:12 · answer #3 · answered by Bye Bye 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So a bunch of nonbelievers is trying to clear up your questions about Christianity. Well for all intents and purposes I am a Christian so let me give it a stab here.
Empty praise is just saying I love God without actually meaning it. God created us to bring HIM glory, for years i think we've misinterpreted that passage. If you could create a robot to click around and say "I love you, I love you" all day or you could create a life and let them make up their own minds and say the love you, what would rather? An empty mindless robot or a a creation that truly feels that way? That's why He gave us Choice, he could have made us like the angles that love Him without question but he gave us choice.
Afraid is not "fear" but respect. The man who holds your future in his hands(heaven) should be treated with respect right?.
I can't say I have it all straight either, religion is messed up. But it's not by religion that you will know peace but by faith. Read as many books and talk to as many people as you can and weigh all the evidence and believe that. Don't let a man tell you what to believe, don't let a book tell you. We can feel the truth for ourselves in our hearts and that's what we take to the bank.
Good luck sweety I hope it gets better for you.
2006-09-02 10:07:09 · answer #4 · answered by Alpha Wolf 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Man's empty praise refers to insincerity. True praise of God is the humble recognition of all that He has done for us.
God did not create us so that He might be glorified; He is perfect and infinite, nothing we can do can enlarge or detract from Him. When we praise Him it is we humans who grow and are brought into a fuller relationship with His love. This praise, given by our free will, is vital and deeply enriching.
"Christ-fearing" is an awkward translation of the Greek word used in Scripture. A better translation would be "one who is in awe of Christ", a person who sees the power and glory of Jesus and is greatly moved.
2006-09-02 09:58:17 · answer #5 · answered by Jack Hip 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I hope I can help you without empty answers to your questions. In reffering to empty praise, If you pray to God and do not really meanit it 's empty praise. As far as being created to glorify God He could have created anything and did that glorified Him. Man was made in the image of God and given dominion over everything else that God created. When it comes to Christ fearing people. It is just as if you would fear what your parents would do to you if you break their rules for you. We have rules to follow and consquences for breaking the rules, therefore we are God fearing in that aspect. Other than that we love and obey God and try to do His will. I hope this has helped.
2006-09-02 10:24:14 · answer #6 · answered by wolfy1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
empty praise just means words or actions with no heart to it, like someone telling flattering you just so you would look good to them but not really meaning it, or saying they were sorry but not really meaning it - empty words- just telling you what they think you want to hear.
Why did god not create a robot- well, a robots words and actions would be empty now, wouldn't they- words and actions that had no meaning and no heart behind them. God created us to have fellowship, a relationship with him- have you ever tried having a relationship with a robot- they only tell you what you program them to say . God gave us a choice to follow Him and love and trust Him. He would prefer that we do but He will not force us. Like our children- we want them to obey because they love and trust us, not because they are mindless, heartless robots.
And God- fearing or Christ fearing Christians- we are not to have a dread type fear but a respect and reverence for the Lord. He wants a relationship with us but we need to recognize that he is not common- He is holy and divine and we are not His equal- it is a fear that understands the authority, holiness and power of God.
2006-09-02 10:05:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Empty praise: going through the motions without any real feeling or conviction: doing it to make yourself look good in front of others; doing it with an ulterior motive, usually to benefit yourself. I hate when someone praises me and I know it's false, don't you?
I am thankful God didn't create me as if I were a robot! Man is the one who will force others to praise him, worship him, follow him. Just look at history. Selfishness would be for God to force you to praise and worship Him. He gave you free will, to make your own choice.
God-fearing is in reference to respect. I love God, I respect Him. He created me and He loved me (and the whole world) so much, He sent His only begotten Son to save me. His Word lays it all out. One day Christ will return and noone will have an excuse for denying Him. If a person finds themselves in hell, it is because they made that choice. God does not send people to hell. Let me ask you this: you're young, but one day you'll met someone. Do you want this someone to force you to love them?, or do you want someone who will give their love to you freely and receive the love you have for them freely?
2006-09-02 10:12:43 · answer #8 · answered by Saved 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We all need to believe in something because we are just here for a short while and none of us are smart enough to understand life,how it began,and the limits of the universe. Some like science ,others like jesus,others are jewish, and then there are the buddist. We are stupid ignorant and immature but our egos will never admit it so we had to create an ordered world where everything is explained and there is a mighty force watching over us. I respect their reality and don't argue because if they want to see what they see who am I to tell them they are blind?I'm no authority and I don't know any thing either . So is it better to pretend to know or admit you don't know? The pretenders have more followers and make more money while I travel the road less traveled.
2006-09-02 10:03:35 · answer #9 · answered by super stud 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the bible says to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Christ is equal part love and wrath, as the book of Revelation says. after he has raised his people in the rapture he is going to come back again with a great army and destroy the people who rejected him. the bible says the road to hell is wide and many people choose it, but the road to heaven is narrow and not many find it.
every created thing in heaven has seen God in on way or another. he wanted to make a people that would be live in him first without seeing him. these people will be given the ultimate reward by being exalted in heaven over every other created thing. God says that we will be given authority over angels.
now mans empty praise means people who say their the greatest Christians when their in church, but when they leave they forget about God until next sunday
2006-09-02 10:07:22 · answer #10 · answered by onefatwhiteguy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋