Angel worship

Colossians 2:18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind

Do you believe in angels? Sometimes we get mixed up in what we (and others) believe about the existence of angels over what we (and others) believe about God Himself. The Bible is very clear that angels are real, but they are not meant to be the focus of our attention. They’re just the messengers. (Revelation 19:10)

The truth is, however, we can start to think more about angels watching over us (as evidenced by so many bumper stickers) than we think about our heavenly Father who watches over us. It’s He who sends the angels to guard us. (Psalm 91:11-12) They’re just doing the job they were sent to do. So why do we stop short of worshiping God for how He loves us and worship instead the means by which He shows us?

Idolizing angels isn’t a new concept. Apparently it was a big enough issue to cause Paul to bring it up in his letter to the Colossians. He warned them about only following sound doctrine and staying away from teachers who say that the way to God is through self-deprivation and angel worship, as well as going on about visions (but that’s another whole subject for another series!).

The point is that God alone is worthy of our worship. It’s right to believe that angels are real and that God uses them to carry out His plans, but it’s not ok to worship the messenger rather than the Sender. To God alone be the glory.