è Correct, God does not share his “glory” with another (Isa.42:8). “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I have created for my glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him” (Isa.43:7, cf. 46:13; 48:11; 49:3; Gal.3:26-29). **These passages tell us that “Israel” and believers represent God’s glory. God will not share his people with another god or with carved images. God hates polytheism. He is glorified by his people who worship him alone. This is one way Jesus glorified God (Jn.17:3-4).

è Does prayer equal worship of deity? No. Does praying to Jesus mean that Jesus is God? No. The Bible says Jesus is a “mediator,” so believers may cry out (pray) to Jesus for help in personal affairs. “For God is one, and there is one mediator of God and of men, the man Christ Jesus” (1Tim.2:5). The man Jesus is the only mediator between God and mankind. It is proper to highly honor, even worship, God’s highly exalted son (Phil.2:9; 1Jn.2:23). But various degrees of “worship” exist.

OT-NT WORSHIP: Bow down as before a monarch or superior, show respect, do obeisance, give glory, esteem, be reverent, give praise, serve, venerate, to kiss (as dog licking a hand), to throw a kiss, to fawn or crouch, prostrate, do homage, adore.

è Jesus does not have to be “equal to God” to accept praise and worship. The truth is that Jesus is NOT equal to God. He said so! Jesus is a lesser being. The Father is greater than Jesus. “…If you loved me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for my father is greater than I” (Jn.14:28b). One who is sent is not greater than he who sent him (Jn.13: 16). “My father, who has giventhem to me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of my father’s hand” (Jn.10:29). It is a mistake to assume that Jesus has to be “equal” with God to accept worship and praise (Matt.4:10; Jn.3:36; Phil.2:9; Rev.22:9).

è Is it proper to pray to Jesus? I believe prayer to Jesus is appropriate at times (1Cor.1:2), but formal and normative prayers should be directed toward God, identified as the Father. “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord [Yahweh] shall be saved” (Rom.10:13; cf. Isa.29:43). Believers should direct their prayers to the Father as did Jesus and pray in Jesus’ name. "Whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (Jn.14:13). “Now it came to pass, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, that one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.’ So he said to them, ‘When you pray, say: ‘Our father in heaven…’ ” (Lk.11:1-2a). Since God gave Jesus authority over all flesh(Matt.28:18-20; Jn.17:2; Jn.3:35), you will not be condemned for praying to the Christ. Stephen: “…and they were stoning Stephen, calling and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’ ” (Acts 7:59, YLT). He did not call upon God but he may have known Jesus personally and loved him.

I think it is wrong to shamelessly use grammatical tricks (God is one, but God is two persons; God is a family of gods) to establish doctrine and then teach it. Pastor F. Paul Haney -END-

BARNA REPORT-Five Years Later: 9/11 Attacks Show No Lasting Influence on Americans’ Faith 8/28, 2006

(Ventura, CA) – As theUnited States nears the fifth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Americans are looking back at how their lives have changed in the half decade since that tumultuous day. How have their spiritual lives been affected? A new study by The Barna Group examined data from nine national surveys, involving interviews with more than 8,600 adults, conducted right before the attacks and at regular intervals since then. The study shows that despite an intense surge in religious activity and expression in the weeks immediately following 9/11 the faith of Americans is virtually indistinguishable today compared to pre-attack conditions. Barna’s tracking surveys looked at 19 dimensions of spirituality and beliefs. Remarkably, none of those 19 indicators are statistically different from the summer before the attacks! (This means that the small gaps in percentage points—when they exist—are not larger than the random differences that might be expected because of using a sample of Americans rather a census.) The research explored three areas of religious activity, five indicators of religious belief, three pertaining to spiritual commitment, and eight related to faith identity. The most recent measurements for all of those indicators of faith are virtually identical to the norms prior to September 11, 2001.

A Temporary Surge: In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, half of all Americans said their faith helped them cope with the shock and uncertainty. The change most widely reported was a significant spike in church attendance, with some churches experiencing more than double their normal crowd on the Sunday after the shocking event. However, by the time January 2002 rolled around, churchgoing was back to pre-attack levels, and has remained consistent in the five years since. Other religious behaviors, if they were affected at all, found equilibrium even more quickly. As of October 2001, Americans’ engagement in Bible reading and prayer was no different than pre-attack levels and has been essentially consistent from that point on. Altering Beliefs: Less publicized was the fact that several religious beliefs shifted right after the attack. But these changes were also short-lived, returning to pre-9/11 conditions by early 2002. © The Barna Group, Ltd, 2006.