Praying to Christ by Henry Shultz

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Aug 1, 1912

Praying to Christ

By Henry Shultz

WHO is the owner of the earth? We answer, The Creator. He surely has the first claim upon it. Who was the Creator? The Bible answers, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Gen. 1:1. Centuries later God spoke to his people from the top of Mt. Sinai, saying: "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Ex. 20:11. Did God the Father alone accomplish the work of creation? We answer, No. His Son, who existed before the heavens and the earth were made (Prov. 8:22-31; Micah 5:2; Eph. 1:4-7), was associated with him, and was the active agent in the creative work.

Paul declares of Christ: "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." Col. 1:14. This statement can refer only to Jesus Christ, for it is through his blood that we have redemption. The apostle continues: "Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." Col. 1:15-19. These texts show positively that Jesus Christ existed before the world was, that he was from everlasting to everlasting, and that it was by him that God made the heaven and the earth.

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds." Heb. 1:1, 2. Here we see plainly that the Son of God was the workman who carried out the plan of his Father.

This thought is again expressed in the words: "When he [the Father] bringeth in the First-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him." Now, if Jesus were only a mere man, and had no existence until he was born of Mary in Bethlehem, as some say, it certainly would have been idolatry for all the angels to worship him; but God the Father commanded all the angels to worship his Son, proving that he was more than a mere man—yes, that he was God. Indeed, the Father said to him: "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: they shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail." Heb. 1:1-12.

We see from these statements of the prophets and apostles that God the Father was the architect, and Jesus Christ, who always did the will of the Father, was the workman who created all things. He made the earth, and gave it to man. Ps. 115:16. When man lost this possession through sin, Jesus, the maker, purchased it with his own blood. Hence it is his by creation, and again by purchase, or redemption. Then whose are the heavens and the earth? Again the Word of God answers: "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." Ps. 24:1; 1 Cor. 10:26, 28. This being true, is it not strange that some claiming to be Christians teach that it is idolatry to worship Christ? Since the eternal Father commanded the angels to worship the Son (Heb. 1:6), how much more ought men who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus to worship him! We are commanded to honor the Son even as we honor the Father, and "he that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father." John 5:23. To say that we honor God by praying to him, while at the same time we refuse to worship the Son, is contrary to the Father's commandment, and hence not acceptable worship.

In Rev. 7:9, 10, we read: "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in

their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." Here we find the redeemed in their glorified state, worshiping the Son, even as they worship the Father; and if worship is given to the Son in the future state, how much more ought we to adore him now! God forbid that the time should ever come when we shall cease to worship Christ.

Again we read of a scene in the courts of heaven where Jesus our Lord is represented as a lamb that had been slain. This Lamb took the book that was sealed with seven seals out of the Father's hand to loose its seals. Then the twenty-four elders that were before the throne, yes, and all the angels, fell down and worshiped the Father and the Son. And all the saved gave glory to God and to the Lamb forever and ever, and to this worship of the Father and the Son the four living creatures said, "Amen." Rev. 5:1-14.

God the Father taught us to worship the Son. Heb. 1:6. Christ commanded that we should worship him, even as we do the Father (John 5:23); hence the theory that is being taught by some religionists that it is idolatry to pray to Jesus, is false, and leads men away from God. This theory is certainly a delusion of Satan, and it is so finely spun that many are falling into the trap. May the Lord open the eyes of his children to avoid all such by-roads. My brethren, let us stand by the old landmarks, as laid down by the Lord of glory, by the apostles, by the prophets, and now confirmed unto us by the spirit of prophecy, turning neither to the right nor to the left, praying to the Lord always, and giving thanks to God the Father by him, now and forever.

Lodi, Cal.