Why?

[Dream]

Why does God really care if we worship Him or not? He is all powerful and all good, so what difference would it really make to Him if I worship Him or not.

I know obviously that it does me good, but what does God really gain from it?

 

[Carrye]

Why does God really care if we worship Him or not? He is all powerful and all good, so what difference would it really make to Him if I worship Him or not.

I know obviously that it does me good, but what does God really gain from it?

DT, your questions amaze me (and that's a very, very good thing)!

1) God cares if we worship Him because it's due to Him. It is his right as the Creator. Creatures owe their Creator for their very being, and as such, each according to their kind, they owe worship.

2) Our worship does nothing to change God, but it changes us. It is for our own good, not for God's. But we honor God when we worship Him. It's not that God is honored by us, but we preserve God's honor when we worship. This honor goes back to the point about God being the Creator and us being the creatures.

 

[Dream]

DT, your questions amaze me (and that's a very, very good thing)!

1) God cares if we worship Him because it's due to Him. It is his right as the Creator. Creatures owe their Creator for their very being, and as such, each according to their kind, they owe worship.

I agree completely that it is due to Him and we do owe Him worship. But it almost sounds as if God is insecure. He is all powerful and all good, but yet He still wants us to worship Him. Of course it's due to Him, but I wouldn't think it would bother Him if we chose not to worship and praise God's name.

2) Our worship does nothing to change God, but it changes us. It is for our own good, not for God's. But we honor God when we worship Him. It's not that God is honored by us, but we preserve God's honor when we worship. This honor goes back to the point about God being the Creator and us being the creatures.

Yes, I agree. Worshiping God does more for us than it does for Him.

 

[Carrye]

But it almost sounds as if God is insecure. He is all powerful and all good, but yet He still wants us to worship Him. Of course it's due to Him, but I wouldn't think it would bother Him if we chose not to worship and praise God's name.

God's not insecure, as He has nothing to be insecure about. He is God, there is no other. All Powerful, Loving, Good, Kind, True, etc., etc., etc. He wants us to worship Him because of what it does for us, namely: Friendship with God is what we were created for.

Does He mind if we choose not to worship Him? Yes, but not because it changes who He is. In failing to worship Him, we are failing in our friendship with Him, and thus going against the very reason for our creation. God created us out of pure love, and that act requires a response. Our response is worship.

 

[Michelina]

DT, God DESIRES our Love. Worship is an aspect of our Love.

It is one of the most profound of all revelations that God really desires our Love. The proof of that is within you and me: we all desire Love, to give Love and receive it. Our natures reflect His. God, in His inmost Being, is Love. Cf: the Trinitarian perechoresis.

If you want to delve into this, read St. Faustina's writings. They'll knock your socks off.

 

[Sacha Saint Francis]

CL Skinner, you are just a wealth of wisdom! I couldn't have said it better myself.

I would however, like to add something DreamTheater, if I may.

That our relationship with our Almighty Creator is also just that, a relationship. And as you would know from any relationships you have here on earth, they cannot exist without communication. Without communication, your relationships DIE.

"Worship" is how we communicate with God. We can ommit worship if we want, but to our own detriment, and to that of the relationship. You can imagine having a friend who just asks and asks and asks for stuff all the time!
Anyway, so that's my take on it.

Ooooh yes, and also it helps us phsycologically, to be more positive! (Worshipping God, regardless of circumstances is like seeing the glass as half full - worship makes us focus on the good things in the world).

Have a lovely dovely day!
Sacha