Home > Religious studies and theology essays > The way prayer can ultimately be untruthful and impure

Essay: The way prayer can ultimately be untruthful and impure

Essay details and download:

  • Subject area(s): Religious studies and theology essays
  • Reading time: 6 minutes
  • Price: Free download
  • Published: 15 September 2019*
  • File format: Text
  • Words: 1,651 (approx)
  • Number of pages: 7 (approx)

Text preview of this essay:

This page of the essay has 1,651 words. Download the full version above.

Religion, the study of theology and the bible revolve around a personal relationship between man and God, although it is difficult to differentiate between true and false worship. Religious texts, stories and passages all relate to one’s ancestry and the question of heritage, roots and where a person really comes from. Is the idea of praying and developing a spiritual connection with God always considered to be genuine? Worshipping or bowing down to a greater being are simple ways people in today’s society perform religious acts. Often, distinguishing true worship from the idea of false worship can be incongruent. It can be seen in the book of Exodus, more specifically, Chapter 32 that the Israelites begin to practice this “false” worship. The Golden Calf of Israel was built and religious practices were altered during this time. Through the use of certain literary elements such as structure and tradition, this essay will bring into question the way prayer can ultimately be untruthful and impure.

     Prayer is an encounter with God initiated by God in which we humbly communicate and worship him. Body language can be an expressive way of showing our inner spirit. Some visit religious institutions such as churches, temples or synagogues to pray while others do so from a mat in their homes. Overall, this worship is to an almighty being, our eternal God. Worship can become a way of life and develop into rituals, religious practices and even offerings or sacrifices. Idols can be used and religious symbols can be worn and become of strong importance. Often times people confess sins and transgressions and even ask God to fulfill needs and desires. Looking at the Bible, religious figures that communicate with God engage in a variety of positions when they pray. There really is that there is no required position stated in the bible for prayer although certain postures and positions can be useful while praying. They can help us express humility when we encounter God. All prayer should be directed towards our eternal God and we can pray to one or even many Gods, but according to the Bible, even if we have multiple Gods, they are all one. To be one with God is to know that God is one.

     In general, there are two types of false worship in the Bible: worshiping the false God and worshipping the true God in a false or unpleasing way. A clear example can be seen through the story of the Golden Calf of Israel (Exodus 32:1). In this passage, the people of Israel are waiting on Moses to come down from Mount Sinai, where God is supposed to be giving him the tablets of the Ten Commandments. After waiting for forty days and forty nights, (which is denoted as a long period of time) Aaron tells the Israelites to come and make Gods who will go before them. This is a violation of true worship and the questioning of God’s presence. Firstly, the Israelites are obviously disobeying God’s commandments. Their relationship with him is so crucial, seeing his hand in bringing them out of Egypt. The people of Israel questioned that God really existed and constructed a golden calf that they would worship. Upon Moses’ return, he was put in a position where he had to ask for forgiveness from God. Moses’ authority in seen here when God forces him to go through the camp and tell the Levites they must each kill their brother, friend and neighbour. The people are also struck by a plague because of what they did. Moses pleads for the Lord’s guidance throughout this journey. The people of Israel then transition to renew the covenant between them and their crucial relationship with God.

     Chapter 32 in Exodus introduces several aspects of the situation that the people of Israel faced before Mount Sinai. Moses was the one to bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt. This does not mean that the Jewish people did not believe God intervened in the exit from Egypt. Actually, God proved himself with many acts towards the people of Israel such as the parting of the Red Sea during their escape and the closing of the sea onto the Egyptians, Pharoah and his army. The main issue was not with Moses and his leadership but the fact that Moses was absent when God instructed him to collect the ten commandments from Mount Sinai. True leadership always belonged to God but this was exercised the trough Moses and due to his departure, the Israelites could no longer see clearly. Before the conversation between God and Moses in the mountain, it is stated in the bible that Moses “stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights” (Exodus 24:18). This means that it was a long period of time. The people of Israel truly lost their direct connection with God (through Moses) for such a long time that they lost their peace. It was difficult for them to remain patient. This evidently does not justify their actions although it does explain how they were feeling and gives them a motive.

     The Golden Calf of Israel was built using gold, collected from the people of Israel by Aaron. Aaron states to Moses that “they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf” (Exodus 32:24). This statement by Moses made the situation much worse between himself, God and Moses. It is apparent that this is not what occurred during the building of the calf. Aaron tells the Israelites “Come, make us gods, who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” (Exodus 32:1). Aaron has decided that he is finished waiting and that it is time to make their own God(s). This brings into question that Aaron may have manipulated the Israelites and brought forth this idea of false worship. The Israelites begin to recognize this calf as their own God. This develops into a new meaning for the Israelites seeing that the calf may have adopted the role of Moses- their connection with God. It can also be interpreted that this novel figure (the Golden Calf) was simply a new deity for them. The Israelites were seen to have “bowed down to it and sacrificed to it” (Exodus 32:8 NIV). The Good News translation is: “have worshiped it and offered sacrifices to it” (Exodus 32:8 GNB). In another literal translation, the main meaning is the same “they offered burnt offering and brought near peace offerings” (Exodus 32:8 LITV). It is not seen in the bible that the people of Israel really worshiped Moses in the same way they did the calf. Thus, it is difficult to defend the interpretation that the calf was accepted as a new Moses, rather than a new god or goddess.

     Whether worshipping false gods, or falsely worshiping the true God, the people of Israel were not practicing proper worship. Moses learns about the disobedience of his people and upon return, he accuses them of what they have done, which helps cleanse them (Exodus 32:27-28). The calf is destroyed and the people drink the grounded powder of the calf. Moses is attempting to reconcile the relationship with God although there is still punishment for the sin that was committed. Exodus 32 ends with a plague that is struck upon the people of Israel. Eventually, God does show his mercy and the broken tablets with The Ten Commandments are written again as seen in Chapter 34 of Exodus.

     A central key idea that has various meanings throughout history is the topic of worship.

True worship can be defined by the priority we place on who God is in our lives and where God is on our list of priorities. True worship is found within a person’s heart and expressed through a lifestyle of holiness. Worship can be linked to adoring, idolizing, esteeming worthy, reverence or even homage. Truly defining worship is a daunting task as worshipping is both an attitude as well as an act.

     Having a biblical theology of worship is important. It is important to understand that not everything that is called “worship” is actually worship. This lesson was learned in the very beginning through the story of Cain and Abel. Both Cain and Abel brought sacrifices to the Lord, but “the Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor” (Genesis 4:4–5). Cain’s main problem besides jealousy, stubbornness, and murderous rage was the fact that he lacked a proper theology of worship. Cain brought an unacceptable sacrifice to the Lord and demanded that the Lord be pleased.

   It was taught that “man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever” (Westminster Catechism 1647). God is the creator and redeemer of the world and calls for worship of humankind. Human salvation deals with this communion between people and God. The first commandment is to worship the Lord God alone (Exodus 20). The content of this worship towards our almighty being is total devotion: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).

     The Golden Calf of Israel is developed as an idol and demonstrates the epitome of human nature to act out and rebel. Universal human condition is known to worship the creator as well as the creature. Nonetheless, God redeems the Israelites and shows mercy towards them. Worship can be defined through the Shema which is an important prayer that is specifically commanded in the Torah. It brings into importance the idea of God and the fact that he is the one we are to worship. The first part of the Shema begins with the most fundamental expression of Jewish belief- “Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One” (Deuteronomy 6:4).

...(download the rest of the essay above)

About this essay:

If you use part of this page in your own work, you need to provide a citation, as follows:

Essay Sauce, The way prayer can ultimately be untruthful and impure. Available from:<https://www.essaysauce.com/religious-studies-and-theology-essays/2017-3-27-1490635664/> [Accessed 26-03-24].

These Religious studies and theology essays have been submitted to us by students in order to help you with your studies.

* This essay may have been previously published on Essay.uk.com at an earlier date.