Hello all, I have a question that I'm not sure how to answer - let me just say that when I say the phrase "praise Jesus" and when I worship the name of Jesus Christ, I am acknowledging all 3 person(s) in God - Colossians 3:17. However, when some Christians say "praise Jesus" are they only worshiping Jesus Christ, thus showing less importance to the Father and the Spirit? Or - when other Christians worship Jesus Christ, are they worshiping The Father through the Son, and also worshiping the Spirit? I just am unsure if others are singling out ONLY Jesus Christ, or if by saying Jesus Christ, they are worshiping the entirety of the Godhead through saying Jesus Christ?
Overall question:
My question focuses on intent of terminology. By saying the phrase "praise Jesus" or "praise God the Father" - is that specific terminology singling out one specific person (of the three person God) in the Godhead, and showing one specific person (of the 3 person Godhead) more honor and praise than another?
OR - when we accept that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are ONE God - is using 'any' terminology going to praise all 3 of them equally? (Example: when we say 'Praise Jesus', will the exclaimed phrase 'Praise Jesus' EQUALLY honor ALL 3 persons in the Godhead? OR - does saying 'Praise Jesus' only honor Jesus Christ, alone, thus excluding the other parts of the Godhead?
AND "is to love and praise Jesus Christ to say you love ALL of God, even though we are just saying we love Christ? OR - is praising the name of Jesus Christ singling out Jesus Christ's person only? thus showing inadequate love and less importance for God the Father and God the Holy Spirit?
A deeper explanation of my question:
In regards to terminology (for example: saying 'praise Jesus' or 'praise God' or 'praise the Holy Spirit')
By using that terminology, I worry that is singling out and targeting one specific person of the three person(s) in the Godhead to praise, and not praising the entire Godhead?
In regards to praising intention and terminology, would the only way to avoid "singling out a person of the Godhead to worship" be to always praise the entirety of the “Godhead” ?
So, terminology speaking - I would only use the terms "praise the Trinity" or "praise God"
- that way, using the terminology of "praise God" instead of using the terminology "praise Jesus" or "praise the Holy Spirit" I am always equally praising God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit as One - I just worry that by saying "praise Jesus" or "praise the Holy Spirit" I am neglecting ALL of God, and singling out just one person of God to worship. But - since I acknowledge God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit all equally as God - I just want to make sure that by saying "praise Jesus" I'm not showing more importance to Jesus, than I am to God the Father. So, would saying "praise God" (God, meaning both Father, Son, and Spirit in One) eliminate the confusion?
Even though I praise Jesus, and I believe that Jesus is the Son of God the Father - I am worried that by praising "only" Jesus, I am neglecting God the Father, and showing Jesus more importance than the Father? I need some clarity to this.
I understand that God the Father has authority over the Son and the Spirit, because God the Father is at the top of the Godhead, and God the Father controls the Son – but both God the Father and God the Son control the Spirit – this I think shows that the Father has more authority over the Son, but that the Father and the Son have more authority over the Spirit, is this true? And, if this is true - that is why I worry that by singling out and only praising Jesus Christ alone, am I neglecting the Father?
Since I worry that when I praise Jesus, that I am neglecting the Father, and showing more importance to Jesus over the Father - however, that might be impossible to do because God the Father is in God the Son, and God the Son (Jesus) is in the Father. I guess my overall question is, "is it okay to say 'thank you Jesus' and to worship 'only Jesus'? Would worshiping only Jesus be neglecting the Father and Spirit? Would worshiping only Jesus be singling out Jesus and showing him more importance and praise than God the Father?
I worry that by giving thanks to 'Jesus' I am singling out a single person of the trinity to give praise to - so that's why I worry if it's okay to praise only Jesus (as a person in God). Would it be more appropriate to say "Thank you God" (by thanking 'God', I am thanking not just one person, but all persons: Father, Son, and Spirit) at the same time, showing equal importance. Whenever I praise Jesus, in my mind, I know I am praising One God (Father, Son, and Spirit) - I just wonder if the terminology I'm using is correct.. Should I not praise only Jesus? Should I say "praise God" instead (so it would target both Father, Son, and Spirit)?
I thought by praising Jesus, I was also praising God the Father equally (since they are One, and Jesus is in the Father, and the Father is in Jesus).
I guess what confuses me is that they are three distinct persons in the Godhead, so I worry I'm singling one out, and giving one person more praise to one than another.
But, when I say 'praise Jesus', I am giving praise to God the Father through Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17). Is that correct? Praising "Jesus Christ" never praising "only" Jesus Christ, it automatically acknowledges both the Father and the Son? I think it is the reality that they are 3 separate persons within one God, and the correct terminology to use that confuses me.
Overall question:
My question focuses on intent of terminology. By saying the phrase "praise Jesus" or "praise God the Father" - is that specific terminology singling out one specific person (of the three person God) in the Godhead, and showing one specific person (of the 3 person Godhead) more honor and praise than another?
OR - when we accept that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are ONE God - is using 'any' terminology going to praise all 3 of them equally? (Example: when we say 'Praise Jesus', will the exclaimed phrase 'Praise Jesus' EQUALLY honor ALL 3 persons in the Godhead? OR - does saying 'Praise Jesus' only honor Jesus Christ, alone, thus excluding the other parts of the Godhead?
AND "is to love and praise Jesus Christ to say you love ALL of God, even though we are just saying we love Christ? OR - is praising the name of Jesus Christ singling out Jesus Christ's person only? thus showing inadequate love and less importance for God the Father and God the Holy Spirit?
A deeper explanation of my question:
In regards to terminology (for example: saying 'praise Jesus' or 'praise God' or 'praise the Holy Spirit')
By using that terminology, I worry that is singling out and targeting one specific person of the three person(s) in the Godhead to praise, and not praising the entire Godhead?
In regards to praising intention and terminology, would the only way to avoid "singling out a person of the Godhead to worship" be to always praise the entirety of the “Godhead” ?
So, terminology speaking - I would only use the terms "praise the Trinity" or "praise God"
- that way, using the terminology of "praise God" instead of using the terminology "praise Jesus" or "praise the Holy Spirit" I am always equally praising God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit as One - I just worry that by saying "praise Jesus" or "praise the Holy Spirit" I am neglecting ALL of God, and singling out just one person of God to worship. But - since I acknowledge God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit all equally as God - I just want to make sure that by saying "praise Jesus" I'm not showing more importance to Jesus, than I am to God the Father. So, would saying "praise God" (God, meaning both Father, Son, and Spirit in One) eliminate the confusion?
Even though I praise Jesus, and I believe that Jesus is the Son of God the Father - I am worried that by praising "only" Jesus, I am neglecting God the Father, and showing Jesus more importance than the Father? I need some clarity to this.
I understand that God the Father has authority over the Son and the Spirit, because God the Father is at the top of the Godhead, and God the Father controls the Son – but both God the Father and God the Son control the Spirit – this I think shows that the Father has more authority over the Son, but that the Father and the Son have more authority over the Spirit, is this true? And, if this is true - that is why I worry that by singling out and only praising Jesus Christ alone, am I neglecting the Father?
Since I worry that when I praise Jesus, that I am neglecting the Father, and showing more importance to Jesus over the Father - however, that might be impossible to do because God the Father is in God the Son, and God the Son (Jesus) is in the Father. I guess my overall question is, "is it okay to say 'thank you Jesus' and to worship 'only Jesus'? Would worshiping only Jesus be neglecting the Father and Spirit? Would worshiping only Jesus be singling out Jesus and showing him more importance and praise than God the Father?
I worry that by giving thanks to 'Jesus' I am singling out a single person of the trinity to give praise to - so that's why I worry if it's okay to praise only Jesus (as a person in God). Would it be more appropriate to say "Thank you God" (by thanking 'God', I am thanking not just one person, but all persons: Father, Son, and Spirit) at the same time, showing equal importance. Whenever I praise Jesus, in my mind, I know I am praising One God (Father, Son, and Spirit) - I just wonder if the terminology I'm using is correct.. Should I not praise only Jesus? Should I say "praise God" instead (so it would target both Father, Son, and Spirit)?
I thought by praising Jesus, I was also praising God the Father equally (since they are One, and Jesus is in the Father, and the Father is in Jesus).
I guess what confuses me is that they are three distinct persons in the Godhead, so I worry I'm singling one out, and giving one person more praise to one than another.
But, when I say 'praise Jesus', I am giving praise to God the Father through Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17). Is that correct? Praising "Jesus Christ" never praising "only" Jesus Christ, it automatically acknowledges both the Father and the Son? I think it is the reality that they are 3 separate persons within one God, and the correct terminology to use that confuses me.
