From Divine Adoration to Human Reverence

Exploring the Notion of Worship in the Life and Teachings of Jesus

Introduction

Worship is a concept that has shaped spirituality and religious practice for millennia. Traditionally, worship is directed towards the divine—an act of reverence, adoration, and devotion to a higher power. In Christianity, worship of Jesus has long been a central tenet. Yet, a provocative perspective invites us to consider: What if Jesus did not require worship for himself, but rather pointed humanity toward a higher form of reverence for each other? How might this shift in focus transform our understanding of spirituality, community, and the essence of what it means to be truly human?

This essay explores the idea that Jesus does not require worship, and that what truly matters is the spirit of mutual reverence and love among people. Through an examination of scriptural teachings, philosophical reflections, and modern interpretations, we will consider how worship, when redefined as honoring the sacred in each other, might fulfill the deeper message at the heart of Jesus’ life and teachings.

The Traditional Role of Worship in Christianity

The act of worship, in its familiar form, is woven into the fabric of Christian tradition. Singing hymns, kneeling in prayer, and gathering in sacred spaces are expressions of devotion to God and, by extension, to Jesus as the divine Son. For centuries, Christians have been taught to “worship the Lord your God, and serve him only” (Luke 4:8), with Jesus himself being the focus of adoration in countless churches across the world.

However, even within the Christian scriptures, there are moments that suggest a different emphasis—a focus not solely on personal veneration, but on relationships, service, and the dignity of every person. Jesus is frequently depicted as pointing away from himself and toward the needs of others: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). Such teachings challenge the idea that Jesus sought worship for his own sake.

Jesus and the Question of Worship

A close reading of the Gospels reveals that Jesus rarely, if ever, directly commands people to worship him. Rather, he consistently redirects attention from himself to the calling of love, compassion, and justice. His ministry is filled with acts of humility: washing his disciples’ feet, reaching out to the marginalized, and inviting everyone to the table of fellowship.

In John 13:34, Jesus gives a new commandment: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” This directive is remarkable not only for its content but for its context. It comes not at a moment of triumph, but just before his crucifixion—a time when he could have asserted his divinity and demanded worship. Instead, he chooses the path of service, signaling that the highest form of devotion may lie not in adoration, but in imitation.

The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) further underscores this idea. When asked what it means to live out the law, Jesus does not instruct the scholar to worship him; he tells a story of radical compassion and concludes, “Go and do likewise.” Here, the implication is clear: the divine is encountered in acts of love toward others, not in ritualistic worship alone.

Worship as Mutual Reverence

If we accept the premise that Jesus did not require worship for himself, what then becomes of worship? Can worship be reimagined as a mutual act—one in which we honor the divine image in each other?

To worship, in its most essential sense, is to recognize and respond to something sacred. While traditional religion localizes this sacredness in the divine, Jesus’ teachings often universalize it, locating the sacred within every person. When he insists that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31), he binds together the vertical axis of spirituality (toward the divine) and the horizontal axis of relationality (toward others).

This line of thought is echoed by many theologians and philosophers. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor and resister, wrote that “the Christ exists in community.” For Bonhoeffer, the presence of Jesus is not found merely in solitary acts of devotion, but in the experience of living together, forgiving, and serving one another. Similarly, in other traditions, such as Buddhism and Humanism, the highest reverence is expressed through compassion and respect for all beings.

Thus, to “worship each other” is not to idolize one another, but to honor the fundamental dignity and worth that resides in every person. It is to treat each other with the sacred respect that we so often reserve for the divine.

Practical Implications for Spirituality and Community

If this radical reinterpretation is embraced, the implications for spiritual practice and community life are profound. Gatherings would become less about performing rituals directed at a distant deity and more about fostering authentic relationships. Churches and other communities of faith would transform into spaces where people come to heal, to listen, and to bear one another’s burdens.

This approach does not negate the power of traditional worship, but it enriches it. Singing, praying, and liturgy are not ends in themselves, but vehicles to deepen our capacity for love and empathy. The ancient words, “where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20), take on new meaning: the sacred presence is most fully realized in connection, dialogue, and shared life.

On a personal level, this philosophy calls us to a daily practice of reverence—not just in moments of prayer, but in every encounter. To “worship” another is to listen deeply, to forgive generously, to serve quietly, and to see the other not as an object, but as a living image of the sacred.

Challenges and Critiques

This perspective is not without its challenges. Traditionalists may argue that it undermines the unique status of Jesus or weakens the transcendence of God. Others may caution that mutual reverence can degenerate into relativism or the idolization of humanity.

Yet, these critiques can be addressed by clarifying that honoring the sacred in each other does not exclude reverence for the divine—it fulfills it. Jesus himself teaches that “whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.” The boundary between worship of God and love of neighbor is, in his vision, permeable and dynamic.

Moreover, reorienting worship toward each other is not a call to self-exaltation, but to humility. It is a commitment to see beyond surface differences and to honor the mysterious presence of the sacred in every person, especially those who are marginalized, misunderstood, or rejected.

Conclusion

The idea that Jesus does not require worship, but instead calls us to worship each other, is both radical and deeply resonant with his life and teachings. To live in this way is to move beyond narrow definitions of piety and to embrace a spirituality that is embodied, relational, and transformative.

In reimagining worship, we are invited to see every human being as a living sanctuary—a place where the sacred dwells. This is not merely a theological abstraction, but a practical ethic that can shape our lives, our communities, and our world. When we honor each other, we honor the deepest meaning of Jesus’ message: that love is the highest form of devotion, and that true worship is found not in the adoration of one, but in the reverence of all.

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Norman R. Van Etten