I would like to treat this topic by clarifying the meaning of 'worship'. Worship is translated from the Hebrew word 'Shachar', meaning to lower one's body or stretch out with one's face to the ground as a means of showing honour.
It also means to bow humbly, do obeisance or to show reverence.
It is important to note that this practice in Celestial Church involves the forehead touching the ground, especially after the jingling of the bell by a Service Conductor.
This practice makes Celestial Church unique among the Christian Community as well as among the white garment Churches.
Christians of other denominations have asked questions such as:
Must you guys bow down before your worship to God can be acceptable to him,
Why is your worship pattern different from that of other Christians,
How did you even come about this practice,
Are you people associated with Islam they also bow down their heads?
The questions are endless.
Some of our critics have even taken John 4 verse 24 as a basis to argue that acceptable worship is only a thing of the mind and spirit and not just the observance of a specific routine worship pattern.
They also claim that since bowing down in Christian worship cannot be traced to the old testament era, Jesus Ministry and the Apostolic era, there is no basis for such practice in the Bible and is therefore unacceptable.
How should one approach this issue as a member of the Church?
First, bowing down in worship was not a practice in Celestial Church in the early time of her existence. It only came later on as a divine injunction.
The founder's testimony to this reads thus:
"This came through me seven years after the birth of the Church. I was in a trance......and we....... knelt down touching our forehead to the floor and said 'Holy, Holy, Holy to the Lord of Hosts', the bell ringing three times"
This is how it formed part of our service of worship in Celestial Church of Christ (CCC Constitution Clause 85, Page 26).
Hence, this is a heavenly practice descended to the earth through Celestial Church. The book of Revelation 11:16 reveals this: "And the four and twenty elders which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces and worshiped God" Also read Isaiah 6: 1-3.
Therefore, bowing down in worship in Celestial Church is divinely instructed and not man-made.
Hence, ye Celestial, continue to worship steadfastly without doubt, for your worship pattern is divinely ordained.
Continue to flourish in the Celestial glory till we meet again in the next edition.
Brother Seyi Avoseh
Also By Bro Sey Avoseh: Why Celestial Church Members Do Not Wear Footwear While On Garment.
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