Brother Bethel is the most quiet and contented person I know. While preaching to me one day he looked at me straight in the eyes and asked: " Brother Deola, what do you think will happen to most true worshipers if there is no hope of resurrection? Do you think I'll be denying myself of so many worldy pleasure like I'm doing now?" I was still considering the kind of answer to give before Brother Bethel answered his question by himself. The answer he gave me that has since then made me consider so many things and the most important one of them is expressed in the question I posted above. Brother Bethel anwer was: "my brother, I'll not. The reason for all these self denial I'm having right now is because I have hope of resurrection, otherwise I'll enjoy my life to the fullest, like every other people"

Then I wondered: will people ordinarily worship God because they love Him or because of what they stand to gain from Him? If it's confirmed today that once we're dead that's the final, that they will be no reward for doing right or punishment for wrong doing, how many people will you find in church the following Sunday? What does this tell us about the human nature? All these just make kind of think about the relationship between God and man, will man ordinarily love God because of His love or awesomeness?

Man does not love god. Man loves the idea of god. The idea of god embodies all of man's desire for power(omnipotence of god),previlege(the love of god), greed and selfishness(the blessings of god), irresponsibility and accountability(The mercy and forgiveness from god).
You can see that god is custom made for all of man's desires, fears and hopes.
The god we create simply reflect our own inner psyche

Hardeihorllah:

Brother Bethel is the most quiet and contented person I know. While preaching to me one day he looked at me straight in the eyes and asked: " Brother Deola, what do you think will happen to most true worshipers if there is no hope of resurrection? Do you think I'll be denying myself of so many worldy pleasure like I'm doing now?" I was still considering the kind of answer to give before Brother Bethel answered his question by himself. The answer he gave me that has since then made me consider so many things and the most important one of them is expressed in the question I posted above. Brother Bethel anwer was: "my brother, I'll not. The reason for all these self denial I'm having right now is because I have hope of resurrection, otherwise I'll enjoy my life to the fullest, like every other people"

God is not against your enjoyment. It's a matter of choice . What counts is for you to fulfill your purpose. Self denial has nothing to do with resurection. Faith in the work of christ and gift of eternal life grants hope of resurrection .

Denial must be of faith and not necessity.

And what's the meaning of living life to the fullest?

Having a s.ex addiction, being a drunkard and/or clubbing every night?

Becoming an armed robber?

So what if he's still not a christian, "lives life to the fullest" but still develops a health condition that makes it mandatory for him to make lifestyle modifications.

And what about people who lived life to the fullest but whose lives were still cut short by one thing or another.

My point is anything can happen regardless if you're pemanently in church or permanently out of church.

Vanity upon vanity, all is vanity.

Hardeihorllah:

Brother Bethel is the most quiet and contented person I know. While preaching to me one day he looked at me straight in the eyes and asked: " Brother Deola, what do you think will happen to most true worshipers if there is no hope of resurrection? Do you think I'll be denying myself of so many worldy pleasure like I'm doing now?" I was still considering the kind of answer to give before Brother Bethel answered his question by himself. The answer he gave me that has since then made me consider so many things and the most important one of them is expressed in the question I posted above. Brother Bethel anwer was: "my brother, I'll not. The reason for all these self denial I'm having right now is because I have hope of resurrection, otherwise I'll enjoy my life to the fullest, like every other people"

Then I wondered: will people ordinarily worship God because they love Him or because of what they stand to gain from Him? If it's confirmed today that once we're dead that's the final, that they will be no reward for doing right or punishment for wrong doing, how many people will you find in church the following Sunday? What does this tell us about the human nature? All these just make kind of think about the relationship between God and man, will man ordinarily love God because of His love or awesomeness?

Interesting question. It appears that your friend is pretty honest about his reasons. What are your own reasons for worshiping this God of yours?
You may also consider that secular humanists who feel that there will be no ultimate eternal reward etc keep doing good deeds and at the same time try to hold people responsible for their actions while they have the time on this earth to do so. Isn't that the better approach given the absence of evidence of any heaven or hell?

[size=13pt]^{People worship GOD because they pretend to love him and the presence of fear i could finish whoever that doesn't worship him after reading about him ( GOD ) from the bible and other religious books . he doesn't deserve any service from human beings not talking of animals .}
[/size]

seems like your friend is following religion. following the lord does not mean you cannot enjoy yourself. you can drink all the wine you want. it says in ecclesiastes 7 vs 7 that surely oppression makes a wise man mad. everyone in this world today is oppressed if you are not part of the ruling oligarchs. especially in nigeria. if you are a wise man, this gets you mad and angry. if you are mad and angry this will lead to a heavy heart. which leads to proverbs 31 vs 6 which states that give beer and wine to those with heavy heart. see i just made a biblical case for why you can get your drink on 

[size=13pt]^{I huge u should stop spoiling this thread with your so many bible quotations . . . . I'll drink as much as i can and nothing would happen to me -- Your GOD is too dead to dare the DEVIL inside me .} [/size]

you cannot ""love""  God. however, you can revere God just like you would rever your mother for giving birth to you. (however one can also love ones mother becasue she is material, i.e. she can be felt touched and emotionally attached).  love is only for material things. God represents creation and the other forces that govern this Universe. therefore, the concept must be revered and respected.

[size=13pt]<sup>Brother there's no need to ' love ' GOD hence he doesn't care or love us either . You are a Pagan i believe u should known that gods is different from GOD , the so called imaginary guy that have been described in so many religious law books . GOD is equals to Vanity and emptiness . gods is equals to NATURE . but the Christians are trying to replace their so called GOD in the place of NATURE.

Furthermore, the vast majority of theistic Satanists do not derive their theology solely from Christianity but look to various non-Christian sources too, both more ancient and more modern. And, for those who remain Satanists for more than a few years, Satanism is much more than just rebellion against Christianity.</sup> [/size]

PAGAN 9JA:

you cannot ""love""  God. however, you can revere God just like you would rever your mother for giving birth to you. (however one can also love ones mother becasue she is material, i.e. she can be felt touched and emotionally attached).  love is only for material things. God represents creation and the other forces that govern this Universe. therefore, the concept must be revered and respected.

yes its true, but but the moment i use the word Gods or[b] nature[/b] or forces, they will cease to understand me.

[size=13pt]<sup>Yeah brother they won't understand because they'll never mean to learn with seriousness . You can still wish to use the word ' gods' i believe there are many that are ready to learn .

btw -- brother do u use facebook ?</sup> [/size]

PAGAN 9JA:

yes its true, but but the moment i use the word Gods or[b] nature[/b] or forces, they will cease to understand me.

i used to be on fb, until i got banned for my seemingly radical views. but then someone had to take a step.

that was when i decided to join Nairaland.

however i met many like-minded individuals from around the world, over there who still carry on the work. i plan to visit Kenya sometime soon to interact with the Mungiki group. they are slowly coming up.

[size=13pt]<sup>Alright brother why i asked is to meet u there but since you're not there now -- let's keep in touch here . i would have love to talk to u privately u know this place is too open and the so called dabblers are always ready to disturb us with many bible verses -- in case , there's another online community u belong to that we can be sharing PRIVATE messages holla me , I'll meet u there sharp sharp .

As we're talking i got so many Mungiki contact on my famillia list online . They're really doing great Job . Yeah , the World belongs to us brother. . .let's celebrate !!</sup> [/size]

PAGAN 9JA:

i used to be on fb, until i got banned for my seemingly radical views. but then someone had to take a step.

that was when i decided to join Nairaland.

however i met many like-minded individuals from around the world, over there who still carry on the work. i plan to visit Kenya sometime soon to interact with the Mungiki group. they are slowly coming up.

you have Mungiki contacts WOW THATS GREAT!!!!!

yes i will let you know if i join an online community. you are right. this place too open. we need to make plans.

This World Belongs To us. It is time to save our mother Earth.

we have to rili love God, but most times obeying Gods word even wen it'l discomfort us or restrain us from some pleasure = to love for God, make we try, we shuld be balanced, lets obey God becos we love him,

Loving God, worshipping God and obeying God involves many factors. MOTIVE is not everything. Many people have a seemingly 'good motive' to be thieves, murderers, fornicators and prost.titutes. It's good to have a good motive for serving or loving God, but when all's being said and done, motive alone may not give you a pass or A grade. One may love/worship God because God is love, another loves/worships God because God is faithful, another loves God because it's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, another because God's been so good to him and family. And on and on. What's the greatest of all, it's Love. Whatever reason you've got, you'd better love and worship God.

[size=13pt]^{Yeah brother we keep terrorizing them that goes against us --- Mother earth has already take her normal position as the founder . Pagan naija my dear brother , I have been in extreme supporter to the unbeatable Mafia's for long now -- Please , just let me know when u join one so that we share some privacy in common without distraction .}
[/size]

PAGAN 9JA:

you have Mungiki contacts WOW THATS GREAT!!!!!

yes i will let you know if i join an online community. you are right. this place too open. we need to make plans.

This World Belongs To us. It is time to save our mother Earth.

Brother. they are just frustrated. people are starving and dying. people are angry. they dont know what to do. they are feeling helpless. this is a grass-roots movement started from the slums of Kenya. we need to understand and support the cause.

[size=13pt]<sup>Brother we really need to support the movement like i have seen it would help to change the World to a better place of living instead of War .

The Mungiki i strongly believe the entire human and beast race would be affected possitively --

Okay brother ; lets plan on how to show our great support --</sup> [/size]

PAGAN 9JA:

Brother. they are just frustrated. people are starving and dying. people are angry. they dont know what to do. they are feeling helpless. this is a grass-roots movement started from the slums of Kenya. we need to understand and support the cause.

I love God, because what/who will i love if not God? Who else would i reverence, if not God who else would i praise, if not God?? who would i worship if not God, God is in entity Everything.

He has chosen to love me, before i was formed he knew me, he chose me and he is glorifying me, he has been my Shield, my Protector, my Deliverer, my Anchor, my Provider, So who else deserves my love, If not God.??

sometimes you can't make it on your own

chrisj2000:

Religious people are actors! They know deep inside them that the god their respective religious books talks about doesn't exist but they pretend to love him anyway. All religious books i have so far read talk about a god that answers prayer but we all know that such god doesn't exist.

just because your prayers have not been answered, does not mean that other peoples prayers' are not answered. Too bad your have a beaf with God, but it is a war you can never win.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

chrisj2000:

You deluded liars, all of you make claims of answered prayer which we cannot verify. Your bible says that whatever you ask god in the name of jesus shall be given unto you. Just ask god to provide rain for east Africans or to provide employment for at least 90% of our graduates. You @ss-hole

You are only Bitter because you cannot enjoy the gift we ''true believers'' enjoy, go and amend your ways, maybe and that is just maybe, God will hear your cry of pain and anguish.

Good question.

My take: People worship god for two main reasons:
1. Because they want something from him - No offeinse but didn't Kanye West have a hit song addressing this phenomenon? I'm sorry that's a bad joke.

2. Because they are afraid of the consequences of not worshipping him

As an ex-worshipper, and as someone that knows A TON of devout worshippers, these are my observations.

Peace out.

You worship God because he is worthy of worship.

End of.

Some may be worshipping him for selfish and vain reasons but that's their choice.

Anyone who doesnt agree with my post should waka pass, thanks.

Every human being loves himself, and that's not bad. What's bad is loving yourself more than others OR loving others more than yourself. The command is still love your neighbour AS yourself. All worshippers worship either because they don't want to get hurt, or they want something. All humans are born worshippers, there's that natural crave and instinct to worship. Fulfilment is in worship. Non-worshippers deny their nature and will never be fulfilled,Amen. True worshippers worship Jehovah.

to be the best

I completely agree with Haribo as to the "main reasons" why many people worship God - at least from my own observations as well.