Rabbi Singer Claims Worshipping Jesus is Idolatry

Rabbi Tovia Singer often accuses Christians of idolatry—claiming that our worship of Jesus is no different than a personality cult.

In one video, he sarcastically describes what it’s like to walk into a Sunday service:

“Imagine walking into church on Sunday morning and then from the moment you walk into church to the time you leave church—I don’t know, whatever long it takes, two hours, right—it’s Jesus just straight through. It’s just… it really is a personality cult about Jesus.”

But instead of dismantling Christian theology, this description actually affirms what we believe.

For believers, worshiping Jesus isn’t about idolizing a man. It’s about honoring the one who is God in the flesh.

If Jesus is God—as Scripture repeatedly declares—then giving Him our full attention and worship isn’t excessive. It’s appropriate. Share on X

The Faulty Comparison: Jesus vs. Prophets

Rabbi Singer builds his argument on a shaky foundation: he assumes Christians view Jesus the same way we view other righteous figures like Isaiah, Abraham, or Daniel. But that’s completely false.

He passionately declares,

“No one would ever dream of worshiping Abraham, our father… or Jeremiah… or Moses. That would be insane!”

And we agree. Christians don’t worship prophets. Even the apostles in the New Testament rejected worship.

“But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.” —Acts 10:26 

When Cornelius tried to worship Peter, Peter didn’t say, “Thank you.” He said, “Get up. I’m just a man.” In the book of Revelation, when John fell at the feet of an angel, the angel rebuked him too:

“See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant… worship God.” —Revelation 22:9

These examples show that worship belongs to God alone. And that’s exactly why we worship Jesus—because we believe He is God.

Jesus Is Not “Just a Man”

The Rabbi’s fundamental error is this: he places Jesus in the same category as the prophets. But Scripture never does that.

He even sarcastically claims that if Christians go to church and sing songs about Jesus, that somehow makes it a cult.

But think about it—if God were physically present in the tabernacle during Old Testament times, and people sang and worshipped for two hours straight, would that be a cult?

Of course not. It would be the only right response to the presence of God.

That’s how Christians view Jesus. He’s not just another holy man or a good teacher. He is the visible expression of the invisible God.

“For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” —Colossians 2:9
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” —Philippians 2:6

Worshipping Jesus is not idolatry. It’s obedience. Share on X

Christians would never think to worship saints, patriarchs, or even angels.

Even the scene in Revelation when John bowed before an angel and was told not to proved it. That’s a powerful point—because it reveals the consistent pattern in Scripture. Worship is for God, and no one else.

What’s more, every hero in the Bible has their flaws exposed. The Bible doesn’t hide the mistakes of its leaders. Moses disobeyed. David committed adultery. Jonah ran from God.

Their errors are recorded so that we learn from them—not worship them.

This is a key difference between Jesus and every other Biblical figure. Jesus never sinned. He never failed.

Jesus in the New Testament: God from Beginning to End

Rabbi Singer claims that Jesus is absent from the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh. That’s a separate conversation, but when it comes to the New Testament, the evidence is overwhelming.

Jesus is everywhere. From Matthew 1 to John 1, from Paul’s letters to Revelation, Jesus is affirmed as divine. Missionaries are not left scrambling for ways to force Jesus into the story. He is the story.

Every Gospel account affirms His deity:

• Matthew 1 — “Emmanuel… God with us.”
  
• Mark 1 — John the Baptist prepares the way for God (Jesus).
  
• Luke 1 — John the Baptist prepares the way for God (Jesus).
  
• John 1 — “In the beginning was the Word… and the Word was God.” —John 1:1
  

And that’s not even mentioning the rest of the New Testament. Jesus is the central figure of the faith not by tradition, but by divine nature.

He collapses all forms of reverence into one—accusing Christians of worshipping Jesus the same way people admire prophets. 

Admiration is not the same as adoration. Share on X

Honor is vertical only when it’s directed toward God. That’s why when we worship Jesus, we’re not creating a cult—we’re responding to the one true God who came in human form.

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” —Philippians 2:10–11

Jesus Is Worthy of Worship

Here is the Rabbi’s central flaw: he doesn’t grasp who Jesus really is. Because if he did, he’d understand that worshipping Jesus is not idolatry—it’s the most reasonable thing a believer could do.

The saints never grouped Jesus with themselves—they all pointed toward Him.

Jesus Christ isn’t merely a man or a teacher. He’s the Word made flesh, reigns as the Lamb of God, the King of kings, and stands as the Savior of the world.

“And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” —John 1:14

If you want to see another example where Rabbi Singer’s arguments fall apart, check out the next article. Stay in faith and God bless.

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