Angels Must Never Receive Worship

Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.

Colossians 2:18

A desire for angels that is greater than a desire for the Creator will lead to trouble. One reason why angels are invisible to humans may be that, if they were seen, they would be worshiped. Man, who is so prone to idolatry as to worship the works of his own hands, would hardly be able to resist the worship of angels were they before his eyes.

Twice in the book of Revelation, John was confronted by an angel and tried to worship him. Both times the angel told him not to worship the angel but to worship God. Karl Barth once wrote that it is inappropriate for people to talk of angels independent of their experience of God in Christ. While God may send you angels, gratitude must always be directed to God, the God we know in Christ.

It is wrong to “ask your angel” something. We are never told to pray to angels. We pray to God, and He sends the help we need.