That is not what I am saying.

The point that I was making is that an act of obeisance does not necessarily eliminate the possibility that worship is taking place. You see, it is all a matter of context.

Again, the movement itself doesn’t necessarily constitute that worship is taking place. It’s the thought behind the movement that determines if worship is happening.

And since there are plenty of passages in the Bible which make references to Jesus being God, it is evident that such a word, when used in reference to Him as being the object of its focus, is without a doubt referring to worship in the sense that God would be worshipped.

Regarding Rev. 3:9, I would just simply tell your JW friend that even if obeisance is taking place, that doesn’t mean worship isn’t happening.

For, obeisance is to be understood as: “a movement of the body expressing deep respect or deferential courtesy, as before a superior; a bow, curtsy, or other similar gesture.” -dictionary.com

Do we not do these things when we worship God? In other words, do we not express deep respect for Him and acknowledge Him as Superior to ourselves when we worship Him?

You see, it’ not the ‘movement’ itself that designates an act of worship; rather, it is the thought behind the movement that determines if worship is really taking place.

Hence, your JW friend does not have a valid argument.