Gods in Buddhism Just a Means to an End?

I would like to hear comments from any Buddhists or Buddhist scholars out there regarding the following statements. I would like to know if I correctly understand this concept or not. Anyone else may feel free to add their two cents as well.

There are many gods in the various Buddhist traditions; but what is their purpose. When conversing with a Nichiren monk I came to believe that these gods that exist within the Buddhist tradition are not actual gods, but teaching guides or tools used to relay important ethical, moral, and other related teachings. Buddhist thought contends that the worshipping of these gods is not looked down upon just as the worshipping of other gods (eg. Judeo-Christian god) is not looked down upon for the teachings one learns from this worship is just another step towards the path to enlightenment.