It should make us shudder the way the celebrity lifestyle has permeated the church of Christ.
How the focus of many of our worship songs is on us and on what God should do for us. How pastors and ministers have become demagogues who are to be pleased and agreed with at all times. How theology that turns the gift of the Gospel on its head is preached from pulpits weekly.
Worship Ministers
Album releases are the rave of the moment. Every other worship minister/artiste is releasing and pushing their albums which are intended to edify the body of Christ, yet much focus is put on the extravagant outfits of these ministers, on the expensive music videos, on the lighting and the makeup. Should we care about the details and about presentation? Absolutely. God Himself is the Intelligent Designer who made the intricate wings of the butterfly and every blade of grass, yet we should know where to draw the line between diligence and frivolous materialism.
Bad Theology
Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.
Galatians 1:8
What is the Good News? That Jesus the Son of God gave his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28), that we, once lost sheep, might be reconciled to God the Father through Him.
Fin.
Any addition or subtraction is falsehood and Scripture says that God's curse ought to fall on anyone who preaches a different kind of Good News (Gospel).
Self-actualization, self-love, self-care, dominating in your business, "kingdom impact", a monumental mind shift, a mental transformation... are not the Gospel of Christ.
Yet how many pastors today stand at pulpits (or on Instagram) and preach their own version of Scripture to thousands sitting in the pews, and millions streaming online?
"The person who shouts the loudest hallelujah will get the biggest blessing."
Where, kind sir/ma, is this written in Scripture?
"If you don't pay your tithe you will go to hell."
Where, dear sir/ma, is this written in Scripture?
"You can be a child of God and not a son."
Where, kind sir/ma, is this written in Scripture?
My pastor said this and that.
If what your pastor said cannot be backed up by Scriptures, please let it go.
It's time to start asking questions.
Pastors & Idols
Some of my favourite preachers in recent times include Mike Winger and Chris Rosebrough. Sound ministers who take their sermons from the Scriptures. Yet - and God forbid - if any of these preachers begin to say things that do not align with Scripture, will I swallow it up just because I like them? Or will I go back to the Bible, the infallible word of God?
We have become so used to treating "men of God" like idols who should be worshiped and it is demonic when these same people in "authority" use the word of God to back their own canal-mindedness.
"Touch not my anointed" (Psalms 105: 15) is used to defend bad behaviour and even worse theology.
"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10) is used to defend excessive, unwarranted spending.
"Enlarge my territory" (1 Chronicles 4:10 - that beloved prayer of Jabez) is used to defend conceitedness and selfishness.
Have we entirely lost reverence for the Maker of the universe?