IDOLS OF THE HEART

We all grow up admiring someone or something. As a child, we admire our parents or our teachers. Growing up, we start to admire different media personality. Furthermore, sport teams and men and women  of high stature. But sometimes these admiration then turns into something else. It already becomes an obsession for us.

I am guilty of this. In my younger days I am a big fan of American comic books. I am amazed at the stories of heroes like Batman and Daredevil and other heroes. I spent most of my allowance collecting these things. As I earned my own money, my collection increased. And somehow this became an obsession for me. I got depressed when I was unemployed since I can't buy them. I quarreled with my brothers regarding this. In the end, most of them are just gathering dust. They are not read anymore by me.

Another one that I am guilty of is when I was in my old religion. If there is something wrong, I will pray unto saints(dead people anointed by the Pope of Rome) to act as intercession for my prayers. Not to mention the praying of the rosary to the Blessed Virgin Mary (THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN). These were the abominable practices of idolatry I have done, of course the usual bowing to the statues. I am happy that I am saved by Our Lord Jesus Christ from these things.

I also noticed that idolatry is very strong in my country. The two main media outfits here will produce show after show featuring good looking entertainers in different programs. They are literally being worshiped by the adoring masses who have no idea of who they are. As also a basketball crazy nation, professional basketball players rank on top with politicians as well. I then asked the question why is this so?

Aren't these people also the same as we are: flesh and blood? They breathe the same air we do, they sure eat the same food we do, then why worship them? When we think of idols, we always think of statues of stone and wood being bowed down by Catholics. This is not the case anymore. Let's go back to the beginning.

Let us remember that when the Israelites occupied the promised land the people of that land practiced idolatry. Thus it was necessary for Joshua and the Israelites to purge them all to rid the land of their abominable practices. When Joshua died, the people went and worshipped idols.

Some people are thinking that there is nothing wrong with it? Some might contend that if that were the case then don't have a picture of your family in your computer. That we are just admiring them. At first this maybe the case. but as we all know the media pumps them out thus through mind control these idols replace God in their hearts. They have that longing for them more than God. You know the ultimate idol created by the devil: YOURSELF.

Yes, the selfie generation. Post a selfie or a groupie, post in social media, the instant idol worship!!! Why does everything have to be about us. And don't tell me that this is harmless. Paul's second letter to Timothy states that:

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 

      2 TIMOTHY 3:2-5 

If this is not happening now, I don't know what is. In closing, I pray thee my brothers and sisters to heed the call to go back to Our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us stop being idolaters or giving in to idols. Confess, believe, be baptized and study and read God's Holy Word. Also, try and gather with a group of believers. Let what we do today be not for any other reason but to serve his Holy name.

MAY JESUS BLESS YOU!!!

JUNE 5, 2017

CHRISTIANITY WATERED DOWN

Hi! It's me again. It's been a long time since I got back to my blog. There are a lot of things that I have on my mind thus I wasn't able to write a blog. OK, I just got distracted with a lot of things that I didn't have the time to write something. But I guess the fire just got back to me, thus this blog.

I haven't been a Christian for that long. I have been converted just last year after leaving the Roman Catholic religion. But despite this, I did my best to study the bible. I read it carefully, nourishing God's word. I was guided by the Holy Spirit in my journey to know,understand and love my Lord Jesus Christ. I was at last free from traditions of men that was with me when I was still in the old system. I also looked for a church that taught the bible, and I found one near the place where my family is renting. She is also our landlady.

At the beginning, the fire in me is lit. I attended the activities despite being busy. No sooner than that, on March 18 of this year me and my wife were baptized with water. I have always wanted this since I wanted to share what I have learned and thus save a lot of souls. In short, I have put my trust in man, not God.  

I am looking for a hellfire and brimstone teaching since I have observed and perceived that we are nearing the end times. I constantly and patiently wrote a blog about it on why we need to study the bible. Turns out, I have been waiting in vain. Though we tackle about the spoken word, there is no mention of the end times. Instead, the things of this world are more of the concern. How to save, thith e (which is a tradition of men), health, prosperity. Wait a minute!! Is this a prosperity gospel? I mean, what is the use of this if we are near the end.  

Also, our lead pastor is a woman, (also the associate pastor as well as almost all the workers in the church), a move that got me questioning since there is a specific bible verse regarding the conduct of women in the church. There's also a music ministry composed of youth from the province, who also doubles as co speakers when she is on a trip.  I thought that she told us " the church is our training ground and that we are bound to speak to other members in the future". How can we be trained if we never get the chance to speak up. What ever happened to that baptism?

Last Sunday was the straw that broke the camel's back. As our pastor was gone, our associate pastor took over. When she finished, I gave way to other speakers to speak before me. As I was about to speak, I noticed that most of the people were gone and that one of them ended the service. The fire I had in me was doused. I was furious and when I told our associate pastor if I can speak up next Sunday, she told me that it is up to them, (the youth music ministry).

This is the current state of the churches today. We can see how Satan has hijacked the churches by watering them down. The match that was lit and put into dried leaves can start a forest fire. But if you spray water in them, the fire dies down and does not consume the pile. Gone were the hellfire and brimstone teachers,

I am saying this because there is a need for us to to "go fourth and preach the gospel to the four corners of the world".  We are note mere bystanders, but as frontsmen. We should be well equipped with the tools and weapons needed for our spiritual growth. Our church is the one that will provide us that.  I am saddened that this is not the case.

However, I will prevail with the help of the Holy Spirit. I will do my best to seek his will, and to find  a church that will help in my spiritual growth. I am more than willing to learn. A lot may think that I am just overeager or I am doing this to prove that I am much better than others. However, this is not the case. I will find ways of how I will reach people and share the love of Jesus Christ to all people.

MAY JESUS BLESS YOU!!!