Of all the reasons people give for not going to church and becoming Christians, it might be surprising to realize the number one reason is because they are worshipping a different god instead. And it isn’t who you might think either.
Every person ever born was created to worship and glorify God. With the Fall in the Garden of Eden came the sin nature and Man’s ability to choose whom he would glorify (for even as with Adam and Eve, God never forces His will on anyone). That’s why there are literally hundreds of religions, cults, personalities, denominations, secret societies, and the like. Even the person who is an avowed atheist worships, serves, and puts his faith in a particular god, which of course is a false god because there is only One True Almighty.
Though we first met this god while we were very young, it often isn’t until our teen years we begin to listen to this deity and begin to believe him to the point of worshipping and serving him. His words ring true and much of what he suggests will bring wealth, happiness, pleasure, and fun is backed up in social outlets, such as public education, entertainment medias, even many churches (that’s right, this false god is in most churches every Sunday and Wednesday).
His is an easy message that never convicts. “Do what ever you want to, when you want to, how you want to. No matter what you do, its okay. You can party, sleep around, set your own rules, and you are okay with me and a good person who deserves only those things that make you feel or look good. God (this false god) loves you unconditionally , even as you love me (this false one) unconditionally“. Those who take the easy way and serve this false god will get along with others who embrace the various different denominations of this imitator’s theology. Homosexuality is not wrong, just ‘not for me’. Islam and Buddha are just different paths to the same god (which is actually true). And judging anybody for doing anything deemed sinful is not cool. With one exception – to serve this false god you can’t socialize with, be in agreement with, or have anything to do with Christianity. Everything else goes.
Who is this false god? And what are the downsides to serving? This liar is NOT Satan, though he is definitely the puppet-master. In many respects, this false god is more powerful than the devil. After a period of time, servants will notice things they used to do for fun are now costly and addictive habits they must do in order to simply exist. What used to be young and beautiful people bent on changing the world for good, are disillusioned and bitter. While they see some friends begin to stop serving this false god and good things happen, the last decade or so of serving this wrong one leaves them totally confused and in the dark as to what to do next. Soon they are stuck in a cycle of repeats through more indoctrination via counseling, therapy, and the ‘latest thing’.
This false god is Self. It wants our attention, time, resources, and is willing to do whatever it takes to get them through its various means of selfishness, greed, lust, pride, and vanity. Politicians, preachers, social workers, spouses, children – everyone has at one time or another served this demanding and controlling false god. While there are things that can appease it, there is only one way to overcome it and its influence and that’s through the Cross of Christ! Little wonder people don’t even want Jesus’ Name mentioned in public. There is power in the name of Jesus that will overcome the world and Self doesn’t want that.
Its time to realize today, there is only one God able to actually save you out of the mess you’re in and to make things right. There’s only One who, after three days dead, rose from the grave in order to make us right with our Creator. His name is not religion, or church, or self-esteem, or good works, or shock therapy, or self! We must worship and adore Jesus Christ and put our faith in His completed work. Selah.
