As a new year approaches and the return of Jesus draws near, it’s time to break down the walls of idolatry within the church. The church cries for revival, yet most are not willing to give up the pleasures of this world and are not willing to repent:
Men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, slanderers, unrestrained, fierce, despisers of those who are good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Turn away from such people (2 Tim. 3:2-5).
Sadly, this is an accurate depiction of the condition of the church today.
Most churches have become social gathering places rather than places of godly reverence and holiness. Coffee houses, catchy tunes, bright lights and custom-written scripted sermons spoken by “actors” on green screens have replaced places of worship, the movement of the Holy Spirit, teaching the Word of God and prayer through the pastors who were called to shepherd their flocks. Congregants can pay top dollar for the latest smartphone, vacation or car, but shudder when asked to tithe or give to missions.
Even most Christian artists, actors, comedians and bands have blended in so well with the world, it’s hard to them apart. Jesus is nowhere to be found at these events. You see a whole lot of performance but not a whole lot of worship. There will be concert halls and stadiums filled to capacity, yet there is no presentation of the gospel, no altar call, no prayer team or no Bibles distributed. Rest assured though there will be plenty of hoodies, T-shirts, autographs and photo meet-and- greet opportunities to look forward to. Instead of leading people into worship and truth and telling them about Jesus, these artists focus on the number of fans they have on social media or what award they will win or what tour they will perform next. People are paying any price and will literally weep and scream at the chance to meet and get selfies with these Christian “celebrities” for that one moment, yet they were never introduced to Jesus who could give them forever.
Believers are falling away left and right due to self-harm, depression, pornography, adultery, addiction and suicide; yet most of the church won’t deal with sin head on and chooses to brush it all under the carpet of sloppy grace.
The majority of the church has remained silent as tolerance and acceptance of sin have overtaken the world. At the very moment of opposition or persecution, followers have buckled under pressure, given in and fallen away.
If Jesus turned down the tables at the temple then, what would He do now?
Here are three ways followers of Christ can help destroy idolatry within the church.
1) The Lord says, “My children, wake up from your compromise; I am looking for the remnant!”
We need to individually examine out hearts and repent for any idols we have made of ourselves and others. “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? What communion has light with darkness? What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what part has he who believes with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God” (2 Cor. 6:14-16a).
2) The Lord says, “My children speak out and fight for truth; I am looking for the remnant!”
We need to unashamedly and speak up to the movers, shakers and decision makers to put Jesus back into the center of worship, or better yet, ask God to make us people of influence around the world. “Yet the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. For the Father seeks such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).
3) The Lord says, “My children, stand up for my Word and for Me; I am looking for the remnant!”
We need to fulfill the Great Commission and exemplify Jesus and the Bible through our words, thoughts and actions. No matter what temporary pain of we experience through rejection and persecution, there are eternal promises and awards gained. “
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, for their works follow them'” (Rev. 14:12-13).
In the midst of the great falling away, let’s be the remnant who is willing to help the Church become a place of prayer and worship once again. Let’s break down, crush and obliterate the high places of idolatry that have been erected in our hearts and within the church. There are still churches, pastors, and followers of Jesus who are willing to remain faithful to Jesus. There are still people with platforms who are willing to keep their focus on Christ and the gospel and not on themselves. There are still workers willing to harvest souls for the kingdom. 2019 is the year when the church can wake up, speak out and stand up for the only one deserving of all praise, glory, honor and worship—our Lord and Savior Jesus! {eoa}
Pastor Meg Hart founded Restored Women in 2015 and Restored Global in 2018, both ministries birthed into her heart from God as a result of the great revelation, redirection and restoration she experienced through Jesus.
She is an ordained pastor through Global Ministries and Relief Inc. and the Full Gospel Fellowship. She holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Regent University and is currently in her final year as a doctoral student for the Ed.D. in performance improvement leadership at Capella University.
She is the proud mother of one daughter, Mackenzie, and serves at Life Church in Williamstown, New Jersey.
This article originally appeared at restoredwomen.com.
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