The Idol, Religion

 Religion as an Idol

Religion as an Idol? How is this? Religion is not going to save you. Being a good little "Insert religion here" is not going to save you. Sorry. It is just the simple truth. Religion is a man-made concept and most of the time has nothing to do with the true God and or His plan of salvation. This is what we are discussing today. Let us pray. 

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to learn the Truth. Your truth. The fact that there is a vast difference between religion, or a man-made tradition, and a relationship with you. Please, Father, guide us through your Word and show us Your Way. We pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive your Truth and desire for us, your people. Your family. In Jesus name. Amen!

Simply put, Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life." John 14:6 Jesus is the key to salvation. It is simply accepted by you or not, a fact that without Him, you can not ever enter into Heaven. It is simply a fact, again, accepted by you or not, that "neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12

God made His plan of salvation simple and easy for all to obtain.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." John 3:16-18

First, notice this. Jesus does not say, "If you eat meat on Friday, or don't eat meat at all, or walk a half a mile on the Sabbath day, or if you say ten 'Hail Marys'." No, He says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." Whoever. What does this mean? Whoever. Anyone. Everyone. All you have to do is accept Jesus and believe He was raised from the dead, and you shall be saved. Romans 10:9.

It also says this. "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." Does it say, "If you murder someone, or if you do not follow this or that tenets of said religion, or if you do all sorts of evil?"  

No. It says, "but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." Whoever? Whoever. Anyone. Everyone. That simply? "has not believed" is? "Condemned already." There is nothing you need to do except not believe in Jesus, and you are condemned already because He is the only true way to Heaven. He is the Door, the Gate, the Shepard. He and the Father are one. John 10, Romans 10:13 says, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

So any religion that does not have this simple truth, Jesus IS Lord, and He is God, is a false religion. Paul said this in 1 Corinthians 12:3

"Therefore, I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit."

Jesus puts it plainly as recorded in Mark 9:40: "Whoever is not against us, is for us." Which also works the other way.

You accept the gift. You receive the key. You are adopted into the family of God, and He becomes your Father. He tells us that His people are a family. That being a child of God, you are now heirs.

"And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." Romans 8:17

How many of you are parents? You have a child, and all of a sudden, nothing else really matters. When the child is a baby, you have to treat it as a baby. Feed it, burp it, change it. Do everything for it. As it grows, you teach it. As it gets older, it will make its own choices. You still love them, no matter what choices they make. However, once they reach a certain age, they will decide the direction of their life. Either they will follow what you have taught them, or they will go out on their own. But you are still their parent, and they are still your children.

God is the same way. He wants you to get to know Him. He wants to spend time with you. You with Him. He wants to teach you all things and the ways you should go. Religion comes in and attempts to teach us God's Will. Here is the problem. Religion IS Man. Organized Religion is a man-made tradition. Man-made beliefs. Man-made rules and regulations. What to do. Not to do. What to eat. What to wear. How to speak, etc. Religion for Religion's sake is pointless and can actually do more harm than good.

Look at Acts 4, Peter and John are arrested and brought before the council, and they are put on trial. They see that a man has been healed, and they see that Peter and John are doing good works, and they tell them to stop? Nope. They did not tell them to stop doing good works, but they did tell them to stop teaching the name of Jesus.

"So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus." Acts 4:18

Then they threatened them more and let them go. They had no problem with "religion." After all, Peter and John were Jews and the same "religion" as those on the council. They did not have a problem with the "good works" that they were performing. No. What they had a problem with was Jesus. It is still this way today, in many places around the world.

What did Jesus himself say about Religion?

"Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” he need not honor his father.’ So, for the sake of your tradition, you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

‘These people honor me with their lips,

But their hearts are far from me;

In vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” Matthew 15:1-9

Teaching as doctrines, the commandments of men. Just because you may be following the traditions of men doesn't mean you are following God's Word. Or His teachings. Jesus warns us of false prophets and false religions.

 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits." Matthew 7:15-20

Wonder about a religion? First, do they have Jesus? Second, look at what they are doing. Are they going out to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and give peace to those in need? Are they using the Tithes and Offerings to help others? Is what they are telling you actually IN The Word? Are they producing anything? Are people being saved because of them? That is the sort of thing you should look into before committing to becoming a member of that religion or even that Church. Remember what Jesus said? Remember, he was talking to the Priests and Rulers of the Synagogues, The Religious folks.

"You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.” John 8:44-47

What Jesus is telling the people is that they are so caught up in their man-made traditions, which he refers to as religion, that they fail to see the truth even when it's right in front of them. We often do this ourselves. When we become overly focused on religion, politics, culture, or any other aspect of life, we can become blind to different perspectives. We become so centered on the "Me" factor that we neglect to consider anyone or anything else. 

For instance, if you are a black man, you might find it difficult to accept anything a white man says. If you are a Jew, you may struggle to believe anything a Christian shares. Similarly, if you identify as a Democrat, you may dismiss anything a Republican says, and vice versa. We get so entrenched in the traditions of those who came before us that we can't hear anything new. We often find it hard to accept that what we have always believed may not necessarily be the truth.

I remember a story I heard once. There was a flood. A man and his family were forced to go up to his roof. The water kept rising. A boat came by and said to the man, "Get in." The man said. "God will save us." The water rises more, and another boat comes. "Get in." The man says, "God will save us." Now the water is on the roof. A third boat comes and says, "You will die here. Get in!" The man says, "You know not what you are saying. We are a family of God. God will save us!" He and his family died. They go to Heaven. He says to God. "Why did you not save us?" God says, "I sent you three boats."

Jesus is the Boat. He is the Truth. He is the Way. He is the Life. We are wading around in the flood of iniquity. We live in sin. The flood rises every day. Jesus is saying to you, "Get in." What do you say? Now hear these words by Paul. Remember Paul? He was a murderer until Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. He, in essence, said, "Follow me," and Saul said, "Yes." Saul became Paul. In Galatians 1:11-17

"For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned to Damascus."

This is very powerful. Paul is telling them here that he once killed and enslaved God's chosen people. He received great profit and praise and was promoted to a high position of power in his religion. He was "great" in the eyes of his religion. Yet, he found that he was wrong. He stopped listening to the teachings of his religion, and he started to learn from God himself. You can too. It's called a one-on-one relationship with God. Read His Word. Ask Him to teach you. Learn from the Spirit. In 1 Thessalonians 2:13-17

"And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. For you, brothers became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!"

Again, you see that it is not about religion. You know, I was once told by a Hasidic kid, "I am not supposed to talk to you." Why not? I asked him. "Because you are not clean. You are beneath me." I asked, " Do you believe that? He didn't know. We ended up playing paper football on the Front Desk in a Hotel, where the Boy was attending a religious ceremony.

Religion teaches of a loving God, yet we must hate and shun those who are not like us? Religion teaches salvation, but not for all. Religion teaches us to murder those who are not like us. Yes, religion teaches us many things. But do you REALLY know who God is? Do you have the Key? Are you doing God's Will or the Will of man? Are you making the Commandments of God of no effect, in the keeping of man-made traditions? These are the things you really need to ask yourself.

Learn from God. He will teach you the truth. Have faith in Him. In His Word. Seek out His Will, His plan, and purpose for you and your life. If someone tells you something that is not in the Word, they are lying to you. If they tell you something that is not of God, they are telling you things of man. Or worse. Get to know the truth. For if you know the truth, you will not fall for a lie. God is the truth. His Word is the truth. Everything else is the traditions of men. 

Remember, you can find a vast archive at TAG

The email is, as always, truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the Lord our God go before you as your way maker, as well as behind you as your rear guard, and may He be with you, always. 

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Malachi Chapter 3

 Chapter 3

1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

Robbing God

6 “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers, you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.

13 “Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? 15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test, and they escape.’”

The Book of Remembrance

16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. 17 “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

The Idol, Comfort

 Comfort and Pleasure.

 

Is there anything wrong with comfort and pleasure? No. The New Testament refers to God as the "Father of compassion and the God of all comfort" in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. This suggests that comfort is a divine attribute intended to be shared. We are comforted so that we may comfort others. The Holy Spirit is described by Jesus as the Paraclete in John 14:16, often translated as "Comforter" or "Advocate." This implies that true comfort is a relational state rather than a material one

Let us pray. 

Heavenly Father, Lord God, we come before You to examine ourselves fully. Are we truly putting You first, or are there hidden idols that we need to remove? As we discuss this complicated subject, we ask for your guidance. Please show us what it means for comfort to become an idol and how we can avoid this pitfall. Father, grant us eyes to see, ears to hear, and the ability to understand Your truth. In Jesus' name, Amen!

We see things like this in the Word. Much of the prophetic literature, such as Isaiah 40: "Comfort, comfort my people," points to a future in which suffering is replaced by divine peace. The Bible presents a nuanced view of pleasure, acknowledging it as a creation of God while warning against its ability to become an idol. 

Ecclesiastes, often viewed as a cynical book, actually champions the enjoyment of life as a duty under God.

“I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil--this is God's gift to man." Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

From this perspective, the pleasures of food, sex, marriage, and work are legitimate ways to experience God's goodness properly. Conversely, the Bible warns that when pleasure becomes the primary goal, it leads to spiritual emptiness. People seek out comfort and pleasure, forgetting the proper place for them. Think King David, who got lazy and bored, that lead to convetness, rape, and murder. 

Hedonism, or the pursuit of pleasure, sensual self-indulgence, becomes a sin when you leave out the true source, which is God. The trap of Hedonism. 

“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” Hebrews 11:25

 “Fleeting pleasures of sin." In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus warns that the Word of God can be "choked by life’s worries, riches, and pleasures" Luke 8:14.

 “And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.” 

We can easily turn pleasure and comfort into Idols that we choose to bend our knees to before God. Look at the story of the Rich man and his barns. 

“And he said to them, 'Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’ And he told them a parable, saying, ‘The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."' Luke 12:15-19

Remember what Jesus called this guy? A Fool. 

“But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." Luke 12:20-21

Seeking "ease" can lead to spiritual apathy and a tendency to ignore those in need. When we use pleasure as an escape or a substitute for worship, it can become an idol. I'm not inclined to go to church this week because I'm tired. I also feel that I can't donate money to the food bank; I need to keep it in my account to meet my own needs. 

Sex? Oh yeah, this can definitely become an Idol. Something that you are willing to serve REGARDLESS of the consequences. I told you this conversation I was having with a lesbian. I told her that sex was indeed a gift from God as long as you are doing it in His parameters. Marriage is one man and one woman for life. She said to me. “I will go to hell for some p____.”

Think about this statement. She said that she will go to a place of never-ending torment, pain, and sorrow, for a few minutes of perverted sexual pleasure?  Eternity for minutes. Think how horrible that is. “Yeah, well, I don’t believe in your God, so yeah, I would rather go to hell.” When they find out it is true, it is too late.

The biblical response suggests that comfort and pleasure are best experienced as byproducts of a life lived in alignment with God, rather than ends in themselves. As Psalm 16:11 states this, 

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

When comfort and pleasure become idols, it usually means we’ve prioritized our ease and safety over our obedience or growth. The Bible defines idolatry as anything that takes God’s place in our hearts. When we are more afraid of losing our "comfort zone" than of missing God’s calling, comfort has become a master.

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." Matthew 6:24

If we only follow God when it is convenient or comfortable, we are not truly serving Him; we are serving our own convenience. The prophet Amos issued a stern warning to those who were "at ease in Zion." The problem wasn't the comfort itself, but the apathy that it produced.

"Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes! “ Amos 6:1

Comfort often acts as a spiritual anesthetic. It makes us numb to the needs of others and indifferent to our need for God.

Like the Rich man, God called him a fool because he sought ultimate security in his circumstances rather than in the eternal. Jesus’ invitation is the direct antithesis of the idol of comfort. A cross is an instrument of discomfort, sacrifice, and death to self.

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 

For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." Luke 9:23

Growth and discipleship almost always happen outside of the "comfort zone." If we cling to our comfort, we often lose the very life we are trying to protect. Everyone wants to be comfortable, but what happens when "feeling good" becomes the primary goal of our lives?

Ask yourself, do I avoid hard conversations? Do I skip serving because I’m tired? Do I prioritize my budget over generosity?

Jesus promises "rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-30), not through total ease, but through taking on His yoke. Remember, we are new creatures. 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ”2 Corinthians 5:17 

This is why we are warned over and over. Look at this in Titus 5:5-6

“She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.” 

I know Christians who feel God does not hear their prayers. James answers that one for us.  

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” James 4:3

"But look what he has. Look what she has. It’s not fair." "Look, he gets to stay home. Why can’t I?" "Why can I not have the million-dollar house and that shiny sports car?" Well, let me ask you this. Is that house going to save you? Is that car going to enable you to drive to heaven? 

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what the will of God is, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

We, as children of God, have so much more to look forward to. So much pleasure. So much comfort. So much rest we will never have here, for eternity. So, what is worth giving up? Eternity or momentary pleasure?

Remember, the devil cannot create anything, but he can twist, change, and present sin as good. God created male and female, while the devil promotes ideas like 27 genders and transgender concepts. God established the institution of marriage, but the devil introduced gay marriage. God defined the family, yet the devil presents alternative family structures, such as single-parent households, divorce, nursing homes, and daycares. God values rest and sleep, while the devil fosters laziness.

We have become so comfortable, so lazy, so into pleasure, that we reject nearly everything else. We feel that tug. “Hey, go check on your neighbor.” Yeah, ok, right after my show. Or God, I just sat down to eat. Then wherever you do decide to go, there is no answer at the door.

Well, God or whatever that was, she must be out with friends. She is not even here. The next day, you wake up to a loud commotion outside your window.  You look out and see police, firetrucks, and an ambulance.

You go outside and watch as a covered body is brought out to the ambulance. You see a paramedic standing by, so you ask, “What happened?” The paramedic looks up and says, “Sorry for your loss. Seems she fell and passed away about 5 pm yesterday.” 

Then it hits you. If you had gone when God asked you to, you would have heard her crying for help. You may have been able to help her. But that chair was too comfortable. That food was just too good. Some things, even with regret, cannot be undone. 

That bed. That chair. That big screen, that little screen, that little bubble you live in, are all temporary. They cannot, nor will they save you. However, if you are not careful, they can be made to keep you from doing God’s Will and living your life in abundance.

Join us next time when we will discuss the Idol of Religion. Yes, Religion can be an Idol. It happens more than you think.   

Remember, you can always check out the vast archive here at TAG

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Malachi Chapter 2

 Chapter 2

The Lord Rebukes the Priests

1 “And now, O priests, this command is for you. 2 If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. 3 Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. 4 So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts. 5 My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 8 But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, 9 and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

Judah Profaned the Covenant

10 Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers? 11 Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. 12 May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!

13 And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. 14 But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. 15 Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 16 “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

The Messenger of the Lord

17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

The Idol Celebrities

 Celebreties 

“Hey, hey, it's the Monkeys.” Ladies and gentlemen, the Beatles. All the way from Graceland, Elvis. Music legends. Known for driving young women and some men absolutely insane just by their appearance. More recently, Brad Pitt, Lady Gaga, Dwayne Johnson, tech innovators like Elon Musk, and even Donald Trump. Now, President Trump, again.

Celebrities. Famous, rich, and all have the “it” factor. You love them. You hate them; there is no in between. We put them on a pedestal, and we say these are our idols. We even have a television show to find the next American Idol. This is what we are discussing today. Let us pray.

Father, our Holy God, we come before you with thanksgiving for all that you have given us, from Life to Life everlasting. We thank you for the freedoms we have to gather together in your name. We are currently discussing what may be Hidden Idols in our lives without even knowing it. Father, we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and the ability to receive your truth and revelations. In Jesus' name, we ask and pray, amen.

Addressing the concept of celebrity through a biblical lens involves looking at the distinction between admiration and worship. While the Bible doesn't mention "celebrities" in the modern sense, it speaks extensively about the human heart's tendency to elevate people above their proper place.

When we "idolize" a celebrity, be it hanging on to their every word, obsessing over their lifestyle, or letting their values dictate our own, we risk moving them into the space intended for the Creator. An idol is anything that takes the primary place of influence and devotion in our lives.

The Bible frequently warns against the "exaltation of man." It reminds us that every person, no matter how talented or famous, is finite and fallible.

“So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,” Acts 10:34

It does not matter if you can sing. It does not matter if you can make a movie. Actually, that reminds me of an interaction I had back in the 90s. I was a Hotel Manager at the time, and I was filling in for the overnight Auditor one night. Around 2 am, I saw this Volvo station wagon pull up to the front doors. I pretended to be busy and did not even look up. “We are full. We are full.” I kept practicing because I was tired and not in the mood to deal with anyone.

A man walks up to the counter and extends his hand with a credit card in it. “Got a room?” I immediately recognized the voice. I was like, there is no way. I looked up to the smiling gentleman and saw it most certainly was. Donald Sutherland. A mega star in Movies, TV, and entertainment in general. Did I mention I was a huge fan?

If you do not know who Donald Sutherland is, look him up. I guarantee you, you have seen him. “Yes, sir, Mr. Sutherland, I have the suite available for you.” The next 40 minutes forever changed the way I saw fame.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that.” Uh, yeah, I do. “No, no, sir, it’s totally fine.” “Stop it.” He extends his hand for a handshake. “Hello, I’m Donald. What’s your name?” “Uh, Peter. I’m sorry, sir, I'm a fan. I love your movies.” As we shook hands. “Yeah? I appreciate that. Which is your favorite?” Without much thought, I started naming them and talking about them with him as I checked him in. I gave him the key, and said “I am honored to meet you si,,,,” “Donald.” He said abruptly. “You know we are the same, right? I make movies. You work in a hotel. If you think about it. It’s your job to entertain me when I come through those doors, and it’s my job to entertain you at the movies. That does not make me special. Pretend to be someone I’m not for fun? I mean, it is a pretty good gig, but that’s it.”

He proceeded to stand there for 40 minutes just talking to me as if we were old friends. It now kind of reminds me of Paul and Barnabas. Acts 14:11-15: When the people of Lystra tried to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas because of their miracles, the apostles were horrified. They cried out, "Friends, why are you doing this? We, too, are only human, like you."

Look at Psalm 146:3,

"Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation."

Celebrities are subject to the same struggles and moral complexities as anyone else. Elevating them to "idol" status puts a burden on them that no human is designed to carry, as Donald pointed out to me.

A biblical perspective views talent not as a reason for self-glory, but as a gift from God. If we focus too much on the celebrity, we are essentially "worshiping the creature rather than the Creator" Romans 1:25.

You can enjoy a performance or appreciate an artist’s skill, but the Bible encourages us to redirect that gratitude toward the source of that skill. That would, of course, be God.

Idolizing celebrities often leads to imitation. The Bible warns us to be careful about who we allow to "form" us.

“Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flows the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23

We are no longer of this world. Why would we want to imitate someone who does NOT have God? Seriously, think about this. Why would we want to dress like, act like, even live like, a lost soul?

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what the will of God is, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2

If a celebrity's lifestyle or worldview becomes the primary "pattern" we follow, it can pull us away from the values and character described in scripture.

It's okay to appreciate someone’s talent, but the Bible reminds us that everyone is human and prone to mistakes. By keeping our highest devotion for God, we avoid the disappointment that comes when we realize our 'idols' are just people, and we stay free to be ourselves rather than just copies of someone famous.

Look at this warning in James.

“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet," have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

Hold on for a moment. I have another story to share. I used to attend a church that treated everyone equally, without showing any favoritism. When we started looking for a new church, we found ourselves at a "Mega Church." As we walked in, we were greeted warmly enough, and they explained the church's procedures to us. When we entered the Sanctuary, we went to sit in a specific section, but we were stopped and told, “Sorry, those seats are reserved for our more, uh, famous guests.” At that point, we were ready to leave.

So, don’t assume that this couldn’t be happening in today’s church.

“Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?”

Stop there. Remember what Jesus said?

“Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:24

When the time comes, all that fortune and fame mean nothing. All that wealth means nothing. It is all rubbish. It will all belong to someone else.

Back to James 2

“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are sinning and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.”

No picking and choosing what to believe, what to accept, and what to ignore. It really is all or nothing.

"So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:1-13

Remember, Jesus also said this.

“And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.” Matthew 12:7

Also here.

“Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:13

Jesus did not care who you were or what you had. His message is the same. Have no other God before God, and love your neighbor as yourself. Share the Gospel, preach repentance, and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The more money you have, the more comfort you have, the less likely you will be to rely on God. Did you know that comfort and pleasure can become idols in your life if you are not careful? This is what we will be talking about next time.

Remember, you can always find this, and so much more, in the archives, over at TAG

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the Lord our God go before you as your way maker, as well as behind you as your rear guard, and may He be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

Malachi Chapter 1

 Chapter 1

1 The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

The Lord's Love for Israel

2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob's brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste to his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” 4 If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’” 5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”

The Priests' Polluted Offerings

6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ 7 By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord's table may be despised. 8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. 9 And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. 10 Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. 12 But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food, may be despised. 13 But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. 14 Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.

The Idol, Stuff

 Material things. 

Today, we continue our series Hidden Idols. The Idol of Stuff is far more powerful than you may both think, or want to admit. Let’s talk about. Let us pray. 

Heavenly Father, Lord God, we come before you to fully examine ourselves. Are we truly putting you first? Or are there hidden Idols that we need to root out? We talked about politics last time, today we will be discussing Stuff. Please guide us. Please Father, give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and the ability to understand your truth, in Jesus name, Amen!

Is it normal? Human nature? To love the world and the things in it? Is it human nature to dream of having more and more of it? Money, things, lusts, living life to the fullest. "Hey, you only got one life. Live it up." Right?

Well, Yes. Yes, it is Human Nature. Yes, it is normal. We are born into and of the World. Of course, we want it all. However, if you are now a child of God, you are no longer OF the World, but merely in it. Remember the Tenth Commandment?

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." Exodus 20:17

Do you remember what Jesus said? 

"Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Luke 12:15

And plainly,

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Matthew 6:24

Why is this such a serious commandment from God? It is because stuff can become an Idol that you are willing to lie, cheat, steal, and even kill for. John warns us.

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." 1 John 2:15–17

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6 that we should not even think about what we should eat, drink, wear, Etc. That God knows we need all these things before we even think about asking Him, and that we need to have faith that He will supply them. All we need to do is trust in Him and,

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

There is a deep peace in being content. Why? Because we no longer need to worry about many things. Do you have a roof over your head? Do you have enough food? When was the last time you skipped a meal? I'm not trying to insult or be rude. I'm genuinely asking. When was the last time you went outside without clothes? Not out of perversion, but just because you had nothing to cover yourself with.

Take a moment to consider the world's impoverished populations. We often see images of children running around without clothes, people living in shacks or exposed to harsh weather, and individuals consuming insects or dirt and drinking from contaminated water sources, the same ones used by animals for bathing. In nearly every other country, if you don't work, you face starvation. If you neglect to take the necessary actions for survival, your life is at risk. There is no government assistance available to rely on.

Take a moment to consider the situation of the poor in this country. Many of them have access to one or even two cars, or they can rely on public transportation to get around. They have the freedom to go wherever they wish. They often live in apartments or houses equipped with air conditioning and heating, with running water and electricity. Organizations and government agencies provide food to those in need. It's not uncommon for these individuals to have two or more televisions, cell phones, and ample clothing. They may even receive some financial assistance to enjoy outings, such as going to the movies or taking their kids out for ice cream at a local shop. Really?

If this does not give you reason to pause, then think about it. I do not know what will. We live in the greatest country on the planet. You know why? Oh, we have forgotten. We are in a moral decline in this country, no doubt about it. However, we are the greatest country on the planet because we were founded on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a country, we put God first, always. As a country, we used to.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Let me clarify my point. We do not work to be saved, nor do we work merely for the treasures in heaven. Our motivation for serving must come from the fact that we are already saved and that God loves us deeply. Even though we were sinners living in our sins, He came and died for us so that we might have life. What could be more important than serving Him?

As for all this stuff that surrounds us daily? It will one day belong to someone else. Either that, or it will simply cease to exist.

“For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” 1 Timothy 6:7-10

You cannot say. “Yes. I'm saved. But I do not have time to share the gospel. Gotta make that money.” Or things like, “I wish I had more time to serve God. But you know, I gotta pay the electric bill.” Did you not know that if you are working to serve God and working for the kingdom, then you are worthy of compensation? Look here. Turn to 1 Timothy 5:18

“For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,' and, 'The laborer deserves his wages.” 

When Jesus sent out the disciples, He told them to take nothing. And He said this.

“No bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.” Matthew 10:10

What does He mean? He means He will provide. God will provide. Why? “Your Father knows that you need them,” and “The laborer deserves his wages.” God will never ask you to do something that does not give you the necessary tools. All you have to do is trust in Him.

If he tells you to quit your job and join a church full-time, quit. If God tells you to move, move. Evangelize. Then go do that. To be a Missionary, go do that. Life is far more than working 9-5, or more like 24-7 nowadays, and paying bills on Friday.

I've said this before: every secular goal is bound to death and decay. Think about that. I will say it again. Every secular goal is bound to death and decay. What is today is rubbish tomorrow. Why worry a lot about things that do not matter in the long run?

That car you love so much? Rubbish

That house, or houses, you like to brag about? Rubbish.

That money hidden where you hid it? Rubbish

Your clothes? Rubbish

Everything you have or ever will have, while here on this earth? Rubbish

Enjoy the nice things you have, and if you are blessed with something you desire, take pleasure in it. However, always remember not to place anything above God or what He is calling you to do. Seek the Kingdom first; He will meet your needs and provide you with a life of abundance.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

-

Do you remember being a kid on Christmas morning, or even as an adult, buying a car? The Thing, / Car, whatever, is brand new, beautiful, and you can not wait to show it off. Then time ticks by. That thing? In the corner, forgotten. That car? Faded, dented, scratched, ready for a trade-in.  

Let’s say you spend your whole life acquiring stuff. Better yet, let Jesus tell us. 

“And he told them a parable, saying, 'The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry."' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'” Luke 12:16-20

It happens more than you think. Someone works their entire life and retires, and in a very short time, they are gone. Then? It starts. The vultures gather. Every family member has their hand out. So  “the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” Not yours. 

It is okay to want stuff. Within reason. It is ok to want nice stuff. However, you have to be careful to be sure that it is not what you are working and living for. Seek God first. 

Join us next time when we will discuss our next Idol, Celebrities. Join us, won’t you?

Remember, you can find so very much in the archives at TAG The Email is, as always, truthbygod1@gmail.com

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord.