Several years ago Victoria Osteen, the wife of entrepreneur, Joel Osteen, was recorded “preaching” and saying the following: “When we obey God, we’re not doing it for God…we’re doing it for ourselves because God takes pleasure when we’re happy…When you come to church, when you worship Him, you’re not doing it for God really, you’re doing it for yourself.” I have seen that video clip and am still dumbfounded by it. What I have not seen since it was shared on social media is that clip of her saying that being paired with a scene from the film, Billy Madison where a man says, “What you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard.”
When we hear a religious figure say out loud that we do not worship God for God, we know that is patently absurd. The Westminster Shorter Catechism says the exact opposite of what Mrs. Osteen and others of her ilk say. It says, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Sadly, much of contemporary Christianity has changed that to “God’s chief end is to glorify man and enjoy him forever.”
One pastor said, “It is possible to go to church and hear little about God and much about you.”
How can a person argue with that when it is staring us in the face? “I didn’t get anything out of church today.” “What a waste of time today was. The music was too slow and the sermon didn’t touch me at all. I got nothing out of being in church.” What a difference it would make if we flipped that and asked, “What did I give God today? Did I give Him my full-on worship? Did I listen intently to the message as it was delivered from God’s Word? Was my heart into worship today?”
My sermon Sunday will tackle some of these thoughts as I use Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 to talk about Religion Investigated. I would love it if you would watch the live stream if you are unable to come. If you are I look forward to seeing you in person. And, as always, I appreciate your prayers.
Our focus when we worship should ALWAYS be on God. I’ll be watching on Sunday, Bill!
Blessings!
Thanks ahead of time Martha.
It’s all about Him.
ALL!
May Jesus Christ be praised …
AMEN Linda! All the time. In every way.
It is possible to go to church and hear little about God and much about you.”
Wow, this one powerful post. I just put that quote on my facebook site. It’s just not the big well known preacher who talk this sickness. Our family was going to a church where the pastor told stories after stories, never from the Bible, never a convicting story either. We attending there everytime we were home and honestly we got nothing out of it. they finally left. we told them it’s not important how many attend a church but the most important thing to watch is, are the ones who attend growing. In a small church that is easy to attest, but those mega churches, it’s so easy to get lost in the crowd. Thank God, He sees us no matter the numbers. Pastors have bad days just like every one else but to continually not feed your congregations…woe is the only word that comes to mind.
Woe is the perfect word Betty. I simply cannot imagine not preaching the Bible week in and week out. Thanks for the comment.