WCTLC

People Approval VS. God Approval

Another confusing thing is watching some very spiritual people as they “worship and serve” God. They have large crowds and collect large amounts of money and seem to be doing incredible things for God. Then one day major sin is found in that leader’s life.

They seemed to be helping a lot of people but look at the devastation that takes place when their sins are discovered. It brings great harm to people, the work of God, and Christianity in general. Here’s how it was in Jesus’ day.

Mat 6:5 (NIV) And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

We pray, they pray. They give to the needy, we give to the needy.

Mat 6:2 (NIV) So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

God uses us in a mighty way. They are doing supernatural things in people’s lives.

Mat 7:22-23 (NIV) Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!”

They are out proclaiming a message and making disciples. We are out proclaiming the gospel and making disciples in every nation.

Mat 23:15 (NIV) Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

Whose Kingdom Are We Building?

What is wrong with them? They are trying to build their kingdom rather than God’s Kingdom. They are trying to do something spectacular and impressive. God is trying to help hurting, lost and dying people. They are trying to keep the work of God inside their organization so it can be counted and admired.

We may all worry about the spread of Christianity getting so out of control that it gets involved in heresy. If we build all our ministry around helping people have their own direct relationship with God, they and He will keep it straight. If we teach them how to have a close and intimate relationship with God and they depart from it, there was nothing we could have done to prevent it.