But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8-9)
From the earliest days of Christianity - even when Jesus still walked the earth - there were already twisted "alternative" views of the gospel developing, even in the hearts of Christ's own inner circle. This trend really began to take off once the Gospel began to spread soon after the day of Pentecost.
I have said from the pulpit that the root of all of this is Satan and his use of the natural human nature towards pride and selfishness. After all, Satan is described as being like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Which brings us to a quote I heard (and read) several years ago:
Satan couldn't beat the church, so he joined it.The first time I heard that, I was speechless. And then I began to open my eyes. If God's Word is unchanging. If God HIMSELF is unchanging, then there can be only one correct understanding of scripture - thus only one true Gospel.
So how do we get to where we are today? Simply by people, under the leadership of Satan (and I believe oftentimes these people are not even aware of it - they have also been deceived, to a point), have "joined" churches, have worked/manipulated themselves into positions to teach and eventually preach another gospel - all with the intent of helping themselves (fleshly/selfish desires), and Satan in "devouring" those they can deceive.
Somehow today, we have, just in the mainstream "versions" of Christianity (denominations). This chart is in no particular order, except the first column being the biblical statement:
All claim to be "right" in regards to who Jesus is - who God is - and what the gospel is. But can these be all correct?
Let us return to Paul's warning in Galatians - if ANYONE - angel or human- preaches to you a gospel different from the one Paul and his ministry companions did - let them be "accursed" - run from them, do not tolerate them.
Jesus dictated a series of 7 letters in Revelation 2 & 3. Five were subjected to serious condemnation and warnings - and the primary reason - false teachers. Those who were teaching and preaching another gospel. Whether it be "Judaizers" or "Jezebels", they were leading people down the path of destruction - and those churches were to deal strongly with them - and not tolerate it one bit.
And this all comes from the selfish "belly" of people and Satan.
So where does the title of this post, "Burger King god" come from? In each case - when the image or character of God is changed to the preferences of mankind, that is no longer God. He becomes nothing more than a Whopper ordered "your way" at Burger King.
Just this morning, I saw a reply to a post regarding the young girl, Jahi McMath, who has been declared brain dead after an apparent serious reaction to anesthesia having a tonsillectomy. This post reminded me of just how much of a "custom-made-to-order" god that is being preached in churches.
And we wonder why there are so many disillusioned professed "Christians" floating around in this world. It's because they were sold a bill of goods by those "enemies of the Cross of Jesus Christ" who told them that they could just "ask Jesus into their hearts" and he would make life easy, bless them financially, and they would be "heaven-bound" no matter what happened.
No repentance (a change of mind and heart regarding sin - an intentional TURNING FROM sin).
No God-transplanted heart of righteousness
No sincere sustaining faith
No real conviction of the Holy Spirit
Just have an experience and/or see "signs and wonders"
And god becomes your servant...
It is time for churches who have allowed false teachers to hijack them to repent! It is time for Christians to repent! It is time to get back to God's Holy Word. It is time to stand up and call sin what it is - sin. No situational ethics. No ever-changing and "living" God's Word that conforms to the times.
It is time to stand against those who proclaim a prosperity gospel.
It is time to stand against those who preach a gospel of liberation theology.
It is time to stand against those who would create their own Burger King god.
It is time to get back to the Word of God. The same Word of God that says clearly that ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The same Word of God that clearly states that the wages of sin - is death. Period. It doesn't matter if you have decided you were "made that way" - sin, is sin.
It is time to get back to who God (in Jesus) really is - the perfect Lamb of God who came, not "to be a good teacher", not even to heal and preach (though in His grace, He did). Jesus came with one and only one purpose - to die in our place, pouring out His precious blood on the cross, that sinners might be saved from the wrath of God. Yes - the very wrath that so many want to ignore or forget about. Jesus died that we might live - eternally. But that will never happen with a Burger King god.
Jesus didn't die (and rise from the dead) so you can command Him to raise your loved one or friend from death. Jesus didn't die and rise from the dead so that you could have a fat bank account, a fine home, and all the luxuries this world has to offer. Jesus died that sinners might stand before a Holy and Righteous God and be viewed in the righteousness of Christ, not our own unrighteousness.
And for those who are truly saved, born-again, in Christ Jesus, are made new creatures. Put off the old self, for in Christ we are made new. Read Colossians 3.
God is not who you, in the flesh, want Him to be. God is God.
1 comment:
Excellent! Satan cannot destroy the church from the outside, so he has inserted himself to destroy it from within. And, sadly, he has had successes. We can only hold on to what we know is true and continue the fight against him.
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