Idols In The Church

 

I have often talked about the gods that people serve. The idols that even Christians embrace such as Mammon (god of money) and even the Pantheon that Hollywood peddles. In this post I am going to revisit some false gods many believers are bowing to. The goal of this post will be to show how brothers and sisters in Christ are serving other gods, when Scripture clearly says we are to love and serve only the One True God. Idolatry has been problem throughout history, the Church is not alone in its failure to serve only the True Trinity, Israel many times chose to serve other false gods like Baal, Ashtoreth, Molech, and more; and God dealt with them through Assyrian, Babylon, and Rome. So let us embark on journey to see how other gods have gotten hold of God's People and how we are to break free of idolatry and serve The One True Trinity: Father, Jesus Christ, and Holy spirit.

Perhaps the number one god that Christians serve beside the Divine Trinity is the god Mammon. Mammon in Biblical times was a god of metals, particularly those used for currency like gold and silver. Jesus said, "you can serve only one of two masters, you will love one and hate the other, you can serve God or Mammon." (Matthew 6:24). It should capture our attention that Jesus did not say the Prince of Darkness, but rather the god of money; which indicates that number one altar most people approach outside God's Temple is the altar of finance. This can be supported throughout the centuries, how even Popes and clergy manipulated people for money to build St. Peters and how cut throat Barons, Vikings, and all the warriors who have pillaged over the ages. Mammon has many altars all over America and the World; Wall Street, China's Business District, The Pornography Industry (which is selling sexual fantasy), Prostitution, your local Grocery stores, and even the very homes of almost all people have a mini-altar called their computer where they fearfully check their Checking Balance, Investments, Insurance, and other portfolios. It is not a sin to be good steward of our finances, again the Scriptures say, "It is the love of money that is the root of all evil," (1 Timothy 6:10). It is not money itself that is evil, it is devotion to it, trust in it, and love for it that is evil. Mammon has a great grip on the Church, ranging from Roman Catholics with their Papal Palaces in Rome, to the Eastern Orthodox with the golden dome cathedrals and golden icons, the Pentecostals with their budgets and boards, the Evangelicals with their mega church buildings, stages, and massive TV screens. It strikes me that the early Church from 33-100 A.D. never need a building, golden crosses, massive screens, stages, pulpits, and the plethora of other paraphernalia and programs that churches today use. While there is nothing wrong with using the latest technology to witness and using money for the cause of our Messiah, we must beware of letting these props and instruments to make us so dependent on money that we cannot function without both the money or the props.

Perhaps the second most revered god of Christians is Pharmacia or the Medical god. Medicine has been present even since the time of the Apostle Luke, who was trained in Alexandria and helped the Apostle Paul on His journeys and wrote one of the most riveting accounts of the gospel that contains the woman's perspectives. However, while Luke became a believer and treated physical conditions and symptoms, he knew he could not cure what ails the man's soul and that disease was beyond his control to curb. Lest people think Luke was unable to use the powers of medicine to heal because of the times, I must remind you that in Alexandria that had cures for cancer using special rocks and minerals, and the Egyptians were expert brain surgeons and could operate and the person would have no side effects. In our day and age, doctors have become like deities that people rush to over every minute ache, pain, and hurt. Christians especially espouse, "see a doctor," before even considering praying and asking the Great Physician Jesus Christ to heal! I have been in Evangelical circles were the only faith they have is to pray for the doctors to have wisdom to heal the patient, when they could have prayed for a miraculous recovery as Jesus said we could heal!: "lay hands on the sick and they will be healed," (Mark 16:17-18) and "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord." (James 5:14). Trust in the medical system has reached a religious level. People want doctors to cure cancer and create ways to destroy disease, but physicians are suppose to help with symptoms and recovery, they do not do the healing. They can put your leg in "Fixator" or caste; but your body (God designed to self-heal like Wolverine) and God do the healing (Isaiah 53:5, Psalm 103:1-3, 1 Peter 2:24). Many doctors today act like shamans and pronounce curses over people saying, "you won't live beyond a year or ten years," and the patient dies then; when another that I know said, "In name of Jesus I do not receive that," and lived twenty plus more years! The Pharmaceutical companies and Doctors are invested in drugs and supplements that we really do not need if we would do some simple things: drink more water, eat more appropriate portions, walk and exercise three to four times a week, get out in the sun (15 minutes is all the source of Vitamin D you need) and be balanced in our lives; which means you can sit on couch and watch TV or Netflix, and go outside for a walk or hike, or whatever exercise you like. The truth is God made in nature and if we lived a balanced lifestyle, the easy way to curb any bad self inflicted diseases; but the rest is in the hands of our Lord Jesus, only He holds the Keys to Death and Hades (Revelation 1:18) and at any moment plague and pestilence can could to kill people and no amount of drugs, vaccines, and pills can save you then if it is your time (especially because plagues like Ebola mutate, so a vaccine will eventually not work). The point is Christians often run to the hospital, then asking the Holy Spirit for healing (1 Corinthians 12).

The third god that many Christians serves is Psychology or what once called the "Psych god." Psychology seeks to heal from the head (mind) and emotions. There are even sects of this religion of the mind called Psycho-analysis, Behaviorism, Humanism, Cognitive Psychology, Biological Psychology, Evolutionary psychology, Holistic Psychology, and many more. Each claims to have the way to heal a person via their mind and emotions, they differ in their approach, for instance Biological Psychology may have you take a drug to change the chemical patterns in your brain and you may have brain scan to examine the 'imbalances" while Psychoanalysis which was Sigmund Freud's type of psychology has people look into their childhood and earlier life for problems, issues, and patterns that have led to their current imbalance. Psychology has been greatly embraced by Christians, in fact it has its own forms Christian Psychology and Christian Counseling. Christians have endeavored to adopt the methods and approaches of Psychology but with adding Christian values and in some cases prayer and New Age Jesus techniques. While we definitely have brains and emotions that should become "captive according to Christ," (2 Corinthians 10:5), I do not see in Scripture the Lord saying go to a counselor or psychologist, but rather the Apostle Paul said, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2). The renewing of our mind is not to be done by a person or program of psychology, but through Jesus Christ! The Scriptures expressly say that our war is against, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]." (Ephesians 6:12). It is these principalities, rulers of darkness, and demons who flood our minds with evil imaginings and seek to lead us into wicked thought patterns and to express bad behaviors. The Apostle Paul tells to deal with these imaginings, thoughts, and psychological problems: "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.." (2 Corinthians 10:5). Psychologists would have people believe that demons are "imaginings" or Schizophrenia. They do as Paul said not to do, "They exalt things the knowledge of God." And yet so many Christian brothers and sisters put their trust in these men and women servants of the Psych God. The answer for our mental problems and afflictions in the Messiah Jesus Christ, not some program. While it can be beneficial to talk to someone and voice your issues, can a person really move the mountains in your mind? They can help if they pray, but if they merely dispense advice, then they cannot help you. Only you on your face before the Lord and seeking His answer, can you achieve freedom from the prison the Prince of Darkness has put over your mind. Psychologists have been in army of Evolution and all the ideologies of Atheism and everything that "exalts itself against the Knowledge of God," and yet we trust them?! I believe the Apostle Paul sums up the psychologies of today, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ." (Colossians 2:8).
Christian psychologists are not much better, they use the same methods secular psychologists, only they add a quick prayer and acknowledge Jesus. Christian Counselors can be better, they can pray for you and be an accountability partner and help you find Scripture and Christian resources to help examine the problem; but in the end the only One who can truly heal you is Jesus Christ. For in Christ is the only peace for our hearts and minds: "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7).


The fourth god that many Christians serve is Minerva or the goddess of intellect. The Church began with Fishermen. Jesus could have picked the most learned Pharisees and Sadducees, the religious titans of the day with all the scroll (book) knowledge and insight regarding the Torah, Talmud, and other Writings. But instead the Redeemer picked the rejects, men who did not even make it to Rabbinical School. Peter, James, and John were all fishermen who had failed to reach the high echelons of the clergy of the day and thus had to be employed in their father's trade of fishery. Jesus came to these men and made them His disciples (Matthew 4:18-22, Luke 5). In addition to fishermen, Jesus choose the Tax Collector Matthew, tax collectors were most hated in Jewish society at the time because like Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) they collected hefty taxes for Rome and took extra to line their pockets. Christ choose a Zealot name Simon. The Zealots were zealous Jewish 'nationalists' who wanted to lead a rebellion against Rome and retake Judea and all of former Israel for the Jews. Then we have Doubting Thomas, who perhaps is the closest to people today in his thinking, but He took in the end said, "My Lord and My God!" (John 20:28). The point is our Lord did not choose the scholars and intellectuals of the day. Our Savior was illustrating via his choices of disciples that, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"," (1 Corinthians 3:19) and as Solomon said, "Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment." (Proverbs 9:10). These fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, and second class citizens would become the spiritual leaders of Christ's Church and minister the Gospel in Judea and around the world! They developed through God's Spirit and time with Jesus Christ insight that surpassed all intellectualism, for Jesus said, "When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say," (Luke 12:12), and "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.." (John 14:26). For as Paul said, "We are temples of God," (1 Corinthians 3:16) and So now we have a direct link to the Divine Mind and can be filled with God's thoughts and ways which are "higher than our thoughts and higher than our ways." (Isaiah 55:8-9).
The Apostle Paul is often seen as champion of intellectualism and scholasticism in the Church. But despite that Paul was Pharisee (Acts 23:6), studied under the greatest Hebrew Scholar of the time Gamaliel (Acts 22:3), and he was born Roman Citizen (Acts 22:28). But Paul counted it all lost: "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ." (Philippians 3:8). St. Paul even said, "And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined (resolved/decided) to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:1-2). Interesting, in today's seminaries they want you to be briefed on the religions you will encounter in other countries as Missionaries and to know the pantheons in secular schools, but Paul, who was most intellectual considered such knowledge as lost compared to knowing Christ. Here is where the church has moved from contentment in Messiah to serving Minerva. It really began in Middle Ages under the rise of the Roman Church (circa 500 A.D.) Throughout the Medieval Period only the Clergy of the Church was learned, translated pagan works by Homer, and read many books including the Bible. The repository of knowledge was in hands of the Church, but the intellectualism born from it was both a help and hindrance. There is nothing wrong with learning, love of learning, and knowledge. A respectable monk named Thomas A. Kempis put it best, "Do not learn to seem smart, or master knowledge for any reason except because you want to learn something. Remember while you may know a great deal about one or many subjects, there are many subjects in which you are ignorant." (The Imitation of Christ, Chapters 1-3). Well said! If your goal is to learn, fill yourself with knowledge, and be aware of the writings of men for the sake of better understanding your world and to enrich your own life, then that is a good motive; but to do it to seem wise, to become proud, and to act superior than others or control people is wrong. Scripture says, "knowledge puffs up, while love builds up" (1 Corinthians 8:1) and "For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.." (1 Corinthians 1:25). We really should be concerned with receiving wisdom from the Word of God (Jesus Christ) and God's Word (The Bible). But many refuse to make these their sources of Wisdom and instead trust in words of Augustine, A. W. Tozer, Beth Moore, and many more.
The Academic system in Bible Colleges is very much tied to the worldly system of knowledge under Minerva. People who want to be in full time ministry and serve Jesus Christ will their whole heart are hindered by academia. In the time of Jesus in 33 A.D. to 333 A.D., one could become a Apostle, Teacher, Preacher, Prophets, and so forth through simply going out and doing it! The Apostle Paul never was taught but by the Holy Spirit, and was called by Christ alone, "Paul, an apostle--sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead--" (Galatians 1:1) and, "For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ." (Galatians 1:12). And yet now this is almost impossible. You have to go to seminary is you serious about serving the Savior and learn all this scholarly knowledge that proves you are competent and well educated pastor or priest. Interesting, I wonder if Jesus Christ had Peter, James and John right term papers and take multi-choice quizzes? I doubt it. Instead, back in Christ's time people were disciple or what was called, "walk about" by Aboriginals. Instead of entering a school and learning from scholars, you followed a Rabbi, and you learned his ways and wanted to become in every way like Him, which in Hebrew is Talmidim (disciple). But these days very few pastors and seminary professors would take a student as disciple and teach them God's ways. Instead we are expected to get our degree like all secular people and use methods made by men, rather than the life changing ways of the Word of God, Jesus Christ! In this way many Christians have become followers of Minerva, the knowledge that puffs up and want to put Christ and the Christian Faith in Him in Minerva methods and pride. I wonder if Jesus Christ had come today to choose disciples if He would not bypass the most learned scholars and students of Bible Colleges and go straight for low workers at Target, Wal-Mart, and Fishing and Co. Bait Shop? Because the reality is that Jesus chose fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, and some Pharisees with open hearts (Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and Paul of Tarsus). But even the great Apostle Paul considered all things "as garbage compared to surpassing worth of knowing Christ." (Philippians 3:8).

Though fifth in the list, Lamia, Venus, Artemis, and Aphrodite are powerful evil forces in the world today. They are behind Pornography, and ever lascivious practice from Pedophilia, Necrophilia, and all the depraved sexual practices of the day. Perverted sexuality is rampant in the church. Over 90% of men in the church confess that they struggle with pornography and many great pastors and preachers have fallen from Prostitution. Solicited sexuality and the acceptance of causal sex, anal sex, oral sex, and many other perversions has been peddled by Hollywood and the culture of the day. Sex and its allure has been an issue since the beginning. In Genesis 6:1-5, people became so perverted they had sex with angels and created Nephillim or giants. (See Jude as well). It go to depraved that God sent a Flood and saved only Noah and his family. Then later in Sodom and Gomorrah there was people who had sex with everything: animals, men with men, women with women (Jude 6-7). They even wanted to have sex with the angels who visited Abraham and pronounced judgment (Genesis 19:1-10). In fact, there are awful demons in perverted sexual practices that God says he has sealed in the pit and in last days will release them (Revelation 9:2). There is Babylon the Harlot in Revelation (Revelation 7:1-18), whom it says is the "Mother of harlots," (Revelation 17:5) and who God calls his people to come out of: "For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." (Revelation 18:3-5). Throughout all the centuries there have been intrigues of sexual debauchery, infamous figures like Henry VIII who's lust could not be slayed and Hugh Hefner who founded Playboy magazine, are examples of the power of Venus, Lamia, and Aphrodite; look at Henry VIII over his lust for Ann Boleyn he embraced The Reformation, broke from Church of Rome, and started the Anglican Church which stills stands today.
Sex sells and many saints are caught in the Satanic perversions of what God made to be between one man and one woman. The reason Venus and the other goddesses have made slaves and servants out of Christians is that the edict of God said, "As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it." (Genesis 9:7). We were hardwired with the desire to procreate and produce many children. Our sex drive is normal and naturally from On High, but how we use it can be greatly perverted. David Wilkerson who was pastor of the Church of Washington and a prophet said in 1970, "porn and sex will be on your home TVs one day." Wilkerson was laughed off the stage, but look at today! Porn can be accessed from every device TV, Computer, and Smartphone; and many companies like HBO, Showtime, and Charter's Direct TV offer porn channels on Demand. Even Cable and public TV have shows with sex on prime time which began long before the 90's. Perverted sex is easy to access and so many Christians are in bondage to Venus and her cohorts. In another post I wrote, "The End of Man: How the Human Race is Racing to Extinction" I spoke about how people are delaying marriage and having children, well that is contributing to the porn industry and creating addicts. In Jesus' day, men and women married at 12yrs of age. Joseph when he married Mary was 15yrs of age and considered old for marriage. Today most people do not get married tell their mid 30's and 40's. So now young men and women with the natural hormones and desire to procreate cannot even do so under marriage because of cost of living and other obstacles in their way, which leads many to Venus through porn and casual sex. Job said, "I have made covenant with my eyes to not look lustfully upon a young woman." (Job 31:1). Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "If you look upon a woman with lust in your heart, you have already committed adultery with her." (Matthew 5:28). By Christ's standard many are in sin, not just those who actually have intercourse, but those in porn and more. The Apostle Paul says , "Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality.." (1 Corinthians 6:9). The Porn industry is strong and has many Christians caught in its web, making many bow to the altars of Venus, Aphrodite, Lamia, and other sexual spirits like Incubus and Succubus. Because many Christians cannot get married tell later in life due to financial obstacles, many fall into wrongful sexual practices, so the solution will require a new Christian community or major change in world where costs drop and people start wanting families earlier and more than great successes, fame, power, and their individual passions.

Those are the four gods we have looked at today. There are more to examine, but this post has already become lengthy. If we are to explore more gods that the church has embraced, I shall label the post Part II. For now as believers we need to realize that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are caught up in many false gods! We need to take seriously, "Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only," (Luke 4:8) and "Have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:3). We have touched the tip of iceberg of idols and shall revisit soon the gods that are invading the church such as Yoga (Hindu gods), the gods firmly in place in disguises like Mary Worship in Catholic Church (Artemis reborn) and the more obscure gods such as how Family can become a god (Luke 14:26). There is only one True God and His name is Jesus Christ: the Trinity Father, Son and Holy Spirit! The Bible shows us who God really is and we can only serve one of two masters! We will love one and hate the other. (Matthew 6:24).