Ephesians 5:27
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
A Church without idolatry
From part IV of this series the importance of "idolatry check" for all Christians was emphasized, every denomination is to carry out an idolatry check. What are we checking?
1. Is there any image involved in my worship of God.
2. Is there any symbol particular to my faith that has replaced God in my worship.
3. Is there any personality (in the Bible or outside the Bible) used in my prayers different from Jesus Christ.
4. Is there any personality that I have exalted above God in my relationship and dealings.
5. Do I have any personality of worship besides Jesus Christ.
6. What is the object of my faith?
If you carry out this check sincerely you will discover some things that require urgent change. Don't allow denomination bias to affect your check, there is no denomination in heaven- only one church... THE CHURCH WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE that Christ will present.
Let us look at the first check together:
Check 1: Is there any image involved in my worship of God.
There are denominations today that are too connected to an image in their worship. The image sometimes becomes the main object of worship. For example picture or statue of Jesus, Mary or any being should not be bowed to in the course of worship. The cross is an image it should not be bowed to or worshipped in any form as a sign of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God did not ordain the cross as an image of our worship.
There are many others we need to identify as we sincerely carry out this check.
Check 2: Is there any symbol particular to my faith that has replaced God in my worship.
Christians today parade different item that is pertinent to their faith. Is it wrong?
In the book of John 9:6-11, Jesus asked a blind man to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. Peter in the book of Act 19:11-12, wrought special miracles with a handkerchief. With Jesus sending someone to wash at the pool of water is not to make water a substance of faith. The man that gave the instruction (Jesus) is the substance of faith.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The substance in the context of this scripture is what will make the things hoped for coming to pass. So is the water or the handkerchief the substance? It is not.
However, today many Christians have items- such as water, oil, handkerchief, rosary, candle etc. that has become the main substance of their faith. This is idolatry! For clarity I am not condemning the use of this item but how it is used because God works in mysterious ways. Has it become the substance of your faith?
With some denominations, some items or objects have become a norm and the base of their worship to the extent of trying to tap the spirituality behind the object and then losing God. This is especially true with denominations that believe in water bodies (stream, river, sea and ocean).
Sincerely, we need to check ourselves. With Christ, there is no orthodox, classical, Pentecostal or charismatic only one church. Any church (person) that is not checking itself to be sure they are still in tune will miss it forever. A church without spot or wrinkle is a church without idolatry.
Declaration/Prayers:
Father help us to carry out this check sincerely so that we can make amendments in Jesus name.
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