In general, the modern church has given over to the spirit of religiosity by becoming therapeutic to the attendees of the assembly. By accommodating to the desires of the public, church services of these organizations are now the feel-good injections of false hope and half-truths that do not change the people looking for the true hope and full truth of God and His Word. The word therapeutic means producing a useful or favorable result or effect, having an effect on the body or the mind. Part of this demon’s ability to use therapeutic methods accommodates anything the body or mind desires. Some of the therapeutic changes include: no offense in messages (no negative aspects or conviction), removing the necessity of salvation and holiness, fewer crosses or steeples, removal of communion, appealing to the unchurched (secular appearance and activities), focus on videos, music, drama, or other arts that are secular in nature, adding exercise gyms, spas, locker rooms, etc., adding various franchises on church property, removing the necessity of tithes and offerings, removing references to the blood of Jesus, marketing Jesus in a different view rather than from the Bible, and many more. This accommodation also includes sin while presenting a façade of Christianity (2 Timothy 3:5). When churches become therapeutic they are seeking a favorable result to their motives and not to the eternal benefit of people. Although there may be an effect on the body or mind, eternity is based on the response of spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:14). There must be a change in the spirit and application of the spiritual principles to connect each individual to God (Galatians 5:16). Only focusing on the natural is not only a ploy of the spirit of religiosity but this demon desires this to keep people from being prepared in their spiritual ability to obtain victory (1 Corinthians 2:15). When God’s people are spiritual, as God desires them to be, they examine, investigate, and question all things. When they are spiritual they also have the Holy Spirit to help them in their weaknesses (Romans 8:26). This interaction does not sound like therapeutic desires but a submission to God reflecting a true relationship with Him. When people take on the newer ideology of religiosity there is a belief that God wants people to be nice and happy. This creates the therapeutic mindset that as long as people are nice, happy, and believe that God exists then they are right in God’s eyes. God did not establish His kingdom to work in this manner (Romans 12:21; John 16:33; 1 Corinthians 15:57-58). God’s people are called to be overcomers not to be given therapeutic bandaids to administer to gashing wounds. Therapeutic methods accommodate to solidify the pleasure of self as the normal method of living but this directly opposes God and His Word. The enemies of this therapeutic goal of religiosity are marked as standing in the way of people’s happiness (2 Timothy 4:2). Paul’s letter to Timothy displays how the therapeutic methods of religiosity go directly against the Word of God. Why do so many churches or Christians allow this demon to tend to them? The answer is the pleasing of the flesh rather than having a true relationship with God. This is the height of religiosity that is manipulated to not recognize the need to change by this same demon. When accommodations are made it is easier to not face the truth and deceive oneself as being in right standing with God. May Christians overcome this spirit of religiosity and have a true relationship with God through Jesus. For more information visit agcsparta.org.
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AuthorCaleb Andrews Archives
September 2024
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