Articles
Reject Gospel Consumerism
In Acts 2:41-47, we are told that because of the gospel being preached, many souls were saved and added to the Lord. As a result of being added to the Lord, the saved continued steadfast in the Apostles doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and the prayers. Consistent with salvation, Christians are to “let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians
Christian service is not consumerism, that is, “If I like it, I’ll buy it!” Many have the concept that because their service satisfies “their needs,” it must be right. There is a great danger in serving God according to our own standards and being lulled into a feeling of living righteously.
When Jehovah spoke to Israel through Malachi, he said to the priests, “O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar. And ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of Jehovah is contemptible. And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, it is no evil! And when ye offer the lame and sick, it is no evil!” (Malachi 1:6-8). To this Jehovah told the priests, “Present it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee? or will he accept thy person? saith Jehovah of hosts.”
Many will “go to church” with a similar attitude. The church they chose is one that makes them feel better about their ungodly lives, because the message they hear coddles to their wishes. They will have their coffee and doughnuts. They will have their senses tantalized by the musicians who, as Amos says, “sing idle songs to the sound of the viol; that invent for themselves instruments of music, like David” (Amos 6:5).
Jehovah told
The apostle Paul gives man a great deal to contemplate, saying, “For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Ross Triplett, Sr.