Are We Just Creating More Idolaters?

Over the past several months I have begun to see and hear some things that are causing a growing concern. I have been listening to many conversations in the church over the past several months and I continue to hear the following statements coming from those who belong to, “The Church.”

The statements I hear are the following, “I cannot wait to get to heaven so I can see my grandmother, I cannot wait to get to heaven so I can be free from my pain and suffering; I plan on sleeping in until 4 p.m. every day in heaven; And so the talk goes at many of the churches I have attended over the past year.

I attended a church that was just recently completed. It had all the really high class furnishings and state of the art sound system and beautifully crafted pipe organ. During the meet and greet time I heard continually of what a great building they had and just look at this ceiling and the architecture. Much was being made of the building and furnishings but something was noticeably absent. I did not hear any conversation like the following; Is not our God great? Is not our Lord and Savior a magnificent God who would allow us to even enjoy such a place?

It seemed in all the conversations of the church I only heard the church thrilled with the benefits of redemption but completely ignorant of the beauty of their redeemer. Their conversations were fixated on the stuff not on the Savior. I was frightened in those moments for I fear we have only made more idolaters instead of more passionate worshippers of our Savior with our focus on building and blessing instead of the beauty and the benefit of knowing our Savior.

These are just some of my thoughts. I hope you can be convicted and challenged by them in the days ahead so you will turn your heart's affections more and more to the Savior. As Paul instructed us in Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV)
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Come let us fix our gaze heavenward to see our Redeemer and may the sight of him thrill us more than all the things of this universe.