APPARENTLY, PEOPLE TODAY are becoming religious as thousands of Christian churches and sects exist in practically
all countries worldwide. Indeed, countless numbers of people have turned their attention to religion in their search
for answers to vital questions about life and in their quest for its true meaning. Furthermore, believers involve themselves
in activities believed to be the way to salvation.
One characteristic common to all these churches is the fact that each of them claims to be of God.
Such assertion, however, could not be true as the doctrines they uphold differ from one another although all of them use the
same basis for their faith, which is the Bible. Concerning them, the Lord Himself said:
"They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." (Mt. 15:9, New International Version)
Indeed, not all churches belong to God in the same way that not every kind of worship rendered unto Him
is acceptable. Those whose worship is vain or useless in His sight certainly belong not to the true Church. Moreover,
the Lord Jesus Christ identified who the true worshipers are when He said:
"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth,
for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." (Jn. 4:23, Ibid.)
True worshipers worship the Almighty Father, the true God, and not just any of the so-called gods in the
world, for God Himself commands man to, "Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped..." (Jos. 24,14, Ibid.). Since God
is spirit by nature (Jn. 4:24), He commands man not to use graven images in worshiping Him (Acts 17:29; Is. 42:8) and condemns
those who take anything tangible such as idols to represent, or worst, to replace Him (Exo. 20:3). So, those who tip their
hats, bow down, and pray before idols, and those who worship, say prayers, and bring offerings to graven images stand guilty
of plain and simple idolatry.
In modern times, idolatry has remained in our midst. The Catholic Church, for instanced, still uses
images and idols as objects of worship. But, it is not only in this particular fashion that idolatry still exists.
Idolaters abound everywhere as people unwittingly commit the same sin though in a different variety or form. Apostle
Paul says:
"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil
desires and greed, which is idolatry." (Col. 3:5, NIV)
Hence, people who follow the desires of their flesh rather than the will of God, or, because of greed, trust
in material riches rather than in the Almighty, are also guilty of idolatry.
The Church of Christ does not use graven images or idols as objects of worship. Its members are constantly
admonished not to put their confidence in riches and to get rid of all forms of sins, so as not to commit idolatry.
They worship God as our Lord Jesus commands, by worshiping the Father in spirit and truth. And this is done by exalting
His name and by faithfully obeying His decrees and commandments.
God wants His people to keep the commandments He gave them - to love the Lord their God and to serve Him
with all their heart and with all their soul (Dt. 11:13), a commandment echoed by the Lord Jesus Christ who explained:
'"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your should and with all your mind'. This is the
first and greatest commandment." (Mt. 22:37-38, NIV)
Therefore, love of God and faithfulness to Him are among the virtues that worshipers should posses to be
worthy before the Lord. These virtues also make a worshiper true - the kind that the Lord God seeks.
So, let us prove to be the true worshipers whom He seeks by keeping all His commandments. By
doing so, even without our asking Him, He will surely reward us with His blessings as He has promised:
"So that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live
by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life." (Dt. 6:2, Ibid.)
