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“Convenience-Store Religion”
Categories: Bible, Church, Daily Living, WorshipConvenience-Store Religion
Jarrod Jacobs
In far too many cases, we find religious groups willing to cater to the whims and wishes of men. How many times have we heard people say, “Choose the church of your choice”? The end result is a nation of people who think they can just “drop in” to any church they please, “get what they want” and hurry on back to their life with no fuss, no obligations, no guilt, no exhorting to do right, and no expectations. Is this the way God pictured His people? By no means!
The Bible says, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:24). There is no stronger word in the English language than the word “must”. What God expects of men is not an option! We “must” worship Him “in spirit and in truth.” How is this accomplished? Not by doing things to my satisfaction, but in worshipping God the way He directs (Acts 2:42, 20:7; Eph. 5:19; I Cor. 16:1-2; etc.). God has told us what He expects. We do not “pick and choose” what we like, but wholeheartedly obey all His word (Rev. 22:14; I Cor. 15:58).
Cornelius told Peter, “Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God, to hear all that you have been commanded by God” (Acts 10:33). Do we have this attitude, or do we go “hither and yon” until we find a preacher and a church who teaches what we want to hear? (II Tim. 4:3-4) Friends, the religion of Christ is not a religion of convenience, but of conviction! Have you been convicted of your sins (Acts 2:37)? Are willing to change, and stand strong for the Lord in all things (Acts 2:38; I Cor. 15:58)? Few do this (Matt. 7:13-14). What will you do?
