You may have seen this title and thought to yourself, "How in the world can spiritual activities become an idol?" There are two main points I would like to make about how even spiritual activities can become an idol.
1. ARE WE SEEKING SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES INSTEAD OF GOD?
First, we can be so busy even with spiritual activities that we forget that we are supposed to be as individuals, seeking the Lord and drawing near to Him through them, and all of the activities end up becoming an end in and of themselves. Our goal as Christians should be not to merely attend as many spiritual things that we can, but to make sure that no matter what it is we are doing that we are drawing near to God. Just because we are attending spiritual activities; all of the studies, singings, worship services, gospel meetings, etc. that we can does NOT mean that we are right with God. This is not necessarily the case. You can go to all of these faithfully and still not be right with God. Spiritual activities cannot replace much weightier spiritual activities, such as mercy, faithfulness, and love. Spiritual activities cannot replace our own personal growth and fruitfulness for the Lord. Attending all of these things cannot replace God’s command for each of us to serve one another. No matter how much of these things we do, they cannot make up for our sin and what we are neglecting to do in our service to God. Are we seeking spiritual activities or are we seeking God?
2. ARE OUR MOTIVATIONS RIGHT?
We need our motivations to be right in what we do. If we are doing all of these “spiritual” things with the wrong motivation, we are not being spiritual or faithful to God in doing them.
ARE WE TRUSTING IN OUR SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES AS THE REASON WHY I WILL BE GOING TO HEAVEN?
Also, if we are trusting in our spiritual activities to be the reason why I am going to Heaven, trusting in these things instead of God to save us, our spiritual activities are idols. Going to church, Bible studies, and singings are not the reason why I (or you) am going to Heaven. This may or may not be new information for you, but listen very closely… coming to worship services, attending studies, meetings, and singings… these things cannot and will not atone for one single sin. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can atone for and remove our sins. I think why we tend to trust in these things to be our salvation is because doing spiritual activities to make up for our sin is so much easier to do than what scripture commands: to with humility and godly sorrow repent, confess our sins, and pray. These are the things we must do if we desire the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse us from all unrighteousness as Christians (1 John 1:7-9; Luke 13:3). We need to understand that we cannot earn God’s favor before we become Christians, and we cannot earn God’s favor after we become Christians.
ARE WE DOING SPIRITUAL THINGS IN ORDER TO BE SEEN AND HONORED BY OTHERS?
If we are doing spiritual activities to be seen by others, these things do not please God. We are not serving God, but ourselves. This is what the first 18 verses of Matthew 6 deal with. Jesus says not to do our “spiritual” things to be seen and praised by men. The Pharisees were so focused on trying to be respected and praised by men, trying to receive glory which truly belongs to God alone! This is not spirituality at all. We are only being spiritual if we are desiring to obey God so HE can be glorified. Jesus says:
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NASB)
1. ARE WE SEEKING SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES INSTEAD OF GOD?
First, we can be so busy even with spiritual activities that we forget that we are supposed to be as individuals, seeking the Lord and drawing near to Him through them, and all of the activities end up becoming an end in and of themselves. Our goal as Christians should be not to merely attend as many spiritual things that we can, but to make sure that no matter what it is we are doing that we are drawing near to God. Just because we are attending spiritual activities; all of the studies, singings, worship services, gospel meetings, etc. that we can does NOT mean that we are right with God. This is not necessarily the case. You can go to all of these faithfully and still not be right with God. Spiritual activities cannot replace much weightier spiritual activities, such as mercy, faithfulness, and love. Spiritual activities cannot replace our own personal growth and fruitfulness for the Lord. Attending all of these things cannot replace God’s command for each of us to serve one another. No matter how much of these things we do, they cannot make up for our sin and what we are neglecting to do in our service to God. Are we seeking spiritual activities or are we seeking God?
2. ARE OUR MOTIVATIONS RIGHT?
We need our motivations to be right in what we do. If we are doing all of these “spiritual” things with the wrong motivation, we are not being spiritual or faithful to God in doing them.
ARE WE TRUSTING IN OUR SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES AS THE REASON WHY I WILL BE GOING TO HEAVEN?
Also, if we are trusting in our spiritual activities to be the reason why I am going to Heaven, trusting in these things instead of God to save us, our spiritual activities are idols. Going to church, Bible studies, and singings are not the reason why I (or you) am going to Heaven. This may or may not be new information for you, but listen very closely… coming to worship services, attending studies, meetings, and singings… these things cannot and will not atone for one single sin. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can atone for and remove our sins. I think why we tend to trust in these things to be our salvation is because doing spiritual activities to make up for our sin is so much easier to do than what scripture commands: to with humility and godly sorrow repent, confess our sins, and pray. These are the things we must do if we desire the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse us from all unrighteousness as Christians (1 John 1:7-9; Luke 13:3). We need to understand that we cannot earn God’s favor before we become Christians, and we cannot earn God’s favor after we become Christians.
ARE WE DOING SPIRITUAL THINGS IN ORDER TO BE SEEN AND HONORED BY OTHERS?
If we are doing spiritual activities to be seen by others, these things do not please God. We are not serving God, but ourselves. This is what the first 18 verses of Matthew 6 deal with. Jesus says not to do our “spiritual” things to be seen and praised by men. The Pharisees were so focused on trying to be respected and praised by men, trying to receive glory which truly belongs to God alone! This is not spirituality at all. We are only being spiritual if we are desiring to obey God so HE can be glorified. Jesus says:
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NASB)
