By Edd
Sterchi
Many today have the wrong impression about
what to expect from worship. They want to be entertained by mechanical
instrumental music, praise bands, choirs, solos, drama presentations,
non-condemning sermons, etc. They are willing to accept something that is
unauthorized in worship so that they may be amused. Paul called it “itching
ear” religion (2 Tim. 4:3). I call it Gummi Bear religion.
You know what Gummi Bears are, don’t you?
They area sweet candy treat that is quite cute and colorful. Kids seem to
really love them. Personally, I never have been too crazy about them. Oh, I
like the way they taste, but they seem to stick to my teeth a lot. My grandchildren
would easily make a meal out of them if their parents would let them. But that
would not be good for them, as there is practically no nutritional value in
them.
Gummi Bear religion may be very pleasing to
the eyes, ears, and other senses, but it is woefully lacking in spiritual
nourishment. Just as a steady diet of Gummi Bears would cause one to become
sick and malnourished, so will Gummi Bear religion cause one’s soul to starve
to death. The Corinthians had changed the Lord’s Supper from a God-honoring
event toa man-pleasing one. As a result, Paul told them that many in the congregation
were spiritually weak, sick, and some even dead (1 Cor.11:30). And the Hebrew
Christians, because of a lack of proper diet of God’s word, were not properly
developed in knowledge or skills (Heb.5:12-13).
Rather than picking and choosing the way we
want to live and worship, we should strive for a well-balanced diet of using
God’s word to guide our lives in wisdom, work, and worship (Heb. 5:14). It is only then will we give glory to God and
create an environment where our souls will grow, mature, and prosper (2 Pet.
3:18).
Gummi Bears may be yummy to eat from time
to time, but our meals, physical or spiritual, should never be patterned after
them.
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