There is a disturbing trend that is increasing in the Church lately. No, it is not the music or the pew warmers that show up out of guilt and obligation. It’s called pastor worship.
Many people are taking their pastors’ word as gospel. Honestly, Isn’t that what they’re supposed to teach though? So many have gone away from the Bible to fill seats or gain attention on social media.
They have emotional filled sermons that make the congregation feel all warm, fuzzy, and comfortable. They will remain neutral on hot-button issues in fear of losing followers even when it goes against the Word of God. Very few practice expository teaching, and when they do they put their legalistic twist on it.
2 Timothy 4: 3-4 states
(3) “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
(4) They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
Now we are all guilty of having itchy ears at one time or another. We all want to be edified and complimented. More importantly than that though, is we should be seeking the truth.
When the Bible said that the path is wide and the gate is narrow, its stating that to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven you have to know the Truth, not man’s interpretation.
Unfortunately, that is not easy. The enemy is so embedded in the Church that it is impossible to know who to trust. Every denomination is corrupt one way or another.
You have false teachers preaching legalism. You have false teachers preaching hyper-grace, once saved always saved. You have the “name it and claim it” do as thou will group. One thing these groups have in common though is pastor worship. They either put them as an idol or as barriers between them and God.
Here are some warning signs:
1.When key members in the group emphasize what the pastor says over what the Word of God says.
2.There are no bylaws in place to hold the pastor accountable.
3.When the pastor enters a celebrity mindset and cares more about their reputation than doing Kingdom work.
No church is perfect. No pastor is perfect. Just make sure that whomever you follow is teaching a true gospel. Not some interpretation that sounds favorable or from them saying they can hear God better than anyone else so they have all the knowledge.
“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”
Rev 2: 4-5