Recently, paths were crossed–on the same day, no less–with two idol-worshiping acquaintances.
The first man (let’s call him “A“) worships a pantheon of pagan gods which are completely different than the second man (“B“). A number of topics were covered in both conversations: a few of the same topics were addressed by both men while a greater number were taken up by one or the other.
Some of what was discussed is now reproduced for the reader.
“So I’m not completely clear. Do you worship idols?”
A: “I have a statue of the chief god that I display. I’m not sure you could say I worship it.”
“Do you venerate it?”
A: “Oh, for sure.”
“If you hold that statue in such high regard, then there’s a pretty good chance you worship it.”
A: “That’s fair. I guess there is some worship going on.”
“Why do you have statues and idols? Don’t you have any faith in your gods?”
A: “Sure. The statues are a representation of something unseen; of something greater.”
“Well, the Bible says that if you had faith (in your gods), you wouldn’t need physical statues or relics to reassure you. Faith is the evidence of things unseen. What you can see, you don’t need faith to believe.”
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
–Hebrews 11:1
“For we are saved by hope [faith]: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
–Romans 8:24
A: “Yeah, but don’t you think that all people need something that is seen to remind them of what can’t be seen?”
“Most men do.”
A: “I think all people do. Look, you walk into any church and there’s pictures of a guy hanging up that they say is a picture of Jesus. But no one today knows what Jesus looks like.”
“Well, when you refer to the church folk, the overwhelming majority of them are what Jesus called TARES–that is, they LOOK like the real deal but they are not. They’re counterfeits. That’s one reason there’s so many statues, pictures and other images in the churches: those who do not have faith need physical relics and other “reminders.” Even the Pentecostals–who make a big deal of not displaying pictures in their church buildings fall back on healings, what they call “tongues” and other displays of a spiritual nature. What spirit is behind all of this stuff is the real question. But anyway, they trade what the Bible calls miracles, “signs and lying wonders” for statues and pictures.”
A: “Good points, but I still think almost all people want to see what they’re worshiping.”
“You get a minute, think about not needing something to see and hold if you have faith.”
This conversation highlighted a primary defect for those who worship idols: yes, those in the churches have their statues, pictures and other physical props, BUT the main focus of a pagan idol worshiper is the IDOL: a physical prop meant to shore up the faithless by giving them something they can SEE in their worship ceremonies.
Later the same day, “B” was met. The same points were made about not needing an idol if one had faith in one’s “god“–which is a devil (demon)–behind the idol.
“But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.”
–1CORINTHIANS 10:20
“So, I’ve seen people leave food, flowers, money, and other offerings in front of the idols you worship. What did you leave them and what was it that initially attracted you to the idols?”
B: “You know, they’re not idols: they’re deities.”
“Same difference, just semantics.”
B: “When I first started, I didn’t leave offerings. I wanted to see what they could do for me.”
“And?”
B: “And…the service where the deities are worshiped is powerful. A lot of power is going on there.”
“You’re right about that. I attended about a half-dozen of those services 35-40 years ago out of curiosity. I told people that I could see why people joined. The service was very powerful, intense and intoxicating.”
B: “Right. VERY powerful.”
“You get a minute, think about not needing deities and statues if you have faith.”
It was these two conversations which illustrated that a lack of faith is not only a problem which plagues the churches.
It also is very much a feature of the pagan religions, as well.
DOES the reader rely on that which is seen to prop up that which is not?
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: Making a Choice
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The End Times Power of God Unleashed
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: October 15, 2019.]
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: ETPR/Image by ipicgr from Pixabay.com/ETPR
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