Evangelicals and the Devil's Methods: A Mentality that Will Burn in Hell

In the book of Job when the veil is lifted and we are able to witness a conversation between God and Satan, the Devil says,

⁹Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason? ¹⁰Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. ¹¹But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face (Job 1:9-11).

Satan no doubt makes a statement about Job when he argues that Job is only worshipping God because of the blessings God has given him. Satan however is also making a statement about God. He is arguing that God is not valuable enough in and of Himself for Job to worship Him.

In like manner, in Southern Baptist Churches and in Evangelicalism as a whole, we communicate something about God when we argue that God's people will not worship Him without . We may think that we are merely speaking about people; but whatever we place in that blank communicates something about God. It either exalts Him or diminishes Him and exalts the "worshipper."

Although we may not realize it and we would argue vehemently that we believe God is valuable enough to be worshipped, you cannot tell it by our actions. The health and wealth preachers believe people will not worship God unless He gives them health and wealth. The liberals believe that people will not worship God unless He tolerates them and their chosen lifestyles. Evangelicals believe that people will not worship God unless He is made "relevant" to them through positive preaching, media, methods, programs, theatrics, music, buildings, etc. We are slaves of modernity; slaves of the Enlightenment. The result is a diminished view of God, a high view of self, and the impossibility of mature Christians being produced through these methods. However, praise be to God that He is sovereign over all things; for He is raising up mature Christians in spite of His identity being diminished in our churches.

Do we really believe that people will not worship God without ? Must we really have these programs? Must we really have these methods? Must we really use theatrics? The answer to all of these questions is "NO." But, if you are reading this article, you probably do not believe me. After all, what is your church without programs, innovative methods, and theatrics? The answer... it is still the church if the gospel is present and active.

If we want our people to truly worship the Lord, then we not only need to say that He is valuable enough to be worshipped, but we also need to show our people by how we encourage them to worship Him. By "spicing" up our services, our sermons, and our methods we only encourage our people to exalt themselves, their felt-needs, and to base their value of God on the packaging in which they hear or learn about Him. If they do not like the packaging, then they will not worship Him.

Congratulations, it is your fault, for you have produced the packaging that contradicts the value that you claim to place in God. And unfortunately, people are so focused on your packaging that they cannot even value God. Have you won them to God or have you won them to your packaging? You may not realize it, but you are largely producing babies that had rather play with the box than the present that is inside.

This article could go on and on; but the point I want you to see is that everything you do communicates something about the God you represent. Currently, we are not representing Him very well, regardless if our churches are full or empty.

What are your thoughts about this issue?