“¹⁷ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

¹⁸ For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:17-18

Christianity and all who claim the title have no power to change lives.  No matter the sincerity, good intentions or socialist seeker sensitive programs designed to overtake the community, no change will be effected by Christians.

“And I (Jesus), if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” John 12:32.

Jesus Christ is the One Who has the power to change lives.  Lift HIM up, Who HE is and what HE did on Calvary’s Cross to pay the penalty of sin for the sinner and break the power of sin for the Saint, and He will draw all men unto Him.

Religious idolatry occurs when God is displaced in our heart and replaced with another authority.  When we equate this authority with Christ, our faith is changed and the Cross of Christ is made of none effect.  This authority sits on the throne of our heart as an idol…a religious idol.  Often it is our particular church or even our denomination that becomes our authority, our religious idol.

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14

The Holy Spirit is not commissioned to dethrone that religious idol when our faith is placed in our works or our religious idol’s authority.  When the Name of Jesus Christ is lifted up to the people as the Source and His Cross the means by which every blessing is received and our faith is placed on Him and His redeeming work, we give the Holy Spirit latitude to do that which He desires to do in the hearts and lives of every Child of God…dethrone that religious idol and our sin nature which it continuously feeds and circumcise our hearts with the circumcision without hands.

This is not some theory or philosophy dreamed up by man to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil.  This is God’s Plan of victory for every Believer.  Faith in His Redemption plan, Jesus Christ and Him crucified, for Salvation and Sanctification gives the Holy Spirit latitude in our lives to set the captives free, to heal the sick and break the chains of bondage…even religious bondage.

Consider the authority that sits on the throne of your heart.  Is it a Christian or is it Christ?  One will perish and the other is the power of God.

The Israelites made idols and called them “Jehovah”.  In their minds they were worshipping God, while in fact they were worshipping a thing made with their own hands. In all of their sincerity, they were equating the worship of God with the worship of these idols.

Beware of religious idols.

-Donna Clark Warren