This got me thinking. Is what looks good on the outside, sounds good to the ear and even seems spiritual because we've learned to accept what we hear, distorting the Truth? Are we so used to comparing our experiences by the latest trend - what seems to be working and drawing the crowds, or by the tried and true? Is the latest book, or person going viral on youtube giving us the heart of G~d? Do we merely except what we hear or read, just because someone begins with a passionate prayer for G~d to only let them say or do what He wants them to say or do? Where do their own desires and agenda cloud what they think G~d is telling them?
If we looked behind the scenes, what would we see? Do the impassioned prayers for G~d's will follow with His Word being observed and taught? Have we become enamored with the big, bright and bold and lost sight of the still, small and enduring?
Would we rather read a book, or see a video by the little old lady who seems to have no amazing stories to tell, but spends her time loving her children and grandchildren and teaches them the simple commands of G~d? Who prays behind closed doors where no one but G~d sees or hears? Or, would we rather invest our time in someone who has a mega platform and draws the crowds?
Am I saying all mega ministries, or congregations are bad? Absolutely not. But what I am saying is this-
Sometimes bigger is not better. Just because it seems that "G~d is moving", doesn't mean He is. Sometimes, we people can mimic the spiritual and manipulate the crowd to do and see anything we want. And unless we are people of the Book, we'll be snookered. We must be like a group of people spoken of in Acts 17 - " As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." They had the right idea. No matter what they heard about Saul and what he told them, they went to the Truth and checked it out for themselves.
It is so sad - there are a lot of teachings making the scene today that sound so good, look inviting and are being spread by impassioned people, but when they are examined under the microscope of the Scriptures, they prove not only wrong, but damaging.
It's like this. We see the big bowl of coco puffs with that chocolaty milk beckoning us.
Or, would you rather have this:
