THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF JESUS

 

     It's hard enough to live out one's faith in a world where we're constantly bombarded with every temptation that appeals to our fleshly urges and desires. It's a whole new ballgame when faith becomes the vehicle for which one makes their living in Jesus' Name. But it happens every single day. What's worse, our bold justification of it being all under the guise of ministry! It's a tricky business and a very thin line the commercialization of Jesus.
     What an insult it must be to Almighty God to watch the gifts He's given to men to proclaim His glory and praise as well as His merciful kindness become a means by which one attains wealth and status. It turns into the very thing He warned Israel not to do.
     Y'shua Himself tore through the money changers. It's difficult to even have an open discussion about it. No one wants to admit they are peddling the Son of God! But that's exactly what has happened and it is rampant in the church. I'm not lumping all into one pot, but the genuine is very hard to find, if not non existent. The Tony Robbins ideology and methodology has captured Christianity and we now have an aberration of the pure. Y'shua wasn't a power of positivity motivator... quite the opposite. All the power of positivity can't embrace Y'shua's words, "in this life you WILL HAVE much tribulation". Overcoming the world and mastering your destiny are two very different things. Chew on this for a while: "Don’t set the affections of your heart on this world or in loving the things of the world. The love of the Father and the love of the world are incompatible. For all that the world can offer us—the gratification of our flesh, the allurement of the things of the world, and the obsession with status and importance—none of these things come from the Father but from the world. This world and its desires are in the process of passing away, but those who love to do the will of God live forever." 1 John 2:15‭-‬17 TPT
     I'm firmly convinced that if Y'shua showed up today and called a special leaders meeting where He addressed the commercialization of God, there would be a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth.
     No one, not one human, no matter who you are or what level of status you've achieved, is never, not ever supposed to be exalted. God says in Isaiah 48:10-11 that He will "not allow His Name to be profaned nor will He share His glory with ANYONE."
     Motives are tricky because no one can honestly assess their own heart. Jeremiah said, "The heart of man is deceitfully wicked, who can know it?" What's the old saying, "The Road to hell is paved with good intention?"
     Ah, that illusive character trait, humility. The excuses basket must be overflowing on the desk of God [as if He has one]. Many will say to Him in that day, "Lord, Lord, didn't we do all these wonderful things in Your name?" His response is staggering: "DEPART FROM ME, I NEVER KNEW YOU!"
     We've turned worship into a concert performance, salvation into building programs that through guilt and manipulation of God's word bilk the faithful out of more and more. I know, a workman is worth his wage, but no one talks about the fact that the apostle's worked to earn their livings as they seeded the world with salt and light? When will we learn that it's a broken and contrite heart that God does not turn away, but welcome in?
     We have been seduced! Seduced into doing the Lucifer shuffle. We are so blinded by our own self-righteous ambition that we can't see the light of truth for the darkness of the forest right in front of us? After all, it's fallen human nature to worship the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever praised!
Admission opens the door to confession and repentance breaks down the walls of pride. The arrogance within the stardom of Christianity is repulsive but its so like God to allow our pride to fester until we finally realize there is no place we can hide.
     The money changers have never left the Temple courts, they just wear cool clothes as their choice of sackcloth these days. The problem is rampant, the solution, one dimensional: REPENT!
     “Because these people approach me with empty words, and the honor they bestow on me is mere lip-service; while in fact they have distanced their hearts from me, and their ‘fear of me’ is just a commandment of human origin — therefore, I will have to keep shocking these people with astounding and amazing things, until the ‘wisdom’ of their ‘wise ones’ vanishes, and the ‘discernment’ of their ‘discerning ones’ is hidden away.” Woe to those who burrow down deep to hide their plans from Adonai! They work in the dark and say to themselves, “Nobody sees us, nobody knows us.” Isaiah 29:13‭-‬15 CJB
     “Yet even now,” says Adonai, “turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and lamenting." Tear your heart, not your garments; and turn to Adonai your God. For He is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in grace, and willing to change His mind about disaster. Who knows? He may turn, change His mind and leave a blessing behind Him." Joel 2:12-14a
     And finally,"if my people, who bear my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14 CJB
     Jesus isn't a commodity. He's not a commercial product to be sold on QVC or through Amazon. He's not a chia pet or a bobble head doll for the back window of your car. He is GOD and He is holy! Judgment begins in the house of God and it has begun. The old wineskin is broken and that wine now vinegar poured out on the ground. Do you hear His voice? The Kingdom of God is at hand.

Steven Bliss
© 10/30/2021