The conclusion of the key verses shows the woman acknowledging she has some head smarts about the Messiah but no spiritual wisdom to discern that He sits right in front of her. Wow, if that is not prescient or prophetic I do not know what is. Millions sit in pews every Sunday convinced they are saved by some charlatan. They sing songs about themselves, designed to elevate themselves and feel better about themselves. There is no conviction and no sense that what they are doing is even offensive to God because they do not have the indwelt Holy Spirit to lead them into all truth.
The problem is that real believers sit right next to them with hands extended to the skies, worshiping man right along with them. I understand the difficulty. These songs are what is played on "Christian" radio. So much of the lyrical content sounds right. What's the big deal about a line here or there that does not pass biblical standards? That is a real dangerous road to travel beloved. What we say to God ought to be the one area where we are the most cautious. Where we lead our friends ought to matter to us. Blasting Hillsong in our car is the same as posting the Joyce Meyer meme on our Facebook page. It might be permissible but how many people have we now led to slaughter? Singing along to that Jesus Culture song at church may seem innocuous but how many people are being tacitly told they are ok by doing so? We need to realize also that the huge organizations behind these music movements use the music to infiltrate the church in order to draw people away to their false doctrines. Most do not know about the heresies of Hillsong but they can rattle off their top ten favorite songs! Then when they hear a Brian Houston or Carl Lentz sermon they are more inclined to listen and not have their guard up. Jesus Culture promotes the wild heresies of Bill Johnson and Bethel Church. Elevation worship promotes Steven Furtick and IHOP music promotes Mike Bickle. Take Johnson for example. He promotes gold dust, gemstones, angel feathers, glory clouds, mandatory healing, dead raising teams, grave sucking, prosperity gospel, false signs and lying wonders, the NAR, dominionism and experiential Christianity just off the top of my head. Bethel Church is a cesspool of false teaching that operates their own supernatural school where they pretend they can teach you the gifts of the Holy Spirit! Now you may say that you don't follow Bethel or Johnson but who do you think taught Jesus Culture! Who do you think is their pastor?
Jesus Christ sits in the churches and says, I am He, and the church goes on worshiping idols, and false doctrines, and anything but the risen Savior. Discernment is crucial when it comes to sorting through what teaching is from the spirit of God and what is from the spirit of this world. We are wise to learn how to discern such but how much more important is what we actually say to the God we profess to love and serve. Let us never get casual about worship beloved. God deserves so much more.
Reverend Anthony Wade -- July 30, 2 019