We’ve all said it, we’ve all heard it. Let’s be honest, we love following our hearts. Its romantic, it feels good and sounds good. Just like the movies, right? I would like to submit to you that the enemy has gotten his hands dirty in deceiving us with this way of the world.
Way of the world? What! Yes, “follow your heart” is actually not a biblical concept at all, yet our society constantly preaches it.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
– Jer 17:9
The heart is deceitful, and while God can use it for His glory and guide us unto Him, often times it is used by the enemy to satisfy our flesh. We know that he who dwells in the flesh cannot please God, for the flesh does not subject itself to God’s law (Romans 8:7).
So what are we to do? Should we throw out everything our heart tells us? Certainly not. The key is to examine every thought, take captive that which goes against the Word of God (Bible), and grow that which is in agreement. God loves to speak through His word, we just need to read it to tune into His voice.
This brings in a key issue in Christianity: How we want to worship God. Since we are mostly guided by our hearts, as long as the way we worship God “feels” right, we consider it holy. However, the golden calf instance in scripture has something to teach us.
Most of us grew up understanding the golden calf instance as the foolish Israelites completely abandoning God in favour of this new golden calf god they invent on the spot. This is however not what is happening at all.
Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”
When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival unto Yahweh”
– Exodus 32:4
They were using a worship method of the past. Idols were built in order to worship pagan gods in Egypt, and they were trying out the same tactic to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Their hearts were pure, they had good intentions. They didn’t want to offend Yahweh (God), but they’re fruit was rotten in front of the Father.
“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
– Jer 17:10
The story concludes with Moses coming before the Father, and repenting (even though he himself was blameless) for the misguided hearts of Israel. “Father, if you were to destroy them, blot my name out of the book of life as well”, God responds in turning away His anger.
Let us turn from worshipping God the way the world prefers to worship Him. Unfortunately, modern mainstream Christianity has adopted various pagan customs. We need to ensure we have no part in trying to worship Yahweh with pagan customs (see our article: Testing Christmas).
It is not about what we feel, or what is fun and comfortable – its all about Him. He is God, He is holy, and He has the say.
Much love,
PD
