The Worst Christian Sin (Part 1)

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Matthew 20:25-28


Christians are antichrist when they seek to be served instead of to serve each other.  When a Christian exerts lordship, spiritual lordship, over his brothers or sisters, He is the diametrically opposed to everything Jesus is, was, and forever will be. I see this happen in two ways in church services, or among us who believe.


I. WE FORCE MINISTRY TO GOD.
To minister means to  worship and serve God.  Yet the servant of God is never coerced in worshiping the Lord.  He genuinely loves God with all of his heart.  She sincerely serves Jesus with all of her soul and strength.  God.  Not the preacher, teacher, or praise worship leader.  No man or woman should evaluate your praise, your hands raised, your silence, your singing, or anything you are doing before the Lord.  Unless it is obvious you are not doing it before the Lord, but have become a distractor from the Lord.  Otherwise, as it is written,


Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.  Romans 14:4


II. WE FORCE MINISTRY TO GOD'S PEOPLE
When you go to a restaurant, the server comes to you and asks you if you're ready to order.  If he is a good server, you don't feel pressured or rushed.  She makes you feel like you've got all the time in the world.  She's not a brooding annoying presence.  He's not hovering or invasive.  After all, she's there for you, to meet your needs and desires.


But bad waiters make it all about themselves.  The same is true with servants of the Lord who don't focus on your spiritual needs, and more importantly, don't focus on where the Spirit is leading you.  They forget that the word of God says we have one mediator between God and us:  Jesus Christ. They attempt to force thoughtless prayers, or thoughtless receiving of their so called "Words from God."  They don't want you to think before you pray the prayer they give you.  And they don't want you to go to God for yourself about whatever He is supposedly telling them. This is not the way of a servant.  This not Christ, but antichrist. (click HERE for part 2)