Pornography

True Worship vs. Sexual Idolatry

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Steve Gallagher, President
Pure Life Ministries
August 13, 2001

Every human being is a worshipper. In both Hebrew and Greek, the term worship conveys the idea of bowing down or prostrating oneself in submission and adoration to another. There is an altar, so to speak, in every person’s heart. Enthroned on that altar is whatever a person is devoted to and has submitted himself to in life.

The most frightening feature about worship is that a person becomes a slave to the object of his deepest affection, and ultimately, he resembles or even becomes what he idolizes. This makes the act of worship extremely dangerous and helps to explain why it is crucial to reserve one’s worship for God alone. To place anything else in that sacred position of one’s heart is exceedingly sinful—it is idolatry.

Many people sincerely believe they are worshippers of God, but in reality, it is something or someone else who receives their adoration. Jesus said that God must be worshipped “in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) This means that any so-called worship that is not done in “spirit and truth” is both false and perverted.

One can see the Lord’s frustration with false worship in the Old Testament when He told the Jewish people, “I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps.” (Amos 5:21, 23)

In short, God rejects any worship offered by an unrepentant idolater because it is not done in sincerity, from a pure heart. Only those who have God on the throne of their hearts are qualified to be true worshippers.

It is one thing to be growing in one’s adoration of the Lord, learning how to worship Him. It is something altogether different to be phony and hypocritical. The Lord described this type of worshipper when He said, “this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote.” (Isaiah 29:13)

Worship involves far more than simply singing some songs in church on Sunday morning. True worship comes about when a person is in real submission to God in his heart. His daily life is characterized by his devotion to the Lord.

How different is the life of one who bows “At the Altar of Sexual Idolatry.” He has made the act of sex his god. He is in complete submission to this master. Paul said, “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?”

A man cannot be a slave to sin and a servant of God at the same time. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24)

There is hope!
For those who are held captive to sinful passions, there is hope! Finding one’s way out of the pit of habitual sexual sin is by no means an easy feat. However, there are two principles which will help the sexual idolater immensely.

First, since every illicit sexual encounter tightens the stranglehold on his life, he must do everything within his power to reduce and limit this activity. It is crucial that he brings his sin into the light by confessing to his wife, his pastor, or Christian brother who can hold him accountable.

Second, the person must learn to humble himself and bow down before the King in his heart. As he learns to do this, he will discover that there is a great power unleashed spiritually that will work for him instead of against him.

Worshipping the Lord “in spirit and truth” quenches the fire of lust and destroys the driving passion behind it.

Rev. Steve Gallagher [info@purelifeministries.org] is the founder and president of Pure Life Ministries. Pure Life Ministries has been leading men into sexual purity since 1986 through our counseling programs and a vast array of teaching materials specifically designed to help men. They operate a six-month residential program in Kentucky, where men find lasting freedom through an encounter with the living God. The sobering atmosphere and the consecration of a loving staff provides the perfect environment for those who sincerely want victory over sexual sin. Pure Life Ministries also offer a 12-week At-Home Program for men who need help but cannot come to Kentucky. Pastors will find their teaching materials to be an invaluable resource in dealing with issues of sexual purity. Contact Pure Life Ministries, P. O. Box 410, Dry Ridge, KY 41035, phone (toll free) 800.635.1866, office phone 606.824.4444, fax 606.824.5159.