Are They Really Places of Worship?

John 2:15-16 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”

How would Jesus react if He physically appeared and observed our church services today? Would He be pleased with our efforts to serve one another in love? Would He see people gathering for the purpose of truly worshipping together, and seeking to serve one another, rather than seeing people who show up to see how they will be served? Would He see people who are there to fulfill their weekly "Christian duty" that will make them feel better, or people who are truly seeking to hear from the Lord? Would He encounter people with lips that claim they love Jesus, but whose hearts are far from Him? Would it truly be a time of lifting voices of praise, or will it be nothing more than a concert and the entertaining of the masses? Would He see people with hearts ready to receive a life changing message or see nothing more than a "feel good", motivational, speech that is forgotten with the closing prayer? As true born again followers of Jesus, we must not enter our places of worship so haphazardly, but truly consider why we gather, and what we are seeking when we do gather. Are our local churches really places where we gather to worship, honor, and praise the Lord, or have they become country clubs where we gather to rub shoulders in our cliques, and enjoy the weekly entertainment? Would Jesus see a group of followers who are seeking, and loving, the Lord with their entire being, or would He have to make a whip of cords and start cleaning house?

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13)