We all love to be praised. We try to look good! We try to smell good! We try to have nice hair, houses, cars, clothes, and collections. We love to be praised. The Profiteers of Protestantism provide praise. That’s how they make a living.
Their praise is artful: “You are smart! You are good! God loves you! God wants you to be in Heaven! I can help get you there because I can tell that you are a good person!”
Our need for praise gets us into trouble. The need for praise overwhelms logical thinking. Many find themselves “praised” into one of the 45,000 Marketing Plan Denominations. “Pastor Bob likes me! He thinks I am special. I do not want to let him down! I am going to tithe 10%!”
Most of us are so desperate for praise that we will pay for it. Few of us are honest enough to admit: “I need praise! Praise is like a drug to me! I am addicted to praise!”
Many are blessed to understand: “God provided The Prophets. God told them when and where The Messiah would be born. God had The Prophecies recorded and validated. Since Jesus Fulfilled hundreds of Prophecies, I believe that He is The Prophesied Messiah.”
Those who truly respect Jesus know we must obey Him. We know that the willfully disobedient may not be forever among “You are My friends if you obey My commands.” His obedient “friends” obey His Church-Founding Decree:
“And I say unto you thou art Peter and on this rock I build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I give you the keys to The Kingdom of Heaven.”
Those who respect Jesus enough to be among His obedient “friends” are in The Only Church He Founded.
Others let their need for praise overwhelm them. They are targets for clever marketing plans. The Profiteers of Protestantism provide praise that leads those addicted to it away from respectful obedience.
We must not let our need for praise keep us from Heaven.
