I Visited a Cult

Last week someone I know casually invited me to come check out a church which didn't meet on Sunday mornings, but on Sunday night. It was quite a long drive away from Sarasota, and within a few minutes of arriving at the church I realized it was a cult.
I’d like to describe to you the experience I had.
When we pulled into the parking lot I was immediately amazed at the amount of cars pulling in, lining up by the dozens to find the closest spot to the church building. I was shocked at the spiritual activity happening before the service began: people outside burned animals and danced to music, building up in anticipation to the big worship ritual. We navigated these devotees, making our way to the entrance to the church.

I was greeted at the door by several people, all sincere and friendly, adding to the deception. I received a gift at the door to ‘aid’ in my worship, a trinket designed to inspire worship and adulation to the god they bowed down to. We walked into the church and I was amazed at how many people believed in this religion and worshiped here. We found a place to sit and as I sat down tens of thousands of people were chanting and cheering and standing up, and raising their hands, and yelling out, and applauding, and booing, and singing, and dancing, and giving glory to their god. Their fundamental doctrinal belief was that there were many gods, but two of them would compete with one another in the church building, and people would worship and call out to their god to triumph over the other god.

Eventually I became intoxicated by the hype and the loud music and chanting and I found myself (though I am a Christ-follower and God-worshiper) cheering along and giving glory to the god these people were following! By the end of the service, I was on my feet screaming and raising my hands and crying out and was completely engaged in their worship. You might say, “WHAT?! What are you talking about? Why would YOU worship the false god of a cult??? Not OUR youth pastor!”
But the scenario I'm describing to you is precisely what happened last weekend at the Bucs' Game! It was truly a worship experience! Now that I have your attention, may I remind each and every one of us that we all worship something, and the question is: WHAT, or WHO are you worshiping?

Romans 1:25 says “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen.” What is the idol or false god in your life? Repent, and put God in the proper place He deserves, with no other gods before Him. Whether the Bucs or Rays or Lightning win it all this season, they are still powerless to save a soul. And so are any and all of the gods we put before the one True God. Don’t exchange the truth of God for a lie. Put your spiritual priorities in the right places.
-Pilgrim