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PASTORBATION
Although it may be
repulsive, the word "pastorbation" stands well as a
near perfect representation of the surrogate role played by
the modern church. The conventional church replaces a
crucial part of the relationship between our God and us. Under
the guise of "worship", we have entered into a false and (what
could only be described as an) instantaneous gratification of
our true (and, indeed, God-given) desire for relationship.
Have you ever wondered about the difference in
the goose bumps, the tears or the in emotional uplift felt
when singing a patriotic song, reading a poem about home and
family, as opposed to the modern worship services designed to
evoke sensations of dedication, thankfulness or even worship
with songs and "inspiring messages" The truth is, many times,
there is no difference!
Many, well meaning Christians have only
experienced the sensual gratification of this "Pastorbation"
while never experiencing the deeper joy, as the Lord Jesus put
it, of "knowing".
TO
KNOW
The concept "to know" is used in the Old
Testament to relate the sense of intimacy. In Genesis we read
several accounts of this:
"And Adam knew Eve his wife;
and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a
man from the LORD."
(4:1)
"And Cain knew his wife; and
she conceived..." (4:17)
"And Adam knew his wife again;
and she bare a son..." (4:25)
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Although
a strange usage of this word, the message is clear; and not
just clear but a beautiful concept and wonderful thought. More
than familiarity (another definition of yada, the Hebrew word
for "to know") and more than merely to have knowledge of (yet
another definition), this knowing suggests an intimacy of a
marriage partner that results in the fruitful progeny of
combined lives.
Marriages fail on this level more than any other.
The lack of loving intimacy is diminished long before the
adulterous affair, the financial strain or the mental cruelty
becomes apparent.
Sometimes it never existed. Just as
people attempt to gratify themselves without the
responsibility of maintenance, love, respect and some level of
compatible behavior to engage in the joy of legitimate
intercourse, selfish persons often resort to "self-sex" that
remains entirely within their control. This behavior is
detrimental to the relationship they neglect, and it drives
further and further away the possibility of true intimacy with
their marriage partner.
A RED-LETTER
WARNING
Here we see an
unavoidable parallel. When "worship" is mustered and
manufactured we run the same risk of endangering our intimate
relationship with our Father God. Jesus warned us about this
lack of intimacy
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endangering our eternal souls.
He even used the word we just defined. Listen for
it:
Matthew 7:21-23, "Not every one
that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven. Many will
say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name and in thy name have cast out devils and in thy name
done many wonderful works And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that
work
iniquity."
How is it that Jesus could say to anyone who
calls on Him daily, "I never knew you"
We have learned that the word "know"
means more than to merely be aware. These men
and women had done great works in the name of the Lord. There
is no reason to believe they were Muslims, Buddhists,
Satanists or Skin Heads. These people were "Christians" unKNOWn by Christ!
How could this be? No doubt, they had had some sense of
relationship. No doubt, they did not continue for the entirety
of their lives without some sense of closeness to their Lord.
Could it be that these who sensed a relationship
were only involved in "Pastorbation"
I AM READY TO
KNOW
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