You Tube Theology

Why do we need a reformation of the church today? Because, yeah, we know the church has issues. Distorted gospels, faithlessness, abusive leaders, bad behavior. We know that. But what's the root underneath all those presenting problems? John's words in John 12, verse 43, sum it up. And diagnose the cause of our sickness. John said, "They loved the glory of men more than the glory of God." And those words, they cut like a scalpel through to expose our essential problem today. I think that's it in the church today. We love the glory of men more than the glory of God. You know, earlier in John's gospel, Jesus had said, "This was the seed of the Pharisees problem." So in John 5, verse 44, Jesus asked the Pharisees, "How can you believe when you receive glory from others and do not seek glory from the only God?" See it? That was the wellspring of their every mistake. They were addicted to the praise of others. So Jesus said, "I do not receive glory from people." But the Pharisees, they actually preferred the acclamation of the people. And they couldn't believe because they received glory from one another. Their lust for the approval of others, and doesn't this sound modern? Their lust for the approval of others blinded them. So they forgot to seek the approval of God. With their eyes on others hungry for popularity, for praise. They wouldn't dare confess Christ or go against the crowd who they're trying to get praise from. If you're constantly trying to please people, you'll never say no. You'll never go against the crowd. You'll never follow a righteous but unpopular course. God said, "Jesus, they do all their deeds to be seen by others." They make their phylacteries broad, their fringes long. They love the places of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces being called rabbi. And is that not what we see everywhere today? So I have a question to ask you as we leave. This is the question really I want ringing in your mind as we leave. What do you love? Or more precisely, which glory do you love? The glory of men or the glory of God?