The Deceptive Lure of Vain Religion

Daniel Marsh
Apr 27
4 min read

Sunday Morning of Arizona Campmeeting 2025

by Bro. Jon Kline

Introduction to the Speaker

The service at Arizona Campmeeting began solemnly as Bro Keith Karnes, the chairman, addressed the congregation with a heartfelt warning about the prevalent spiritual condition of the modern church. He cautioned strongly against the seductive allure of teachings that promise comfort without commitment, ease without effort, and blessings without obedience. Bro Karnes emphasized the necessity of unwavering adherence to the entirety of God's Word, referencing Isaiah 30 to highlight the dangers of seeking comforting lies over confronting truths.

Bro Karnes spoke clearly and earnestly, reminding the church that God's truth is not always pleasant or immediately comforting but is always necessary for spiritual growth and ultimate salvation. He further pointed out that many believers today are tempted to choose smooth, easy messages that soothe their conscience but ultimately lead them away from God's true calling. This temptation, he said, is not new but echoes the warnings from scripture about the dangers of a compromised gospel. The exhortation served as a poignant introduction to Bro Kline’s message, urging the audience to prepare their hearts to hear and accept difficult but necessary truths.

The Lure of Vain Religion

Bro Jon Kline, pastor of the Church of God in Huntsville, Alabama, took the pulpit with a clear and resolute message entitled "The Lure of Vain Religion." Bro Kline methodically unpacked the concept, describing vain religion as a spiritual state where believers have allowed their relationship with God to become superficial, focusing more on outward appearances and convenient truths rather than genuine heart change and obedience to scripture.

Bro Kline drew a vivid analogy between false religion and a fisherman's lure, carefully designed to attract its prey by appearing harmless and enticing. He warned that once believers take the bait of compromised teachings, they risk severe spiritual damage and potentially permanent estrangement from God’s truth. Using scripture and historical examples, Bro Kline meticulously demonstrated the dangers inherent in even small concessions to worldly philosophies and practices, highlighting how incremental compromise has historically led entire communities and denominations away from biblical truth.

Compromise with Worldliness

He provided clear examples from biblical narratives and church history, illustrating that whenever God's people compromised with worldly values—whether in pursuit of acceptance, popularity, or comfort—they eventually abandoned critical biblical principles. Bro Kline emphasized the importance of maintaining clear distinctions between the church and the world, reminding congregants that spiritual power and effectiveness are directly related to faithfulness to God’s standards, rather than conformity to societal norms.

He further challenged the church to self-examine, questioning whether their decisions, lifestyles, and doctrines reflect complete biblical fidelity or subtle shifts toward worldly acceptance. Bro Kline highlighted the incremental nature of compromise, emphasizing that it often begins subtly but ends disastrously.

Carnality and Self-Affirmation

Bro Kline clearly addressed the issue of believers seeking teachings and teachers who affirm their existing lifestyles without challenging them to repentance or growth. He underscored the difference between the comfort offered by God, which comes through genuine repentance and transformation, and the false comfort of self-affirmation that fails to address sin and carnality.

Bro Kline provided practical examples from contemporary culture, illustrating how easy it is for churches to slip into preaching that caters to carnal desires—emphasizing prosperity, ease, and personal affirmation rather than the essential biblical themes of repentance, holiness, and sanctification. He urged the congregation to earnestly evaluate the messages they welcome and the truths they resist, pointing out that true spiritual health requires openness to correction and conviction.

False Unity

Bro Kline discussed how unity based on compromised doctrine is no unity at all, but rather a deceptive alignment destined for spiritual failure. He clarified that true biblical unity is always grounded in shared obedience to the Word of God. False unity, he argued, might temporarily unify diverse groups under superficial agreements but will ultimately collapse under the pressure of true spiritual testing.

He passionately admonished the congregation to pursue unity that strengthens the body of Christ through mutual accountability, clear biblical standards, and collective commitment to uncompromised doctrine. Bro Kline challenged believers to critically assess their relationships and community affiliations, ensuring that unity is built on shared faithfulness rather than mere agreement or convenience.

Bro Kline concluded his sermon with a powerful exhortation to return wholeheartedly to scriptural truths. He emphasized the urgency of rejecting compromised teachings, no matter how appealing, and embracing the sometimes uncomfortable but always life-giving truths of God’s Word.

Altar Call Exhortation

Following the conclusion of Bro Kline’s compelling sermon, Bro Karnes returned to lead a heartfelt altar call. Observing an initial hesitancy within the congregation, he spoke directly and earnestly, urging each listener to personally confront the challenge issued by the sermon. He reiterated the importance of choosing genuine faithfulness over superficial comfort.

Bro Karnes passionately called for sincere reflection and personal repentance, emphasizing the eternal consequences of compromising spiritual integrity. He reminded the assembly that true peace and spiritual security come only from living authentically according to God’s Word, without compromise or reservation. He encouraged attendees to make concrete commitments at the altar, ensuring that their faith remains rooted deeply in the unchanging truths of scripture.