Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Defining Idolatry
Les Newson writing at Common Grounds Online writes about "The Worst Sin In The Bible." That sin he concludes is idolatry, but not as you might think of it:
It is so easy to love something about God, or love that God did this, or love God because He made that. But that is not enough for God. God wants us simply to love Him..
You see, God is like the kid that pointed out that the emperor had no clothes. When we deal directly with God, our nakedness is exposed. (see Genesis 3) Once in His presence, we cannot hide from God. Thus we want to use cut-outs and stand-ins. But God wants so much more for us. He does not want our defects merely to be hidden, He does not even want them repaired, he wants them remade into perfection. They must be exposed for that to happen, exposed to Him.
What's between you and God - there is something, because there is for all of us. Maybe even something different every day. Take it out of the way. Tell God about it.
Related Tags: idolatry, confession, God, relationship, faith, nakedness
The sin of the Golden Calf is not worshipping the calf, but worshipping the God of the Bible through the calf.Idolatry is, anything we put between ourselves and God - ANYTHING. From worship styles to denominalationism to church growth to financial security to politics, all of it is an idol if it somehow stands between us and God. In fact even the spiritual gifts can become idols, I have seen it happen often.
Again, what?s the big deal? Surely God would appreciate a bit of creativity once and a while from his worshipping people. But if not, then surely they can get partial credit for having at least made the effort. Good intention, bad execution?right?
But this strikes me as an awfully shallow application of this story. There is much more to this act than can be summed up in an admonition to follow carefully a regulative principle for worship as the people of God gather. Rather, what seems to be the concern is the tendency among God?s people to remake him in their image. ?God created man in his own image and we gladly return the favor,? I once read somewhere.
In other words, God condemns his people in the most thoroughgoing of ways when they decide that they ?don?t like to think of God in that way.? He is holy, granted, but what that means, among other things, is that he is unchangeable. He is who he is. ?I am that I am,? he says to Moses. ?Don?t you try to make me fit into your categories. Love me and worship me on MY terms and not yours.?
It is so easy to love something about God, or love that God did this, or love God because He made that. But that is not enough for God. God wants us simply to love Him..
You see, God is like the kid that pointed out that the emperor had no clothes. When we deal directly with God, our nakedness is exposed. (see Genesis 3) Once in His presence, we cannot hide from God. Thus we want to use cut-outs and stand-ins. But God wants so much more for us. He does not want our defects merely to be hidden, He does not even want them repaired, he wants them remade into perfection. They must be exposed for that to happen, exposed to Him.
What's between you and God - there is something, because there is for all of us. Maybe even something different every day. Take it out of the way. Tell God about it.
Related Tags: idolatry, confession, God, relationship, faith, nakedness
