We would hardly think of ourselves as worshippers of idols
yet we are so expert at convincing ourselves we don’t do it that we fail to
even see our idols. Our idols can be
family, work, money, home, church, sports, ambition, the past, the future, almost
anything at all. Whatever consumes our
time and energy is potentially an idol. Whatever
concerns you the most, what you spend your time thinking about or fretting over
is an idol. Jesus was clear that we are
to concern ourselves with the kingdom of God and His righteousness and allow
Him to worry about all the rest, lest they become our idols. Anything that promises happiness or security
other than God can easily become an idol.
Idol worship is escapism in the sense that it beckons us away from
reality while the worship of the true and living God immerses us in reality,
His creation, His call and His people.
Jesus did a miraculous healing in the land of the
Gerasenes. He delivered a man from a
legion of demons, so numerous that they couldn’t be bothered to name themselves
individually, it was easier to simply say legion rather than give a roll
call. Jesus wasn’t impressed by their
number or their collective power even though the people of the land had made
accommodation to them by putting the man in isolation. They clearly feared the demons but so long as
they were in this man they were tolerable in the land. When Jesus commanded them into the pigs,
suddenly there was a problem that must be dealt with rather than
tolerated. Their livelihood was
compromised, the pigs were more important to them than the man. Jesus was treated then like the demon
possessed man, He needed to leave them alone and let them get back to
work. They would rather have their
prosperity than His power.
God deals with us as He created us, as individuals. Too often I see a call for Christian
conformity in things indifferent. There are
those for whom vegetarianism or some other issue is not only their call but the
call. There are innumerable issues which
divide God’s people on which it is certainly possible for us to disagree while
still being obedient to the Holy Spirit in our own lives. I believe on these issues it is important for
us to have the discussion while respecting the other. We can talk about things like pacifism or war,
alcohol, environmental issues, diet, creation, and other things with respect
and honor rather than invective. I don’t
see it much though, mostly I see one side or the other claiming to be right and
the other side listening simply because it isn’t worth arguing. Paul apparently saw that in the church of his
day as well. The important thing on
these issues is to listen to one another respectfully and lovingly, with true
Christian charity. Sometimes we have to
ask, is this thing that consumes me an idol or the Gospel.
No comments:
Post a Comment