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The intent of Pilgrim Processing is to provide commentary on the Daily Lectionary from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. The format for the comment is Old Testament Lesson first, Gospel, and Epistle with a portion of one of the Psalms for the day as a prayer at the end.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

7 May 2015


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. 


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