Modern Affliction

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 

“You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. ^[1]

Definition of Idolatry

These listed above are the first two commandments of the great Ten Commandments. They were listed out to give the people of Israel instructions on how to live their lives as the chosen people of God. Most followers of Christ recognize these commandments as a way to best be an example and follow the desires Jesus set before us in His life. We recognize that we are not to have any idols. Nothing should come before our worship of God that is not God. When we speak about idols, we think of images that are made to worship and hold our focus away from the God of the universe. Is this the limit of idolatry? Can things we construct for the purpose of worshiping God become an idol? 

Modern Examples

In the modern church we speak of items that we put before God. We talk about money becoming an idol for some people. We also speak about power and honor becoming and idol for others. There are people who worship looks above all else. WE even have television shows call idols (American Idol which has now ended). We idolize people above God. I must admit that ministers fall into the same trap. As a minster I must watch myself not idolizing another person’s ministry over the call God has given to me and my service. It is easy to see why God would make these the first two commandments. They are the easiest to fail. Can anything in the church become an idol? Yes! 

For many American churches, I speak mostly of the old mainline churches from my experience, the building and contents of the building can become a thing to worship above God. There are congregations who will risk everything to save a beloved pipe organ. The cost of the organ repairs may be more than the people can handle, but the congregation will do anything they can to save the instrument. The people are so connected to a building they will do anything to keep it. The roof may almost be falling in on them, but do not speak of selling the building. The cast of up keep and maintain is so high, the people are not doing any ministry outside the church because of the cost to maintain the building. The people put the building before God. They put the lives of the saints gone before them in faith before the call of God now.

 Buildings Idolized Long Ago

This is not a new experience. Jesus talked about the temple at His time in similar manner. Jesus told the people that the temple would be destroyed and in three days risen again. We know He was speaking about His body, but others saw this as blasphemy to destroy the temple. There are congregations in America who would speak the same if we destroyed the building. There have been news reports of church fires for multiple different reasons. The people from the church are hart broken and crushed. The faith seems destroyed because a building was destroyed. Our language about religious buildings does not help this at all. We call them God’s House. The buildings are called churches not a gathering place. We reinforce this at a young age to our children in how we tell them to treat the space. No running, be quite and dress in your best.

One of the greatest authors in the 20th century, J.I. Packer, details in an entire chapter the role of idolatry in the Christian life. He writes in his book Knowing God, images.

In its Christian application, this means that we are not to make use of visual or pictorial representations of the triune God, or of any person of the Trinity, for the purposes of Christian worship. The commandment thus deals not with the object of our worship, but with the manner of it, what it tells us is that statues and pictures of the One whom we worship are not to be used as an aid to worshiping him.” [2] 

What does this say about our obsession with our buildings?

The Future Hope

When congregations come to a realistic view that he place they gather is just a building and a tool for ministry, our congregation will become healthier. The church of Christ in America will be able to be the power house for God in the world. Till then, we are stuck at the bottom of the mountain like Arron with the Israelite. 

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” [3]

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^[1] The New International Version. (2011). (Ex 20:2–6). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

^[2] Packer, J. I.. Knowing God (p. 48). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

^[3] The New International Version. (2011). (Ex 32:1–4). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Mission Possiable

Last week I had the privileged to travel with the Carthage Nazarene Congregation to the Dominican Republic. During this trip, we spent time building an addition on the church in Santiago and teaching children and adults about Jesus in Vacation Bible School settings.The privilege came in the fact of two directions. For one, I am not a member of their church. Matter of fact, I am not a member of their denomination. I am a Presbyterian minister. They allowed me to be included and a blessing to the Santiago community. They also were a blessing to me.

This is a picture from the night we took off from Carthage. We left the church by eleven o'clock at night to travel to St. Louis. It was a long night of travel and and longer day of air planes and transfers. It was fun.

This is what you look like on the last plane ride of a long journey.

I will admit that I could fill this whole page with pictures. People took pictures of work, children, worship, instruments, and much more. You can look at my Facebook page for more pictures.I had a blast.

I must admit that a long time ambition of mine was realized while on this trip. I was invited to preach at a church plant in the country one evening. I dreamed about an opportunity to travel to a foreign country and preach through a translator. The pastor gave me the opportunity and I took it. I will admit it was different and harder than I am use in America, I will take the opportunity all over again.

Me and Arodi Sanchez (Cross Cultural Pastor of Carthage Naz.)

I was blessed beyond measure by the love and grace shared by the people of the Dominican Republic. I was also blessed by the love and support from the Carthage Nazarene team. I am refreshed by the experience, but yet troubled.

Coming back, I miss the grace and passion I saw in the eyes of the church in the Dominican. They were small but did not see that as a problem. With courage and strength, they were determined to serve the people and tell others about Jesus. Now, I struggle to see where I fit in the world back home. I struggle with a reality that the congregation I serve is tired and lost hope and passion. They see closure as a better option than hope. I came back to the national meeting of my denomination not talking much about serving people in real ways and equipping the local church to be a witness to the Kingdom of God. I hear reports of political grand standing and wishful hopes that never seem to get translated to the front line of service. Lastly, I come back to me struggling to hear God. I struggle to understand where I am being calling to serve beyond the temporary position in Springfield. I am curious where God is calling me to be next. What new plans are in store for me. I will keep searching for answers. What I find most exciting is how much God can accomplish in a short time when we are open to listen.