It's been said by many that all they need is their bible, and access to a TV or internet preacher's talks. They have no need or desire to be part of a church. They have been hurt by people in the church. Even some refuse to participate in a church because they can't find a perfect one. I recently talked to such a person.
Peter warns us in his first epistle (5.8) that the devil prowls like a lion looking for someone to devour. Who do lions go for? The weak and isolated. They hardly attack a whole herd of weaker animals. They wait till one is separated and then they pounce.
If you're the weak or isolated animal, and you saw a lion staring at you, muscle tension flexing in the haunches, do you worry about what kind of herd is nearby? Most likely, you will look for the closest non-threatening group to hide in. If you're a zebra, you may not be able to hide with the meerkats but you could hide with the wildebeests. They may not be perfect or perfectly accepting of you, but they will hold off the prowling lion.
Share this perspective next time someone says they can grow their faith on their own.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Monday, June 2, 2014
Like Your Idols
Psalm 115 makes a startling statement. First, the psalmist lays out the problem: "..their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands." After describing how the idols cannot speak, see, hear, smell or move, the psalmist says that 'they' will become like their idols, unable to speak, see, hear, etc.
What does he mean? Will they become like stone or metal?
More likely, since the idols make no requirements of their worshipers, the idolaters will not make any effort to see others, speak to others, listen to others, move towards others and so on. They will be locked in their own self-absorbed world waiting for their god of money, fame and other success, religion, sex and other entertainments to tell them to do something different. The idols can't. We who look for personal satisfaction from worshiping these things will continue in the pursuits that seem right to us.
In contrast, we know a God who speaks, sees, listens and hears, and moves and acts. He challenges us to keep up with Him. He challenges us to do likewise: to see the hurting, the least/last/lost and to speak out for them and to them, and to listen when people have joys and griefs to share, to move in care and community with one another. Christ on the earth did just this. We are told to be like Him. And not like the other idols we might worship.
What does he mean? Will they become like stone or metal?
More likely, since the idols make no requirements of their worshipers, the idolaters will not make any effort to see others, speak to others, listen to others, move towards others and so on. They will be locked in their own self-absorbed world waiting for their god of money, fame and other success, religion, sex and other entertainments to tell them to do something different. The idols can't. We who look for personal satisfaction from worshiping these things will continue in the pursuits that seem right to us.
In contrast, we know a God who speaks, sees, listens and hears, and moves and acts. He challenges us to keep up with Him. He challenges us to do likewise: to see the hurting, the least/last/lost and to speak out for them and to them, and to listen when people have joys and griefs to share, to move in care and community with one another. Christ on the earth did just this. We are told to be like Him. And not like the other idols we might worship.
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