Observation: Moses uses vivid language to remind the people not to make idols of any kind, neither of any living creature, nor of the sun, moon or stars. God is formless, and can't be "possessed" in any physical form by the people. Yet God took the people themselves out of Egypt, "the iron-smelter," and claimed them as God's own possession.
Application: We didn't create God. God created us. We don't form God. God forms us, continually, throughout our lives. We don't own God. We belong to God.
Unlike ancient Israel, we're not surrounded by people who make literal, physical idols of gods and pray to them in their homes. Yet we are surrounded by a culture that routinely uses God's name to endorse our own national, political or social ideas. We may not be smelting idols out of iron, bronze, silver or gold, but we are tempted to associate God with our national flags, campaign slogans, or social platforms. Christian Nationalism is the effort to make worship of God and celebration of our country into one and the same thing. I'll be candid: it is idolatry. God is the maker of heaven and earth, not just our own nation. Jesus is the savior of the whole world, and he doesn't need help from any human institution in doing that work.
To be a disciple of Jesus, we need to leave behind a lot of what our surrounding culture considers valuable. We need to be God's possession, instead of treating God like our possession. We need to be formed by God, instead of trying to form God into a shape that's pleasing to our eyes.
Prayer: God, deliver us from idols of all kinds. Help us lay our values down at your feet, seek first your Reign and your righteousness, and let you transform us. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment