Fortunately, it seems that it is only those Christians youngest in faith who make the mistake of looking at the first commandment as something that forbids "only" the literal worship of another God or the second the literal worship of a statue. Most Christians understand that it goes beyond this. It is usually taught in our congregations and understood very early on that idolatry takes a multitude of forms, that anything that takes more of our focus than God in life can become an idol. I do hope that most folks have already realized this and that I have not taught you anything new, here.
It is easy to profess obedience to this -- we monitor our hobbies, our collections, our work and spending habits and soforth to see to it that they are not taking up more than what is right and holy. It does seem that we recognize some of these things more in our thoughts than in our actions, but nevertheless, we know that we must not be too captivated by any worldly thing that it take the place of God in our life.
Yet I am afraid that in our best efforts, we have still erred in one area that I think, is perhaps the easiest in which to become idolatrous: other people. I think it is because there is a rather fine line. We know it is wrong to put so much time into things, but then we consider that we are commanded to "love thy neighbour," and it seems impossible to give too much of ourselves to another person. And, in part, I would agree. Our love must be unconditional. I would go so far as to say that not only ought every person, but the elders of a flock themselves, ought to put their family before the matters of the church. It is safe to say that much of this time ought to be spent in reverence to God, and that isn't to limit out any kind of recreation, but all in all, all of these things are good. It is not even beyond good sense to do so much as to give our life for another. How, then, can we possibly err?
The answer is simple: who are we labouring to glorify and lift up in it all? And forgive the cliche, but, where is our heart in it?
I will approach this from the perspective of relationships because of my experience. I of anyone know how easy it is to go to church, to engage in the worship, to speak for and to profess to live by the name of God, and all along be more concerned about another mere human being who is, at the core, as depraved and sinful and needing of grace as I am. The Apostle Paul spoke a certain, profound truth during the present tribulation of the times when he wrote to the Corinthians:
"I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband." (1 Corinthians 7:32-34 ESV)
Paul lived in an age thick with persecution evident by his own afflictions. In such an age, it would have been difficult for fathers to be both fathers and missionaries to a world that not only hated Christ and hated Christians, but was hungry to see the death of both. This was piled on their own spiritual battles, when few still had the instruction of the completed cannon of God's word and many false teachers were striving to lead the sheep of God astray.
Perhaps our trials and tribulations pale in comparison to that. Nevertheless, it is true that those who are single have opportunities that those who are married do not. It is all too easy, we see, to be so caught in worldly affairs that we are not given to the affairs to God. And I do not suggest that it is a worldly affair to please one's spouse because again, there is a deep parallel between this and Christ's love for His church which God is showing us! It still remains true that one who is not prepared and discernful can easily be caught up into idolatry even with one whom they dearly love.
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple..." (Luke 14:26-27 ESV)
I love this one, because it's been used as ammunition against me more than a few times. Particularily, some vocal Biblical skeptics like to go, "See? Jesus is telling you to hate your family, but elsewhere he says to love your neighbour as yourself! The bible contradicts itself!" ... But that isn't it at all. Take the last verse, which might not seem applicable here, but I want you to see another passage that parallels this. You will find that it shines a lot of light and context as to what Christ is actually saying:
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:34-38 ESV)
We are taught to love our neighbour as ourself but to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. There is a significant difference. Compared to the intensity of our love of God, our love for anyone or anything else, including ourself, ought to seem like utter hatred. I would vouch, even, that unless we truly love God, we cannot know how to truly love anyone else, because God is love, as the scriptures say. There is no true love outside of the love that is in God.
Now remember that I said we do these things so often in our head, but we fail to recognise them in our own actions?
Here is my observation, as I have watched many a Christian couple within churches and all sorts of other settings. They have made that mistake which ought to have been so much easier in Paul's day than it is in ours. Because while we are not dealing with half the tribulation Paul did, we still have those who seem too busy and unable to devote time to both their God and their "betrothed." It is not a difficult observation; for you need only to pay attention to who they write about, speak about, and if you could, think about the most. I do not count myself guiltless in this, but I would suggest that if there is a single spiritual issue which makes it easy to fall into temptation, it is when we begin caring more about a significant other than we so much as think about our own God. And I know this issue can go beyond romantic relationships, too, but I must stick with my example.
Take for example the Song of Solomon. This book serves a couple very intriguing purposes, both in its definition of God's gift of marriage and in a much more spiritual connotation, the deep love between Christ and the church. If you have followed along with some of scripture's greatest parallels, you will find this. The purpose of marriage glorifies God ultimately because it is a reflection of Christ's relationship and utter devotion to His bride, the church. Indeed -- He gave his life for her. She was cut from the world that she might have eternal fellowship with Him. That is the very definition of unconditional love, and it is why I say we can scarcely know how to love without knowing the One who loved us so much.
Considering that, does it not blow your mind to see that all worldly love pales in comparison to the love the Father has for His people? How cheap does every worldly love story become in light of that gracious work He did for us? I am almost suspicious that we would not shed another tear at a romantic film again if we remembered the gospel every time and remembered how much greater love can be!
More profound is this: The love of Christ for His bride was absolutely, completely and utterly undeserved. Nothing sickens me more than to see those mugs that say "#1 Dad!" I fear that such a person to create or to give such a cup has never known the Father in Heaven. Likewise, how often people pawn and say of their friends and their lovers, "you are perfect, you are the best!" I find this not only delusional and absolutely false as we consider the true nature of fallen man, I find it also depraved of the most core essential of true, unconditional love -- it is made on behalf of one who does not meet the conditions! Some have deemed it unfair that scripture should call for people to remain married unless there is infidelity. Our culture has placed such an emphasis today on the personal compatibility, that how dare the Good Book call for anyone who finds themselves "incompatible" to remain together? ... But I would ask you, were we compatible with God, that we now have fellowship with Him as the Bride of Christ?
Absolutely not. That is why Christ had to die, that we might be reconciled with Him and able to know Him! If we truly love one another, however, it will not be because we find one trait or another about a person "pleasing" or "perfect" -- it will come because in the face of imperfection and even outright frusteration, we draw strength from God to love unconditionally as Christ loves the church, and also that wives submit respectfully as the bride to Christ. Note that I am not suggesting we be unequally yoked -- for it is also most essential to a relationship that despite all flaw (which is humanly inevitable,) both have the Spirit of God and exalt Him as they ought.
In all sense, we should speak well, lovingly and respectfully of the people in our life. And yet shame on us to ever seek to glorify anyone or any attribute more than God Himself, in whose glorious face all human attributes turn to dust and all people are as good as used tampons, to put it in the analogy of scripture. If we should ever boast in ourselves or in another, be it not anything more than this -- how glorious that God should save such a wretch and grant that Holy Spirit, so undeserved, unto a life of holiness and sanctification in Christ our Lord!
I could not think of a more beautiful compliment for my brothers and sisters than that.
It is easy to profess obedience to this -- we monitor our hobbies, our collections, our work and spending habits and soforth to see to it that they are not taking up more than what is right and holy. It does seem that we recognize some of these things more in our thoughts than in our actions, but nevertheless, we know that we must not be too captivated by any worldly thing that it take the place of God in our life.
Yet I am afraid that in our best efforts, we have still erred in one area that I think, is perhaps the easiest in which to become idolatrous: other people. I think it is because there is a rather fine line. We know it is wrong to put so much time into things, but then we consider that we are commanded to "love thy neighbour," and it seems impossible to give too much of ourselves to another person. And, in part, I would agree. Our love must be unconditional. I would go so far as to say that not only ought every person, but the elders of a flock themselves, ought to put their family before the matters of the church. It is safe to say that much of this time ought to be spent in reverence to God, and that isn't to limit out any kind of recreation, but all in all, all of these things are good. It is not even beyond good sense to do so much as to give our life for another. How, then, can we possibly err?
The answer is simple: who are we labouring to glorify and lift up in it all? And forgive the cliche, but, where is our heart in it?
I will approach this from the perspective of relationships because of my experience. I of anyone know how easy it is to go to church, to engage in the worship, to speak for and to profess to live by the name of God, and all along be more concerned about another mere human being who is, at the core, as depraved and sinful and needing of grace as I am. The Apostle Paul spoke a certain, profound truth during the present tribulation of the times when he wrote to the Corinthians:
"I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband." (1 Corinthians 7:32-34 ESV)
Paul lived in an age thick with persecution evident by his own afflictions. In such an age, it would have been difficult for fathers to be both fathers and missionaries to a world that not only hated Christ and hated Christians, but was hungry to see the death of both. This was piled on their own spiritual battles, when few still had the instruction of the completed cannon of God's word and many false teachers were striving to lead the sheep of God astray.
Perhaps our trials and tribulations pale in comparison to that. Nevertheless, it is true that those who are single have opportunities that those who are married do not. It is all too easy, we see, to be so caught in worldly affairs that we are not given to the affairs to God. And I do not suggest that it is a worldly affair to please one's spouse because again, there is a deep parallel between this and Christ's love for His church which God is showing us! It still remains true that one who is not prepared and discernful can easily be caught up into idolatry even with one whom they dearly love.
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple..." (Luke 14:26-27 ESV)
I love this one, because it's been used as ammunition against me more than a few times. Particularily, some vocal Biblical skeptics like to go, "See? Jesus is telling you to hate your family, but elsewhere he says to love your neighbour as yourself! The bible contradicts itself!" ... But that isn't it at all. Take the last verse, which might not seem applicable here, but I want you to see another passage that parallels this. You will find that it shines a lot of light and context as to what Christ is actually saying:
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:34-38 ESV)
We are taught to love our neighbour as ourself but to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. There is a significant difference. Compared to the intensity of our love of God, our love for anyone or anything else, including ourself, ought to seem like utter hatred. I would vouch, even, that unless we truly love God, we cannot know how to truly love anyone else, because God is love, as the scriptures say. There is no true love outside of the love that is in God.
Now remember that I said we do these things so often in our head, but we fail to recognise them in our own actions?
Here is my observation, as I have watched many a Christian couple within churches and all sorts of other settings. They have made that mistake which ought to have been so much easier in Paul's day than it is in ours. Because while we are not dealing with half the tribulation Paul did, we still have those who seem too busy and unable to devote time to both their God and their "betrothed." It is not a difficult observation; for you need only to pay attention to who they write about, speak about, and if you could, think about the most. I do not count myself guiltless in this, but I would suggest that if there is a single spiritual issue which makes it easy to fall into temptation, it is when we begin caring more about a significant other than we so much as think about our own God. And I know this issue can go beyond romantic relationships, too, but I must stick with my example.
Take for example the Song of Solomon. This book serves a couple very intriguing purposes, both in its definition of God's gift of marriage and in a much more spiritual connotation, the deep love between Christ and the church. If you have followed along with some of scripture's greatest parallels, you will find this. The purpose of marriage glorifies God ultimately because it is a reflection of Christ's relationship and utter devotion to His bride, the church. Indeed -- He gave his life for her. She was cut from the world that she might have eternal fellowship with Him. That is the very definition of unconditional love, and it is why I say we can scarcely know how to love without knowing the One who loved us so much.
Considering that, does it not blow your mind to see that all worldly love pales in comparison to the love the Father has for His people? How cheap does every worldly love story become in light of that gracious work He did for us? I am almost suspicious that we would not shed another tear at a romantic film again if we remembered the gospel every time and remembered how much greater love can be!
More profound is this: The love of Christ for His bride was absolutely, completely and utterly undeserved. Nothing sickens me more than to see those mugs that say "#1 Dad!" I fear that such a person to create or to give such a cup has never known the Father in Heaven. Likewise, how often people pawn and say of their friends and their lovers, "you are perfect, you are the best!" I find this not only delusional and absolutely false as we consider the true nature of fallen man, I find it also depraved of the most core essential of true, unconditional love -- it is made on behalf of one who does not meet the conditions! Some have deemed it unfair that scripture should call for people to remain married unless there is infidelity. Our culture has placed such an emphasis today on the personal compatibility, that how dare the Good Book call for anyone who finds themselves "incompatible" to remain together? ... But I would ask you, were we compatible with God, that we now have fellowship with Him as the Bride of Christ?
Absolutely not. That is why Christ had to die, that we might be reconciled with Him and able to know Him! If we truly love one another, however, it will not be because we find one trait or another about a person "pleasing" or "perfect" -- it will come because in the face of imperfection and even outright frusteration, we draw strength from God to love unconditionally as Christ loves the church, and also that wives submit respectfully as the bride to Christ. Note that I am not suggesting we be unequally yoked -- for it is also most essential to a relationship that despite all flaw (which is humanly inevitable,) both have the Spirit of God and exalt Him as they ought.
In all sense, we should speak well, lovingly and respectfully of the people in our life. And yet shame on us to ever seek to glorify anyone or any attribute more than God Himself, in whose glorious face all human attributes turn to dust and all people are as good as used tampons, to put it in the analogy of scripture. If we should ever boast in ourselves or in another, be it not anything more than this -- how glorious that God should save such a wretch and grant that Holy Spirit, so undeserved, unto a life of holiness and sanctification in Christ our Lord!
I could not think of a more beautiful compliment for my brothers and sisters than that.
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