Over the past few months at Henderson Hills our sermon series has centered on idolatry. We have explored the Scripture for teaching from history of examples of idolatry and how easily others have fallen into this trap. We have also looked at examples of idolatry prevalent in our own lives and hearts.
As we near the end of this series, this week we will dig deeper into the sin of the idolatry of religion.
A person who is religious is considered devout, worshipful, reverent, and holy. How then could this possibly be sin? Remember, we have seen that idols are not necessarily bad things; they may in fact be good things. But, if we want it too much, devote too much time or money into it, think on it too much, invest, depend or trust it too much, then, it becomes an idol. And anything that is higher in our esteem than God is an idol. Anything that takes our dependence off Him and on ourselves is an idol. Anything that consumes us but Him, is an idol. If you think that your life has more meaning or you have more worth when you have something, it has become your idol. Our idols may include approval, comfort, image, achievement, prosperity, sex, work, spouse, family. When a good thing consumes you to the point that it is your focus it then becomes a bad thing.
Religious idols are common among Christians. Please consider these things in the next few days and ask God to open your heart to hear and respond to what He is teaching us. Do you love going to church more than God? Do you criticize the music or the sermon in the car on the way home more than sharing what God has done? Why do you come to church? Is it your friends, a particular ministry, it’s the “in” thing to do, you need church affiliation for your resume, or any other thing that drives you to participate in church? If you come to church for any of the above reasons more than to grow in intimacy with the Lord, religion has possibly become an idol to you.
Spend some extra time today considering your motive for participating in church. Ask God to reveal your heart. Be ready to respond appropriately when He does. Don’t argue with Him. Be ready tomorrow when we meet again to explore some specific things the Word teaches us about religiosity.
For today let me leave you with these Scriptures:
Psalm 26:2-3(ESV)
Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and my mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness.
Psalm 139:23(ESV)
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
2 Corinthians 13:5(ESV)
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
Mark 12:30(ESV)
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’
Prayerfully,
Dennis
Posted on
Monday, March 1, 2010
by Dennis Newkirk