“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:4, 5
Physical idol (statue) worship is not a
particularly overt issue these days though we see this in the form of
worshiping our achievements (multiple degrees, high powered career, artistic
prowess, financial strength, entertainment/celebrity icons, etc.) or
acquisitions (homes, cars, art collection, etc.). These self-manufactured idols
are eroding our church and the wider society. However, I would like to address
another idol formed by all of humanity and worshipped excessively in religious
establishments – Culture.
Particularly, culture in religion. In
churches we make a big fuss about worshiping God in accordance with our
culture, ethnicity, or race, when all these things are constructs manufactured
by ourselves to keep ourselves divided and away from the will of God. With the
number of mass migrations (forced and willing) that have occurred throughout
human history there is no way to truly accurately pin down any single
individual’s “culture” or even race (just watch a DNA test reveal or read the
testing company’s disclaimer). The two nation groups considered to be
culturally or racially pure, living in one geographic area for the longest
space of time are Japan and Portugal, and even they cannot claim a solid
cultural identity; their “purity” is less than 1,000 years old. Compare that to
the approximately 6,000 years we’ve all been on earth. Cultural practices are
ever changing and dependent on experiences and geography, God is not (Malachi
3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Cultures are easily subject to change therefore; they should
never garner the level of influence they have in our religious experiences (2SM
36.2; FE 186.3).
The Bible is very clear about what God
expects from us in worship (Leviticus 19:30; 26:2; Luke 4:16). As human beings,
if given the choice, we would prefer to have a celebration over a contemplative
service. As a result, now we’ve made all church/religious services a
celebration, even funerals! We, like Cain have opted to bring God the fruits of
our labour, what we enjoy not what God requires (Genesis 4:2-7). We live in an age
that requires sobriety and vigilance, sin still runs rampant in the world, we
are not to engage in premature, insensitive, celebrations (1 Peter 5:8; Isaiah
56:9-12). When we assemble in holy convocation on the Sabbath, we are to
primarily be reverent in God’s sanctuary (Leviticus 19:30; 26:2). Yes, we are
in God’s presence everywhere we go, however, in the sanctuary – the special place
designated to meet with God at the times He requires – we are to be in a state
of absolute reverence because we have come particularly in His presence to
worship Him (Exodus 3:5; Joshua 5:15). Outside of designated assembly time,
when we choose to come together to celebrate the blessings of God, that allows
for differences in expression; however, always being cognizant of God’s
holiness – He is not our equal (2 Samuel 6:12-15; 2 Chronicles 5:11-14; Isaiah
55:8, 9). All our praises must be directed to God, He is the only one worthy of
praise (Psalms 148:13). We are never to praise or flatter another human being;
everything positive that we are able to do is by the hand of God (Proverbs
29:5; John 15:5).
The reality is, there is a time and place
for everything under the sun (Ecclesiastes 3:1-13). The Sabbath is for reverent
acknowledgement of God’s creative power. On this day we come together to thank
Him and learn more of Him. Other services, that the Israelites were given, may
be adopted, appropriately, to give jubilant praise to God for His numberless
blessings (Leviticus 16:29-34). All must be done decently and in order (1
Corinthians 14:40).
In Love
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