Friday, December 09, 2005
Image Bearers
We are all image bearers. I gues that begs the question, "What image do you bear?"
I'v had idolatry on the brain for quite some time now. I don't know if it's becaue we are discussing it in our Young Adult Sunday school class, or if it's because I sat outside in the freezing cold waiting to get an XBox 360. None the less, idolatry has been on my brain for quite some time. Here is what I've come up with through avid reading.
According to Psalm 115, we become the idols that we create. We become, deaf, dumb, blind, and without any senses. We are, for all practical reasons, dead. When we choose idolatry, the "light" of Christ is snuffed out. Unfortunately we live in an age where idolatry is running rampant. I'm not just talking about things. I'm talking about fertility, national or ethnic identity, security, scientific analysis, technological power or even economic growth. Think about it, capitalism breeds idolatry. Production and consumption. Even we as individuals become commodities that can be bought and sold. No matter what it is that we bear, other than the image of Christ, will bring death.
Do you remember when Israel asked for a king? God told Samuel that it was not Sameul they were rejecting, no, it was God himself. By buying into the lie that we need things or that we need more than Christ can give us, we are rejecting God. We are saying, just as the Israelites, that we want to be just like everyone else and be ruled by a king. (Not THE KING)
I leave you with the warning of God delivered by Samuel:
"This is what the king who will rule over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fileds and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth fo your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys her will take for his own use. He wil take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become slaves. When that day comes you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day."
1 Samuel 8:10b-18
Adam
I'v had idolatry on the brain for quite some time now. I don't know if it's becaue we are discussing it in our Young Adult Sunday school class, or if it's because I sat outside in the freezing cold waiting to get an XBox 360. None the less, idolatry has been on my brain for quite some time. Here is what I've come up with through avid reading.
According to Psalm 115, we become the idols that we create. We become, deaf, dumb, blind, and without any senses. We are, for all practical reasons, dead. When we choose idolatry, the "light" of Christ is snuffed out. Unfortunately we live in an age where idolatry is running rampant. I'm not just talking about things. I'm talking about fertility, national or ethnic identity, security, scientific analysis, technological power or even economic growth. Think about it, capitalism breeds idolatry. Production and consumption. Even we as individuals become commodities that can be bought and sold. No matter what it is that we bear, other than the image of Christ, will bring death.
Do you remember when Israel asked for a king? God told Samuel that it was not Sameul they were rejecting, no, it was God himself. By buying into the lie that we need things or that we need more than Christ can give us, we are rejecting God. We are saying, just as the Israelites, that we want to be just like everyone else and be ruled by a king. (Not THE KING)
I leave you with the warning of God delivered by Samuel:
"This is what the king who will rule over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fileds and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth fo your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys her will take for his own use. He wil take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become slaves. When that day comes you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day."
1 Samuel 8:10b-18
Adam
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Great post Adam! I agree that we, as Christians have way too many things. I for one have to "check" myself from time to time regarding the importance of having a deeper, intimate relationship with Christ.
Love you, Mom
Love you, Mom
# posted by 
: December 12, 2005
: December 12, 2005
Nice thoughts, Adam. At the risk of stating something with ideological certainty: Idolatry is THE sin.
Just about everything specific we think of as "a sin" could very well be a manifestation of THE sin of idolatry. (And as I type this I am aware of my almost prayer-like posture in front of this computer screen.)
Not idle,
Andy B.
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Just about everything specific we think of as "a sin" could very well be a manifestation of THE sin of idolatry. (And as I type this I am aware of my almost prayer-like posture in front of this computer screen.)
Not idle,
Andy B.
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