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DON'T MANIPULATE GOD
Exodus 20:4-6
I. Gods to fit every occasion. Exod 20:4-5
Tribesmen in Bismarck Mountains of
central Papua New Guinea
like big
ears.
A lot.
As a matter of fact, this tribe
worships President Johnson because
he had big
ears.
According to Dr. Ulrich Ritterfeldt of the University of Utrecht
in Holland, they have a photo of
Johnson pulling on the big ears
of his
beagles.
The photo is hung in a cave and
flowers are offered to it.
A. To many people, this is what the
second commandment is all about.
Worshipping weird stuff. Idols.
We don't do that anymore, so this
commandment is a snap.
Or is it?
B. The reality is that idolatry is
much more subtle.
Thomas Watson, Puritan preacher,
summarized it back in the 1600's:
"In the first commandment,
worshiping a false God is forbidden.
In the second commandment,
worshiping the true God in a false
manner
is forbidden."
1) Idolatry is the visual
misrepresentation of God.
2) Taking Lord's name in vain is
verbal misrepresentation of God.
II. Making your own god.
A. A prominent theme in Old
Testament.
1) Many families had their own
household gods.
a) Abraham undoubtedly
worshipped them as a youth.
2) Old Testament prophets mocked
idol worship.
a) Gods from leftover
firewood. Isaiah 44:15-17
b) Nailed to stand
upright. Jeremiah
10:3-5
1> Idol can't do
anything, good or bad.
B. Seems incredible people could carve
something and call it a god.
1) But easy to understand the
process.
a) God is unseen, which is
hard to comprehend.
b) An image is made to REMIND
us of God.
c) Bit by bit the image
ceases to represent God and begins
to
take the place of God.
2) Example of bronze serpent.
a) Reminded people of God's
healing. Numbers 21:6-9
b) Years later,
came to be worshipped. 2 Kings 18:4
3) Christian symbols can go
through same process.
a) For example, Catholics
venerate objects like crucifixes.
1> But then
superstition takes over.
b) Protestants can do same
thing with Bible.
C. The paradox is that idolatry
starts out with good intentions.
1) An aid to worship becomes the
barrier to worship.
III. The
twentieth century has its idols also.
A. Idolatry means making MEANS into
ENDS. (William Barclay)
1) Worship formats and buildings
can take the place of God.
2) <Ledgewood
Baptist burns down. Church seem the
same to you?>
B. Idolatry means substituting the
THING for the PERSON.
1) When things become more
important than people,
idolatry
enters.
a) Example of the Industrial
Revolution.
People less important
than machines.
2) Our god is that which we think
to be the most important
thing
in life.
a) It is where we give our
time, thought, strength.
b) Where do we really spend
our time?
Research showed that
people say they spend it one
way.
While detailed diaries really real
truth.
3) Idolatry is not just a mistake
of primitive people.
a) Modern people reduce their
god to money.
1> Paul: greed is idolatry. Col 3:5
2> Jesus: you cannot serve both God
and money.
b) Whatever gets our highest
allegiance is our god.
IV. The true God is a jealous suitor.
A. He is a jealous God. Exod 20:5
1) Doesn't mean he is suspicious
or distrustful.
2) Rather, he demands exclusive
devotion.
Readers' Digest, 1988:
Every morning Joan Ruck does a
combination of yoga and
exercises
in the living room.
As she was kneeling one day
with arms outstretched and head
bowed
to the floor, her son came down the stairs.
He looked at her and said,
"A simple 'Good
morning' will do!"
3) Elsewhere idolatry is equated
with spiritual adultery.
B. Punishing future generations:
1) Cruel and unusual?
2) Perfectly natural, as any
psychologist will tell us.
3) If God doesn't have the
rightful place in our lives, the
repercussions
pass inevitably from generation to generation.
4) Don't forget God's grace. Exod 20:6
a) God shows us love, "hesed".
b) The effects of
disobedience last for some time, but the
effects
of loving God are far more extensive.
V. Taking the Lord's name in vain. Exod 20:7
A. Idolatry is visual,
swearing in vain is verbal misrepresentation.
1) People invoked God as being on
their side.
2) Often ended up being pure
manipulation. (Jesus and oaths)
B. The Name of God.
1) Key fixation of Jehovah
Witnesses.
a) But true that God is
concerned about how he is presented.
2) Names to Jews are important and
powerful.
a)
Much more than a title of address.
b) It tells us God's nature,
reputation, and authority.
c) It opens us up to
relationship with him.
1> God is knowable.
2> Reason Jacob
wrestled until he knew opponent's name.
C. In vain / misuse.
1) Literally means "for
unreality."
a) Vanity, false report,
empty, insincere, frivolous.
b) God's name must never be
used lightly.
2) Promises and oaths invoking
God are in view.
a) Legitimate oaths are
discouraged, but not forbidden.
1> They are found
throughout Old & New Testaments.
b) When we invoke God, we had
better mean it.
VI. All our promises should be binding.
A. Ordinary promises.
B. Work contracts.
1) Discussion with member: some
businessmen squeeze small
contractors,
in spite of contracts.
C. Oaths in law-court.
1) "The truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth."
D. Specifically religious promises.
1) Marriage vows.
2) Baptism pledge of "a good
conscience toward God."
3) Communion. [not used]
VII. Are you
manipulating God?
A. Physical idols are scarce, but
idolatry is rampant.
B. Don't invoke God, or imagine him
on your side, if you are
disobedient.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Study Notes \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
William Barclay, "Ten
Commandments."
I. Idolatry - visual misrepresentation of
God.
A. Old Testament prophetic passages:
Isa 44:14-20; 46:1,2,7;
Jer 10:3-5
B. Seems incredible people could
carve something and call it a god.
1) But easy to understand the
process.
a) God is unseen, which is
hard to comprehend.
b) An image is made to REMIND
us of God.
c) Bit by bit the image
ceases to represent God and begins
to
take the place of God.
1> Example of bronze
serpent. Num
21:6-9; cf. 2 Kg 18:4
2> Crucifixes can go
through same process.
2) The paradox is that idolatry
starts out with good intentions.
a) An aid to worship becomes
the barrier to worship.
C. The twentieth century has its
idols also.
1) Idolatry means making MEANS
into ENDS.
a) Liturgy and buildings can
take the place of God.
b) <Ledgewood
Baptist burn down. Church seem the same?>
2) Idolatry means substituting
the thing for the person.
a) Our god is that which we
think to be the most important
thing in
life.
1> It is where we give
our time, thought, strength.
2> When things become
more important than people,
idolatry
enters.
A> Example of the
Industrial Revolution.
b) Idolatry is not just a
mistake of primitive people.
II. Swearing - verbal misrepresentation of
God.
A. In vain.
1) Literally means "for
unreality."
2) Vanity, false report, empty,
insincere, frivolous.
3) God's name must never be used
this way.
B. How we take God's name in vain.
1) Breaking a pledge to God.
a) A very serious sin.
b) Jesus forbids oaths
altogether. Matt 5:33-37
1> Some circumvented
truth by avoiding God's actual name.
2> Oaths occur in
Bible: Jesus, Paul.
c) All our promises should be
binding.
1> Ordinary promises.
2> Work contracts.
3> Oaths in law-court. "The truth, the whole truth,
and
nothing but the truth."
4> Specifically
religious pledges.
A> Marriage.
B> Baptism pledge
(parents for children).
C> Communion.
2) Bad language.
a) We will give account for
every chance word we speak.
b) Every promise is sacred,
and irreverence is blasphemy.
Stuart Briscoe
I. Thomas Watson, Puritan preacher, said
in the 1600's:
"In the first commandment,
worshiping a false God is forbidden.
In the second commandment,
worshiping the true God in a false
manner
is forbidden."
This describes the essence of idolatry.
A. Easy to preach on.
B. Hard to preach on - if we are
honest.
II. God denounces idolatry.
A. Don't make idols.
B. Don't worship idols.
C. Don't miscalculate God's reaction.
1) He is a jealous God.
2) (Goes with his holiness.)
D. Punishing future generations:
1) Cruel and unusual?
2) Perfectly natural, as any
psychologist will tell us.
3) If God doesn't have the
rightful place in our lives, the
ramifications and
repercussions pass inevitably from
generation
to generation.
E. Don't forget God's grace.
1) God shows us love, "hesed".
F. Be on your guard!
1) Jeremiah and idolatry. Jer
10:2-5
2) Jesus and idolatry. Matt 6:24
III. The dangers
of idolatry.
A. Is it important today?
1) (Little boy and thunderstorm
following curse word.)
B. Essence of idolatry. [from Barclay]
1) Means into ends.
2) Things for people.
3) Placing imagination above
revelation.
4) Limiting God's transcendence.
a) We tell kids to treat
God's house differently. Could
be because we want to
act normal elsewhere, box God
in
here.
C. Putting humans in control.
1) We control our god.
2) Fashioning God in a popular
style.
a) How can we be faithful,
and relevant?
3) Detracting from God's image.
a) Jesus Christ is the only
representation of God we need.
IV. Taking God's name in vain.
A. Easy commandment, since we don't
think we break it, at least
often.
B. What's in a name?
1) Reputation.
a) (Personal story of two
missionary women in Congo.)
2) Character.
3) Personality.
4) Authority.
C. God's name.
1) In OT, God reveals himself by
name.
2) God is knowable.
3) God saves us.
D. How do we take God's name in vain?
1) Being too casual, saying
things we don't mean.
2) Making a name for ourselves.
a) We do religious things for
our own benefit.
3) Praying for our benefit.
a) Tacking "In Jesus'
name" on end of our prayers.
4) Not committing ourselves to
God's control.
SOURCE: Reader's Digest
TITLE:
AUTHOR: Joan Ruck
PAGE: 102
DATE_USED: DATE: 88/06/29
ILLUSTRATION_____________________________________________________
: Every morning she does a combination
of yoga and exercises in the
living
room. As she was kneeling one day
with arms outstretched and head
bowed to the
floor, her son came down the stairs.
He looked at her and said,
"A simple 'Good morning' will
do!"
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