Essential Object of Worship

Have no other gods before Me, God says, and also don’t bow down or worship statues or idols (Exodus 20:2-6).   That’s because He’s fully aware that statues and images cannot replace our true and essential Object (grammatically speaking) of worship.

God’s reasons are not the same as those of Sean King whose views were recently articulated on Breitbart.  “Yes, I think the statues of the white European they claim is Jesus should also come down,” wrote King, a self-described black man whose family says he is white. “They are a form of white supremacy. Always have been …“Yes. All murals and stained glass windows of white Jesus, and his European mother, and their white friends should also come down,” he continued, reported Fox News. “They are a gross form white supremacy. Created as tools of oppression. Racist propaganda. They should all come down.”  (He’s obviously not a fan of statues.)

The terrorists in France take it to another extreme.  They go beyond torching churches (now all too common everywhere from Chile to London to the US.  They even go beyond beheading statues and tearing down crosses.  They’ve resorted to beheading Christians who are made in God’s Image and are the Body of Christ.

It’s undeniable.  We’re in a spiritual battle and with Christ as our Banner, we can respect that worship and remembrance are two different things.  Is it possible to see a statue without worshiping it, just letting it be a remembrance?  Can statues prompt the hearts of those who do not know You? Sure they can! Christians need discernment on this, and not just because this issue has divided Christians and split the Church.  While Jesus of Nazareth had a body, Jesus reminded us that God is Spirit, and He wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth.

It’s precisely because of the spiritual battle that it is time to step up our worship in recognition of God’s will.

“His intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.  In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence…and to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:10-12, 21)

Lord God, please help me to discern the difference between having a prompting to remember Your goodness versus turning sacred traditions into objects and idols to worship apart from You.  And not just sacred traditions but also our fellow servants (pastors, elected officials, etc.) who are NOT saviors no matter how valued they may be.

May we remember during this election season that You are sovereign, even over the outcome. Our vote matters only so far as we respond to You…after praying with open hearts to receive Your instruction, ears that are willing to listen, and then using our will, our actions, to do what You desire as our part in bringing Your plan to fruition.  May we accept Your plan as a gift and reject those who might resist Your outcome with their rebellion, godlessness, evildoing, and engaging in insurrection.

We worship You alone.   No mere mortal can substitute as an object of our worship, and we thank You for that distinction between Christianity and false religions.  Give us great discernment as a nation, Lord. While mere mortals are not to be worshiped, they can point to Jesus Christ, and we ask for Your blessing upon those servants who are pointing the way to You, upholding the righteous cause of life, and understanding that law and order flow from You.  May we see every candidate and voter the way You do.  Show Yourself mighty in this moment, not just for our benefit, but for Christ and His glory as hearts of a nation, of a world, turn toward You!  Amen.