Sunday our church will open up the first two chapters of the Bible to start our ‘year in the Bible’ series, 'The Whole Story.' We’ll be reminded of a fundamental factor in our human backstory: “In the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.”
This week we’ve seen some of the worst of what happens when we allow the fallen image of God (imago Dei in theological terms) within us to descend into abject idolatry. People who have given themselves over to idolizing tribal power, or the white race, or party, and/or a person defaced our nation’s capitol with violence and mayhem. I grieve for our great country, we grieve as a church, as I’m sure you do today.
Today we all pray for our nation’s divides to be healed. It will take virtuous actions and words by people who, yes, are of differing convictions when it comes to governance and polity for what is best for America; but who also, YES, are for the whole country, all the people, and for e pluribus unum ('out of many one') above a ‘win at all costs and morality be damned’ mentality. I was encouraged, even inspired, seeing just that in the United States Senate last night on both sides of the aisle (I didn’t hear the content in the House). I was reminded that public service is one of the many ways of purposefully living out the mission of God in a profession.
Lest you or I slip into the response to this heinous event with only judging others, I want to get personal. What we idolize as more important than Jesus in our lives is easily diagnosed. When we find ourselves acting or speaking in a way that violates the way of Jesus and biblical teaching (which is not hard to say about yesterday’s riot, starting with voluminous cursing of the police), we are elevating someTHING or someONE higher than the LORD in our affections, and attempting to get it by means other than His.
My emotions and initial responses yesterday caused me to consider my own heart – what reactions tempt me to act in ways that reveal political or cultural idolatry (ungodly words about/to those with whom I disagree, for one example). I suggest you pray through that self examen too.
I’ve read others this week who are helpfully pointing us to this balm, this salve, this healing gift of God: it is the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus. The gospel is the antidote to the original fall of the image of God within us, and my latest fall, and my temptation today to fall. I can proclaim this to all. But I can’t do this for anyone but me. How do I live by the gospel? Out of love for God and a desire for abundant life, humbly identify and confess my idols, confess where I have given in and served them sinfully, and receive the good news of Jesus again into the corners of my heart that are hungry for more of life but seeking it in anti-God ways.
Christ has died, Christ is risen. Christ will come again. The acceptance, approval, and delight of God in you as His adopted child is all you and I need to live humbly, holy, and powerfully on Jesus’ mission of love to heal the world. In spite of what others do, in spite of discouraging national events. I pray you claim the gospel for yourself today, and this great love will continue to grow and edge out your personal idols.
