Rev. David Holwick S MEMORIAL DAY
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey [great prop: actual IDOL] <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
May 28, 1995
Exodus 20:4-6
DON'T MANIPULATE GOD
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.
#439
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. Would 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!"
#251
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.
[for documentation of illustrations, download Holwick's Sermon Illustration
database at http://illust.holwick.com]
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 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)
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: 88/06 Typist: ENTERED: 88/06/29
DATE_USED:
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!" #251
First Baptist Church; Ledgewood, New Jersey
This document last modified June 1, 1999