Disciple's
Feature Articles
Volume 10 Issue 2
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Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature
Mark 16:15
- Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. Matthew 21:21
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In a very popular movie that ran a number of years ago a voice from a cornfield said to a farmer, "If you build it, he will come." It’s about following one’s dreams. There’s nothing new about the idea, politicians have been expounding upon this theme for generations. Actually it’s a "down to earth" version of Walt Disney’s quote, "If you can dream it, you can do it." Even Henry David Thoreau, got in on the act writing, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined." Others have adopted both quotes none more eagerly than motivational speakers.
The power of a message based on overcoming has long been recognized by shyster motivational schemes to draw followers. Often they use the ruse that "positive mental attitudes" and thinking highly of one’s self will enable us to overcome any and all obstacles to financial success, fame and power. Since anyone can dream about such things such messages tell us we can achieve them. They contend the use of techniques such as, "innovative goal setting" "mind-mapping" and things as simple as "mission statements" can make one successful. One such dream weaver contends that it’s all up to us. "Life," he tells his audiences "is an inside job." Its all in the "power of words, faith, enthusiasm, giving, attitude, love and other positive aspects of life." Another tells us to, "Visualize your Dream and make a commitment. Having a Dream is what makes life exciting. Never underestimate the power of a Dream. It will change your life. A Dream gives you the ability to determine your future." Unfortunately, these dream weavers usually set people up for another in a series of failures as a result of giving them unrealistic expectations.
Recently, preachers have jumped onto the gimmick of dream weaving. Frequently, they select passages like the one from Matthew quoted above as their Scriptural reference. They downplay the qualifiers in the passage (1) "if ye have faith" and (2) "doubt not." They are sort of "flies" that would spoil their argument; an argument based upon half-truths. Of course we are capable of performing miracles. Didn’t Jesus say, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do? Imagine that, believers will be empowered! Now that’s a promise of dream building from One who can deliver! As proof that He was capable of delivering on His promises, He sent seventy of His followers out on a mission and when they came back, they reported to Him, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. Wow, that’s powerful stuff! These are just some of the miraculous things reported in the Gospels that his followers were capable of doing. What a forceful message. Little wonder preachers use it to attract followers. Surely no Christian doubts the veracity of these reports anymore than they do Jesus’ capability to move mountains. Certainly they are intended as confidence builders in the ability of believers to overcome. Just as certainly this "motivational speaker" can "deliver the goods."
One successful preacher (Joel Osteen) argues, "we have to conceive it on the inside before we’re ever going to receive it on the outside." Does the line sound familiar? Another, Marilyn Hickey, tells her audiences that, "Christians can create wealth by speaking to their wallets." Robert Tilton tells his audience that, "being poor is a sin." Joyce Meyer writes about "Loving life and loving yourself." Well, Doesn’t Luke 6:38 doesn’t Jesus say, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over support such ideas? Now, that’s a field of dreams – "a God-guaranteed investment scheme." The question isn’t whether Jesus is capable of granting what we might think we want or that we have the power to overcome, as it is want and overcome what.
Just as clear is the fact that telling people what they
want to hear or to say to them that I’m OK-You’re OK just as you
are will fill the pews. Nothing is going to be more successful than
telling people what we want to hear. That goes for the cultural values
that place so much emphasis upon loving the things of this world including
one’s self. The only question is whether that’s a legitimate message to
hear from the pulpit. Question, is this the way one
seeks the Kingdom or a simple self-centered fanciful field of dreams?
Brass Snakes
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to
pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of
brass, he lived.
Numbers 21:9
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Snakes have rarely had a good reputation in Scriptures. This is one of those times brought on when the Israelites were being plagued by them, the Lord had Moses construct one for the purpose of healing those bitten. It became quite a fad. Long after the curse was lifted, it was taken to the Tabernacle and the people would come in, bow down and make incense offerings to it. It wasn’t until the time of King Hezekiah that it was removed from the then Temple. They had been worshipping the thing evidently with the approval of all the prophets and kings from the time of Moses. Of little consequence perhaps, its name most likely derived from nachash (serpent) rather than nechosheth (brass) [International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia]. What is striking (pun intended) is that they were worshipping it in the Temple and had been for some centuries..
Destroying this idol that had been kept for a thousand years of wanderings, as well as other idols the Israelites were worshipping, made King Hezekiah a rare and true reformer. Why this was permitted by such as David, is difficult to explain. Some Biblical authorities believe the brazen serpent had a deeper religious significance that made it acceptable for such adoration. After all, Jesus compared His crucifixion to it. Whether or not, the illustration demonstrates the ease with which we can turn a thing into an object of veneration and how diligent we must be to prevent such from happening. Whether or not there was some "deeper religious significance," the Israelites were and had been worshipping this idol for some time.
This encounter with the "Brass Snake" serves to demonstrate how easily such a thing can happen. Before we know it, we are bowing down and offering obeisance to the Cross instead of treating it as a symbol of Jesus the Christ’s sacrifice for us. In earlier times, more than today, the Bible was an absolutely sacred thing. One could not put it on the floor, mark in it or do any of a number of things to it or use it in any way that was regarded as disrespectful. In many ways the celebration of the Lord’s Supper suffers from this kind of redintegration – confusion of a symbol for the real thing. None is more striking an example than the transubstantiation practiced in the Roman Catholic Church. Indeed, the veneration of Mary, relics, the "saints" and many other of its practices come close to what we can correctly call the "Brass-snake syndrome." For some, Protestants and Catholics, church buildings are sacred, particularly the "sanctuary" are sacrosanct. This type of "brass snake" is particularly useful when "stewardship" time rolls around.
One of the most destructive legacies of Roman Catholicism’s is the "brass snake" called the "priesthood." While most Protestant clergy would reject the Catholic rationalizations for such distinctness in the "Sacrifice of the Mass," the "power of priests to forgive sins" and the Papacy as heretical, they find it convenient to continue the priesthood. It’s one thing to speak of doing different things based upon one’s Spiritual Gifts and quite another to stylize such into venerated priestly offices. Hebrews 7:5 for example, tells us, And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people. Who among today’s clergy can lay claim to being one of the ancestral sons of Levi? Paul writes about apostles, prophets, teachers, about the gifts of healing, tongues and management set forth in His congregations, but not as the clerical offices we have today. He does not write about any of these, including bishops in such a way as to imply, the office of a priest, to be busied in sacred duties such as Zacharias duties spoken of in Luke 1:9 or the "taking of tithes" in Hebrews 7:5. The work of that priesthood was finished with the Advent of Jesus’ earthly ministry. He is our High Priest lest we forget.
But things are so easy and convenient to worship. The Cross, like statues of "Saints," is there and can be seen as is the "Virgin Mary" and forgotten. Church buildings can revered so much more easily than the worship supposedly taking place within. Things encapsulate, restrict and confine, what they represent separating them and consequently, making them more easily avoidable. The priesthood becomes a thing that isolates us from its duties reserved duties and responsibilities. Just imagine how life changing it would be if we fully embraced the Cross in our daily lives; recognized our "sainthood;" accepted the proposition of a priesthood of all believers. The Bible can be put on a shelf and ignored, taken down when convenient, put away when not. If it truly were the Word of God for us, it would be inextricably woven into the very fabric of our lives.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22
