The Besiege of the Iconoclasts
08/06/08 16:31
An
icon is a statue or an image that represents
something sacred, something that people revere as
holy, or regard with very high esteem, to the point
of worship. In this day and age we even hold
Hollywood stars up as icons. An iconoclast is one who
attacks this sort of worship. Given the second
commandment; “You shall not make for yourself
an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on
the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall
not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord
your God, am a jealous God.” Deut.5:8
One would think that being an iconoclast would be pleasing to God. And in light of the Word of God anyone who would turn someone to the living God and away from useless idols surely would be considered a champion of the faith. Yet, there is another aspect to the iconoclast; he also attacks traditional and cherished beliefs and institutions. And again, in this day and age, there are many iconoclasts who have continually been disrespecting the traditional orthodoxy of Christianity. From the universities right down to the elementary schools our children are being bombarded with ideas and concepts that continually trash the ideals of the Bible.
For instance; the traditional concept of marriage and family is now considered by the elite influencers of society as just another preference. They have redefined by setting new parameters and the family will soon include anyone or anything one desires to have in their family –dogs, cats, or garden vegetables!
The traditional standard of the Church and her leaders have been attacked as well. Anyone with a microphone and platform can lead and shepherd these days. Have we forgotten Paul’s exhortation to Timothy concerning overseers and deacons? But by today’s standards, (and this is because of the continual onslaught of the iconoclasts) anyone who says he or she is a minister of the Lord must be accepted by the flock. After all, “You’re not supposed to judge.”
Ministers of the Gospel should be above reproach. And I’ll go so far as to say… By golly, if some of these ministers were to go speak for me or on by behalf, dressed like they are now preaching in front of millions, I would be setting them down for a little talk. For crying out loud, even fast-food restaurants make their employees cover their tattoos and remove body piercings!
But our traditional values have been so beaten down that nobody dare speak a word against –anything! What? Are people in the Church afraid to be called judgmental, holier-than-thou, self-righteous, different?
Do not be afraid little flock, you are what you are and you are what God says you are. We need to test the spirit of this day and age and every time it tries to knock down one of our held beliefs or traditional doctrines –we ought to come against it with the full force of prayer and the Spirit of the one true God.
Let us be warned once again: “The Spirit clearly says that in the later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” 1Tim.4:1,2
The Lord bless you this week!
Pastor Jim
One would think that being an iconoclast would be pleasing to God. And in light of the Word of God anyone who would turn someone to the living God and away from useless idols surely would be considered a champion of the faith. Yet, there is another aspect to the iconoclast; he also attacks traditional and cherished beliefs and institutions. And again, in this day and age, there are many iconoclasts who have continually been disrespecting the traditional orthodoxy of Christianity. From the universities right down to the elementary schools our children are being bombarded with ideas and concepts that continually trash the ideals of the Bible.
For instance; the traditional concept of marriage and family is now considered by the elite influencers of society as just another preference. They have redefined by setting new parameters and the family will soon include anyone or anything one desires to have in their family –dogs, cats, or garden vegetables!
The traditional standard of the Church and her leaders have been attacked as well. Anyone with a microphone and platform can lead and shepherd these days. Have we forgotten Paul’s exhortation to Timothy concerning overseers and deacons? But by today’s standards, (and this is because of the continual onslaught of the iconoclasts) anyone who says he or she is a minister of the Lord must be accepted by the flock. After all, “You’re not supposed to judge.”
Ministers of the Gospel should be above reproach. And I’ll go so far as to say… By golly, if some of these ministers were to go speak for me or on by behalf, dressed like they are now preaching in front of millions, I would be setting them down for a little talk. For crying out loud, even fast-food restaurants make their employees cover their tattoos and remove body piercings!
But our traditional values have been so beaten down that nobody dare speak a word against –anything! What? Are people in the Church afraid to be called judgmental, holier-than-thou, self-righteous, different?
Do not be afraid little flock, you are what you are and you are what God says you are. We need to test the spirit of this day and age and every time it tries to knock down one of our held beliefs or traditional doctrines –we ought to come against it with the full force of prayer and the Spirit of the one true God.
Let us be warned once again: “The Spirit clearly says that in the later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” 1Tim.4:1,2
The Lord bless you this week!
Pastor Jim
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