Having grown up as a Churchian, I've heard many sermons on the dangers of modern-day idolatry1. Youth pastors often warn teenage Churchians against making idols of things like romantic relationships and entertainment. Older Churchians know that they must guard against allowing their careers, homes, and finances to become idols. Because we Churchians are also humans, though, knowing doesn't necessarily remove the problem. In our determination to avoid idolizing Wordly Things2, we've managed to create our own idols within the church. Our Churchian idols are harder to recognize. They're sneaky, because they look like good things. For that matter, they usually are good things. They're just a little out of balance, slightly twisted, or misunderstood. For example?
Prayer.
Yes. For some Churchians, prayer is an idol.
Before you stone me, let me explain.
If you ask a Churchian what prayer is, he will probably tell you that it is talking to God. And yet, in reality, many Churchians view prayer as a force in its own right, rather than a means of communication. Don't believe me? Think about the much-used-in-the-church phrase, “the power of prayer”. What does that mean? If you have spent much time in evangelical churches, you know what it means: that the right kind of prayer, in sufficient quantities, has the power to make God do things. We have been taught that if we pray enough, using the correct prayer formula, God will do what we tell him to do. So we read books about prayer, take classes on prayer, and show up to prayer meetings, all in an attempt to access the power of prayer...completely missing that prayer is a means of communicating with God, not an end in itself.
Know what else can be an idol?
Worship.3
Similar to the phenomenon of prayer idolatry, but this one is especially prevalent in charismatic and Pentecostal churches. In fact, if that is not your background, you probably won't know what I'm talking about here, and you have my permission to skip this section.
As with prayer, worship music is often viewed as a force of some kind, rather than a tool—the right combination of talent, sincerity and congregational participation is believed to have the power to produce the presence of God. If the musicians are off their game or the congregation isn't sufficiently engaged, you may hear someone say that they “just didn't feel the presence”. Some Churchians move from church to church, searching for the one that conjures that feeling on Sunday mornings.
The problem with this mindset is that those people are missing the actual presence of God as they chase after feelings. When people gather to meet with God, He is there whether I feel Him or not.
I don't want to miss Him any more.
1. For those who may be unfamiliar with Churchian vernacular, Webster defines idolatry as “the worship of a physical object as a god” or “immoderate attachment or devotion to something”. In the church, it generally means allowing any object or relationship to take precedence over one's commitment to following Jesus.
2. A Churchian phrase with a wide range of meanings—depending on who you are talking to, it could refer to something apparently harmless but not overtly religious, or to the worst of sins.
3. In Churchian circles, worship almost always refers to music—singing songs about and to God.
There is little more exciting to me than seeing people realize that OUR idea of church is not what God had in mind!! Here's to "un-learning" the traditions we have been taught so that our foundation can be built on who He REALLY is! Keep it up! You will encourage others to do the same! Wow, what a powerful church we will become...Love ya! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarah!
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