Based on Acts 7:54-8:13
I am always a bit shocked to learn that there are whole religions across the globe that continue to worship idols or ancestors. I am even more concerned when I hear eastern religious thinking seeping into our American culture, not because there are millions practicing this or believers living amongst us, but because bits and pieces of these religions have entered a common ground in our culture. People talk about karma and hang the ying-yang symbol around their necks.
A few years ago we were hearing about "Good Chi." The Today Show had a bit about ordinary people who were hiring a person who was a master at "Chi" to come into their home and tell them why the energy of their house was not working correctly (and I do not mean their electrical energy). The "Chi" master would show them how their doors or windows were improperly lined up so that they were unable to achieve "good Chi." Many door chimes were sold because supposedly a chime hung by your door kept evil spirits out.
These ideas are offered with little or no explanation as to who came up with them. They appear to be totally 'man-made' thinking-- a false doctrine, based not in God's word or authority but in some ancient oriental civilization's perceptions of how to deal with the world.
As I read the passages for today, I could not help but think of all the things our culture seems to continually tune in on that are false doctrines. Spiritually, in this country, we are sometimes so foolish. We embrace things that are just goofy and have nothing to support the claims they make. Yet, at the same time we ignore the word of God as if it had nothing relevant to offer us.
How does this fit in with what we are reading today? I was especially drawn to the story of Simon the Sorcerer. Apparently, he had a loyal following and performed some magical or wondrous acts that impressed people. It does not tell us what he actually did but it does say that he was acclaimed for having some sort of divine power. But what happened when he meets up with Philip, a disciple of Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit? Suddenly, the Holy Spirit and Philip are doing much more then Simon ever dreamed. His following of people turn to Philip and become believers in Jesus. Simon, himself, must have been greatly moved by what he witnessed because he decides to give up his shtick and become a believer, himself. It tells us that he was amazed at what he was witnessing with Philip.
That might be like Donald Trump suddenly surrendering to Christ and realizing that there was someone more powerful then himself. It might be like Madonna repenting for all the insults she has hurled at the church and at Jesus Christ. It might be like all the people opening their Bibles and recognizing that it is not chimes by your door that keeps out the evil spirits, it is Christ in your heart. It might be like all the people living with God in their heart, knowing who he is and realizing everyday that the answers are right there in the words and works of Jesus. But what it really points to is that when people confront the truth; when it is laid out for them in clear terms; when they recognize that trendy ideas or alternative religions do not hold the truth; when they come to the embodiment of what Christ has done for every persons salvation, they cannot remain in denial. They will become hungry to be fed by the one Truth.
See what's free at AOL.com.
1 comment:
Your post reminds me . . . several years ago a friend of mine -- a Christian -- became rather interested in the concept of Feng Shui, and started trying to arrange her house in the proper Feng Shui way. I was more than a bit disturbed, and tried gently to make it clear that Feng Shui wasn't all that different from astrology, except instead of being concerned with the arrangement of the stars, one is concerned with the arrangement of furniture.
"But there's something to it," she insisted. "Doesn't the room feel a lot better with the couch over there?"
"Sure," I said. "But not because it's spiritually better. It's just more aesthetically pleasing that way."
For her, that undefinable feeling that it "looks better this way," began to take on a spiritual significance.
God gives everyone a spiritual yearning, and the person who is spiritually empty will try to fulfill that need with something, even interior decorating.
Post a Comment