Tag: Bible

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Orthopraxy: What is the Church?

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As we dig into this series discussing how the body of Christ – “the Church” – puts their faith into practice as they meet together, the inescapable first question is, “What is the church?” That question is immediately followed by “What is the church supposed to do?” These two questions are the target of this post. 

What is the Church?

The idea of “church” carries so much cultural and linguistic connotation that it has come to mean many things across the world. For hundreds of years before the Protestant Reformation, talking about “the church” always referred to the Roman Catholic church. In scholarly debate, there is always a discussion whether “the church” references the entire body of Christian believers around the world (as in Matthew 16:18) or only the local assembly of Christians in a regional area (as in John’s letters to the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2-3). Then there is always the question of whether the word church refers to the people (i.e., “we are the church”) or the place where the people meet (i.e., “let’s go to church”).

To understand what “the church” is, we need to dive into the original language in the New Testament. We might find that the biblical understanding of “church” is quite different from what our modern vernacular would imply. 

The Greek word used for “church” in the New Testament is “ekklesia.” So let’s begin by taking a deeper look into what it means.

1. An “Ekklesia” is Always the People; Never the Place

The Greek word “ekklesia” was used widely in the first century to mean an assembly of people brought together by a specific purpose. There is not a single case where the word ekklesia was used to refer to the location or building where this group met. It always meant the group itself.1

However, confusion around this word may still remain as the word “ekklesia” is used throughout the New Testament to point to different groups of people. Thus, depending on which use is assumed, it can affect our theology. 

Ekklesia is used to describe all believers everywhere in some cases (like Ephesians 1:22). At other times it is used to point to all Christians in a particular city or region (like 1 Corinthians 1:2). However, we are going to use an even narrower meaning. As we discuss “church,” we will be referring to a localized group of believers who regularly meet together for worship and service to one another (such as in Romans 16:5 or 1 Corinthians 16:19). These small, individual congregations of Christians are usually referred to as “a local church” as opposed to “the universal church” or “the American church,” etc.2

The “local church” will be our primary focus in this series because the idea of a “gathered assembly” is at the core of the word ekklesia. For us to be the church, we must meet together (Hebrews 10:24-25). It is in the gathering that our orthopraxy will be proven or not.

2. An Ekklesia Had Legislative Authority

In the New Testament times, the word ekklesia most often described a select governmental or legislative body,3 such as the Roman senate or the Jewish Sanhedrin. These assemblies would meet together to make formal decisions regarding various legal matters, whether secular or religious. These assemblies carried designated authority to rule over some domain of community life.

This governmental use of this word makes sense, then, when Jesus shares His plan to build His “ekklesia“:

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” 

Matthew 16:18

An Embassy of Heaven

Jesus’ first stated purpose for His ekklesia was that it would move into territory ruled by sin, death, and the devil and take authority over the domain of hell (tear down their gates; their defenses). Thus, the church would have the authority to bind and loose spiritual realities in the earth. I view this in much the same way that one nation will set up an embassy in another nation to bring governmental influence over the laws and culture of the host country.

We see this legislative function further when Jesus began delegating His divine authority to His disciples. 

“And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.” 

Mark 3:14-15

He gave them the title “apostles,” which, as we have discussed before, is another governmental word for a certain class of military leaders, similar to modern-day ambassadors. Their authority was to replace all of hell’s influence on earth with God’s Kingdom reality.

It is clear from these and other passages that Jesus’ “church” is an earthly delegation representing Him and carrying His legislative authority as Lord over all things. 

3. An Ekklesia is a Body Formed From Shared Beliefs

The other regular use of “ekklesia” in the first century described a group of people who gathered around a shared set of beliefs or a common purpose. We read of groups such as the “ekklesia of Pythagoras” or the “ekklesia” of animals who gathered to hear Orpheus speak in the works of Himerius.4 This use of “ekklesia” can also be seen in the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) when referring to gatherings of “the congregation of Israel.”5

Regarding the church, we can see the expectation that we, too, would be a community built around our shared faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We see this repeatedly as the early church leaders are commanded to teach and protect sound doctrine in the church. 

“[An overseer of the church] must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” 

Titus 1:9

“But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.” 

Titus 2:1

“Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” 

Jude 3

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites…” 

Romans 16:17-18a

A Community of Faith

We must see that the purpose of the church is to be a community of believers in Jesus Christ. This is foundational. He is the reason we are together, and together we strive to live out our shared faith in Him as the Messiah and Son of God.

Although many great civic organizations and social clubs exist that people can participate in, the church is not one. Unless you are a follower of Jesus, you cannot be a member of His ekklesia. 

This fact has led to confusing and controversial situations where some groups call themselves part of Jesus’ church (universal) yet do not firmly hold to a firm faith in Christ, as revealed in the Bible. For example, the Unitarian church allows people of any religion or belief system to claim membership and does not have a common biblical doctrine as their foundation. They cannot, therefore, be considered a Christian “church” in biblical terms. 

The same is true for the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints” (Mormons). Though they use Christian terminology, their doctrine has rejected the truth of the New Testament, and their shared faith is based on another contradictory book. Thus, though they would be considered an “ekklesia” in general terms, they are not the biblical “ekklesia of Jesus Christ.”

For a group of people to be considered “the church of Jesus Christ,” they must hold to and proclaim a biblical doctrine grounded in the Bible.

What Is the Church Supposed to Do?

Having laid the foundation for what the church is, I think we can also form a pretty clear picture of what the church is supposed to do. As we look at why believers are called together as an ekklesia – a local church assembly – we can conclude from this discussion that the following purposes should apply when a local church meets together.

1. To serve as an embassy of heaven on the earth, empowering God’s ambassadors (all believers) to bring the reality and power of God’s Kingdom to the world. 

This will necessarily affect how we come together to worship, pray, and serve one another, as well as how we practice spiritual gifts, engage in spiritual warfare, and reach out to the lost around us.

2. To proclaim Christian doctrine as found in the Biblical scriptures and form a community centered around these shared beliefs.

This will lay the foundation of our life together in fellowship and will place a high demand on how we study the scriptures, preach the Word, engage in discipleship, and much more.

As we move forward in this series, we will discuss how these various practices ought to be done in order to fulfill these broader biblical mandates.

Beyond the Greek Understanding

One final note I want to make is that while it is helpful to get our foundational understanding of what “the church” is supposed to be from the language Jesus used when He established it, we must also take into consideration that the Bible is full of other commands which make Jesus’ ekklesia quite different from all other local bodies in the world. As we move forward, we will highlight many of these things, but I believe two of them are essential to note now.

The first is that Jesus repeatedly said that He is the head of the church, both universal and local. The elders and other leaders are servants under His leadership. When a human leader puts himself or herself as the highest authority in the church, it ceases to be a true church of Jesus Christ. Instead, it becomes a personality cult or a system of hierarchical domination.

Secondly, Jesus said He was sending His Holy Spirit to guide the church in all things, both doctrinally and practically. This means that we will find things particular to Jesus’ ekklesia, which may be far different from secular counterparts. We cannot and should not depend on the traditions and “best practices” of men for the direction of the church. Instead, we must always be listening to the Holy Spirit for how we “do ministry.”

This also means that as all believers have access to the same Holy Spirit, we all have a purpose and place within the life of the church and ought to have the willingness and freedom to fulfill our roles in their service to the Lord. Thus, while there will be those that God calls to places of leadership in the body, there is not a single believer who is “just a member” or is excluded from taking part in the works He has planned. If you are a believer in Jesus, you have a place. (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-26)

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Endnotes:

1 D. W. B. Robinson, “Church,” ed. D. R. W. Wood et al., New Bible Dictionary (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 199.

2 Ernest Best, “Church,” ed. Mark Allan Powell, The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated) (New York: HarperCollins, 2011), 134.

3 William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 303.

4 ibid.

5 Paul J. Achtemeier, Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature, Harper’s Bible Dictionary (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985), 168.

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© Anthony Scott Ingram 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

Bible Basics

Matthew

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Author

Matthew the Apostle is unanimously considered to be the author of the book, although the book itself does not contain any author attribution. Matthew was a tax collector prior to his coming to Jesus (see Matthew 9:9-13), and is a great, personal example of how the grace he writes about truly contains the power to change lives.

In the gospels of Mark and Luke, Matthew is called Levi (see Mark 2:13-17 and Luke 5:27-32).

Date

Some believe that Matthew wrote his gospel sometime after the destruction of the Temple in 70AD, but many other scholars contest this view. It is possible that he wrote as early as 55AD

Audience and Purpose

It is believed that Matthew was writing specifically to the Jewish nation, as a connecting point between the promise of the Old Testament and its fulfillment in Christ. It is traditionally believed that Matthew originally wrote his gospel in the Hebrew language, which was later translated into Greek (though some modern scholars disagree with this assessment due to Matthew’s Greek usage lacking some of the common difficulties and clarity issues caused by a Hebrew to Greek translation). The earliest evidence of this comes from Eusebius who quoted Irenaeus as saying, “Matthew published his gospel among the Hebrews in their own language, while Peter and Paul in Rome were preaching and founding the church” (Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica III. 24.5–6 and V. 8, 2.)

In writing to the Jewish audience, Matthew quotes from the Old Testament more than any other New Testament book, in order to demonstrate that Jesus was the fulfillment of all Messianic prophecies and is the Christ.

Matthews’s purpose in writing was to give a biographical history of Jesus’ life and ministry, as well as to recall all the teachings and commandments Jesus gave, clearly intending to fulfill the commission he records from Jesus in Matthew 28:20. This book contains more of Jesus’ teachings than any other gospel, as well as containing historical accounts not present in other gospels. For examples, see the visit of the wise men from the East at Jesus’ birth (Matthew 2:1-12) or the Parable of the Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24-30).

Major Themes

  • Gospel. Matthew is the first book in the New Testament, and shows that Jesus is the promised prophet, priest, and King who would bring God’s Kingdom into the world.
  • Jesus as Messiah.
  • The Kingdom of God.
  • Prophecy Fulfilled.

Key Scriptures

  • Matthew 4:17 — “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”
  • Matthew 28:18-20 — “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”

Outline

  • Matthew 1:1-2:23 — Jesus’ Early Life
    • Matthew 1:1-17 — Jesus’ Genealogy
    • Matthew 1:18-25 — Jesus’ Birth
    • Matthew 2:1-12 — Visit of the Wise Men
    • Matthew 2:12-23 — Escape to Egypt and Move to Nazareth
  • Matthew 3:1-4:12 — Jesus’ Preparation for Public Ministry
    • Matthew 3:1-17 — Jesus’ Baptism
    • Matthew 4:1-12 — Jesus’ Temptation in the Wilderness
  • Matthew 4:13-8:38 — Jesus Reveals the Kingdom of God
    • Matthew 4:13-25 — Jesus Begins Ministry and Calls First Disciples
    • Matthew 5:1-7:29 — Jesus Teaches about Life in God’s Kingdom
    • Matthew 8:1-9:38 — Jesus Demonstrates the Power of God’s Kingdom
  • Matthew 10:1-13:58 — Jesus Commissions Others for Kingdom Ministry
    • Matthew 10:1-42 — Commissioning of the 12 Apostles
    • Matthew 11:1-19 — Recognition of John the Baptizer’s Ministry
    • Matthew 11:20-30 — Prophetic Call on Cities to Repent and Follow Him
    • Matthew 12:1-50 — Jesus Again Demonstrations the Power of God’s Kingdom
    • Matthew 13:1-58 — Jesus Teaches Parables Concerning Access to God’s Kingdom
  • Matthew 14:1-16:12 — Jesus’ Ministry Gains Widespread Recognition
    • Matthew 14:1-12 — Herod Hears About Jesus
    • Matthew 14:12-16:12 — Jesus Ministers to Massive Crowds While Defending Against Religious Opposition
  • Matthew 16:13-25:46 — Jesus Revealed as the Christ (Messiah)
    • Matthew 16:13-28 — Jesus Proclaimed as Christ (Messiah) among the Disciples
    • Matthew 17:1-13 — Transfiguration: Jesus Recognized as Christ (Messiah) by Moses, Elijah, and the Voice of God
    • Matthew 17:14-20:34 — Jesus Defines the Life of a Christ-Follower
    • Matthew 21:1-25:46 — Jesus Asserts His Authority as the Christ
  • Matthew 26:1-28:20 — Jesus’ Final Days on Earth
    • Matthew 26:1-25 — The Plot to Kill Jesus
    • Matthew 26:26-30 — The Last Supper
    • Matthew 26:31-46 — Final Time with the Disciples
    • Matthew 26:47-27:23 — Jesus’ Arrest and Trial
    • Matthew 27:24-66 — Jesus’ Crucifixion
    • Matthew 28:1-15 — Jesus’ Resurrection
    • Matthew 28:16-20 — Jesus’ Great Commission on His Disciples Then and Now.

Gospel Summary

It is difficult to give a gospel summary of Matthew, as the book itself is a “gospel” and a summary of the life of Jesus Christ.

The book begins with His supernatural birth and follows through as His life fulfills all Old Testament predictions of who the Messiah would be and how He would live. Although Jesus was rejected by the religious elite at the time, due to the preconceived notions they had as to how the Messiah would free them from pagan (Roman) occupation and rule, when compared to the scriptural prophecies Matthew shares, it becomes clear that Jesus did fulfill both the biblical expectations of the Messiah, as well as proving Himself to be the Son of God by the power and supernatural events occurring throughout His life.

To those “with ears to hear” what the Spirit says through the gospel writer, there will be little doubt that Old Testament prophecy points to Jesus.

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© Anthony Scott Ingram 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

Bible Basics

Malachi

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Author

The book was written by “Malachi,” though there are differing opinions as to whether this was in fact the prophet’s name, or simply a title, as the word means “my messenger.” The Hebrew word is used in two distinct ways in the book. The first acts as the by-line for the book in 1:1. However, in 3:1 the same word, “Malachi” is used to point to a future messenger, which could be either in reference to John the Baptizer or to Jesus Himself.

If the book is written by a man named Malachi, we do not know anything more about his personal life or background that this.

Date

The exact date of Malachi’s writings is another point on contention among biblical scholars. At least 4 dates are offered:

  • Before Nehemiah. Malachi uses the word ‘governor’ in 1:8, which some scholars take to mean that an Assyrian governor was still in control, and Nehemiah has not yet been commissioned by the King to take this post (see Nehemiah 4:14). He also does not speak on the issue of keeping the Sabbath; an issue which also arose later in Nehemiah’s time (see Nehemiah 13:15-22).
  • Before Ezra (but after the initial work on rebuilding the Temple had taken place). Sacrifices are being performed in the Temple incorrectly (1:7-10). Some scholars believe that Malachi’s condemnation of sin and incorrect worship practices predates Ezra’s reading of the law, since the people respond in repentance to Ezra’s proclamation.
  • Contemporary of Nehemiah: There is a similarity in the way both men were attempting to reform life and reestablish the faith in Israel, including the issues of tithing and intermarrying with foreigners.
  • During Nehemiah’s Absence (see Nehemiah 13:6). This idea is used to reconcile the use of the word ‘governor,’ as another would have taken the place of Nehemiah’s during his absence, with the similarities of focus between Malachi and Nehemiah.

Audience and Purpose

Despite the lack of an exact date, scholars all tend to agree the Malachi was writing during the time of Persian rule, to the returnees in the land. This would put him clearly within a generation of the work of Nehemiah and Ezra, if not a contemporary minister. His focus, then would be similar to that of other writers at the time: Ezra/Nehemiah, Haggai,  and Zechariah. His call is to restore true worship and holiness among God’s people, yet Malachi also focuses heavily on future prophecy as well, including many insights into the coming Messiah.

Major Themes

  • Covenant. Malachi puts a great emphasis on restoring God’s people to covenant relationship with God, through the keeping of the law.
  • Repentance and Correct Worship. Specifically, Malachi speaks to the issues of sacrifices, tithes, intermarriage, and divorce.
  • Messianic Prophecy.
  • God’s Glory and the Nations.

Key Scriptures

  • Malachi 1:11 — “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.”
  • Malachi 3:1 — “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.”
  • Malachi 4:2a — “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.”

Outline

  • Malachi 1:1-5 — God’s First dispute: Concerning Edom
  • Malachi 1:6-2:9 — God’s Second dispute: Concerning the Priests
  • Malachi 2:10-16 —God’s Third dispute: Concerning Unfaithfulness
  • Malachi 2:17-3:5 — God’s Fourth dispute: Concerning the Messenger of the Lord
  • Malachi 3:6-12 — God’s Fifth dispute: Concerning Tithes
  • Malachi 3:13-4:3 — God’s Sixth dispute: Concerning the Day of Yahweh
  • Malachi 4:4-6 — Summary and Final Prophecy

Gospel Summary

The gospel message can clearly be seen in Malachi in verses 2:17 to 3:5. He begins by pointing out that sin is the norm among the people, and it is exhausting to God to see His people neglect their diving calling and destiny: 

“You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

Malachi 2:17

This one verse summarizes everything Malachi has been calling out up to this point, in the sins of the priests and the unfaithfulness of the people (1:6-2:16). However, he immediately begins promising another “Malachi” (“my messenger”) who will come and fully restore God’s covenant with the people.

“For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.”

Malachi 2:2b-3

The book finishes by identifying this coming “Malachi” to another Elijah, who will not only preach the law, as all prophets before Him, but who would actually restore the hearts of mankind to God and reestablish right relationship among men (see 4:2-6).

In the Protestant cannon of scripture, Malachi is the last minor prophet in the Old Testament. His words are followed by 400 years of silence, until the next words we hear in scripture is “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham,” as the gospel writer proclaims that God’s final messenger — the promised Messiah — had come (Matthew 1:1).

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© Anthony Scott Ingram 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

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A Deeper Look at Holiness

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“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” 

1 Peter 1:13-16

Repeatedly in scripture, the Lord commands His people to “be holy.” What does this mean though?

Does it mean being “perfect?”

Does is mean being someone who never struggles with temptations to sin?

Does it mean cutting ourselves off from the world, and living a solitary life of prayer and Bible study?

What does the Greek say?

Well, to begin with, the word “holy,” used by Peter in the verse above, is the Greek word “agios,” and at the time of Peter’s writing would have been closely associated with both the Temple and the offerings which were sacrificed at the Temple according to the law of Moses. Culturally, this word specifically implies that the subject had been carefully set apart for worship of and service to God. Tools and items would have been ritually cleansed, animals were required without blemish, and the priests would follow strict protocols to remain clean according to the legal standards of the law.

This seems to be a pretty straightforward definition. Something that is agios is clean according to the law of God and is religiously set apart for Him alone, just as God Himself is righteous and separate from His creation.

A Shift in Meaning

While the general definition is pretty simple, there is another use of “agios” in the New Testament, applied in various places to describe Jesus (Mark 1:24, John 6:69, Acts 3:14, 1 John 2:20, and others). This usage is quite different than the standard cultural use of the word relating to the Temple in Jerusalem. 

In reference to Jesus, the word is used in conjunction with His supernatural birth (Luke 1:35) and identity as the incarnate Son of God (Luke 4:34). In Luke’s gospel, particularly, the descriptions of Jesus as “agios” points toward Jesus as both divine and as the One who carries the Holy Spirit of God.

In this sense, the word “agios” is not being used to identify Jesus with the Temple in Jerusalem, but as a Temple of God, Himself!

This should sound familiar, as Jesus spoke of Himself in the same way.

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

John 2:19-21 (Emphasis mine)

Jesus understood that, as Colossians 2:9 declares, “in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily…” His human form was the incarnation of God on earth. He was God, and the Holy Spirit dwelt in and with Him.

This was a greater revelation of God’s presence than the Temple in Israel.

Accessing God’s Temple

The problem the people of God had in the Old Testament was that to enter God’s presence, they had to travel to Jerusalem and enter the Temple. Even then, only a select few would be allowed access.

In the gospels, God’s presence breaks out of the Temple and is manifested through Jesus — God’s new Temple in bodily form. Still, though, access to the presence of God was limited to individuals in the vicinity of Christ. However, Jesus had an even greater plan that would give everyone access to God’s presence, and at the same time, transform them into His holy image.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

John 16:7

Becoming God’s Temple

To fulfill God’s command to “be holy as I am holy,” we must move beyond human attempts to fulfill legalistic requirements and religious to-do lists. We do not even become holy through confession and repentance from sin. We must be holistically transformed by His holiness. We become holy when we are filled with and changed by the presence of God!

In fact, this reality is demonstrated in both Jesus’ instructions in the gospels and the apostolic commands on the church that believers should be filled with the Holy Spirit, since He is the One who will change us into Christ-likeness.

The good news is that when we trust Christ as Savior, He gives us the right to live in the Spirit, and follow His directions in every area of life (Galatians 5:16). When we do this, the Holy Spirit will teach and guide us (John 16:13), point us to Jesus (John 15:26), empower us to serve the Lord (Acts 1:8), and ultimately, to sanctify us and make us like Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:11 and 1 Thessalonians 5:23). We will become “agios” because He makes us “agios.”

The point is that we must stop depending on our own self-discipline to make us holy. Instead, we should see ourselves as the true temple of God in the earth, just as Jesus was, and then live our lives each day as those set apart, made clean by Christ, hosting the presence of God, and ready to be used in worship and service to Him. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Let’s Connect

If you want to keep in touch, join me on social media for more #ChristianLife and #GospelLeadership insights throughout the week. I can be found on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and LinkedIn, and would love to see you there.

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If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

Bible Basics

Zechariah

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Author

Most scholars believe the first eight chapters of the book were written by the prophet Zechariah. However, chapters 9-12 shift focus to the future of Israel. As they do not contain any direct dates or by-lines, some believe another prophet possibly added these chapters at another time. Many scholars, however, argue that ancient textual witnesses, geographical and historical references in these chapters, and continuity of writing themes should be enough to determine a single author of the book as a whole.

Zechariah’s name means “The Lord Remembers.” This name is common in the Old Testament (more than 30 times), and many scholars have linked this prophet Zechariah with others, often leading to much confusion. What we do know is that the book of Zechariah and Ezra both link him to his grandfather, “Iddo,” (though Ezra says only “son of”). Many scholars believe this to be the same Iddo who returned with Zerubbabel and Joshua in Nehemiah 12:4 and 16, making Zechariah a descendant of the priestly line.

Date

Reading the superscriptions given in chapters 1:1,7 and 7:1, we know for sure that the first eight chapters of the book were written between October 520B.C. and December 518B.C. Zechariah was a contemporary and likely direct companion of the prophet Haggai. (See my commentary on Haggai for more on the situation surrounding these writings.) However, we do not know, with any certainty, the writing dates for chapters 9-14.

Audience and Purpose

Zechariah was most likely a returnee from Babylonian captivity and was prophesying to other returnees living in Jerusalem. The first eight chapters align with the book of Haggai, calling them to finish the rebuilding of God’s temple. (See my commentary on Haggai for more  information on this work.) Many of Zechariah’s prophetic dreams are extremely complicated to understand and are interpreted by the presence of an angel, though others are left without clear interpretation or clarity.

Chapters 9-14 shift focus to prophesying against the nation of Syria, its cities, Damascus, Tyre, and Sidon, and against Philistia. The promise of destruction and cleansing is also scattered with promises of a new King-Priest coming to Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, and reigning over the nations in power and in peace. In this section of the book, the author’s focus on the temple is greatly minimized, as the rise of this coming King-Priest becomes the primary focus of Jewish life and in God’s Kingdom work.

Major Themes

  • God’s Promise of Restoration
  • God’s Faithfulness
  • God’s Glory and the Salvation of Nations. This is seen especially in Zechariah 14.
  • Messianic Prophecy. Zechariah has a lot to say about the coming Messiah, including being the first Old Testament prophet to link the promise of a Davidic-line King with a High Priest (see Zechariah 6:11-15). Zechariah 9-14 is the most quoted section of any Old Testament prophet by the New Testament.

Key Scriptures

  • Zechariah 9:9 — “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
  • Zechariah 13:1 — “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.”

Outline

  • Zechariah 1:1-6 — Prophecy Calling God’s People to Repentance
  • Zechariah 1:7-6:15 — Eight Night Visions and A Sign
  • Zechariah 7:1-8:23 — Four Prophecies Calling God’s People to Justice
  • Zechariah 9:1-14:21 — Two Prophecies Concerning Salvation and a King

Gospel Summary

Though the first eight chapters of Zechariah deal with the immediate needs of rebuilding the temple and right worship of God in Israel, there is a shift in chapters 9-11, which brings the reign of Messiah into focus. Though the nations would attack the people of God, the coming King-Priest whom God raises up will be victorious over them. God will bring restoration to His people.

In chapters 12-13, many other prophetic declarations are made, pointing to Jesus, including:

  • The House of David mourning over “the one who is pierced” (12:10-14).
  • A fountain being opened to cleans the people of sin and uncleanliness (13:1-6).
  • The “shepherd” who is struck down, as his sheep scatter (13:7-9). Jesus Himself quotes this passage regarding His death in Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27.

The book ends with an eschatological view of the New Jerusalem and the last days, as the Kingdom of God if fully established on the earth. 

The New Testament writers make clear that they viewed Jesus as the fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

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Exposing The Heart of Idolatry

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For the last couple of weeks, I have been looking at idolatry (here and here) and how many times our hearts are captured by things that are not God, nor are they worthy of our worship. I have received a lot of great feedback from some of you, sharing your own struggles with idolizing ministry and other things. Some have shared how the Lord has been speaking to them some of these same things for this season of life. And some of you have written emails to discuss some of the nuances of idolatry. I am grateful for all of it!

I want to take some of this feedback (questions, comments, and advice) I have received and go a little deeper into what idolatry is and how we guard our hearts and minds against getting to that place.

Old Testament Idols

Throughout the Old Testament, discussions about idolatry were centered on actual carved idols, made of wood or stone. These were human-created images representing the various gods of the nations. In some cultures, idol-making was a huge business.

Concerning one question I was asked, my personal belief is that the pagan gods whom the idols represented were not just figments of human imagination. I believe they were actually heavenly beings, given authority to rule in the earth, but were acting in rebellion against God. (For examples, see Luke 4:5-6, Deuteronomy 32:8, and Psalm 82. I also recommend the book “The Unseen Realm” by Michael S. Heiser for deeper study on this topic.)

Whether these were real demonic beings or simply human creations, we must understand that people really did worship these idols. They really prayed to them and trusted them for their own security and blessing. They really sacrificed to them, sometimes even their children (2 Kings 17:31, Isaiah 57:5).

These idols had so captured the people’s hearts that they would give or do anything in worship of them.

What Makes Something An Idol?

This kind of veneration and service to these false gods goes beyond a surface level of sinfulness. This was not that people would occasionally give lip service to a false god or would just go to enjoy a party that might have been thrown in some false god’s name.

No. What raises this to the level of idolatry rather than simply sin is that the people came to love their idols. Their whole lives were wrapped around that thing. This is why over and over again when speaking to the issue of idolatry, the Lord condemns His people as prostitutes and whores! (You can find examples in Psalm 106:39, Jeremiah 3:1, Ezekiel 16:16, Hosea 4:12, et al.)

Though the form our idols take has changed over the millennia, the fact that we love things in the place of God has not!

Idolatry is a Love Issue.

One of the pushbacks I received from the first post on ministry idolatry was that as Christians, our hearts have been fully restored by the Lord in salvation. Therefore, our hearts are not where the problem lies, but it is a problem of mindsets. We must “be transformed by the renewing of our minds” and “set our minds on things that are above” (Romans 12:2 and Colossians 3:2).

The problem is that other places in the New Testament continually remind us to establish, purify, and guard our hearts! Just look at Romans 1:21-25; 6:17, 10:10; Ephesians 1:18, 3:17; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 3:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:17, 3:5; 1 Timothy 1:5; Hebrews 10:22; James 5:8; 1 Peter 3:15; 1 John 3:19-21.

Jesus Himself said that the fruit of a person’s life comes not out of the mind, but from deeper inside them; inside their hearts — the core of their being.

“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

Luke 6:45

Sin is a Mind Issue

I am not at all discounting that the mind has a major part to play in our sanctification. Most of our daily battles with sin come from mental temptations. Even Peter’s denial of Jesus was because his mind was in the wrong place (Matthew 16:23). This is why, when I discuss repentance, I am quick to point out that the Greek word, metanoia, carries the idea of first changing one’s mind, and their actions will follow.

In fact, just a few months ago, I wrote a whole series on spiritual warfare, beginning with an article called “the battle of the mind.”

My point here, however, is that when something goes to the level of “idolatry,” it has moved from a temptation issue to a love issue. When a person “loves” something at the level only God deserves, it becomes an idol, and begins to take control of aspects of their lives where only Christ should be ruling!

If sex becomes my idol, I move from God’s design to worshipping sex with my whole being. I will look for any willing partner. I will get addicted to pornography. I will start frequenting sexually promiscuous stores and businesses. When sex becomes god, our lives will fall in line to worship it.

When money becomes my idol, I will become greedy rather than charitable. I will exploit others to gain access to this god I worship, including shady business tactics, Ponzi schemes, and worse!

The same can be said of any idol!

Demonization Follows Idolatry

One other major issue to be aware of is that behind every false idol we prop up in our lives, there are still demonic forces attached that will seek control of our lives. For example, behind the god of sex is a spirit of lust and perversion. Likewise, behind a god of money is the spirit of mammon.

The same can be true of most things. As we give our hearts to worship and love something other than God, we open ourselves up to the spirit world and often give control of those areas of our lives to demons! (Though I intend to write more about demonization and deliverance in the future, for now, I would highly recommend the book “Healing Through Deliverance” by Peter Horrobin. It is the best resource on the subject, including the question, “Can a Christian have a demon,” that I know of.)

Core Idols

Moving back to a broad view of idolatry, then, we must be aware that even as believers, there will be temptations in our hearts to love, worship, and live for certain things as replacements for God. Though we may not worship wooden figurines, statues, or in a Parthenon of gods, our culture still has idols we give in to all the time. I won’t even dig into sports teams, celebrity culture, or political activism. I want to go broader than that.

A few years ago, when I was still on staff at a church in Texas, much of our time in personal counseling with people was spent digging below the surface level of sin to root out if there was a “core idol” operating at the heart level, which was affecting the mental level of the person toward sin. The four core idols we looked for, more than any other, were power, comfort, security, and control. These are things that people don’t just stumble into as sin. These are things people hid in their hearts as the things they live for.

Power

The idol of power encompasses a love of success, money, and social status. It is a heart that desires to be elevated above other people in pride and arrogance. This is the core idol Naaman struggled with in last week’s post.

In the church, the idol of power is very often connected with a religious spirit. There is no freedom, only rules and regulations which must be followed, or else you are “out of alignment.”

Comfort

The idol of comfort is a heart that values my own ease over anything else. Greed may be involved, but not always. It may simply be a love for “me time” over a heart to serve the Lord and others.

As a missionary, I can tell you for sure that many in the Western world struggle with the idol of comfort when it comes to getting involved in cross-cultural missions. To give financially to global missions is a “sacrifice” rather than a “privilege.” To actually go visit a “third-world” country on a mission trip is unthinkable because it directly challenges this idol.

The idol of comfort comes out in many ways. Some people live with a general sense of entitlement about their comforts. Others “work hard to build the life” they want. Both of those may still be an idol.

Security

The security idol is another major player in most of our lives. Just look at how the world has transformed in the last few decades. Warning labels have popped up on everything from heavy machinery to disposable coffee cups. Children are not allowed to do many of the things I did as a child in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.

In the realm of faith, where the early church boldly went into the world, facing persecution and martyrdom, our fear of creating enemies keeps us quiet about the gospel in the least-confrontational environments.

Security isn’t just about not getting physically hurt, either. Emotional wounding, traumatic experiences, or just the risk of getting offended has shut down people’s lives and love for God. Instead of resting in the shadow of His wings, we create safe spaces where we can hide so nothing can hurt us.

Control

Probably the biggest core idol of the four, the need to be in control is the one worshipped universally by people, at one time or another, in life. I will go anywhere or do anything so long as I remain in control. As soon as I am no longer in charge of myself and my faculties, then this idol begins to fight back.

I cannot think of any other false idol worshipped in the American church as that of “control.” After all, it is the American spirit — independence and self-reliance. It is the promise of having “my rights,” and no one else can tell me what to do. Just look at any “Karen” video on social media, and you will see this idol at work.

Guarding Our Minds and Hearts

For the Christian, then, whose heart is supposed to be captivated by Jesus and whose mind is being transformed by His Holy Spirit, we must come to understand that we must guard both!

We must fill our minds with righteous and holy things, just as the Word of God instructs (Philippians 4:8). So much of our battle with sin, temptation, and the devil has to do with letting our minds wander and, at least in the moment, forgetting who we are in Christ. Where we allow our minds to go, our lives will follow.

Still, though, at a deeper level, we must do a heart check from time-to-time, to make sure that it is still Jesus sitting on the throne.

Returning to First Love

My mind goes to Christ’s rebuke of the church of Ephesus in the book of Revelation. The Lord says:

“I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.”

Revelation 2:2-4

The Lord recognized that the church had a hatred of sin and evil and had gone out of their way to protect themselves from being infected from false teachings and lies from the enemy at the mental level. However, His condemnation comes at the heart level. “You are losing your love for Me!”

In the midst of their toil to live faithfully to the gospel, Jesus was losing His place at the center. That is idolatry.

For us, today, we must check our hearts and make sure Jesus is really the one we love. Jesus, who is our King, must be given the power over our lives rather than holding it for ourselves. The Holy Spirit of God must be our comfort, just as Jesus promised He would be. The covering of God’s love must be our security. And when we call Him our Lord, we must lay down our control and let Him be the one who guides our every step.

The Bible says, “love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). Jesus loved us so perfectly that all of our sin has been covered and dealt with. Now it is time for us to find complete freedom from idolatry, as we love Him back completely.

Let’s Connect

If you want to keep in touch, join me on social media for more #ChristianLife and #Gospel Leadership insights throughout the week. I can be found on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and LinkedIn, and would love to see you there.

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If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by DESIGNECOLOGIST on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

Bible Basics

Haggai

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Author

The book is written by “Haggai the prophet” (1:1). Beyond this simple introduction, not much is know about the man.  There is no description of Haggai’s family line, geographic association, or other information about him personally. 

His name means “festal.”

According to Jewish tradition, Haggai is listed amongst the last of God’s prophetic witnesses (1 Maccabees 9:27). According to some early Christian writers, Haggai came from a priestly bloodline, although there is no evidence for this claim.

Some textual traditions have also linked Haggai as either the author or co-author of Psalms 111, 125-16, and 145-148, though not all of these traditions agree to which ones Haggai may have been part of writing. All the evidence linking him to the Psalms is questionable. The link was likely made at a later date based on popular traditions at the time.

Date

Haggai was a post-exile prophet, preaching about God’s restored glory to Israel after the release of captivity, after Babylon had fallen to the Persians in 539B.C. The first Jews returned to their homeland under the edict given by King Cyrus (see Isaiah 45). Those early returnees began the reconstruction of God’s temple under the leadership of Ezra (Ezra 6:3-5), however the work was no complete. The work is halted when Darius the Great takes the throne.

It is at this time that Haggai comes on to the scene. He specifically begins his prophesy in August of 520B.C. (specific date given in Haggai 1:1). His book is completed by December of the same year (see 2:10 and 2:20).

Audience and Purpose

Haggai was writing to the retuned Jews living in Jerusalem who, though they were rebuilding their own homes and restoring life in the land, they were ignoring God’s temple, and by implication, the full return to faith and worship (1:2-11).

Contrary to the way God’s people usually responded to Old Testament prophets, the people do obey Haggai, and rebuilt the temple (1:12-15). Haggai goes on to prophesy the return of God’s glory to the temple, greater than before (2:9), a renewed peace in the land, and God’s blessing on the people.

This rebuilt temple would be dedicated in 516B.C; exactly 70 years after Solomon’s temple was destroyed (see Ezra 6:15 and 2 Chronicles 36:21).

Major Themes

  • God’s Promise of Restoration.
  • God’s Faithfulness.
  • Fulfilled Prophecy. Seventy years for the land to rest was prophesied by Jeremiah (2 Chronicles 26:21). The rebuilt temple marks the completion of this period, from the destruction of Solomon’s temple, to the dedication of the new temple.
  • God’s Glory and the Nations. Haggai does not end his book by simply prophesying God’s glory to Israel, but that all the nations would share in in (2:7).

Key Scriptures

  • Haggai 2:6-7 — “For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts.”

Outline

  • Haggai 1:1-11 — Prophecy Concerning the Rebuilding of God’s Temple
  • Haggai 1:12-15 — People’s Response to the Prophecy
  • Haggai 2:1-9 — Prophecy Concerning the Latter Glory of the Temple
  • Haggai 2:10-19 — Prophecy Concerning Holiness, Repentance, and Blessing
  • Haggai 2:20-23 — Prophecy Concerning Zerubbabel

Gospel Summary

The destruction of the temple in Jerusalem was the lowest point in Israel’s history, as all of life centered on temple worship. However, with the reconstruction of a new temple, and a promise of God’s glory, greater than before, there is hope. People are pulled out of passivity and restored to a passion for worship and faith.

Jesus would stir pall the emotions Israel felt in the destruction and rebuilding of this temple when He would speak of Himself in hidden language: “Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken” (John 2:19-22).

Haggai’s promise that the latter glory would be greater than the former (2:9) finds its fulfillment in Christ and His people, who are the true temple of the Holy Spirit, where the glory of God dwells on earth.

Haggai prophesied that God would restore Israel’s glory, shaking the nations and that all people would worship in the restored temple. We see the true fulfillment of this promise when Simeon holds the baby Jesus in Luke 2:32, and sees in him “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

Bible Basics

Zephaniah

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Author

The prophecies in the book were written by Zephaniah, whose name means “he whom the Lord protects or hides.” Some speculate that the book may have been compiled together at a later date. Some also believe that 3:14-20 were added during or post-exile. The entire book is written in the form of Hebrew poetry.

Zephaniah introduces himself with a genealogy, which is unusual for the Old Testament prophets. Some believe the reference is to show himself as the great-great-grandson of Judah’s King Hezekiah (1:1). Others who do not believe this to be the case argue that there is no historical evidence, or later Jewish tradition to confirm this. Some believe  the prophet included the genealogy to show that he was a full-blooded Jewish man, due to the fact that his father’s name, “Cushi,” can be mistaken to mean he was Ethiopian.

Some scholars have tried to make a connection between the prophet Zephaniah and the priest named Zephaniah who was killed during the Babylonian invasions in 2 Kings 25:18–21 and Jeremiah 52:24–27. This connection, however, cannot be confirmed.

Date

The book’s introduction states that Zephaniah ministered during the reign of King Josiah (1:1), who ruled Judah from 640-609BC, and who sought to reform Judah back to a godly nation. This makes him a contemporary of Jeremiah, Nahum, and Habakkuk.

Due to the book’s beginning by condemning the sins of Judah and Jerusalem in “bowing down” to Assyria (1:5),  which was the way of life under King Mannaseh, some believe that Zephanaiah’s prophetic ministry began before Josiah became King; though this is uncertain. His prophetic decrees include predicting the complete downfall of Nineveh (Assyria) to the Babylonians (2:13-15), which happened in 612BC, though, again, the exact date of his prediction is also uncertain.

Audience and Purpose

Zephaniah was writing to the southern kingdom of Judah, although his prophecies also involve the surrounding nations, declaring both God’s impending judgement (which would come in 587BC) and promising a hope for future restoration.

Major Themes

  • Prophecy.
  • God’s Sovereignty over the Nations. Zephaniah’s prophecy specifically includes reference to  God’s judgement on people from all corners of the map. From Judah, Philisia (2:5-7) is to the west, Moab and Amon (2:8-11) are to the east, Cush (2:12) is to the south and Assyria (2:13-15) is to the north.
  • Sin and Judgement. As do the prophets, Zephaniah speaks about “The Day of the Lord.”
  • God’s Promise of Salvation and Restoration.

Key Scriptures

  • 3:16-17 — “On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

Outline

  • Zephaniah 1:1-3:8 — Prophecy Concerning The Day of the Lord
    • Zephaniah 1:1-2:3 — Prophecy of God’s Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem
    • Zephaniah 2:4-3:8 — Prophecy of God’s Judgement on the Nations
  • Zephaniah 3:9–20 — Promise of Global Salvation

Gospel Summary

Though Zephaniah is one of the final voices declaring the downfall of Judah and Jerusalem to the Babylonians and “the Day of the Lord,” the gospel hope is found in the final section of his writing where the Lord promises many things to come after His judgement: He would purify the speech of all people to worship Him (3:9). He would bless those who “humble” themselves and trust Him (3:11-12). He would establish Himself as King over Israel (3:15); and He would gather His people from the exile where they were being sent, and establish them among the nations (3:20).

Though the immediate hope of the people would have been that these things would come after their time in exile in Babylon, we now know that these promises would not be fulfilled until the coming of Christ who offers salvation to those who humble themselves and trust Him as Savior. Those of us who believe in Him are now awaiting the fulfillment of these promises at Christ’ final return in power, as Messiah-King.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

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Exposing Ministry Idols

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We are currently on another lockdown in Uganda; one which caught most of us off guard when the announcement was made. While we cannot drive personal vehicles, use public transportation, or cross district borders in an attempt to curb the rise of the India-strain of this pandemic, the biggest hit we are taking is that churches, once again, cannot meet together for worship and preaching.

Reactions to this cross a broad spectrum of opinions, which I do not intend to add to in this post. Rather, what I have observed in myself and others over the past few weeks is that our personal responses to these lockdowns are often not “Christian” at all. In fact, what I am discovering is that for many, our reactions are actually revealing the idols of our hearts, rather than drawing us closer to the Lord in intimacy.

Idol Worship in the Old Testament 

When we read through the Old Testament, and look at the nation of Israel, we see a lot of idol-worship taking place. What I find interesting about their idol worship was that it was often a slow turning from the Lord toward the false gods and cultural idols of other nations. Idol worship was not normally a momentary decision. It was the slow introduction of false worship through personal compromise and willful participation.

As I am currently reading through the book of Jeremiah, I am struck by images the Lord gives to discuss the infection of idolatry in the nation.

“How can you say, ‘I am not unclean, I have not gone after the Baals’? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done— a restless young camel running here and there, a wild donkey used to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her. Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is hopeless, for I have loved foreigners, and after them I will go.’”

Jeremiah 2:23-25

The Lord goes on to say,

“(They) say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their back to me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they say, ‘Arise and save us!’ But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them arise, if they can save you, in your time of trouble; for as many as your cities are your gods, O Judah.”

Jeremiah 2:27–28

It is clear that the children of Israel had not forgotten God. They still discuss themselves as being “clean,” which is to reference the moral law of God. Though they were mistaken, they still believed they were living faithful.

When times got rough, the people would cry out to God for salvation, likely recalling the stories of Exodus and how He delivered the land to them from the pagan nations.

Still, though they gave lip-service to God, their hearts, minds, and pursuits were not toward Him. Their daily lives were full of selfish pursuits and the worship of things which are not God.

Idol Worship in the New Testament

Although most of us today want to pretend that Christian believers are different than those foolish people in the Old Testament, and that our own hearts are much more clean before the Lord, the truth is idol worship was just as prevalent among believers after the cross, as it was before the cross.

Writing to believers in Rome, Paul gives a warning against idolatry.

“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”

Romans 1:21-25

What I find most interesting about idolatry in both the Old and New Testament is that God goes out of His way to show that the things being worshipped are created by men and in the image of men. (See Leviticus 19:4; Psalm 115:4-8; Jeremiah 3:9; Acts 19:24-25). Idolatry is, at its core, worship of ourselves and the works of our hands. As Habakkuk clearly states:

“What profit is an idol when its maker has shaped it, a metal image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in his own creation when he makes speechless idols!”

Habakkuk 2:18

Idol Worship Today

Now, I hear what you’re already thinking. “I don’t worship wood and stone idols.” Which is true of most of the modernized world (though I have been in many indigenous cultures around the world who still used idols and tokens as part of their tribal worship). The problem is that although the modern age has left behind the worship of sticks and stones, we still have not shed the heart which worships our own accomplishments and the work of our hands.

As someone in ministry who is once again in a season where the work of ministry is extremely limited, the Lord is revealing this sort of idolatry in myself and others around me. It is a call to repent — a call no different than those given by Jeremiah, Habakkuk, or the Apostle Paul! The question is, will we hear the call, or will we – like the nation of Israel – declare ourselves clean, and continue on ignoring what God wants to do in and through us?

Exposing Ministry Idols

It is obvious that the heart of Christianity is relationship with the Lord. After all, when Jesus revealed Himself it was as Emmanuel — “God with us.” John writes very eloquently about His appearing in the world as “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14). Paul writes how Jesus, though He was God, emptied Himself and took on flesh and lived among us in order to die for us (Philippians 2:5-8). The author of Hebrews calls Him our High Priest who was tempted in every way, just as we are, so that He can sympathize with our weakness (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus was God with us, in relationship with mankind, in order to redeem us to Himself for eternity.

When Jesus went away, His plan was that our intimacy with Him would go deeper! So deep, in fact, that He said it was better for Him to go away, so that the Holy Spirit would come and live inside of us (John 16:7). He would come to speak to us, and guide us in everything Jesus directs Him to say to us (John 16:13).

The problem is that although we are meant to live in relationship with Him, our hearts are continually diverted to worshipping the things of God, rather than God Himself. In His grace, the Lord wants to expose the idols of our hearts, so that we can return to Him completely!

1. The Idol of Ministry

I love ministry! I love preaching and teaching. I love training and equipping leaders. I love helping people discover their ministry gifts and praying for impartation. I love seeing people get saved, healed, and set free from demonic torments. The privilege of ministry work is awesome, and I wouldn’t trade the life I get to live for anything. However, the danger of my life is that I would begin to worship the ministry itself, rather than worshipping the Lord through my ministry.

The idol of ministry rears its head whenever we get more focused on doing the works of ministry rather than keeping our focus on the One we are called to minister for.

See, for a minister, doing the work of ministry is not actually our calling by God! Our lives are supposed to be oriented toward what God is doing, and how we can partner with Him, rather than what we can do for Him. 

Doing the ministry is secondary. Being with Him is supposed to be our highest goal.

This idol of ministry gets exposed when we are limited in our ability to do the ministry (as in this lockdown season). Rather than simply resting in God’s presence and listening for His voice in how to respond, we immediately begin to complain, fight, or even to struggle with anxiety and depression. We excuse it by declaring that we are just zealous for the work of the Lord, but the truth is, deep in our hearts, we are struggling because our idol has been taken away from us.

It is a dangerous place when we begin to worship our service to the Lord instead of worshipping Him alone, yet it is a very real temptation. We must be aware of it, and we must be ready to repent as soon as it becomes evident.

2. The Idol of Blessing

For many of us, ministry itself is not the idol we are tempted to worship. Instead, it is the blessings which come from the Lord that capture our hearts and minds. I see this over and over again when people spend their Christian lives seeking the next blessing, the next breakthrough, or the next mantle and anointing.

While these things definitely come from the Lord, the danger is that we begin to seek Him only to receive from Him, rather than simply to receive Him.

I believe this idol, for many, actually stems from their initial salvation experience. Too often people are told, “if you put your faith in Jesus, you will go to heaven when you die.” The salvation exchange takes place, simply to receive a reward from Jesus (heaven), rather than to receive Jesus Himself.

He is the true blessing of our salvation. When we get saved, we get Him! When we go to heaven, it is to spend eternity with Him. Our focus won’t be on the pearly gates or streets of gold. He is the central focus of eternity!

“I Just Want Your Stuff”

This is the message of Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. In that story, the younger son demands his inheritance from the father. Simply stated, the young man says, “I wish you were dead. I don’t want you, old man. I just want your stuff.”

After some time of licentious living, the young man once again begins to look to his old father as a means of “blessing,” though he knows he is no longer worthy to be called a son. Instead, he returns to become a servant. Still not looking for relationship, he rehearses his speech, looking how to get material gain from his dad. However, the father is not worried about the stuff. Instead, he is thankful to have his son back. He throws a party to celebrate. The moral of the story is that we sinners need to come to God for relationship, not blessing.

However, there is another character in the story; one not representing the sinner, but representing the religious people in the crowd — the older brother. When he draws near and hears the party going on, he refuses to come inside. In his anger toward what is happening, he shouts at his father, “I have been here with you the whole time, serving you in every way you asked, and you never even gave me a goat to celebrate with my friends.”

Though the hearts of the two brothers were different – one a rebel and one obedient – their goal was the same. They wanted the father’s stuff; not the father himself!

While this happens with regular believers all-too-often, there is a danger for those of us in ministry, who, like the older brother, are only serving the Lord while looking for a blessing.

This is idolatry — worshipping the things of God rather than God — and we must repent when God reveals it in our hearts.

3. The Idol of Esteem

A third idol I am seeing exposed in this season is the idol of esteem. As churches cannot meet and ministers must sit down out of the public eye, the idol of public recognition is getting exposed.

This is a topic I have dealt with many times before, yet one that I am sensing now, in bigger ways.

What is happening is that many ministers who have spent years “making a name for themselves,” are now being overlooked. Pastor and Apostle are not “essential services” and therefore not being exempted from government restrictions. The temptation to declare, “do you know who I am?” is looming on the lips of many (and I am even hearing stories of pastors using their titles and status to get sympathy from police when they are not following the mandated protocols.)

The truth is that being a minister of the Gospel does not make you special or important, above anyone else. Instead, you are called to go to the lower place, as a servant of all. In fact, when Paul spoke of his apostleship, he used words like “dead,” “weak,” “fools,” and as those in “disrepute” (1 Corinthians 4:9-10). 

He never spoke of his ministry as a means of attaining celebrity status or of having special privileges, yet that is the growing trend and expected outcome for many who serve in ministry today.

Serving the Lord is not intended to make you famous. It is meant to make Jesus famous! Just as John the baptizer said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

When ministry becomes about our own fame and recognition, we are actually worshipping ourselves at the Lord’s expense, and we must repent. We must humble ourselves so that He can be lifted up in our hearts and lives.

Repenting of our Idols

The truth is that all of us deal with idolatry in one way or another. It usually begins unintentionally, with just a small amount of compromise. Yet as it takes hold in our hearts, it grows, often without our realizing the slippery slope we are going down.

It is God’s grace to expose our idols. It is His grace which draws us back to worshipping Him alone. However, it is one of the hardest things to do to lay down our habits and our ingrained mindsets, openly admit that we have been wrong all along, and return to Him. The embarrassment and shame that can come from this kind of confession is, unfortunately, enough to keep many people living in their sin. It seems easier, and is definitely more comfortable.

However, the call to repentance is the same call which brought us to Christ in the first place. A call to die. A call to lay down everything, take up our cross, and follow Him. As always, He will be our reward when we do, and it is so worth it to have Him, only and fully.

I encourage you, do a heart check today, and let’s lay down all the idols we have built in our lives and ministries.

Let’s Connect

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© Anthony Scott Ingram 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

Hab

Habakkuk

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Author

The book was written by Habakkuk, who is identified as a prophet (1:1). Although not much is known about Habakkuk’s personal life, some have speculated that his in-depth knowledge of the Temple ministry could only come from working as a priest. Others have proposed that Habakkuk may have been a member of the Temple musicians, as chapter 3 of the book is written as a victory hymn.

Although many throughout history have tried to connect Habakkuk with the Habakkuk in the apocryphal book of Bel and the Dragon, who delivered porridge to Daniel in the lion’s den, this connection is chronologically impossible.

Date

Although a range of dates are proposed, it is clear that the book was composed after the Babylonians successfully overthrew Assyrian rule in 625B.C; and likely before the death of King Josiah in 612. Still, some scholars put the writing date even later, following the Babylonian defeat of the Egyptians in 605. It is clear from the prophetic content being produced that the book was finished well before the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar in 587. 

This timeframe would make Habakkuk a contemporary of Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Nahum.

Audience and Purpose

Although the book would have been published for the people of Judah, living at the time of the writing, to prophesy the Word of the Lord about Judah’s coming destruction, the book itself seems to be the prophet’s personal prayer journal as he dialogues with the Lord, and also records his own song of praise for God’s righteousness.

Major Themes

  • Prophecy
  • God’s Righteousness
  • Human Evil
  • Sin and Judgement
  • Sovereignty of God. Although Habakkuk does not understand God’s ways, the book shows a great need to trust Him and His control of all things.

Key Scriptures

  • Habakkuk 2:4 — “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.

Outline

  • Habakkuk 1:1-4 — Habakkuk’s First Complaint
  • Habakkuk 1:5-11 — God’s First Response
  • Habakkuk 1:12-2:1 — Habakkuk’ Second Complaint
  • Habakkuk 2:2-20 — God’s Second Response
  • Habakkuk 3:1-19) —Habakkuk’s Prayer (Psalm)

Gospel Summary

As Habakkuk lives in a time when even the remnant of God’s people in Judah are living in sin, the prophet cries out for God’s justice. However, when the Lord declares He will use the Babylonians (Chaldeans) to bring judgement on Judah, just as the Assyrians brought judgement on Israel, Habakkuk’s theology is challenged. How can God use one unrighteous people to bring judgement on another, and especially a faithless pagan nation such as Babylon to bring judgement on His chosen people?

In His grace, God responds to Habakkuk’s questions by declaring His own righteousness and sovereignty, which go far beyond human comprehension. Much like God’s response to Job in Job 32-41, the Lord does not demonstrate a need to explain Himself to Habakkuk. And in the same way as Job, Habakkuk’s only possible response is to humble himself and worship the Lord.

As Habakkuk ends the book by declaring God’s judgement on the Babylonians (and by implication, on all ungodly nations), it stirs in us the faith that God will keep His word, judge the evil in the world, and sustain the righteous, “who live by faith” in Him (2:4). This, of course, points to the Messianic promises made throughout the Old Testament, and fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!



© Anthony Scott Ingram 2021. All Rights Reserved.

Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

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