12th
The Evil Among Us
What consitutes the greatest sin among Christians?
Daniel Block, an evangelical scholar, a few years ago wrote what is widely considered the leading commentary on the book of Judges. He identifies the greatest sin of Israel as “Canaanization” - or the acts of Israel that were assimilated from the surrounding Canaanite culture and form of religion.
Christianity in America: Is it not easily recognizable that common “religious practices” of the culture replace true spirituality by reducing Christianity to some subset of the authentic?
American Christians who identify themselves as either evangelical, biblical, fundamental, or spirit-filled must consider if the decline we are experiencing is related to a similar motif or problem today.
That problem is best identified as Restricted Pietism. Piety that finds fulfillment in a restricted or limited list of actions.
The old sacred - secular divide is one such “religious” issue of Christians categorizing life into “spiritual” activities and those that are “lesser” activities. When scripture commands believers to do all to the glory of God and they instead develop short lists of things that are “more” to the glory of God than others, then “Canaanization” has taken over.
I want to address, at the outset, the common response that not all things are of equal priority and “therefore” the most holy and called Christians are focused on the “highest priority.”
This way of thinking is once again, in essence, telling God that his command to do all to the glory of God has to be reduced, at least for some, to a short list of the “best” things to do to the glory of God. The implication being that other things can be bypassed and it is okay - as long as the “big” things are done.
The prophets warned Israel that God was not accepting the “worship” practices that the priests were in charge of - the “big” things - when at every point the weak were being taken advantage of, and the innocent were finding no justice - by the whole populace. The priests were very effective in leading the sacrifices and “high holy” events but God was rejecting it because Israel, under the undue influence of the priests, saw those activities as the “best” things to do instead of loving God with all their mind, affections, and actions!
Short listing God by rating his commands, “good, better, and best,” is not acceptable to God.
It is good to decry “postmodernism, open theism, and ritualism” but to ignore the “evil among us” is too much like the Parable of the Two Sons, which the prominent NYC pastor, Dr. Tim Keller, has so clearly called to our attention. The “good stoic” son was rejecting the father in a more sinister way than the “bad hedonistic” son, who repented.
Restricted pietism has infiltrated at every level of our expression of Christian faith - individuals,families, churches, universities, and seminaries - there is no corner or institution that doesn’t struggle with this default setting in some significant way.
The misunderstanding is so rampant that it is mind-boggling and depressing to the spirit to see it flourish so easily among us - even among those whose intentions are pure, caring passion is strong, scholarship is excellent, and institutional skill is highly competent.
The old default ways do not die easily!
I am linking to a chapter in A.W. Tozer’s book, “The Pursuit of God” entitled, “The Sacrament of Living.” I am choosing to do this as many who are ensnared with the RP form of Christianity admire his writings. Some of his works are received by those who are looking for a more “ethereal” approach but this chapter cuts through all of that to reveal his foundational view of things.
This link is one chapter in his book. Think about it’s implications and toss out the “Canaanization” of biblical Christianity.
http://www.theboc.com/freestuff/awtozer/books/the_pursuit_of_god/the_sacrament_of_living.html
God will be pleased when we address the “evil among us” and once again value the whole church doing all to the glory of God.
A closing comment to clever observers! The title of this blog is “Essentials.”
One should not equate “essentials” to “short lists.” A thorough review of this blog over time, other writings, and the practice of life by me and my immediate and extended family, serving Christ in many disciplines and in a global manner, makes it clear that I mean “essentials” to be simply “doing all to the glory of God.”
