Off Into the Weeds
Luke 11:27-28 (ESV)
27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Here is one rabbit trail, one side route, one distraction the devil uses to lure people away from true worship of God and into idolatry. This is just one strategy of many that he uses to get people off into the weeds. What is this error? It is worshipping that which has to do with God instead of, or in addition to, God Himself. This is the thinking that ignores God and that instead makes worship-worthy the relics and artifacts and places and people with which Jesus was acquainted.
Some examples of this? “Be in awe of Jesus’ burial site and His shroud, the roads He walked, the apostles that knew Him. Worship the drawings depicting Him or Mary, His mother. Have too high a regard for the physical book in which His words are written or the buildings and altars that people use to seek Him.”
More than a few under the banner of Christiandom have veered off onto this bypath. I guess, though, it’s a danger we all face in a more subtle way. Some in my own ranks have said (perhaps unconsciously) something similar to this woman’s statement: “Blessed and to be worshipped are the pastors and other Christian leaders who bring us the Word of God. They are more special than others. They can live closer to God than ordinary Christians.” And no doubt, also, many of us have heard the near-worship we give to our favorite methods, programs, and particular emphases of doctrine. Now I’m all for giving honor to whom honor is due, but this over-regard for those in authority and their accomplishments takes away the honor from Him who gives gifts to men and uses them for His glory.
According to Jesus, none of these things are special. The blessing of God is upon any ordinary person that hears God’s word and obeys it.
It’s very easy to go off on this bypath when you are surrounded by others who also are veering off. I was among such a group and found myself on this false path. There was a time when I too highly regarded those in spiritual authority. It is right to respect those in spiritual authority, but I overdid it. I knew they weren’t perfect, but I thought they had some special favor with God. They result was that I, who once had been so confident in the Lord, became a fawning, intimidated Christian. My usefulness in the things of God was greatly reduced
because, over time, I found it very hard to hear God for myself. Indeed, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25).
But praise be to God, I am now free. He lifted me out of that culture of leader-worship and healed my heart. He is so faithful.
Lord, keep us off of the bypaths and out of the weeds!
