Heresy in the American Religion

It has been a rough couple of weeks as people have gathered into sanctuaries of America over the past couple of weeks.  The story is that so many faithful worshipers have been gathering together only to see heresy spread through their preachers like wildfire.  If you know anything about religion you know that heresy is a big deal.  Now the people are not overly concerned about the morality of their preachers, but heresy is not acceptable.  They come to watch the preachers give them exactly what they want, yet now their heresy is ruining it all.  What is that heresy that I am referring to?  Is the Adoptionism or the idea that Jesus was not born divine and only later became God’s Son? Perhaps it is Arianism or the idea that there was a time when the Son of God was not in existence which is an attack on the divinity of Christ. Was it Modalism, Nestorianism, Eutychianism, Gnosticism and all of its forms? No, the sanctuaries that I am referring to are the big giant buildings (no not Joel’s church although plenty of heresy there) with screaming worshipers who have painted their faces to see there preachers preach with their wonderful ability to run fast, throw, catch, and tackle.  The worshipers are getting angry though because the heresy is afoot in those who are paid to preach.  They have rejected the god of the people. They have not given reverence to the god that is the United States Government and its greatest symbol the stars and stripes and the worshipers are pissed.

Anytime you want to cause an uproar start chopping down people’s sacred cows.  We have two sacred cows that have been brought out into the light.  We have the NFL and sports in general which is a giant idol in people’s lives.  We also have patriotism which can be a religion of its own.  Our idols are revealed when we believe that we cannot or are unwilling to go without something.  There are those who are so consumed by sports and in this case the NFL that they believe that they cannot live without them or they are at least unwilling to give them up or put them in their proper place. We have the country being elevated to an improper place in many people’s lives as well.  Can you imagine a time and place when America ceases to exist?  Nations have come and gone throughout the history of the world why would we believe that ours is any different?  Idols come in all shapes and sizes from our spouse and kids to our cars and money.  We as sinners can pervert all of God’s good gifts.  What idols are in your life?  Is it sports, a topic near and dear to my own heart?  Is it an unhealthy perspective on the country you live in? Is it something else?  Whatever it is, always know that Christ died for your idolatry as well as mine. He died for the idolatry of the people who disagree with as well. May God reveal to each of us those places in our lives where we have perverted His good gives and let us kneel before our God trusting in the grace of Jesus Christ.