Conforming to the World is Wrong

Scripture: And now you are saying you can assert yourselves against the Lord’s kingdom, which is in the hand of one of David’s sons. You are a vast number and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made for you as gods. Didn’t you banish the priests of the Lord, the descendants of Aaron and the Levites, and make your own priests like the peoples of other lands do? Whoever comes to ordain himself with a young bull and seven rams may become a priest of what are not gods. 2 Chronicles 13:8-9

Observation: Abijah, King of Judah and David's great grandson, shouts this out to the Israel army of King Jeroboam, and in so doing he accurately identifies the 'sin of Jeroboam' ... the sin that every Israel king fails to reverse, and thus ultimately takes them into destruction. That sin is an attempt to control the people by altering their worship of Yahweh and preventing them from engaging in proper worship in the temple because it is located in Judah. To do this, Jeroboam creates new worship practices focused on two idols - gold calves - and banishes the rightful priests that would correct this error.

While this is known to be the 'sin of Jeroboam', Abijah also gives this a new descriptor. He calls it, and most specifically the idea that anyone who wishes to lead worship practices may become a priest, activities that are "like the peoples of other lands do." In other words, Israel was always called out to be a unique people, a kingdom of priests, and repeatedly told they must not assume the practices of other nations regarding a variety of topics and practices. The northern kingdom has now specifically pursued activities to be just like other people-groups. While the idol worship of the calves is an abomination against the Lord, it is the adoption of earthly practices - including worship leadership - that prove they have fully abandoned the Lord.

Application: This is a significant source of sin in life ... I often do things that are 'normal' in societal terms. That can be as simple as watching a popular TV show that has some questionable moral values, or using certain apps on my phone because others play games on their phone to pass the time. I know those games are chemically destroying my brain, and they steal time from better activities in life like paying attention to my wife, meditating on the Lord's words, and just doing more work.

I don't even know why I really do these things. It isn't to conform. It's just ... they are what the world does, and I see it as normal, so there's no real reason not to do it. Well, conforming to the world - to embrace the activities and standard practices of people groups that reject the Lord - is wrong. It was always wrong, and has been actively declared wrong with those who do so held accountable, for over 3,000 years.

Again, I need to transform and renew my mind. I need to consider Psalm 1 and meditate on the word of the Lord, to thrive like a tree planted by a stream. And again I say it today ... I say it in agreement with at least three different sermon teachings I have heard over the last four weeks ... I cannot do this without the Holy Spirit. I am too weak to renew my own mind. I need the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, again I say, please help me. I am far too weak, and that fact is well established. Please, Lord, transform and renew my mind. May your Spirit within me give me the strength to simply not do the wrong things, so I can find my way, guided by you, to the right things in life. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.