What the Bible says about Worship something Tangible
(From Forerunner Commentary)
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How much clearer could it be? No image or likeness of anything! It is a curiosity, though, how human nature repeatedly feels the need to focus its worship on something tangible. When the children of Israel were journeying to the Promised Land, they became discouraged on many occasions. On one of these, they murmured so strongly against God and Moses that God sent snakes into the camp. Many people were bitten and died. The people repented, and Moses prayed for relief. The Lord ordered Moses to make a "fiery serpent and set it on a pole." Anyone who looked at this image lived (Numbers 21:4-9). So where did the people's thanks go after they were spared? To God or to this bronze snake? Far too many of the Israelites began to worship the image, a precursor of things to come. For whatever reason, this bronze image was preserved through the generations. Hundreds of years later, Israel, a vassal state to Assyria, is about to go into captivity because of their idolatry (II Kings 17). Neighboring Judah has a chance to watch and learn. At the time of Israel's captivity, Judah's king is a good one, Hezekiah. Only twenty-five years old as he began his reign, nonetheless he did what was right in the sight of the LORD . . .. He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden images and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it. (II Kings 18:1-4). The people had been worshipping an image rather than God. God hates idolatry. Why would He consider the symbol of the cross any differently? While some may justify having one by saying that the cross serves to remind them of Jesus Christ, it is really nothing more than a "bronze serpent." There is no biblical connection between the true Son of God and the cross of Tammuz. Hanging a cross on the walls of one's home or from a chain around one's neck puts a person at odds with God. Since He has commanded us not to do this and tells us plainly that He is "a jealous God," this is not a position any of us would want to be in. |
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