High Hill Offerings
“‘“When I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that aroused my anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings.”‘”
Today’s Text: Ezekiel 20:27-32 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
Generally, people have a tendency toward idolatry. On the one hand, that is because there is a God-sized hole in our souls that longs to be filled. On the other hand, it is because we try to fill that hole on our own without God. Only God can fill the God-sized hole in our hearts.
The Teacher of Ecclesiastes puts it this way:
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
— Ecclesiastes 3:11
The “eternity” we sense in our hearts is the vacuum of meaninglessness that only God can fill. But instead of seeking God, it’s easier for us to sweep our sense of meaninglessness under a rug by making up our own religion(s), one that we can always adapt to our immediate selfish desires and circumstances, one that we can always discard and reinvent should we ever get bored with the old one.
There is a branch of sociology that studies human religions, and it is the idolatry of humanity that the sociology of religion studies. But scholars in that field make the mistake of assuming that biblical Christianity is just like any other human religion.
Of course, those scholars would ask, “What makes you so confident that the Christianity that sprung up in history is real and authentic?” Great question. I would actually say that that is the most important question that every human being must deal with.
One thing that I am certain of: Atheism is impossible. Atheism also takes faith. And if atheism is true, my life is no more significant than the life of an amoeba—in fact, no more significant than a rock. If atheism is true, then the only thing that matters is what me-myself-and-i wants at any given moment. Sociopaths worship at the altar of atheism.
And if the mysterious but orderly design of this world does not present conclusive evidence of a Designer, then philosophers need to dig another level deeper and ask the questions, “why and how?”
If the very existence of humanity does not present conclusive evidence of God, then the only point that atheists are really seeking to “prove” is: “I’m right and you’re wrong.”
Good for them … If they’re right. If they’re right, then I’m wrong. Yay for them! But if they’re the ones who are wrong, not good for them, at all. Very bad for them.
On the other hand, if there is a “god,” logic should lead us to God, and His Son Jesus Christ. And then, there’s the historical evidence of the resurrection, which is incredibly strong—as long as one does not categorically close one’s mind to the possibility that it could actually have happened.
Anyway, I can see why scholars in the sociology of religions assume that Christianity is just like any other made-up human religion. It is because of the idolatry of many Christians themselves. I think it would be good for us Christians to study the sociology of religions so that we could filter out the idolatry in our own hearts, so that we can come face to face with our Lord.
Father, You are God, and we are Your people. I sit in front of a computer typing this blog, because by Your sovereign hand, You are driving all of human history to the conclusion of Your word. Forgive me for my idolatries that make me forget that You are my God and I am Your child. Forgive my sin and bless my family and community. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
