Reading for February 21-25
Acts 19:22-41
Paul’s 3nd Missionary Journey
Monday
“Serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. 24 It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy” Acts 19:22-24 (NLT)
Does Your Life in Christ Compete with Local Values and Old Idolatries?
Pastor’s Reflection
It was bound to happen sooner or later.
As Christianity challenged idolatry, the most fundamental idolatry was bound to be addressed, the idolatry of money.
Artemis (Diana in Latin), daughter of Leto and Zeus, goddess of fertility, was the leading idol of Ephesus and one of the seven wonders of the world at the time. A meteor had hit the area in some past time and legend had it that she (her image) had landed from heaven in Ephesus in that event.
Artemis was good business. Today Christian apparel, knick knacks, special Bibles, etc. are BIG business. In Ephesus silver images of the mother goddess were BIG business too. In fact tourists can still buy Artemis souvenirs. Faith in Christ meant not buying little Artemises. Faith in Christ meant getting rid of old idols, even if they were the reason for material comforts. Could a silversmith who depended on Artemis for a living become a Christian? Of course, but would he?
What idolatries has the Lordship of Christ confronted and driven out from your life? Has trust in God caused clashes with your material and economic life? Which God/god is winning?
Thanks for mentioning the fact that "Christian" apparel, trinkets, etc. are big business. I have items in my home that have scripture verses painted or engraved on them, likewise, coffee mugs that are imprinted with verses that are meaningful to me. Perhaps I'm being a nitpicker but my coffee mug is not a Christian mug, it is just a mug with Galatians 5:22 imprinted on it. There can be some pretty scary stuff labeled as "Christian" books availble where "Christian" items are sold, the books telling you how to get your prayers answered often portray the Creator of the universe as an ethereal goody dispenser or worse offer ways to try to manipulate Almighty God. God forbid that we should allow ourselves to be guilty of creating our own little idols rather than casting them down.
ReplyDeleteThere is one trinket that I wish would just go away. Many Catholics pray the rosary, and that is fine with me if that is what they want to do (I am not sure they are getting anywhere with all the prayers to Mary). However, back to the point.
ReplyDeleteThere is an understanding among Catholics that if you have enough faith and Jesus is working in your life, that the silver rosary will change to gold. And if you have a gold rosary, that is the sign of Jesus in your life.
So one engineer was so adamant that the silver rosary that they had really had turned to gold (the edges were tarnished off color and really did look gold) that we submitted it to an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and found the entire cross of Jesus was zinc plated copper. Furhermore, the zinc plating was so thin, it could not help to rub off if used.
I hope this is not a hoax on poor Catholics, but it seems it is to me.