Object of our affections — the idolatrous Church

We live in an age full of distractions. All one must do to be convinced of this is to turn on a TV, flip the lid on a laptop, get a job, a family, or even start a casual conversation with a neighbor. Obviously none of these things are inherently “sinful” — and yet, if we step back and assume a third-person view of our lives, how many of us will be able to say that these things are not often of a higher priority to us than our God and Savior? In a practical sense, we’re far more fascinated by our friend’s new Xbox 360, or who our prospective spouse will be, or which politician will win that high-profile government position than we are by our relationship with Christ. We live our lives professing Christ as the object of our joy and affections, all the while ignoring Him in favor of the latest gadgetry or that “hot” celebrity who was on the cover of the latest issue of “Epicurean” magazine.

The Church has become obsessed with comfort and entertainment. Our idea of what a congregational Church meeting should be often has more in common with a coffee house and a motivational speaker than with an assembly of believers. Long gone are the days when Christians would spend hour after hour simply reading the Word, worshipping, and praying. Long gone are the days where Christians understood what it means to be a “citizen of Heaven” (Php 3:20), to be “aliens” or “sojourners” here on earth (1Pe 2:11). Instead, we are more rightly called “Sunday Christians,” and little worldlings the remaining six days of the week.

By our lives we affirm the message of Hosea (if you are not familiar with Hosea, I would certainly recommend you take the time to read it); that God will save men and women who have committed themselves to spiritual  whoredom — seeking joy from the things of the world when it is their Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, who should be the object of their deepest affections and the source of their greatest joy. Our reaction to this should be one of sorrow — but even greater than sorrow, we should be overjoyed by God’s overwhelming grace: that He would send His Son to die upon the cross, paying the consequences of our sins, and seek us out for salvation so we may spend eternity in fellowship with God as His adopted sons! The mere fact that we are so easily consumed by the things of the world, despite God’s work of redemption (which is far more costly than any man could ever comprehend) is a testament to the extreme depth of our depravity!

We, as Christians, need to turn back to Christ and away from the things of the world (for indeed, one cannot be both of the world and of Christ). We need to reemphasize our personal and intimate relationship with our Savior — and recognize that it is the single greatest blessing we will ever receive. Finally, out of our love for our Savior (which should be unparalleled in our lives), we need to set ourselves about His business: preaching the Gospel to the lost (Matt. 28:19), caring for those in need (Matt. 25), building up our brothers and sisters in Christ (Eph. 4:29).

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Earlier yesterday I heard a song by David Webb called “Wedding Dress,” I think it captures much of what I wrote above extremely well. Ironically, the song also caused much controversy amongst Christians for its use of “strong” language. One must wonder if those who objected to the song even read their Bibles, as the message itself is entirely Biblical, and even tame compared to some of the language and themes contained in the Word itself. This is another dangerous trend amongst Christians — watering down parts the Word because they’re “culturally” offensive or “crude.”

Wedding Dress by Derek Webb

If you could love me as a wife
and for my wedding gift, your life
Should that be all I’ll ever need
or is there more I’m looking for

and should I read between the lines
and look for blessings in disguise
To make me handsome, rich, and wise
Is that really what you want

Because I am a whore I do confess
I put you on just like a wedding dress
and I run down the aisle
I run down the aisle
I’m a prodigal with no way home
I put you on just like a ring of gold
and I run down the aisle
run down the aisle … to you

So could you love this bastard child
Though I don’t trust you to provide
With one hand in a pot of gold
and with the other in your side

Because I am so easily satisfied
by the call of lovers so less wild
That I would take a little cash
Over your very flesh and blood

Because I am a whore I do confess
I put you on just like a wedding dress
and I… run down the aisle
I run down the aisle
Well I’m a prodigal with no way home
And I put you on just like a ring of gold
and I run down the aisle
I run down the aisle to you

Because money cannot buy
a husband’s jealous eye
When you have knowingly deceived his wife

So I am a whore I do confess
I put you on just like a wedding dress
and I… run down the aisle
I run down the aisle
Well I’m a prodigal with no way home
I put you on just like a ring of gold
and I… run down the aisle
I run down the aisle

Well I am a whore I do confess
I put you on just like a wedding dress
and I… run down the aisle
I run down the aisle
Well I’m a prodigal with no way home
I put you on just like a ring of gold
and I… run down the aisle
run down the aisle… to you