Security!

Today: 1 Chronicles 25-27

If you think of places where security guards are present at every entrance, I would guess that church wouldn't be at the top of your list.

Over the past few weeks...okay, over the past 24 hours...I've experienced the fact that security guards are present at airports and borders. They guard famous sites like Buckingham Palace. They guard precious materials--like those found at Tiffany & Company. But most churches today don't have security guards at every single entrance during every single moment of the day.

That's why I was a little taken aback to read about them in today's Old Testament passage. It's only been a (relatively) recent phenomenon over the past few hundred years ago to have constant, thorough security at borders and jewelry shops. Yet thousands of years ago, God designated people to monitor the security of His House. Why?

From a practical standpoint, I guess we could argue that it was guarded heavily because of its value...the Temple in the Old Testament had WAY more precious metal than all of Donald Trump's properties put together. But I also wonder if God appointed security for the Temple to make a statement to the Israelites about its non-monetary value? Perhaps He wanted His House to be highly respected and revered, protected, treasured and safe.

Do you feel that way about God's House today?

It's an interesting question and train of thought. Let's be clear: I'm not prescribing that your church needs full-time security staff (just say "no" to Paul Blart-like characters...trust me) :) or a decor style that The Donald would approve. However, part of me wonders if people today have lost that sense of awe and value for God's House. More importantly, I wonder if we've lost those feelings about His presence?

Your church may not be Buckingham Palace or Tiffany's, but do you treasure it? Do you value the beauty of its people, worship and message? Do you enter with an excited, awe-filled heart, like a kid visiting Disneyland or the airport and wondering, "Will I get to meet God here today? Really?!?" I hope so.

Tomorrow: 1 Chronicles 28-2 Chronicles 1

The gods we make

Today: Exodus 30-32

The chapters in today's passage raised an interesting question: Why do people worship gods they make?

It seemed really weird that Aaron built a golden calf and all of the sudden, the Israelites thought it was a god. Don't get me wrong--I've seen precious metals worth salivating over (hello, Tiffany!). But the last time I walked by Tiffany, Ben Bridge, and The Shane Company, I didn't see lines of people bowing before the windows in worship. No one was singing the praises of platinum. No one was praying to an engagement ring (notice that I said "to"...I'm sure some of those girls were praying "for" a ring!).

Today, most of us don't worship gods we make...or do we?

Yes, there are people who still worship statues. Some worship paper gods (most frequently, a god called money). But there are even more people who worship man-made ideas. Some worship other people (have you ever seen one of those Twilight premieres?). Others worship their kids, themselves, or their jobs. Frankly, it's pretty easy to find people who worship gods they make...and perhaps I've even done it myself at moments.

If you saw me praying and bowing at a Tiffany window, you'd think I was crazy. It's goofy to worship a god someone made. Though jewelry may be beautiful--and valuable--it's not inherently sacred. Neither are our ideas, paper, tasks or peers. God is God for many reasons. One of those reasons is because He supersedes human beings and even this planet. He's all-powerful, all-knowing and eternal--characteristics that compare to no person or thing. You can't make God because He made and loved you first.

Tomorrow: Exodus 33-35