Strange “Gods”
The personhood of God has been one of the great concerns of a true man of God from the time of Moses and the prophets to the Christian apostolic fathers. It was their main pre-occupation to expose and reprove the futility of worshipping the gods of nations and any misrepresentation of Yahweh made by claimant to the prophetic office. They were not only covenant enforcers but also they were protectors of the dignity and honour of God. They see to it that the LORD who made the covenant with their forefathers is the same God that people of their contemporary times worship.
In the same manner the apostolic fathers were not willing to ignore or let go unopposed any pretentious claim about the personhood of God and Christ. Marcion, Valentinus, Arius, Pelagius and company found that out when the guardian of faith Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, Ireneaus, the Cappadocians and others, relentlessly fought against them to silence them from propagating their “gods.”
The Sinai fiasco captures the consistent pattern of mankind’s tendency to fabricate the person of God according to their own understanding, reasoning and preference. “Come make us a god,” was the clamour of the crowd that join the Exodus led by Moses. Aaron, obliged enthusiastically and fashioned a golden calf and unveiled it saying, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you out of Egypt.”
This pattern is blatantly happening today, alarmingly charming many sincere followers of Christ to follow and pay homage to these strange gods.. The synergy between the crowd who clamour for a “god” and the high priests who joyfully feed on this need is not easy to neither spot nor break. These made-to-order fabricated “gods” easily becomes popular, because it suits well and satisfies the desires of the crowd. Let us look at some of the “gods” that are popularly worship by in most churches today.
The Golden Calf, this god is quite popular among the affluent and those who wants a god that will pamper their appetite for material gain. This god discloses itself through a message known as the “Prosperity Gospel” preached and promoted by its jet setting anointed high priests. Indeed, these high priests live up to their message, they travel in private jets, they own 14 to 20 room mansions and do not blush spending six digit figure (in £) hotel bills, while most of their faithful followers struggle to earn their keeps, continuously believing that as they support their high priest, one day the Golden Calf will prosper them.
Another god that is popular nowadays is, The Concert Calf, this god does not come to visit solemn worship assemblies and is no longer pleased by the singing of traditional hymns. This god loves to see his faithful in concert mood, prancing at the beat of deafening decibel music and wants the same adulation given to Madonna and famous R&B artists. Many young and not too young Christians prefer this god, because it allows them to enjoy their favourite music beat and somehow feel saintly. The priest through their song albums and famous concerts reveals the presence of this god. It is easy to please this god because it only requires lip service. His faithful just have to emote the songs of the priests where they make promises to love, to serve and to give everything to this god, without meaning it. “Yes, lord, yes lord, yes, yes lord” is the chant.
Popular to those who are mystified by paranormal occurrences is the modern concept of the Baal, the god Healing Calf. This god is considerably more famous and in demand compared to the Golden Calf and the Concert Calf, simply because it guarantees instant miracles and solutions to the maladies of people. This god appears in mammoth gatherings called miracle or healing crusades through its high priests who proclaim a miraculous healing to be happening among the crowd at the wave of his/her hand. Those who were apparently healed are chosen to come to the stage to testify and are given additional push of power at the hands of the high priest. Homage to this god is then collected and the high priest exits the stage in grand overture and adulation from the crowd. This god ironically will not do anything except through the high priest or through the fetish objects such as coloured handkerchiefs, oil and even touching the TV prayed for the high priest.
The last god that I want to talk about (though it is not the last) is the Crystal Ball Calf. Like the other gods mentioned above it cannot operate without a high priest. This god likes to predict the future of people, nations, calamities, anti Christ and many others are of great interest. They anoint political leaders, warn people of the coming end of the world, and promise revival to nations who do not have the smallest intention to repent of injustice and immoralities. Their high priests are very popular and rich and like to visit big churches to proclaim their messages. However, don’t expect them to be accountable or eat their words if the predictions are not fulfilled. The usual reason for the failure of the prediction is people who heard them lack the faith to believe.
Who are these gods?
I do not know who they are, neither where they come from! But one thing I know they don’t match the respectable and amiable description of the Living Creator God who appeared to Moses and His Incarnate Son who lived for thirty three years, died on the cross, resurrected from the dead, ascended into heaven and promised to return again as described in the Holy Scripture.
The God of the Scripture indeed promised to provide for His people but did not give them blank cheques to pamper their greed. In fact He together with His Son, taught His people to persevere in hardship and suffering. For those who have much they heed them to share to those who are in need, an indication that among God’s people there will be those who will remain destitute. His Son said when He was here on earth, “It is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven.” He also warned His people that it is impossible to serve God and money at the same time. Surely this could not be the Golden Calf!
How about the Concert Calf? Well the God of Moses and the God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, one time in history got mad with His people, telling them to stop their feasting and festivals (Isaiah 1:14) because, the people continued in their sins. God cannot bear the festivals of unchanged and unrepentant people. Similarly, Jesus Christ drove out a bunch of sellers in the temple court for making a business or turning the sacrificial worship to moneymaking trade. Just like the animals that were offered as sacrifice, songs were peddled as offerings of sacrifice. Music is a gift from God, it is also accepted to be the language of our soul. Songs are ways to express our thoughts, hearts, and even experiences of God. The problem also with some of the peddled songs leads people to make commitments without meaning what they say, they are plain romantic overtures, which the True God of Creation was never pleased.
With regards to the Healing Calf, indeed the prophets, the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles, performed many signs and wonders before the people of their times. But the miracles they have performed were not done under their beckoning, save for the Lord Jesus Christ. Miracles were never under their control but were subjected to the sovereign will of God. The high priests of this god, the Healing Calf, claim to be able to make miracles happen by their command, making themselves more than the prophets and equal with Jesus Christ. Surely this god is not the same God of the Bible who shares not His glory to others, except His Son. Simon Magus (Acts 8:18), is the forerunner of this healing god, and just like him, the modern proponent of this god will pay anything just to get the power of this strange healing god.
Finally, the Crystal Ball Calf, the problem with this god and their high priests is that they foretell things out of their own presumptions and imaginations. They like to make big and juicy proclamations. The God of the Bible, reserves the primacy in knowing and unveiling what will come our way. His prophets do not speculate, but they speak warnings to the people for violating their covenant with God. They don’t desire to become prophets (Ex. 4:13), for the job of the prophet was never a popular one (Jer. 11:19). The Lord Jesus told His disciples that their main pre-occupation is to be prepared and do their service to the Lord and not the future, for no one knows it (Mt 24:42). The scripture plainly tells us “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter. But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.” (Pr. 25:2). It simply means that it is the honour of God’s chosen leaders to gain wisdom from God. Again this god does not fit the Majestic God of the Bible.
Admonition
Let us therefore be careful to accept the many arrays of so called Christian new revivals and movements. Let us first examine the god that is being presented if they indeed represent the Almighty God revealed in the Bible. Let us examine the deeds and messages of their modern high priests introducing the strange gods that we many not be led astray. But most of all read His word and draw near to our Lord Jesus Christ, for in Him we will know the True and Living God.