We find ourselves in the twelfth chapter of Acts, verses 12b-24. According to the text, Herod the Great (c. 72 BCE – c. 4 BCE), the Roman authority in that corner of the world, went to the harbor town of Caesarea in Judea. The day began like every other day. Herod was working. On his agenda were the representatives of the cities of Tyre and Sidon. They proposed peace with Herod because they were dependent on the king’s territory for food. Herod made a big show of the event. Trying to impress his people, he wore his royal robes, sat on his royal throne, and delivered a powerful message. The event was more than he could have dreamed. He energized the crowd. Verse 22 says, “This is the voice of a god, not a man.” Herod’s large ego must have grown even larger. He must have felt like the crowd was right, he was a god! Then, the unthinkable happened.
This magnificent scene of political power is ruined by human weakness. The author of Acts says it was the work of an angel. He died because of his own arrogance; Herod did not give his praise to God. In the end, he was eaten by worms. Our modern world would say he had a stroke or an aneurism, maybe a heart attack. Two thousand years later, the cause of death really doesn’t matter. The only thing that really matters is that Herod, the one-time god in the eyes of the people, was dead. The story reminds us how fast life can change. The story also reminds us of how easy it is to mix up our priorities. In the Christian faith, our top priority must be God!That leads us to our question for today: Who is your god?
Did you know, according to the Pew Research, 31.1% of the world’s population are Christian. That makes Christianity the largest religion in the world, yet we are also a minority in the world. That means 68.9% of the world population are not Christian. Each world religion has a different understanding of God. The Islamic faith, 24.9% of the world’s population, has a different understanding of God than Christianity. The Asian regions, Hinduism, and Buddhism, 15.1% and 6.9% respectively of the world’s population, have a different understanding of God than Christianity. The Hebrew faith, .2% of the world’s population, has a different understanding of God than Christianity. There are many who do not believe there is a god. Atheists and agnostics make up 7% of the world’s population. While all of this is true, the story is not about theological differences. The story is about mixed-up priorities. You can claim Christianity as your own and still have other gods. Who is your god?
There is a dark side to that question. Do you know anyone who has been scammed? According to CNBC Americans lost $5.8 billion to fraud last year. That is up 70% in the last three years. I find that figure shocking. There is nothing wrong with money, but you cannot make it your god. It is not just true of money. It is true of many things in our society. How many lives do you know have been ruined by alcohol? There are 29.5 million alcoholics in America. They have made alcohol their god. Cirrhosis of the liver is a horrible way to die. Did you know nearly 99,000 Americans died due to drug overdose? Drugs were their god. Child pornography must be at an all-time high. It makes me sick to my stomach. For some pornography is this god. Do I have to go on? Do I really have to go on? Our society has made many sinister things their god. They will sacrifice everything else in life for their god. However, this is our question for the day.
Who is your god? The question is not aimed at someone else. The question is aimed at you. It is a personal question. Who is your god? I feel comfortable saying, if you are reading this blog, then you are not a sinister person. However, that does not mean, you don’t have your gods. Your god is the top priority in your life. What is your top priority? Let me look at a few good things that can’t be your god. As a Christian, your top priority must be God, Himself. Never forget, our God is a jealous God. Exodus 34:14 says it clearly, “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is jealous, is a jealous God.” That is what makes our question of the day so important. Who is your god?
Have you made the United States of America your god? Sitting in the center of Public Square in Cleveland, Ohio is the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. It was designed by Levi Scofield (1842-1917) and was opened on July 4, 1894. It stands as a reminder of the soldiers and sailors who died during the Civil War from Cuyahoga County. It is a cheap date because it is open to the public free of charge. From an academic standpoint, it is an excellent example of civil religion. Every community has an example of civil religion. What is civil religion? It is when we mix our faith and our patriotism together. Civil Religion communicates to the world that God loves your country more than any other country. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) once said, “The question is not if God is on our side, the question is are we on God’s side.”
America is a great place! I believe it is the greatest country in the world. I have visited other countries, but I have never wanted to stay. I was always ready to come home. With all our problems and challenges, we still have freedom and opportunity. If you can’t make it here, then you can’t make it anywhere. One of the hot topics in our country is illegal aliens. They are coming in record numbers, over and under fences, crossing rivers and seas. It is easy to be mad at them, but do you know the truth? I would be one of them, if I lived in their countries. I have seen their countries and I am not impressed. You should be proud of America! So, wear your American flag ties. Wear your American flag shirts. Fly your American flag in front of your house and light those fireworks on Independence Day. We have so much, but don’t make America your god. You could easily make America your god, but don’t do it. If you are lucky, you will live in America for one hundred years. You are going to spend eternity in heaven with God. There is nothing wrong with being proud of your country, but God must be your god. Who is your god?
The first church I served was the Pleasant Grove Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Lancaster, Kentucky. I have nothing negative to say about that congregation. They were good to me at a time when I needed some kindness. Like many small membership churches, it was dominated by a single family. That family did everything, and they were proud of their church. They were proud of the history of their church. The church was started shortly after the Civil War near Camp Dix. They were proud of the location of their church. It was surrounded by a horse farm. It was a picturesque setting. They were proud of the condition of their church building. The white framed structure was well maintained and clean. They were proud their ancestors went to that church and were buried in the church’s cemetery. As infants, they were dedicated in that church. At twelve-years old, they were baptized in that church. As adults, they worshipped in that church weekly. Annually, they spent every Christmas Eve and Easter morning in that church. They were married in that church, and they knew their funeral service would take place in that church. They knew everyone and everyone knew them. At that time, I thought that church was unique. Then, I learned the truth. They were not unique. It was the same in every church I served. Every congregation I served was proud of their church and they should have been. It would be easy to make your church your god, but don’t do it.
Have you made your church your god? Your local churchis a vehicle used by God; It is where you learn about Jesus. It is where you join with other disciples to encourage one another in the faith. Your church should have a special place in your heart. However, this is the danger. Your church cannot save your soul. It is possible to know everything about your church and know nothing about Jesus. Jesus is your only hope of salvation.There is nothing wrong with being proud of your church, but your church can’t be your god. Only God can be your God. Who is your god?
Years ago, I watched Ken Burn’s documentary on World War II, The War. My father served during that war, so I feel some attachment. I particularly found the interviews with the survivors interesting. One night they interviewed a native-American soldier who was in the infantry. Years after the conflict, he cried about the day he took a German life with his own hands. Death did not come suddenly for the German. The soldier died slowly. Before he passed, he called out. According to the man interviewed, he didn’t call out for a medic. He did not call out for his Sergeant. He did not call out to his friend. He called out for his mother. Don’t tell me being a mother isn’t important. Don’t tell me family and friends aren’t important. They are extremely important.
Have you made the people in your life your god? The area that I live in is hard on itself. Many promote the negative things about this community. I do not understand those people. My community is filled with many good people. My community is a real community, in every sense of the word. We care about one another. We support one another. We pray for and sacrifice for one another. It would be easy to make your community your god. It would be easy to make you family your god. It would be easy to make the people in your life your god, but don’t do it. There is nothing wrong with loving the people in your life, but God must be your god.Who is your god?
When the great missionary David Livingstone (1813-1873) died, a great debate broke out. Some said he should be buried in England where he was born. Others said he should be buried in Africa, the land he loved. A compromise was reached. His body was buried in England, but his heart was buried under a tree in a small village in Africa. That leads us to an interesting question. Where is your heart? In other words, who is your god? American bandleader Laurance Welk (1903-1992) once said, “Never trust anyone completely but God. Love people but put your full trust in God.
Russ Adams 