Idolatry

All sin is the sin of idolatry.

Idolatry is when we let the means become the end.

There is only one proper end in all the universe; God alone.

The reason we have messed this world up so badly is that we have exchanged God for something less than God. We have fallen in love with the process and let go of the destination. This is as evident within the church as it is without, perhaps even moreso. We love all our shows and grand events. We love sunday church and massive healing spectacles but we need to ask ourselves whether we love these more than we love God. How much of this is just entertainment with a spiritual twist?

We simply must stop taking ourselves and our actions so seriously, particularly our religious ones. Only God is to be taken seriously. Paradoxically, when we do this will we really have the great joy in us that Jesus promises.

Paul puts it like this...'they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.' (Rom 1.25)

Richard Rohr says that we end up loving the container (style) more than the contents (substance - God). He is right isn't he? We need to be so careful that what we think we are doing for God doesn't really become about fulfilling our needs.