Why Idles in the Church Lead to Idols in the Church

In Matthew 14 we find one of the most iconic Bible stories. The disciples see Jesus walking on the water in the midst of a storm and Simon steps out to meet Him. As the story unfolds, we find that Simon doesn't stay up for long before being consumed by the waves and rescued by Jesus. Surely I'm not the only one who is convinced that later, when renaming him "Peter" (which means rock) Jesus must have cracked a joke about rocks sinking; I mean, it's just too easy. For a rock to stay on the water's surface is scientifically impossible... that is unless that rock is in constant motion.

I will admit I have a problem. When I see a stream, lake, or any body of water accompanied by a heaping supply of smooth rocks, I will spend an UNREASONABLE amount of time skipping them. Jill learned this early on when we were dating. We spent the afternoon at a park with a lake one time and I seized the opportunity to show her just how good my rock-skipping skills were. At first she was really impressed, but I've found that being good at skipping rocks is one of those things that is only impressive for a couple of minutes and then it quickly just becomes weird. My demonstration on how to skip rocks turned into a determination to get further and further across the lake, even if it meant throwing my arm out.

For try-hard's like me, I think it's the sheer fascination of a heavy object gliding over a liquid surface that keeps us motivated. It's amazing how simple motion has been the key to some of history's greatest scientific breakthroughs. Planes can stay in the air as long as they stay in motion. We can even land a man on the moon if we have enough force to put him there. But I don't believe it's just the scientific realm in which Newton's Laws of Motion are relevant. I think motion is integrally relevant to the spiritual life as well.

THE WORD

"And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive..." - 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Perhaps Peter's problem wasn't just a lack of faith, but rather a lack of faith that resulted in a lack of movement. Or maybe it's the other way around and inaction is what results in losing faith. Either way, it's clear that our ability to draw closer to Jesus and become more like Him hinges on our intention to keep pressing ahead.

This is why James is so adamant in his letter to the early Church that "faith without works is dead." True belief always results in action. BELIEVING IN Jesus most simply means to BE LIVING LIKE Jesus.

IDLE AND DISRUPTIVE?

In the Apostle Paul's letter to the church in Thessalonica he advises the leaders to warn the people against being both idle and disruptive. I don't know about you but one of those seems far worse than the other. When I think of disrupting church I just imagine, in the middle of service, a guy jumping up, ripping off his shirt, and twirling it around while he runs up and down the aisles screaming. That, to me, would be the definition of disruptive (though I'm not going to lie, I've seen some things not too far from that growing up in the Pentecostal tradition).

But that most likely is not what Paul had in mind when he was writing his letter. Don't get me wrong, that would be problematic, but what he was probably referring to are the kinds of disruptions that are all too common in church: gossip, judging, complaining, sowing discord and division, you know – that kind of disruptiveness. It opposes not only the unity of a service but the movement of the church as a whole. Nothing kills a move of God quicker than the people of God fighting the wrong enemy in each other. So Paul gives a very important warning to the early church to not give into disruption.

But what fascinates me is he includes being idle in the same category as being disruptive. By doing so, it's as if Paul is saying it is just as damaging to the church when someone sits and does nothing as it is when someone participates in all the wrong things.

IDLES MAKE IDOLS

Perhaps Paul labels these two as sister sins because one can very easily lead to the other. The more you participate in being divisive, the less you will move forward in your spiritual formation, and vis versa. The more stagnant you become in your walk, the more you will inevitably find yourself in the wrong places doing the wrong things.

Idling is often a term used to describe a car that is running but not going. Sounds oxymoronic right? The engine is on, the fuel is burning, but the vehicle is stationary. Sadly many people live their life this way as it pertains to what they say they believe. Perhaps they've heard the gospel and understand its power but still have yet to put their faith in gear to actually live by it.

When we become idle in our worship, serving, discipleship, or any other aspect of the Christian life, the risk we're taking is not just becoming stationary, but rather moving backwards. To be idle in our faith often leads to making idols in our lives.

We see this in Exodus 32, while Moses is up on the mountain with God, the Israelites are sitting at the foot of the mountain twiddling their fingers... that is, until they decide to take the rings off those fingers and make an idol in the form of a golden calf. Mind you this is after in Exodus 20 when they told Moses they didn't want God to speak to them directly, but only through him because they were afraid. They chose not to come close to God and as a result the created a god of their own that suited their comfort.

Or how about King David's infamous debacle of an affair with Bathseba which led to his murdering her husband. That whole ordeal began in 2 Samuel 11 with David deciding not to go to war at a time when it was his duty as a King to do so. Moral of the story? When we neglect our God-given assignment, we will find a much darker assignment to take part in. How does the old saying go? "Idle hands are the devil's workshop."

THE DEVIL'S WORKSHOP

I don't like to give the devil much credit. I think much of what we blame him for is really the result of our own bad decisions. But if WE are God's workmanship and God has called us to subdue the earth, therefore making the world OUR workshop, then it would make sense that the devil would set up shop in the Church.

The Church is God's plan A for world transformation and there is no plan B. His redemption is sufficient and His people are equipped, so of course the enemy wants to work hard at dismantling God's bride. But I have found if the devil can't get you to sin more, he will try to get you to stop moving. If he can't keep you bound he will try to keep you busy... and not with the kingdom either.

When we become detached from our purpose we can easily become attracted to the ways of the world around us. That is the enemy's scheme.

IDLES AND IDOLS IN THE CHURCH

This past Sunday we announced to our church that we're launching a third service in a few weeks. It's exciting and definitely something to celebrate, but it also comes with the weight of responsibility, and one that every person in our congregation must share. I made a call for "all hands on deck" - a phrase that originated with the navy that meant every sailor, no matter their position or rank, must get to the deck of the ship to help weather the storm.

But this call is not specific to our local church but rather to the global Church. Every believer in the body is called to share the weight of the ministry, not because of the state your church is in but because of the state the world is in! The Church has a mission to engage the lost, equip the disciple, and empower the believer, but that mission is only possible if every person in it considers themselves a minister of the gospel. If we only sit in service and never serve in settings we become spiritually selfish and obese. And on the other side, if we only serve and never sit, we become spiritually depleted and disconnected.

I'm not a fan of talking about serving only as it pertains to "weekend experiences" and service times. The call to serve is MUCH BIGGER than what goes on in church buildings on Sundays. We are to serve others in every capacity of our lives: from our homes, to our jobs, in our cities, and yes, in our churches. But hear me, to not do so is not just detrimental to the faith community you're apart of, it's detrimental to your personal faith journey.

So now as our local church is stepping into a new season, we're having to evaluate what things can come with us and what things cannot. I am so thankful to be a part of a church that has continually made sacrifices and pivoted with the times as the Holy Spirit leads, so I'm not overwhelmed with a church-full of golden calves. But all too common in churches today are idols that have been erected as a result of comfort, ease, and being idle when it comes to the mission of God.

Programs, events, and activities are wonderful and should happen often in the church. But at the point that they take the place of ministry and mission, they become no different than what the Israelites bowed their knees to in the wilderness when they began to worship the work of their own hands.

CONCLUSION

Take a second to evaluate the velocity at which you are pursuing Jesus. Are you still moving? Are there areas in your spiritual walk where you have become stagnant? Perhaps an even more difficult question we must answer is, have we allowed idols to stand as a result of our inaction? The good news is if you find yourself UNDER water, remember Jesus is still ON it. He is perfectly positioned to pull you up and out and bring you closer to Himself. All you need to do is keep moving.