Gods Made By Human Hands
Read Acts 19:23-41.
What Demetrius said Paul and his companions did, they did. Let's be clear on that. When Demetrius the silversmith says Paul claimed that gods made by human hands were no gods at all, he's right. Paul did claim that. So does the whole of Hebrew Scripture. Isaiah, centuries before, had pointed out the absurdity of a god made by our own hands in a critique that is blistering: "[A man] cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak...It is used as fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. Half of the wood he burns in the fire...From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, 'Save me! You are my god!'" (Isaiah 44:14-17). So half of the log is fuel for the fire and the other half has the power to save? Isaiah shakes his head, as should we.
We can read Demetrius' words and realize how ridiculous it sounds. A god made by human hands. Really? If we can make it, why would we worship it? But Demetrius is seemingly unaware, or he's at least choosing to be unaware so as to protect his statue-making business. He wants—or needs—the people to believe that the gods he makes really do have some sort of divine power. I'm sure glad we have grown beyond such primitive beliefs!
And yet...
Some today worship at the altar of technology. Technology will save us. We can engineer this, reform that, make the world do what we want it to do all because of the technology that we ourselves have created. I see people all the time today bowed over their gods...in restaurants, in homes, even in their cars. We carry our gods in our pockets. (Some of you may be reading this on such a god!) "Save us, little communication devices. Save us from loneliness. Save us from boredom. Give us connection." (Technology isn't good or evil by nature. It's neutral. What makes the difference is how we use it, or how we allow it to use us. Do we control our technology or does it control us?)
Others today worship at the altar of progress or human achievement. We're getting better and better, this god calls out. We can achieve our highest potential or our grandest dreams if we just all come together and do our best. Humanism touts the endless possibilities of humankind, ignoring our ever-present and ever-evident sin nature. "If you can dream it, you can achieve it" is the mantra of this god. And while the situation around us is not getting better, we dream of a savior who can show us the way to fulfill our potential.
Still others worship at the god of power. Some have it, others want it, and no matter how much we have it's never enough. One uses the power they think they have over the other to abuse them. Another uses their power to be beneficial and benevolent. But the one without power always wants some and the one with power always wants more. It has been no different throughout the centuries. When Luke tells us Jesus was born "in the time of King Herod," he's reminding us that it was a dark time when men struggled for power. Herod was especially power hungry, executing a wife and at least two sons whom he thought were after his power. Power corrupts...? Yes indeed, it certainly does.
So Paul is guilty of saying just what Demetrius accuses him of. The problem with Demetrius' accusation is that Paul is right. Gods made by human hands are no gods at all. So are there some gods in your life that you've made, things you have set up as gods in your life (whether that was your intent or not)? Perhaps today is a good time to dethrone that god and turn your energy toward the only God who can save.
+++++++
For more on this passage, check out last Sunday's sermon.
What Demetrius said Paul and his companions did, they did. Let's be clear on that. When Demetrius the silversmith says Paul claimed that gods made by human hands were no gods at all, he's right. Paul did claim that. So does the whole of Hebrew Scripture. Isaiah, centuries before, had pointed out the absurdity of a god made by our own hands in a critique that is blistering: "[A man] cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress or oak...It is used as fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. Half of the wood he burns in the fire...From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, 'Save me! You are my god!'" (Isaiah 44:14-17). So half of the log is fuel for the fire and the other half has the power to save? Isaiah shakes his head, as should we.
We can read Demetrius' words and realize how ridiculous it sounds. A god made by human hands. Really? If we can make it, why would we worship it? But Demetrius is seemingly unaware, or he's at least choosing to be unaware so as to protect his statue-making business. He wants—or needs—the people to believe that the gods he makes really do have some sort of divine power. I'm sure glad we have grown beyond such primitive beliefs!
And yet...
Some today worship at the altar of technology. Technology will save us. We can engineer this, reform that, make the world do what we want it to do all because of the technology that we ourselves have created. I see people all the time today bowed over their gods...in restaurants, in homes, even in their cars. We carry our gods in our pockets. (Some of you may be reading this on such a god!) "Save us, little communication devices. Save us from loneliness. Save us from boredom. Give us connection." (Technology isn't good or evil by nature. It's neutral. What makes the difference is how we use it, or how we allow it to use us. Do we control our technology or does it control us?)
Others today worship at the altar of progress or human achievement. We're getting better and better, this god calls out. We can achieve our highest potential or our grandest dreams if we just all come together and do our best. Humanism touts the endless possibilities of humankind, ignoring our ever-present and ever-evident sin nature. "If you can dream it, you can achieve it" is the mantra of this god. And while the situation around us is not getting better, we dream of a savior who can show us the way to fulfill our potential.
Still others worship at the god of power. Some have it, others want it, and no matter how much we have it's never enough. One uses the power they think they have over the other to abuse them. Another uses their power to be beneficial and benevolent. But the one without power always wants some and the one with power always wants more. It has been no different throughout the centuries. When Luke tells us Jesus was born "in the time of King Herod," he's reminding us that it was a dark time when men struggled for power. Herod was especially power hungry, executing a wife and at least two sons whom he thought were after his power. Power corrupts...? Yes indeed, it certainly does.
So Paul is guilty of saying just what Demetrius accuses him of. The problem with Demetrius' accusation is that Paul is right. Gods made by human hands are no gods at all. So are there some gods in your life that you've made, things you have set up as gods in your life (whether that was your intent or not)? Perhaps today is a good time to dethrone that god and turn your energy toward the only God who can save.
+++++++
For more on this passage, check out last Sunday's sermon.
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