DIY Religion
Dave Faust
I smiled at the irony when I read a sign in a hardware store that said, “We specialize in helping Do It Yourselfers.” Even if you do things yourself, you probably need some help.
In one of the stormiest sections of the Bible, the book of Judges chronicles the tumultuous season after Moses and Joshua died, and before Saul became Israel’s first king. Two identical verses summarize decades of warfare and interpersonal conflict by saying, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” (Judges 17:6, 21:25).
During this time of chaos and anarchy, God raised up leaders (“judges”), several of whom were colorful individuals:
The Israelites were religious Do-It-Yourselfers! It was a spiritual free-for-all as all the
people “did as they saw fit.” Idolatry, violence, and broken families were the result.
What We Can Learn
The book of Judges teaches us a number of important lessons.
It shows the need for a moral compass. No one benefits when God’s moral standards are ignored and rejected. Like travelers who need a GPS or a map, we need the Creator to guide us. The psalmist was right when he prayed, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105).
The book of Judges also illustrates the need for godly leadership—and the willingness to follow. God designed the family so that children will honor their parents. He designed the church so that sheep will trust and listen to their shepherds. The Bible tells us to have confidence in our godly leaders, “submit to their authority,” and do our best to make their work a joy (Hebrews 13:17).
Further,* the book of Judges demonstrates the need for trusting God in dark times*. Society seemed to be falling apart in those chaotic days, but the Lord was still at work. Through famine, poverty, and grief, a faithful young woman named Ruth told her widowed mother-in-law, “Your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). God used Ruth and her husband Boaz to fulfill a key part of his plan, and through their ancestral lineage the great King David was born.
Do It Yourself Religion doesn’t work. We can’t deliver ourselves from sin. We can’t overcome death by our own efforts. Instead of doing whatever we see fit, we need to follow the moral compass of God’s Word, respect and follow godly leadership, and trust God in dark times. In the long run, his way always turns out better than our way.
QUESTIONS:
This column first appeared in The Lookout on Apr 26, 2015.
Diving for Pearls
It all begins with a grain of sand.
Do Not Disturb?
While driving through an upscale neighborhood recently I noticed a roadside sign that said, “$150 fine for honking.” (Presumably the message was intended for drivers, not geese.) That’s a pretty stiff penalty for disturbing the peace. Clearly the residents don’t want anyone bothering them.