Stone Altar

Under the ‘old law’, sacrifices were made to the Lord for many different reasons. Some were offerings of joy or thanks, some were sin offerings, and others commemorated feasts. The animal was slaughtered and placed on the altar and didn’t much have a choice. Israel made these sacrifices regularly, but there are numerous (scores) of accounts in the Old Testament where the Bible states that the people fell away from the Lord and no longer knew Him or what he had done for Israel (Judges 2:10, 2 Kings 17:6-20). It is clear that the sacrifice was not the only effective part of the transaction then, there was also a heart/mind component; the memory of the Lord and the willingness to follow His ways.

Today, we are told to give our bodies as ‘living sacrifices’ to our God (Romans 12:1). This brings several new dimensions to an ancient ritual. First, a live sacrifice can leave the altar. Second, a live sacrifice is personally involved in the transaction, living it and feeling it. Finally, a living sacrifice lasts longer than the old, dead sacrifice.

Let’s examine these dimensions as we look at what is happening in our post, post-modern culture.

When we examine the pattern of sin (Adam’s, the Israelites, or in our lives) we see that there is a period of time where we attempt to walk with God, a time when we consider the pull of sin (temptation), then a time of ‘waffling’ where we begin to question God and His Word, and then we turn from Him and lean on our own wisdom, sinning in the process. Eve – in the garden – was first tempted, then she listened to the serpent’s words while doubting God, then she ‘saw’ that the food was good for ‘wisdom’ and then she ate. The Israelites repeated a cycle where they lived as a people ‘set apart’ for a time, following the will of the Lord, then they would watch their neighbors, marry their women, then would begin to worship their gods, turning from the one true God. Can you see this pattern in your life? I can certainly see it in mine.

Paul’s words in Romans 12:1 are written in such a way that I conclude from this that he is exhorting his listeners to continually offer themselves up to the Lord (First aorist ‘paristemi ‘). Each morning, give yourself to the Lord and each minute during they day, offer up praise and stay connected to the One giving you strength and bringing you closer into His image (as the smoke would rise from ancient sacrifices to heaven). This understanding certainly indicates that there are almost infinite opportunities for us to choose to worship our Lord (or not).

Offering ourselves to the Lord seems like such an obvious thing, filled with joy. Why then would we want to choose not to worship? James writes, “On the very rare occasion that you might be temporarily inconvenienced in a minor way…”, no, he writes, “..when you meet trials of various kinds” [emphasis mine]. This passage indicates that we will see trials as a result of being believers and worshiping our Lord. More than this, it sounds like we’ll be presented with a few different types to deal with!

“Trial” sounds uncomfortable, doesn’t it? It seems as though this is something we’d like to avoid, but being on an altar sounds uncomfortable as well, and we’re told to be there. The apostles rejoiced when they were punished because of The Name and considered it a blessing, even high praise, to be persecuted for being a Christ-follower (Acts 5:41, 1 Pet 4:13, Col 1:24, Phil 3:8). So, though uncomfortable, it sounds as though going through trials is part of being a Christian. There is also evidence to support that trials refine us and increase our faith (1 Pet 3:18, 1 Pet 4:1). Does this mean that we should be beatific and gloriously happy all the time? I don’t think so. People that act that way are put into small, padded rooms. It means that we know our ultimate destination and that we keep the faith through trials. It does not mean that we do not get “down” or despondent from time to time.

So, we’ve examined the reasons that we might want to leave the altar and the reasons why we ‘feel’ it so deeply, what about the idea of living it through our life as an example to others? St. Francis of Assisi said, “Wherever you go, preach Christ; and if necessary, use words”. How powerful an exhortation to live out our faith! Brennan Manning has said – quoted in a dc Talk song – “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today… is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle.” While I remain unconvinced that this statement is theologically sound, it does speak to the idea that our lives can either lead others to the Lord, or lead them away into death.1 Pet 4:13 tells us that, in our suffering, God’s glory can be revealed. 1 Cor 12:26 reveals the idea that sharing suffering as a body of believers will strengthen everyone. 1 Tim 4:12 is a direct call to Timothy to set an example for the believers. It is clear that Scripture calls us to continue our living out of Christ’s Lordship in our lives (living sacrifice) both to edify the congregation of believers and to set an example that will draw those yet to be saved.

Finally, I’d like to circle back to the beginning of this post, to the idea that we question the validity of God’s Word, then believe our own understanding above the Word of the Lord, and then actively sin. Paul gave praise to the Bereans for testing his words, and we should study and verify the things we are being taught. This study and honest examination is not what I am calling out here. I am speaking about the tendency of human beings to doubt the word of the Lord because they view it to be incongruent with what they see here on earth. Proverbs 3:5 tells us to trust in the Lord and not to lean on our own understanding. The combination of these two concepts leads me to the idea that – while we must study – we must also hold firm to the things that the Lord clearly says, and that we should not rationalize, and hem and haw on these clear tenets of the faith. We must come to conclusions about the things the Lord has said, and then live then out actively.

In the ‘neo-modern’ world of today we have moved past the post-modern approach that says not to judge other people’s beliefs. That is already bad enough, and anti-Scriptural, but we have moved into a neo-modern world that not only accepts everyone’s ideas but demands that we agree that all views are equally true! Beyond being ridiculous in a logical sense, this approach is exactly what the children of Israel believed as they slid into active sin, and they were judged for it. How much more harshly will it be with us when we have His Word to guide us?

Let us each remain on the altar, choosing it joyfully each morning and minute during the day, living out our lives as a living sacrifice to the Lord who saved us. No crawling off the altar!

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