13 October 2015 - senseless and darkened

They might not be this obvious.

Instead, they became vain in their reasoning,
and their senseless minds were darkened.

This is a risk we all face. It isn't just those outside of the Church that run this risk. In fact, it is precisely those for whom "what can be known about God is evident" that there is the greatest risk because "they have no excuse". We know God. But do we honor him, give him glory as God, and give him thanks? It is easy to make excuses, to "become vain" in our thinking. Our idols aren't necessarily as obvious as images of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or snakes, but most assuredly, we have them. The sins to which they give rise might not involve the lusts of our hearts or the mutual degradation of our bodies (although we clearly recognize this sort of thing all around us). But we do have idols and they do give rise to sins wherein we choose to put our own priorities before God's priorities. We tell ourselves we're fine because the externals are OK. We go to Church, we study the Word, and we pray. Yet whether it is television, internet, celebrity culture, or other vacuous entertainment, whether gossip, or the pursuit of finer things of food and culture, whatever they might be, things which are not God often take the throne in our lives. The exterior acts are insufficient.

Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish,
inside you are filled with plunder and evil.
You fools!
Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside?

When we have idols in our lives we become ashamed of the gospel because it shows us that these things are harmful and calls us to repent. We talk ourselves into why such things have the place they do in our lives. We rationalize them. We become darkened in our minds. We become not so much unable as unwilling to proclaim the gospel.

We want to be able to say with Paul:

I am not ashamed of the Gospel.
It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:
for Jew first, and then Greek.

But instead find ourselves unable to do so.

They exchanged the truth of God for a lie
and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator,
who is blessed forever. Amen.

How do we solve this? How do we free our souls to proclaim the gospel without shame?

But as to what is within, give alms,
and behold, everything will be clean for you.

We need to take steps to take ourselves off of our own throne. If we give alms, not to look good, but to love, we find the idols within our hearts begin to topple. The false gods begin to fall. Suddenly we become able to proclaim the good news of God effectively. It becomes as natural for us as it is for creation.

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Let's be unashamed. Let's throw the idols down and give all that we are to God, trusting that he will use us for his glory.