The Pathology of Idolatry

Statistics have shown that a large percentage of children who grow up in church leave the faith after high school. Interestingly, this is not a new problem. The book of Judges begins with the alarming statement that the generation of Joshua and the next generation were faithful, but “there arose another generation after them that did not know the Lord” (Judges 2:7-10).

The book of Judges explains that Israel’s main problem was idolatry. “And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals” (Judges 2:11). More specifically, Judges 17-18 show the Pathology of Israel’s Idolatry. This warning serves us well because we, too, are in constant danger of making our own gods. Consider, the Pathology of Idolatry:

1. Idolatry is personal. Idolatry often begins as a personal response to something we think we need or want. Just as Micah’s mother needed a god to protect Micah from a curse (17:2-3), and just as Micah wanted a god to prosper him (17:12-13), and the five spies wanted assurance of the success of their mission (18:5-6), so we also tend to create gods that will fulfill or satisfy personal needs or wants. Whenever we feel God is not meeting our needs or satisfying our desires, we create gods who we think will. Whenever we are in a crisis or tragedy, and we believe God is not saving us, we turn to functional saviors for help.

Questions:

• When you don’t think God is meeting your needs or satisfying your desires, what or who do you put your hope in? 
• Whenever your life is falling apart, and you don’t think God is saving you, who or what do you turn to?

2. Idolatry is institutionalized. We are inclined to legitimize our idolatry by creating a religious system around it. Micah created an entire system of worship to support his idol and seek his prosperity (17:4-5, 12-13). Then, the tribe of Dan stole Micah’s priest and their entire religious system (18:27, 20-31). And we do the same. We feel better about our idolatry when we are joined by other worshipers. For example, consider the fitness industry. We go to temples (gyms). We seek counsel from priests (fitness experts and personal trainers). We make sacrifices (our bodies, time, money). To worship our god (our body, self, self-image).

Question: Where do you go to temple? What are you sacrificing? Who are your priests?

3. Idolatry is validated. I’ve already mentioned priests, but that’s how we validate our gods and our systems of worship. That’s what Micah did. He thought that having a Levite as a priest validated his religious worship (17:7-13).

Question: Who are your priests? Experts? Celebrities? Pundits? Politicians? Pastors? Influencers?

4. Idolatry spreads fast. The point of Judges 17-18 is to record just how quickly idolatry spread in Israel. These chapters show Israel’s religious decline. Judges 2:10 is proven here. Moses was faithful. Those who came after Moses, like his son Gershom. were faithful. But there arose another generation after that who did not know the Lord. Judges 18:30 names Moses’s grandson, Jonathan, as the Levite priest who was for hire. How quickly has idolatry spread in Israel.

Idolatry is foolish, empty, and deceptive. We think our gods will fulfill and satisfy us, but they won’t. They can’t! How do we address the power and spread of idolatry that originates in our own hearts? Two actions:

1. Repent. Consider the heart of our heavenly Father. He has every right to judge us. Instead, he offers forgiveness for all who repent. How? Because our idolatry has already been judged in Christ. So, confess your idolatry and return to God, in Christ, by the power of the Spirit.

2. True Worship. We combat false worship with true worship. The Father is looking for true worshipers (John 4:20-24). True worshipers are those who worship God on the basis of the truth of who Jesus is for us. Under the new covenant worship is no longer about a place. It is about a person: Jesus Christ. So, all of life is worship. We are to live our whole lives in a manner that is pleasing to God.

Of course, under the new covenant, worship is no longer about a place or an annual calendar. Worship is year round. We gather every Lord’s Day to hear from God and build one another up in the word. So vital is our weekly gathering to battling idolatry and pursuing holiness that God commands us in his word that we are not to forsake gathering together (Hebrews 10:23-24).

As we repent of our idolatry and worship the one true God, through Christ, by the power of the Spirit, we will treasure God above all else, and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim.

Thank you for all who were able to join us Sunday night for our members’ meeting. We encourage all members to make every effort to join us as this is the time we handle family business and care for our members together as a church. Here are some of the actions taken:

1. We received nine new members, two pending baptism. 

• For a list of members affirmed, click HERE.
• We encourage you to get to know our newest members.

2. The elders gave a budget report.

• As of September 30, we are currently $67,071 behind in net income. But the first Sunday in October was the largest offering Sunday of the year, so we are encouraged. And October 2024 is already a stronger giving month that October 2023.
• Join us in praying that the Lord will continue to grow us in our generous giving for the glory of God and the good of the gospel at home and around the world.

3. The congregation voted to approve changing our fiscal year to begin in October and   end in September.

• This vote amended our constitution and now reads, The fiscal year of the church shall begin October first and end September thirtieth.
• So, the 2025 budget we present will go from January 1 to September 30.
• The proposed 2025 “stub” budget will go out in the next few weeks.

4. Ismael Hernandez, our deacon of Spanish ministry, gave a good report.

• The Lord has blessed us with a growing number of Spanish-speaking members.
• Please get to know all our members, including our Spanish-speaking members. We are one church doing life together.

5. The elders nominated Jack Delk to serve a second three-year term.

• At our December meeting, we will vote to affirm Jack for a second term.
• If you have any questions, talk to Jack or any of the elders.

6. Pastor Juan’s Comments may be found HERE.

High Pointe Pickleball Group and Men’s Ultimate Frisbee Group
If you’re interested in getting to know other members of High Pointe and get a little exercise in at the same time, Stephen and Kaitlyn Wehe have organized some fun groups. We play Pickleball every other Tuesday night in Taylor. And the men are going to start gathering every Saturday morning to Ultimate Frisbee. If you’re interested, feel free to reach out to Stephen at 405-808-7447.

Fujairah Mission Trip | November 15-19, 2024
If you are interested in going to the Middle East to see the world the Lord is doing in the emirate of Fujairah, contact pastor Juan: juan@highpointeaustin.org.

We are still making plans, but the flights will be approximately $1,300.00 round trip (from Austin to Dubai). We are still working out the details of the lodging, but those are dependent on who will go. So, those going will be responsible for their airfare, lodging, and food. If you are a church member and you’ve never been on an international mission trip, we want to provide a $500.00 scholarship. More details will be forthcoming.

One-Day Membership Class | Sunday, November 10 | 1:15 PM to 4:30 PM in the Old Choir Room
If you’re interested in learning more about High Pointe or pursuing membership with High Pointe, please mark your calendars for our One-Day Membership Class. This class will cover three main questions: What is the church and why should I join, what does High Pointe believe, and what do we expect of church members at High Pointe. You can register for the class online here.

Re:Connecting Around the Gospel Marriage Workshop | Saturday, December 7 | 8:30 AM to 12 PM
This workshop is for any married couple to attend together. The workshop will present biblical wisdom then provide time for couples to reflect, process and pray together. During and after the workshop, you will practice reconnecting with gospel hearts and postures, growing closer to Christ and one another thru gospel-centered communication and establishing new habits together. We are planning to provide childcare. Click here to register.
 
Life Classes
Life Classes are meant to equip High Pointe for life as a Christian. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity and join us. Childcare is available for ages 8 months through Pre-K. This session, we are offering the following classes from August 25 to December 5:

• Growing in Prayer
• Discipling: Principles and Practice
• Student Ministry Life Class | Spiritual Disciplines: For children 6th–12th grades

• Kids Life Class: For children K–5th grade

 
Sunday AM Preaching Schedule: Pray regularly for the ministry of the Word at High Pointe. Also, prepare for our gatherings by reading the sermon text, thinking it through, and asking questions about the text before Sunday. Here is our (tentative) preaching schedule designed to help you prepare for Sundays:  

• November 03 | Judges 19-21, Pastor Juan
• November 10 | Begin Study of 1 Thessalonians, Pastor Robert
• November 17 | 1 Thessalonians, Pastor Robert
• November 24 | Begin Study of Luke’s Gospel, Pastor Juan
• December 1 | Luke’s Gospel, Pastor Juan
• December 8 | Luke’s Gospel, Pastor Juan
• December 15 | Luke’s Gospel, Pastor Juan
• December 22 | Luke’s Gospel, Pastor Juan
• December 29 | Luke’s Gospel, Pastor Juan

Begin praying as you prepare to gather with us this Sunday at 10:00 am.

Gospel Partner of the Month: The Gospel Coalition

TGC is a fellowship of evangelical churches in the Reformed tradition deeply committed to renewing our faith in the gospel of Christ and to reforming our ministry practices to conform fully to the Scriptures. We have become deeply concerned about some movements within traditional evangelicalism that seem to be diminishing the church’s life and leading us away from our historic beliefs and practices. On the one hand, we are troubled by the idolatry of personal consumerism and the politicization of faith; on the other hand, we are distressed by the unchallenged acceptance of theological and moral relativism. These movements have led to the easy abandonment of both biblical truth and the transformed living mandated by our historic faith. We not only hear of these influences, we see their effects. We have committed ourselves to invigorating churches with new hope and compelling joy based on the promises received by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Our desire is to serve the church we love by inviting all our brothers and sisters to join us in an effort to renew the contemporary church in the ancient gospel of Christ so that we truly speak and live for him in a way that clearly communicates to our age. As pastors, we intend to do this in our churches through the ordinary means of his grace: prayer, the ministry of the Word, baptism and the Lord’s Supper and the fellowship of the saints. We yearn to work with all who, in addition to embracing the confession and vision set out here, seek the lordship of Christ over the whole of life with unabashed hope in the power of the Holy Spirit to transform individuals, communities, and cultures.

You will find links to our Confessional Statement and our Theological Vision for Ministry—a vision rooted in the Scriptures and centered on the gospel.

On-Call Pastor To better care for you, High Pointe, we have an “on-call” pastor available for emergencies after office hours and on weekends. To reach the on-call pastor, call 512-837-7725, extension 1.