Dancing with Idols
5 min read
5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
—Mark 9:5-7
Basic faith is a faith of obedience. A step of obedience is a step of faith, and a step of faith is always a step of obedience.
This principle is easy to understand but difficult to live out. It is difficult to live out because we tend to make our life of faith complicated. Sin always complicates our lives, and one way it does that is by leading us to idolatry.
We make our devotion to Christ complicated by trying to define and enforce what a proper life of faith should look like. But whatever scheme we come up with is typically grounded in meaningless religion.
Religion is useful if it is grounded in faith. It is useless and even harmful if it is grounded in idolatry.
It seems pretty clear that Jesus brought Peter, James, and John up to the mountain to witness His transfiguration, and also to see Him having a talk with Elijah and Moses. Perhaps, Jesus simply wanted to reinforce the disciples’ confession and understanding that He is indeed the Messiah.
Peter didn’t know what to say, because he was ignorant. If he were wise, he would have realized that he was ignorant and just said nothing. Ignorance leads us to idolatry, simply because we don’t know any better, and so we just do what empty religion has taught us to do.
And Peter was also driven to idolatry because of fear. Because of fear, we make idols that we can handle and manage so that we can have a sense of control—a completely false sense of control.
But the word of God directs our attention away from idols and meaningless religion and points us to the object of true faith: “This is My Son, whom I love.” And the proper response to this understanding is to “listen to Him!” Really listen. And if we are really listening, to obey.
Father, forgive me. For I know that I am a sinner who is prone to wander, prone to idolatry. Thank You for Your mercy, patience, grace, and love. I plead with You to increase my understanding and my faith. Lead me away from idolatry, lead me away from meaningless religion. Let my religion be true—grounded in faith in the Son of God alone. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
