Nach dem ich das letzte Kapitel über die Kirche bereits so hoch gelobt habe kann ich diesen Trend gleich weiterführen, denn auch das Kapitel über Anbetung finde ich hervorragend, da es mich auf viele radikale, revolutionäre und vor allem biblische Grundsätze aufmerksam gemacht hat. Das ganze Kapitel kann hier als PDF heruntergeladen werden.
In ancient cultures social life revolved around sanctuaries, temples, and stadiums. There, various gods and goddesses were worshipped as people gave their time, talent, and treasure as sacrifices to the adoration of their deity. Even the buildings were built as acts of worship. Today little has changed. The temple of Ra, the sun god, has now been replaced with warm weather resorts and tanning salons where worshippers pay homage to their bronzing god. The temples of Ptah, the god of craftsmen, are today hardware stores and Craftsman tools. The Temples at Nemea, Olympia, Delphi and Isthmia included stadiums, which have now been replaced with soccer fields, baseball parks. football stadiums, and basketball arenas where pagan fans dress up-like they always have-as birds and animals to cheer for their gods as they score points. …. The temple of Aphrodite in Corinth where sex was part of worship has now done global with strip clubs and porn. The small shrines that filled ancient homes and required homage and financial sacrifice have long since been upgraded with home entertainment systems and high-speed Internet connections. Finally, Paul once said that our god is our stomach, and that god is worshipped by the gluttonous and obese at all-you-can-eat buffets. Indeed, when our culture is considered through the lens of worship and idolatry, primitive ancient paganism seems far less primitive or ancient.
[Doctrine : What Christians Should Believe, Crossway 2010, S.338]
Indeed, worship is not merely an aspect of our being but the essence of our being as God’s image bearers.
[Doctrine : What Christians Should Believe, Crossway 2010, S.339]
Be careful of making a good thing, such as marriage, sex, children, health, success, or financial stability, an ultimate thing , or what Jesus called our “treasure.” Avoid participating in any religious community where the clear truth-claims of Scripture are ignored while contemplatice and mystical practices are favored simply for their spiritual experience.
[Doctrine : What Christians Should Believe, Crossway 2010, S.346]
Western society, in turning away from Christian faith, has turned to other things. This process is commonly called secularization, but that conveys only the negative aspect. The word connotes the turning away from the worship of God while ignoring the fact that something is being turned to in its place.
[Herbert Schlossberg, Idols for Destruction: The Conflict of Christian Faith and American Culture (Wheaton, IL: Crossway 1993) as cited in Doctrine : What Christians Should Believe, Crossway 2010, S.349]
Es gäbe noch viel mehr zu schreiben (z.B.: auf gemeinsame Anbetung im Gottesdienst und heidnische Praktiken und Ansichten wird noch viel detaillierter eingegangen) aber dazu müsste ich wohl das ganze Kapitel zitieren.
SDG Mathias
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