Senior High Sunday School 2/15/09

This past Sunday we continued our study of the book of Romans. I reviewed the prior Sunday's lesson (see earlier post). This week we looked at Romans 1:18-32. The overall theme for this section is God's just judgment and wrath. This may seem unusual because Paul has just proclaimed the good news of God's righteousness in the gospel. However, Paul wants the church in Rome and us to understand why we need God's righteousness. For on our own we make a mess of things.
After we talked a bit about the difference between general revelation (v. 20) and special revelation (Jn 14:6, 2 Tim 3:16), I pointed out two other issues this passage brings up. The first concerns homosexuality. While this is a hot cultural topic, I decided to hold off on discussing it. Instead, I focused on the second (greater) issue Paul brings up - idolatry.
Most of the students understand what idolatry is and can even point out some of the forms it takes today. So we looked at an Old Testament passage that I believe is relevant to both the passage of Scripture in Romans we are studying and our current situation with the possible merge with New City.
It is the narrative found in 2 Kings 18. Hezekiah has become king and he was one of the few good kings during the divided kingdom. Hezekiah starts his reign by removing all the pagan idols. Then he does something that is surprising. In the middle of verse 4 it says, "He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made." While we cheer at the destruction of the Asherah poles (not sure what that is but it doesn't sound good) and other idols, we pause for a moment at the bronze snake. God had commanded Moses to make this bronze serpent for a special purpose. Countless Israelites looked upon this serpent-on-a-pole (in faith) to be saved from the deadly affects of poisonous snake bites. The bronze snake was used for salvific purposes. Why did Hezekiah shatter it to pieces? We are not left to wonder for the next phrase in verse 4 tells us. It says, "for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)" The bronze snake had become an idol. It was even given a name. Hezekiah had to take action.
Now what does this have to do with the merge and our study of Romans 1:18-32? I called attention to the fact that many of the students may overhear or even engage in talks about the merge. As it looks more and more like God is bringing the two churches together, some are desiring to put stakes in the ground, saying "this is where I draw the line." It may sound like this, "God used this or that to bring me to Himself" or "God has used this or that to draw many others to Himself." Whether if be part of the building, a particular ministry, or even a staff member, the importance of these things are elevated. Here is where we are in danger of making it into an idol like the bronze snake. What was once used by God, even brought about by one of God's faithful servants, can become an object of worship. There should be nothing elevated above our worship of God. Not tradition, not a building, not a program, not even a person. Hezekiah understood that in order to follow God and restore the kingdom, the bronze serpent had to go. So it is with the merge. If we truly want to follow God then we need to be prepared to shatter some bronze snakes on both sides. This is how the narrative of the Hezekiah and the bronze snake relate with us today. It is a reality check and a warning.
So back in Romans, Paul gives us the reality and the warning, "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen." The reality is that left on our own, we make a mess of things. We suppress the knowledge of God and worship things created (even things that God uses for very special purposes) instead of the Creator. The warning is that we guard against idolatry of any kind. This is why we continually need God's righteousness. Paul declares in Philippians, "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." (verse 12-13).
I finished by reading John 3:14-15. "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." Here Jesus redeems the purpose of the bronze snake. It teaches us about faith and points towards the cross. May all we do point and direct people to faith in Christ.