I’ve become keenly aware lately of the pervasive idolatry in the church—in MY church…in ME! Not that it’s anything new, but even among us who would NEVER consciously worship money, there still exists a soft idolatry (if any idolatry can be called soft) that is revealed in the following ways:
- The preacher can preach about hell, abortion, adultery—any number of sensitive issues—without offending me, but when the subject of money comes up every so often, I grow concerned that “we’re emphasizing money too much.”
- I assume, in tough economic times, that Christmas can’t possibly be as good this year, because money is too tight.
- I can have faith that God will heal, that God will save, that God can do anything…but when it comes to budgets and finances, I think faith in the face of cold, hard financial facts is irresponsible.
- I wait for the money—rather than waiting on God—before doing the things I or we could do “if we just had the money.”
There are more, of course. But man, oh man, it’s insidious and pervasive, isn’t it?
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Bob Hostetler is a literary agent, an award-winning writer, editor, pastor, and speaker from southwestern Ohio. His thirty books, which include The Bone Box and American Idols (The Worship of the American Dream), have sold millions of copies. He has co-authored eleven books with Josh McDowell, including the best-selling Right from Wrong (What You Need to Know to Help Youth Make Right Choices), and the award-winning Don't Check Your Brains at the Door. He has won two Gold Medallion Awards, four Ohio Associated Press awards, and an Amy Foundation Award, among others. Bob is a frequent speaker at churches, conferences, and retreats. Bob was ordained to the ministry in 1980 by the Salvation Army and earned degrees in English Bible from Cincinnati Christian University and English Communications from Bloomfield College. In 2000, Bob (with his wife, Robin) helped to co-found Cobblestone Community Church in Oxford, Ohio. They have two children and four grandchildren. He has been a disc jockey, pastor, magazine editor, freelance book editor, and (with Robin) a foster parent to ten boys (though not all at once). They live in Hamilton, Ohio. You can follow Bob at @bobhoss.
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Insidious is a good word. Also, as Christians, we should not have to apologize for making money. The laborer is worthy of their hire. (Luke 10:7 Do not muzzle an ox while he is treading out the corn. I Tim 5:18 There are over 68 verses in the bible about wages in the bible. This is a concept God is hammering home to me right now. Too often, the Christian is expected to give what they contribute away free. But what we do has value attached to it.