By Jeremiah, Eugene and Me

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

“Stand at the gate of the LORD’s house and there proclaim this message:

” `Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah

who come through these gates to worship the LORD.

This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says:

Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place.

Do not trust in deceptive words and say,

“This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!” 7.1-4

Eugene Person says ‘Manasseh was the worst king the Hebrews ever had. He was a bad man presiding over a corrupt government. For fifty-five years.’ 232/4

‘Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites. ‘ II Kings 21.9

Then Manaaeh died. His son Amon succeeded him. Amon was murdered. And his eight year old son Josiah was put on the throne.’ 233

‘In this boy was an innocence and uncorrupt spirit that God was able to use to bring new life to the land.’ 233 He rebuilt the temple. As the temple was being repaired, Hilkiah the priest found an old book there. It was the book of Deuteronomy. The young king put into action everything he read. Never had reforms been so sweeping. It was exciting. 235

‘Under Manasseh religion was centred in what William James, in a memorable phrase, called the ‘convulsive little ego’. Religion was supernatural assistance to do whatever you wished: make money, insure a good harvest, feel good, get ahead of your neighbour, murder a person you hate. Now under Josiah, religion centred in one holy God. Religion became what it must be but often is not – a way of discovering the meaning in life, of ordering justice in society, of finding direction towards goals of excellence, of acquiring the discipline to live with integrity, of realising how God loves and learning how to love God in return.’ 235

‘Jeremiah participated in the reform with his preaching.’236

You have defiled the land

with your prostitution and wickedness.3.2

This is what the LORD says:

“Stand at the crossroads and look;

ask for the ancient paths,

ask where the good way is, and walk in it,

and you will find rest for your souls.”6.16

‘The reform was accomplished. Everything a king’s command could do was done: conspicuous crime was stopped; immoral worship was banned. Everybody is now coming to church, to offer sacrifices at the temple as they are commanded to do in Deuteronomy. Worship of the LORD is popular. The throngs are euphoric. “This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!”  237

‘And what is Jeremiah saying? This: “Do not trust in deceptive words and say,

“This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!” The people stood in the holy place and spoke the current religious cliché and supposed that everything was fine. They were in the right place, and they said the right words – but they were not right. The reform was necessary, but not enough.  The reform was only skin-deep. Everything changed, but nothing had changed. Getting rid of evil does not make people good ‘ 237

Jeremiah is specific in his charges. He says that the people were using the temple as a den of robbers a safe place to hide between raids.

`Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury,

burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known,

and then come and stand before me

in this house, which bears my Name,

and say, “We are safe” – safe to do all these detestable things?

Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you?’

7.10-11

‘Jeremiah accused the people of using God’s temple as a front for robbers 7.11  A robber’s den is a secure place to hide between forays into the countryside to pillage weak and unprotected travellers.  After raids for plunder the robbers go back to the cave where they are safe. That is Jeremiah’s accusation: “You spend all week out in the world, taking advantage of others – exploiting the weak,. And then you repair to this nice clean place where everything is protected.”239

650 years later, Jesus would say exactly the same thing about popular religion. And 2, 650 years later, I would say the same thing about popular religion today.

Is everyone deliberately trying to fake sincerity? Some maybe. But probably not most. Most are so enamoured with image – in this case the image of reform – that they mistake it for reality. ‘Beginnings are important are important, but with out continuation it is a lie (a false dawn). Image without substance is a lie.’240

Evangelicals, charismatics and Pentecostals all mistake cathartic moments for change. It is all about conversion, baptism in the spirit, and speaking in tongues. But any real change in being born again must be seen in the way we live our lives. The indicators of real change are the fruit of the spirit evident in our lives.

All other claims to change are false.

Everything has changed, but nothing has changed.

The prophet’s message is still the same: “Do not trust in deceptive words: The LORD this and the LORD that.’ ‘Mindlessly repeating holy words is no more likely to make you holy than saying ‘I love you’ over and over again will make you a committed and skilful lover.’ 238

I was brought up to believe that the history of Christianity was a history of Christlike spirituality that shone through the centuries like a light in the darkness. But I’ve come to realise that Christianity it’s self has a dark side. And, that the history of Christianity, is as much a litany of cruelty as it is a legacy of charity.[i]

This history of cruelty, that runs like a thick blood red thread, through the tapestry of the history of Christianity, does not discount the countless acts of charity done by caring Christians through the ages. But it does confront us with the truth, as it once did Thomas Jefferson: Everything has changed, but nothing has changed.

‘Millions of innocent men, women, and children,

since the introduction of Christianity,

have been burnt, tortured, fined, and imprisoned…

(And) what has been the effect of (this) coercion?

To make half the world fools and the other half hypocrites.

(And) to support error and roguery all over the earth.’ [ii]

Dave Andrews

Numbers refer to pages in The Quest by Eugene Peterson Zondervan Grand Rapids 2000

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[i]Ellerbe, H. The Dark Side Of Christian History, (San Rafael:Morningstar Books,1995)

[ii]Wood, F. The Arrogance Of Faith, (New York: Alfed A. Knopf, 1990) 27