So how do these ancient false gods appear to us in our lives and culture today?
Molech: the god of victory, power, and knowledge. The god who accepted only the most virginal and pure and powerful sacrifices in order to bring prosperity to his worshippers. A demon from hell sent to promote the pursuit of power and knowledge in order to ultimately kill, steal, and destroy the spirits of men. Children were sacrificed, the brave were sacrificed, innocence and virginity were sacrificed, purity was sacrificed.
" Knowledge is Power" Ring any bells?
Do we really believe that these demon gods were only present in ancient times? They are more present and more powerful today than at any time in history. They still seek to convince our children that only through power (celebrity), knowledge (the best education at the best schools), and victory (playing sports or bullying others/hurting others for personal gain, believing that we have to be RIGHT all the time) that they will be valuable, acceptable, worth the breath that is given to them.
Conversely, our children (and perhaps ourselves) believe that without popularity, moving in a certain circle of people or society, not having a good education or completed school, or without a cultural measure of "success" that we have very little or no value to the world or our community.
So, day by day our children (and we, too?) pursue all those things that will help us feel valued, worthy, and important in the world somehow. Status. Worth. Value. Importance. Significance.
We worship at the "high place" of this not-so-ancient god because we still do not believe that we are loved, accepted, worthy, valuable, and significant....just as God makes us to be through Jesus. And it is only through a deepening relationship with Jesus that the Holy Spirit can reveal these places of barrenness and give us the opportunity to let Him fill us up and heal us and give us identity and purpose that is not of this world....and help us TEAR DOWN the HIGH PLACES in our hearts where we go to worship that false god.
The false god of power, knowledge, and victory (having to be right all the time) will only kill, steal, and destroy our spirit and our self-worth and cause us to sacrifice our children, our purity, our innocence, our courage, and our destiny because we believe a lie.
next time: Ashtoreth
Coram Deo,
Tess
Tess,
ReplyDeleteNot sure I would call them "demon gods." I am new in my faith, but my understanding is that demons are fallen angels .... with Satan being the top dog, so to speak.
I think these beings are very real, and they all have the same goal: to keep you away from the Lord any which way they can. They pick on the things you like, or your own personal traits and exploit them.
The key is not to be pulled away from your Faith. Our Faith and the Word are the only weapons we have to fight with ... remember, these demons don't get tired, or old, or weak. They don't stop coming after you until you take your last breath.
Dear PJ,
ReplyDeletethank you for the comment! I always love to have dialogue about these things.
As for the use of the term "demon gods," it is a well-recognized term and simply connotes the essence of the false "god" (little "g") worshipped by pagans.
Demons, as far as we understand, are considered to be fallen angels, but in truth, the only thing we really know about them is that they are supernatural created beings that worship and follow the enemy and, with him, seek to steal, kill, and destroy those that God loves.
Have you read The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis? It's a short book but very revealing. You can find it at most any bookstore, secular or religious.
I look forward to reading your comments after Part 2...coming soon. I've been "down" with a torn hamstring for the past 2-3 weeks, and just couldn't get around to writing the sequel! Blessings, brother!
Tess