08/10/2026
Midweek Musings
Organized Religion
Americans often say they believe in God, but they don’t believe in organized religion. And why not? Religious fervor has fueled all kinds of horrifying brutality in the name of God. Peace loving people want no part of rigid, arrogant, oppressive systems of thought that drive fanaticism and violence. The truth is most people of faith are appalled by violence. Most people of faith seek peace. We practice tolerance, forbearance, forgiveness, mercy and love. The question begs, “Are we for disorganized religion?”
A period in Israel’s ancient history is recorded in the biblical book called Judges. Israel at that time was a loose confederacy of 12 tribes spread throughout Canaan. One phrase in the book describes this era.
“In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” (Judges 17:6)
The sobering description encapsulates the destructive cycle described in Judges: disobedience through idolatry, oppression through enemy forces, repentance, rescue, peace and godliness for a time, then backsliding again into idolatry. Israel did not completely drive out the inhabitants of the land that God promised to Abraham and his descendants. The Canaanites, and other idolaters lived among them. They intermarried, which God forbade in the law of Moses. They turned to worship the gods of other nations as they intermingled, which God forbade. God’s protection was removed. Enemies harassed and oppressed the Hebrews. They cried out to God for help. God raised up a judge, a religio-military leader. God gave the enemy into their hands and peace was restored. Israel once again served God in obedience by keeping the law, but within a generation they went right back to idol worship. And the cycle continued.
America suffers internal strife similar to the 1950s and ‘60s. Back then, civil strife and violence marked an era of significant social change. I grew up in an era of strife, followed by a period of relative peace and prosperity. I watched rhetoric fuel mistrust. Mistrust led to violence, as one side demonized the other. We’re back to where we were in the 1960s. America is in a state of chaos or discord. Nobody is listening. Everyone is blaming. No one makes for peace. Violence erupts in our communities.
Israel had no king. Every man did as he saw fit. The irony of that statement is that God is king, and Israel committed to God as their ruler. God governed through the law of Moses and the priesthood. But influence from peoples who lived among them, that were not part of the covenant community of Israel, led God’s chosen nation into idolatry.
And what is idolatry? It is choosing to love and serve something or someone other than the living God. As the apostle Paul put it, “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator.” (Romans 1:25)
This is essentially what many in America are doing today. “There is no fear of God before their eyes,” and they are “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (Romans 3:18; 2nd Timothy 3:4). When every man believes what is comfortable and does as he pleases, he in effect becomes his own god, and this is nothing but atheistic humanism.
May God use this time of discord and violence to turn hearts back to Him in obedience. Find out what pleases God. (Ephesians 5:1) Organize around this one thought, repent.
May times for refreshing and renewal soon arrive.
Pastor Scott
