Are We Playing Church?
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin Overfield
Date: Tue, 6 Feb 2001
Are We Playing Church?
"And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said
unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, It is not the
voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that
cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. And it
came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf,
and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of
his hands, and brake them beneath the mount." (Exodus 32:17-19) (Good to
read all of the chapter)
Introduction: Moses had just spent forty days on Mt. Sinai receiving The
Ten Commandments -- among many other laws -- from the hand of God.
Oh that there were more of Moses' kind! Oh that there were more like
Joshua to be taught by one so near to God!
Here God spoke to Moses revealing to him the sin of the Israelites
below.
God told him that He would destroy them and make of Moses a great
nation. Thank God that Moses did not take Him up on the offer. Moses
rather fell on his face with broken heart and pled for God to have mercy
once again. What an example of the true man of God! If only more would
intercede before God before slashing and burning the people!
Next we see Moses and Joshua making the trip down the mountain.
When Joshua hears the sound of the people he mistakenly thinks that they
are in a battle. And here Moses speaks forth the pungent words revealing
the sad condition of the congregation:
"It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice
of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I
hear."
Tie this to a previous verse that says, "the people sat down to eat and
to drink, and rose up to play." (Exodus 32:6). And this was supposedly a
"feast to the LORD" -- the words of Aaron.
How I long for the ability to convey the burden that burns upon my heart
concerning this passage and how it relates to the church of today! I care
not what denomination one might claim, in the light of this Scripture I am
afraid that the majority of folk that claim to be God's people are guilty of
playing church. But, wait, I have gotten ahead of the outline.
We find in verse 18 three classes of professing Christians -- or of
those claiming to be God's people: SHOUTERS, CRIERS, and PLAYERS.
In the Hebrew language the same word is used for the sounds made by all
three classes -- VOICE, VOICE, and NOISE in KJV. Also, the words
from which SHOUT, CRY, and SING are translated are basically the same
with a little difference. That little difference is tremendous in the
context.
In the first two instances the form (SHOUT and CRY) is exactly the same,
carrying the idea that the sound being made is "in answer to something",
whereas the third instance (SING) is not in answer to something.
I. SHOUTING FOR VICTORY
Moses is saying that, if the people had been in a battle and were
victorious, then they would have reason to shout. But, the Israelites did
not have victory. I dare say that in many places the shout has gone out of
the church. Why? Because the majority of professing Christians have
nothing about which to shout! Oh for spontaneous answers to real
Holy Ghost religion -- true shouts of victory! When the shout dies down,
the prayers need to go up.
Someone has well said, "I was born in the fire and can't stand the
smoke."
I can certainly relate. I was saved from a life of sin and sanctified
entirely
while attending a church in Detroit, MI, which was on fire for God. Many
times I have become homesick for the glory that we then knew (which I have
also enjoyed many times since). I am sure that we may still have it, but
the
price must be paid for victory.
II. CRYING FOR DEFEAT
Again, Moses says that the people were not crying out because of being
defeated in battle. They were not even in a battle! Those who cry out when
being overcome are at least TRYING to win the battle. There is plenty of
room at the "Mourner's Bench" today! Why? Because, people are not willing
to admit -- or not even aware -- that they have lost the victory and need to
cry out to God. It is a shameful thing to fail God, but we have an Advocate
with Father. If those who have fallen will but cry unto Him with all their
heart they may once again know glorious victory!
John Wesley told of those who had fallen even from the heights of
holiness to the depths of wickedness, who later returned to God and were
restored to even greater levels of victory. Not that we would excuse
presumption, but we magnify the wonderful grace of God!
III. SINGING FOR ... FOR WHAT? -- PLAYING!
Here the third use of the word for sound or noise -- a different form --
involves "intensive" or "intentional" action. In context, I see that the
Israelites' supposed worship of God was something that they did in spite of
the light that they had. It was unnatural and forced.
Many today are just going through the motions, "having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof" (II Timothy 2:5). It is possible
that many have cooled off and are forcing themselves to play church while
many others never have known true godliness.
This reminds me of a glass egg. A salesman asked the question, "What is
it good for?" You can look at it and admire it, but the egg is not real. A
hen will likely cackle when she has laid an egg -- a real one. She is
"shouting the victory"! How many glass eggs there are in the church! But,
many professing Christians go on "cackling" -- or "shouting", or
"testifying" -- that know no real spiritual victory.
I know this truth may not be very encouraging to some, but we dare not
play games with God. He is not playing games with us.
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
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