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So our #summersermonseries has begun! And already, your pastor is learning as much as you are.

As is often the case, whenever I pursue one of these series on a list or document that we all know, something we can say quite easily, inevitably I find that many of the things we are sure of are in fact a bit misunderstood.

The first two of the Ten Commandments are no exception. For quite often we confuse idolatry with having no other god before God, largely thanks to the New Testament writers. Idolatry, in reality, has to do with something a bit different than we might think, as we will learn this weekend.

What I want to draw out from our gleanings last weekend is the importance of remembering that of all the tempting little-g gods we face in our world, the most alluring is ourselves. We quite often place ourselves where God should be in our lives, trying to control everything in our midst.

That is, what I would argue, happened in the Garden of Eden. The first humans put themselves where God should be. Choosing to seek power in the form of knowledge, rather than to live into the depths of the Love of their God. They chose their own rule over God’s. And we have been doing the same ever since.

The problem is that we humans are fallen creatures. We may have been created in love and have the beauty of good within us. Nevertheless, it is in our nature to seek out power and control. We choose them over love. Choose them over God. Choose them over one another. And the world spins madly on.

So, where do we go from here?

Well, first, we must continue to root out all the little-g gods from our lives that we place where God should be and let God’s Love rule. And second, I look forward to seeing you in worship as we learn more about idolatry and how we follow the God who is far greater than any single image can render.

Blessings, Pastor Janie