“He took the bronze altar that was before the Lord in front of the temple between his altar and the Lord’s temple, and put it on the north side of his altar. Then King Ahaz commanded Uriah the priest, “Offer on the great altar the morning burnt offering, the evening grain offering, and the king’s burnt offering and his grain offering. Also offer the burnt offering of all the people of the land, their grain offering, and their drink offerings. Sprinkle on the altar all the blood of the burnt offering and all the blood of sacrifice. The bronze altar will be for me to seek guidance.” Uriah the priest did everything King Ahaz commanded.” 2 Kings 16:14-16HCSB
In the Old Testament the Lord’s Temple and the King’s palace where separate from each other. God did not want the king to take the place of the priest in the temple. It was the priest that was to go before the Lord in the temple and the people would bring their offerings to the temple. It was the priest that would take the offerings and present them before God.
King Ahaz, Judah’s King, had traveled to Damascus and met with the King of Assyria. King Ahaz saw the model of the altar in Damascus that was offered to their gods. So King Ahaz sent the model of the altar to the priest Uriah. Uriah build the altar to the King’s specifications. By the time King Ahaz returned the altar was completed. Then King Ahaz approached the altar and ascended it. He also offered sacrifices on the altar. Then King Ahaz removed the bronze altar that was before the Lord, and put his altar in front of the temple, and moved the bronze altar to the north side of his altar. King Ahaz then instructed the priest Uriah to make offerings of the king and the people on the altar he built and sprinkle the blood of the offerings on that altar. The bronze altar would be used for King Ahaz to seek guidance from the Lord. Uriah the priest did everything the king commanded. (2 Kings 16: 10-16)
As you read this story you know all of this was an abomination to the Lord (Yahweh). The Lord our God is to be worshiped only and no other gods or idols are to be in our midst. Israel including Judah consistently would worship both God and Baal. They would go in the temple to worship God but outside the temple would erect high places and worship other gods like Baal.
King Ahaz had brought a strange form of worship to the temple and to the people and still wanted to consult God for guidance. He wanted God’s guidance in defeating his enemies but refused to bring his offerings and the people’s offerings to God. He wanted the benefit of knowing God but did not want to worship or honor God according to God’s standards and law.
We see this today in politics. Many of our leaders want the benefit of what religion offers but do not want to make Jesus their Lord. This is why Christian Nationalism is dangerous. People want to mix Christianity and politics together but it does not work. Often what happens under Christian nationalism is the ideals and beliefs are shaped through politics and not the teachings of Jesus. Many are designing an altar that has some of the attributes of the Christian faith but lack the reverence and glory of Jesus Christ. So that platform may have some attributes of the Christian faith but it is not rooted in the person of Jesus Christ. Instead if we look closely man is being elevated. As a result we have witnessed the worship of man instead of the worship of God. The people may seek God’s guidance on how to win, take power and defeat their enemies but they are not seeking to worship and honor God. They have exchanged what is holy for that which is corrupt.
As Christians we are a royal priesthood. So politicians and political groups will try and use us to get what they want to obtain power. We must remember that Jesus is the Kings of Kings and the Lord of Lords. All authority belongs to Jesus. Any leader will have to give an account to Jesus. As Christians and as the church we are supposed to care for the people and demonstrate the love of Jesus. We are to be advancing the gospel and making disciples. It is through our good works in Jesus that will allow Jesus to be exalted and this nation to also be exalted. God intention for the government is to bring justice to the people. It was the priests that directed to the people toward God and taught them to worship and honor God, including the King. We now have a King (Jesus) that we are to honor with our lives and offer ourselves as living sacrifices. We are to offer ourselves to Jesus and Jesus alone.
There is nothing wrong with us getting involved in government if we serve as we serve the Lord. We must be obedient to what Jesus tells us and be led by the Spirit and not our flesh. Too often in politics people are led by their flesh and the patterns of this world. The evidence of this is in the fruit. When you look closely at the fruit of Christian nationalism you will understand its roots. So as Christian Nationalism is on the rise take a look at its fruit. On the surface through rallies, speeches and the media we will only see a small portion of what is going on. The fruit will tell us what is at its core. The Bible is clear about the fruit we are to exhibit. The Bible is also clear about the fruit of the wicked. We do not have to be deceived because Jesus said we would know them by their fruit.
“Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance — as I told you before — that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:19-22, 24 HCSB
Reflections 