There's a great story in Isaiah, chapters 36-39 about the Assyrians coming against Jerusalem. A guy named Rabshakeh, from the Assyrian army, says to the people:
"But if you say to me, 'We trust in the Lord our God,' is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed...?" (Isaiah 36:7)
King Hezekiah had removed high places devoted to worshipping idols. But the Assyrians apparently didn't know the difference between Yahweh and an idol, and so they assumed that the people would be afraid that they had angered God by removing his altars of worship.
That, of course, was not true, but it brings up a good point. Those who do not know the Lord will often be confused about what is worship of God and what is not, and they will not understand what God is doing in your life.
For the Israelies, removing the high places brought them back into fellowship with Yahweh. For you, God may pull down an idol in your life; a sin, a habit pattern, a little "g" god that has stood in the way of a close relationship. The world looks at that and thinks you are crazy to give that up - especially if it is something that appears religious, but is really not.
It's easy for Christians to fall into legalism - creating arbitrary rules for things that have a spiritual appearance but are simply ways to use our strength to please God; things like a dress code that has more to do with style than modesty, and restricting activities based on opinion rather than on the character of God.
So don't be surprised when the world can't figure out why you are trusting God and taking down idol temples at the same time. Just do what Hezekiah did - throw yourself on God's mercy.
Pastor Tom
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