Thursday, May 19, 2016

Throw Away the Amulets

Some people don't understand why I have rejected all artifacts and amulets after leaving the Catholic church. They are further perplexed that I would consider a cross an idol or amulet.

I judge no one else's spirituality based on a necklace or earrings that are crosses. However, I cannot wear them myself because there is clear direction in Scripture that we are not to place our trust in anything that we can see with our eyes.

We walk by faith, I have seen up close and personal what happens when people use amulets or artifacts. They tend to feel more secure or trust those things to help the think or do things a certain way. They attribute powers to those things in very subtle ways.

I have written several times about the conversation I had many years ago with a young man who was wearing a "WWJD" bracelet. For anyone who does not remember this craze the initials mean: "What Would Jesus Do."

I asked a young man why he wore that bracelet, he mentioned several things that he thought were helpful. He said that it reminded him what Jesus would do so he would obey Christ. Then he said that it helped him witness to others, it created a chance for conversation with others while also making them curious about the reason he wore it.

After he was finished describing what this bracelet did for him, I told him that everything he attributed to that inanimate object are the things the Holy Spirit should be doing for us instead of that chunk of rope. So now he was placing his trust in a piece of jewelry instead of Christ Who lives in Him.

When we use any object as a means to sense the presence of God, we have place our trust in it rather than Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:7 "7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)"

There are many people who must have something to see to be able to feel close to God, this is idolatry. It is no longer faith when we have to see to believe.

I sense deeply the presence of the Holy Spirit every day without any objects to help me. When we know His Word, obey what we know and pray without ceasing, we will need no objects to help us.

Psalm 121:2 " 2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.…"

Want to demonstrate real faith? Get rid of all the objects that give you a sense of safety and help, then you will begin to trust Christ alone.

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