Cinematic Nehushtan

"There is nothing so abominable in the eyes of God as idolatry, it renders to the creature the honor that is due to the Creator." (Blaise Pascal)


I never set out to be an idolater.  I doubt many Christians consider themselves idolaters, although most of us are.  We love Jesus, or think that we do, all the while we also love something else more than Him.  It could be a job, or it could be a sports team, or it could even be a spouse.  If there is anything that takes precedence over the worship and glory of Christ, it has become an idol. These have become as Tim Keller calls them, "counterfeit gods."  Over the course of my life I discovered that there have been many idols in my life. Some were very visible to me and easy to acknowledge.  For many years it was very easy to see that I had made the love of food an idol in my life.  The extra 150-200 lbs were a clear indication that food was of primary importance to me, especially considering that while I couldn't make time to spend with God in prayer and study of the Word, I could sure find time to feed my face with sugary poison!

Other idols, which may appear clearly visible to others have not been so easy for me to acknowledge.  Recently, I had to come to grips with and acknowledge that one of my favorite pastimes was an idol in my life.  From the time I was a wee one, I have had a fascination with the cinema.  Thomas Edison's invention has given me countless hours of voyeuristic pleasure over the years.  This is not a diatribe against movies.  I am a staunch advocate and supporter of all things artistic.  The ability to create works of beauty is a hallmark of being image bearers of God.  And yet, when the pursuit of the artistic becomes more important than your pursuit of the "holiness without which no one shall see the Lord." (Heb. 12:14) then that which is a good gift has become an idol.

A biblical example of this is seen in 2 Kings 18:4 during the reign of King Hezekiah.  The young king was instituting radical reforms in the kingdom of Judah in an attempt to turn the nation back to the worship of Yahweh.  During this time of worship renewal it had come to the king's attention that the people had taken to worshiping the bronze serpent that had been used during the exodus to cure those who had been bitten by the poisonous serpents sent by the Lord to punish them for their grumbling and complaining.  Now centuries later, that which was used for a good and holy purpose had now been cheapened by the misplaced adoration of the people, so that when Hezekiah destroyed it, he said it was Nehushtan, which means "thing of brass."

I can look back over the course of my life and see how this principle has been a working example of my sinful nature.  Starting in my preteen years, I discovered that if there was a movie that piqued my interest, that I would go to almost any length to see it.  I have lied in order to see films.  I have spent money that should have been spent on needful things to go to films or to purchase DVDs. I would set my schedule around the next big movie premiere. There have been occasions when  I would more quickly argue for the merits of a certain favorite film, before I would argue for the merits of Christ.  In short, the world of cinema had become "nehushtan" in my life. This was a sobering realization to say the least. I was worshiping celluloid, instead of the eternal, self-existent One, Creator of heaven and earth! Something had to be done and right now!

As with the discovery of all sin, the beginning point is to repent and acknowledge the sin to the One offended.  After repentance comes surrender to the Holy Spirit's power to break the chains that this idol has in your life. Only then will you be able to take the next step, which is to get rid of the idol.  Its power in your life needs to be destroyed.  There is to be only one Sovereign in the life of the Christian. When that is restored a proper balance for the good gifts of life will be in evidence. That which has become an idol can be redeemed from being "nehushtan" by putting it in its rightful place. 

What this has meant for me is that since late January, I have not attended a feature film, or viewed one on DVD (they are all boxed up and put in storage).  I don't know how long this will last, but I know I am not there yet.  As the summer movie season is approaching, I feel an idolatrous voice in my head urging me to compromise and make excuses so that I can go and enjoy the films that I have been eagerly  anticipating for the last year or two.  One day I may have the freedom to enjoy this expression of the arts when it has been subdued to the Lordship of Christ.  For in the end, what really matters is not how much pleasure my flesh is afforded in this life, but how much "Christ is honored in my body, whether by life or by death." (Phil 1:20)