Baal: The 2003 Edition
Preaching
Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees
And 149 Other Sermon Ideas
Purpose Statement: Baal was the chief rival to God during Old Testament times. What would be the chief rival to God today?
For much of Old Testament history, Baal was the one Canaanite god that was the greatest disruption to the Hebrew's true worship of God. There was syncretism as some Baal values and practices slipped into the Jewish faith and from there into Christianity (more than we want to know). The prophets fought one long, continuous battle over centuries to rid Judaism of Baal influences. One example is found in Judges 2:11-14 where the Baal influence has angered God. The classic moment came with Elijah dueling 450 Baal prophets on Mount Carmel for survival rights (1 Kings 18). If we were to consider the "baals" of today, what would they be? Actually not much different than the Baal of old! Baal was ...
a. The god of sensuality. As a fertility god, the rites and ceremonies surrounding Baal naturally took on a sexual flavor with licentious dancing and related activities. One doesn't need to look around very long today to recognize sex as one of our major preoccupations. We advertise with it; we entertain with it; we talk and joke about it; we obsess over it. Sex is meant to be beautiful. However, we degrade it by using it in vulgar commercialism and exploitation. Just as food is important and can be very enjoyable, we can become addicts and pig out. So, sex is idolatrized in our society. Baal is alive and well.
b. The god with no moral values. Baal religion had no concern whatsoever with morality. Baal devotees were not admonished to live good, kind, peaceful, or just lives. You could cheat in business, abuse your family, or insult and harm your neighbor. The only repercussions might be someone retaliating in anger. Baal and Baal priests did not care. We also slip some in attention to moral details today. We smile jokingly at highway speed laws. We "extort" legislators to ignore making sensible laws by threats to nullify them by our violations. We find ways of distorting and destroying family values. In some circles the word "morality" is outmoded and ridiculous.
c. The god of good times. Baal lured the Jews away from God with the promise of having fun and constant celebration. Pursuing selfish ends and encouraging greed are popular pastimes in a nation with excess wealth and resources. Too many Christians would choose attending a football game over Sunday worship. An evening at a casino is preferable to the meeting of a community organization concerned with social values. Watching Friends on television is more popular than a lecture series at the local college.
The Old Testament prophets are rolling over in their graves.
For much of Old Testament history, Baal was the one Canaanite god that was the greatest disruption to the Hebrew's true worship of God. There was syncretism as some Baal values and practices slipped into the Jewish faith and from there into Christianity (more than we want to know). The prophets fought one long, continuous battle over centuries to rid Judaism of Baal influences. One example is found in Judges 2:11-14 where the Baal influence has angered God. The classic moment came with Elijah dueling 450 Baal prophets on Mount Carmel for survival rights (1 Kings 18). If we were to consider the "baals" of today, what would they be? Actually not much different than the Baal of old! Baal was ...
a. The god of sensuality. As a fertility god, the rites and ceremonies surrounding Baal naturally took on a sexual flavor with licentious dancing and related activities. One doesn't need to look around very long today to recognize sex as one of our major preoccupations. We advertise with it; we entertain with it; we talk and joke about it; we obsess over it. Sex is meant to be beautiful. However, we degrade it by using it in vulgar commercialism and exploitation. Just as food is important and can be very enjoyable, we can become addicts and pig out. So, sex is idolatrized in our society. Baal is alive and well.
b. The god with no moral values. Baal religion had no concern whatsoever with morality. Baal devotees were not admonished to live good, kind, peaceful, or just lives. You could cheat in business, abuse your family, or insult and harm your neighbor. The only repercussions might be someone retaliating in anger. Baal and Baal priests did not care. We also slip some in attention to moral details today. We smile jokingly at highway speed laws. We "extort" legislators to ignore making sensible laws by threats to nullify them by our violations. We find ways of distorting and destroying family values. In some circles the word "morality" is outmoded and ridiculous.
c. The god of good times. Baal lured the Jews away from God with the promise of having fun and constant celebration. Pursuing selfish ends and encouraging greed are popular pastimes in a nation with excess wealth and resources. Too many Christians would choose attending a football game over Sunday worship. An evening at a casino is preferable to the meeting of a community organization concerned with social values. Watching Friends on television is more popular than a lecture series at the local college.
The Old Testament prophets are rolling over in their graves.
