Customized spirituality? What could go wrong!

The book of Judges chronicles a strange period full of odd and twisted situations. One such is Micah and his personal priest:

     Then Micah said to him, “Live with me and be my father and priest, and I’ll give you ten shekels of silver a year, your clothes and your food.” So the Levite agreed to live with him, and the young man became like one of his sons to him. Then Micah installed the Levite, and the young man became his priest and lived in his house. And Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest.” (Judges 17:10–13)

Micah had already made idols from silver for his personal shrine, and now he has someone to serve as his personal priest. He has made his religion to be all about himself and his prosperity. He is acting as if God of Israel can be leveraged for blessings. He is about as wrongheaded as a person can be.

It is tempting in our consumer age where customization is everywhere to fall into a similar trap. We are led to think that if only we can arrange our part of the world to suit ourselves, then life will be good. But idolatry like this always disappoints, then destroys. 

Yet another reason Jesus taught us to pray, “Lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil”!

Lord, have mercy.