Fatal. Futile. Far-reaching. Fixable: Judges 17-18

Introduction:

· H: Burger King and a culture of Relativity

· FCF: What do we need to know about false religion?

· Two types of false religion:

o Completely false

o False practice

Read Judges 17:1-13

Summarize the whole thing:

· Micah’s Idol is made and placed in Micah’s home: 17:1-6

· Micah’s Levite is appointed priest of the false religion: 17:7-13

· Danite Spies see Micah’s house: 18:1-6

· Danite Spies see Laish: 18:7-10

· Danite military men travel to Micah’s house: 18:11-13

· Danite military men take Micah’s household gods and priest: 18:14-20

· Danite military men threaten Micah when he pursues them: 18:21-26

· Danite military men destroy Laish, rebuilt the city and lived in it, and they establish false religion: 27-31

Four Characteristics of False Religion

1. False religion is fatal: 17:3-4

· Carved Image and Metal Image (17:3, 4) the same words used in a curse that the LORD declares in Deuteronomy 27:15

· Illustration: Mission Mississippi Woman’s Pastor

· Application: You need to know that even if a false religion seems successful (17:13) it is under God’s judgment.

2. False religion is futile: 18:24

· A god who can be moved is not God

· Application: We don’t have carved images or metal images, so is false religion possible in our church?

o Yes, when we believe Christian external practices merit divine control or favor (17:13)

§ Baptism

§ Sinner’s prayer

§ Church attendance

o Yes, when we believe that we ourselves or other people may individually worship God the way they please (18:30-31)

§ Example: I am a Christian, but I don’t need to be involved in a church. The church is filled with hypocrites.

3. False religion is far-reaching: 17:3-4; 18:27-31

· Illustration: False religion spreads like cancer. It starts small, but turns into a large and fatal problem.

· It starts with Micah, but quickly spreads to the whole tribe of Dan

· Application: If we allow ourselves or other individuals to define and practice false religion in our church or our homes, then it will not only effect the individual, but the whole church and their families. Once we allow ourselves to become unchecked by the Scriptures in one area of our life, then it will not be too long until we become Lord in other aspects of our life as well.

4. False religion is fixable: 17:6; 18:1

· A king faithful to Yahweh’s covenant dispels false religion

· Application: Jesus is our king (Rev. 2-3) and he appoints under-shepherds to defend his flock (Acts 20:28-31; Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:1-4)

Conclusion:

· Burger King and a culture of Relativity

· True religion practiced falsely is not true religion

· Let us bring all of our lives under the scrutiny of God’s word and submit to the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us seek to live out His mission and not our own. Let Jesus define true religion in your life and in the life of this church.