The Danger of Innovation

Welcome/Prayer

Open up to our passage... 1 Kings 12:25-32…

In a “post-covid” world… there’s a lot of talk of what church should look like...

Some call for a return to the essentials - in part due to too much innovation

Others call for more innovation - more flexibility - more “options”

Innovation can drive people to church (the gathered assembly) or

Innovation can drive people away from the church (the gathered assembly)

Today we read an example of innovation…

By this example I want us to gain a framework of which we can evaluate innovations and discern if they are beneficial or if under the guise of good intentions they are actually leading us astray

We’ll start by reading our passage and then looking at three violations of God’s Word of which Jeroboam commits with his innovative practices...

Read 1 Kings 12:25-32...

(Explain context) Solomon’s kingdom has been divided...

Jeroboam king over the ten tribes…

Establishes the capital Shechem…

Moves to secure his reign

From external threats by building up Penuel (Gen 32)

From internal threats by encouraging his people not to worship in Jerusalem

This is where Jeroboam goes off the rails… he’s no longer on the path of blessing that God offered

Jeroboam creates two places of worship - Dan & Bethel

Each with its own golden calf

This is essentially, an innovation of religion… creating something new and instituting new practices of worship

In some cases… this isn’t necessarily bad…

Consider the use of slides and media

Apps that help with verse memorization, so on…

But any innovation is potentially dangerous… even innovation that is beneficial…

For when we innovate religion… that is our practice of worship… how we do worship…

We often give something up in order to do another thing… a new thing…

Again, it’s not always bad… using electricity during worship… or offering coffee…

But as in all things we must make sure our motives are pure and holy…

Let us continue to exam Jeroboam’s actions we may learn more...

This innovation by Jeroboam is rooted in selfish motives… not holy ones… even if Jeroboam was still seeking to glorify God by them… they are no better than the actions of Aaron’s sons offering strange fire in Lev. 10...

For Jeroboam this is about selfish ambition Phil 2:3...

Keep the people from leaving him

Keep Rehoboam from gaining power

Secular concerns are never to lead us to violate the commands of God

One of the commands Jeroboam violates is the 2nd commandment… building these two calves

Ex 20:4-5...

The commandment that Aaron and Israel violated later in Ex 32… and in verse 4 of Exodus 32, notice what the the people said…

The same words used by Jeroboam here in verse 28

What was the consequence back at Sinai? 3000 men killed

God takes this command seriously… and we must recognize the danger of creating images of God… even ones we may not inherently worship

Consider paintings of Jesus… what do they say about Him?

Or movies and shows… consider the popular series “Chosen”

Another sin made by Jeroboam is encouraging worship at other places not chosen by Yahweh

As we have seen and discussed with Solomon… Jerusalem, the temple, is the designated place of worship… for all Israelites Dt 12:5-7...

But Jeroboam wanted to keep the people to himself…

He was insecure… political and religious fears motivated him

So he made worship more convenient...

Closer than Jerusalem

Beware of anything that may make worship more “convenient”...

Often the motive for such a thing is unholy…

Is faithfulness to our holy God not worth the effort already asked of us?

What benefit would the convenience bring?

He even changed the calendar date for the feast of tabernacles… the only apparent reason is to have their own feast which is their own and not the same as Judah’s.

The third sin committed by Jeroboam was making service in God’s priesthood more convenient

The priests could be whoever… no requirements needed as long as you towed the party line...

It’s like allowing women who feel “called” or are “gifted” to be elders and pastors…

It’s more convenient

It’s more pleasing to the masses

But it goes against the Word of God 1 Tim 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9...

The Levites were actually ejected out of Israel… 2 Chr 11:13-17...

A biblical precedent and reason for leaving churches that are unfaithful for churches that are faithful

What’s the root cause of this innovation?

Jeroboam lacked trust in God

Jeroboam either simply did not believe in Yahweh or in a lack of faith, thought he could do it better or at least make it better by adding to it

This is often where unhelpful and unholy innovation is birthed… in the midst of a lack of trust… a sense of unease… moments of doubt

Churches struggling with growth...

(Numbers, competition, finances)

Or a pastor who is not well received by his people...

(loneliness, disliked, fear of being fired)

Or maybe individually...

(fear of losing friends, relationships, reputation) so you look to dress your faith up in a worldly way

It is in these moments we must do what Jeroboam failed to do…

Call to mind why we are doing what we are doing to begin with...

For pastors and elders… we must remember who called us and the task of which we are called

For you are in the pews… you need to remember the faith you are called to and hold fast to that confession…

And we all need to remember that it is Christ who builds His church

Again, it’s not that innovation can’t be helpful… it certainly can… but only if we’re grounded...

If we don’t regularly call to mind the teachings and truths of Scripture as to why we do what we do and who we are...

(Post-lockdown example - sacraments, worship, fellowship)

If we don’t stay grounded in His Word… We will conform to this world… we will allow innovation, even good innovation, to cause us to drift away from the holiness of God

We will not be able to live out Romans 12:2...

It’s not popular

It won’t win the world

It’s not convenient

It’s not always easy

But we as a church must be faithful to the faith… this is why the apostle John writes 1 John 2:24… of which he writes to keep us from being deceived...

So, as a church we must consider... does innovation help us live out 1 Peter 2:9…

(music (style/content), power point, etc)

Does innovation keep us faithful to the task of 2 Tim 2:15… (a worker approved)

Consider devotions.... are they helpful in this task?

Conditions us for short readings...

We don’t get the whole consul of God…

We are not equipped…

Reading plans… again… training the body and mind to read the Word of God in snippets… once the assigned amount is completed the book is shut up until the next time… regardless if you feel the urge to read more.

Are we still trusting the Word of God to be effective? Do we believe Isaiah 55:10-11 or do we trust in the innovation more?

Must we need fog machines, lasers, or dancing storm troopers on stage to win people to Christ?

Do we believe the word of Jesus in John 17:17…

Or do we think we can sanctify people more effectively if we could just be nicer and more winsome… and if we could just get people to see how much they ought to love themselves...

People aren’t sanctified by warm-fuzzies and felt needs being met…

Nor are they sanctified by practicing innovative things like grave soaking, or having angel feathers, or gold dust fall from the ceiling.

What about children’s ministry?

Allows parents to focus… yet conditions families to worship separately...

We could go on and I’m sure some of you have other examples in your head now...

When you think of these innovations… ask yourself this...

Does it remain true to the Word of God?

Does it bring glory to God?

Does it edify, strengthen, and build up the church?

Or does it serve selfish ambition?

Does it appease the wishes and desires of the world?

Does it bring us closer to Christ or further away?

Not always, but most often, the harder thing, the road less traveled is the choice that will bring us closer to Christ...

Now, in keeping with His Word, and not straying from it into innovative ways to close out our message this morning… let us prepare ourselves for communion...

Where in Luke 22:19-20 it reads...

Luke 22:19–20 ESV

19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.