Jesus warns us in the Gospel of Matthew that we can serve only one of two masters. He says, "You can serve God or Mammon." (Matthew 6:24). I have taken an extensive look at Mammon in my blog post "The Three gods of America." However, there is something very relevant I want to explore. Let us rename Mammon a more familiar name, let us call it Gold. I have often scoffed at the power precious metals, gems, and coins have had over people. How can people like Christopher Columbus abandon his God given quest for the pursuit of gold? In his last moments of agony, Columbus is not able to give up is insatiable desire for the glittering metal. What is the power gold has over us? Is it a god or is it something else?
Gold quickly becomes a god to man because of It's value. Few can forget the "Gold Rush" and how people from all over the America and Europe sought fortunes in the gold mines of Alaska and California. Gold has a power and that power should not be underestimated. What it gives to a person is a sense of security; that if they have enough it will keep them prosperous and from starving. And yet gold is not always high in value, it can fall as Stocks in the Global Markets rise. So security is not the only reason it becomes the primary medium to adorn idols and icons. Gold glows. It has a charm in the candlelight and in the sun's rays. It can make the heart weak and desire it beyond reason. It's value transcends markets and the only explanation is Mammon.
Few things can turn our hearts from God and gold is one of them. The beauty that the rock brings to things and the opportunities it can buy fill our hearts with lust. Gold once in the heart of man removes the letter l and becomes Go(l)d. Perhaps this is why many images of the Chaff in Egypt during the Exodus were adorned in gold and later Byzantine Christians would fashion the Crucifix and other icons of the Saints with the same substance. Gold seems to allude to another dimension. It reminds us of heaven and that if we have enough of it surrounding us, it will transport us there. Yet in the glimmer of the great rock we forget our God.
The Crucifix which is meant to remind us of our salvation and Christ's sacrifice becomes an idol. Pagans when pillaging took such icons because of the glitter they gave off. They knew not the significance of the images, but that the color it was fashioned in drew their hearts. Could not the same be said about clergy? Do Christian believers pray before such icons for other reasons? Perhaps the glitter has beguiled the believers as well as the barbarians.
There has been much criticism of Orthodox Churches and their decadence. The cathedrals, chapels, and other ecclesiastical structures are filled with golden images and trimmed in gold leaf. Icons are said to be fashioned in gold to create the illusion of depth and to create a portal to the divine. But what if instead it makes covetous converts? What about priests? Do we really think they like to sacrifice a pleasurable life? I doubt not the fervor of the faithful among the priesthood, but there is definitely a sect within the Church that cares more about power, prestige, and possessing golden icons/idols.
I am not making a case against gold. After all, God did command the Levite Priests to encase the Ark of Covenant in gold. But it is alarming how quickly a metal can deceive us us and make us desert the One True God. I would never call for a boycott of gold or to sell every glittering piece of the precious metal. However, I do urge all fellow born again Christians to be careful and not let the "lust of the eyes," or the "lust of the flesh," take hold of you. (1 John 2:16).
We were built for paradise and finer things. But if anything should try to steal our hearts from our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ must be purged.
Do not mistake this post as condemnation of the Orthodox Churches that display golden icons. The inside of Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic Cathedrals can inspire believers to be more devoted to Christ. But, beware that the golden metals and shapes do not take you further from God instead of closer to Him. We are all weak vessels and our flesh cries out daily for something to supplant and sit in God's place.
Why do we feel compelled to crown ourselves with gold, surround ourselves with gold and place our trust in gold? The answer is found in Eden. We chose to be rebellious and disobey God. Insecurity was born that day and ever since we have sought something else to give us radiance and relief from fear. The problem is no metal on this earth can alleviate our deepest doubts and worries. Only Jesus Christ, who spilt his blood and gave his boy as a living sacrifice can save us from our insecurities and sway us from being lovers of gold and make us once again lovers of God.
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