“That Jones shall worship the god within him turns out ultimately to means that Jones shall worship Jones. Let Jones worship the sun or moon, anything rather than the inner light; Let Jones worship cats or crocodiles, if he can find any in his street, but not the god within. Christianity came into the world firstly in order to assert with violence that a man had not only to look inwards, but to look outwards, to behold with astonishment and enthusiasm a divine company and a divine captain.” – GK Chesterton – Orthodoxy
There is an absolute epidemic of self-worship in our day. Well actually there always has been. Ever since Eden self-worship has been the heart of all sin. But it truly is more obvious now than in any period of my young life. It always happens in the darkness, but now it happens so regularly in the light. People have lost their shame. Even those who people think of as spiritual so obviously craft a spirituality that serves there own desires. There is no submission to God. The interpretations of scripture held nearly unanimously in the church for nearly two millennium are quickly dismissed for the ramblings of a few who wish to give license to every vice.
I speak knowing the temptation well. I too want a God who agrees with me on all things. But thankfully through the Spirit I have come to know that such a desire is nothing but lunacy. The Spirit wars with and drives the flesh into submission. Thanks be to God. And so graciously my every whim I am not bound to worship.  The statutes of the Lord become not oppressive but formative. They free me from self worship and free me to look outward. I learn what is good not from myself or my peers but from the one who speaks in truth, “This is good.”
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Else he will not flee, but he will tabernacle with you. He will live among you. And while you might think such a life exciting and just want you always wanted, you will have received nothing but death. And that death will follow you into eternity.
What should you do? Repent and be baptized. And if you have already been found wet with the Word, live in your baptism as you confess your sin and receive the loosing of those sins through the absolution. Leave your narcissism in the pew and come forward to the rail. Take eat. Take Drink. Stop looking inward and you will behold the divine company and its captain, the Lord Jesus. He has lived, died, and rose to save you from the morbidity of self-worship and to give you live unending.
Join the Magi in bending a knee and being out-gifted by God. Gold and Frankincense and Myrrh cannot compare to the gift of the only begotten One. Neither can your gifts.  So today, may our epiphany be the realization that self worship and self importance are not laudable. Look outward. Not Inward. There is Jesus. There is life.
Written Epiphany 2011
