Judges 18: 26 "... when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house."

 Apparently religious faith was sometimes determined by the "highest bidder" or whoever makes the "best offer!" Micah and the Levite had reached an agreement that the Levite would be his "private priest!" (Judges 17: 13)  This all seemed to be well and good until the tribe of Dan passed through and took the idols of Micah and made Micah's Levite, their priest!  The Levite saw that this was a bigger and better offer and he went with Dan without hesitation (vv. 19-20).  When Micah went after his Levite to bring him back, he realized that the tribe of Dan was too powerful for him.  He reconsidered because this Levite was not worth the fight, especially if it would cost Micah his life.

Do such things happen today? ALL The TIME!  Culture and compromise have so influenced those in ministry today that many are more concerned about pleasing the crowd than pleasing God.  Being popular and being liked are often more of a concern than pleasing and obeying God.  Some are serving in churches, not because of a deep conviction and call, but until a bigger church with a larger congregation and bigger budget comes "a calling!" While in the church these types talk "spiritual" and sound like strong and mature believers, but once they are outside of the four walls of the church they quickly change their tune. They wilt under cultural pressure and are silenced by intimidation and the fear of man.  Sometimes we do not know who is on the Lord's side until we are in a place or position in which we must take a side!  We may talk "big" in the church or from the pulpit, but who we really are and what we really believe is revealed in the conflicts in the world--the culture!  Is our faith up for sale or are we "sold out" for Christ!

In Christ,
Tommy Middleton

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