Don't Let Anything Take Away Glory From Christ

Why we must beware of "Ichabod" being written over our hearts and churches

And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”

1 Samuel 4:21-22

This is one of the most fearful texts in all the Bible. It is also one of the most relevant texts in the Bible. At a rate that is very alarming, we are seeing “Ichabod” become the reality of many churches and Christians. We are trading the glory of Christ for idols that have no glory.

When the church lets something or someone else appear more glorious than Christ, even if they might mention Jesus a lot, then “Ichabod” is written above its doorposts and pulpit.

Shai Linne saw this years ago when he came out with his song “Ichabod”. In it he says:

How do you know if the Lord is with you?
How do you know if the Lord has left you?
Can't tell it by if you're more successful…

Christian Hip-hop got me feeling brokenhearted
We're such a long way off, man, from where we started
We think we're winning, but Satan got us outsmarted
I wonder if the glory of God has departed
Lord, help us! Before You choose a different squad
We need to repent, or else we might get the rod
I can't call it- It seems like we're sick of God
What you call that, huh? Ichabod

As Shai describes the state of Christian Hip Hop, he is also describing the state of many churches today.

What Has Distracted Us?

We have idolized inclusivity, being liked by the world, respect in academic circles, having a social media influence, and even pastors themselves. Pastors seem to emphasize less of shepherding and more of platform building. Christian prioritize being liked by the world more than evangelism. Church leaders proclaim worldly relevance more than reforming the worldly.

We have done all this in the name of “love” but it has not been a love for God and others—it has been a love of ourselves.

One of the evidences of this is the backlash someone often gets when they say this. I have received it numerous times from younger, older, friends, colleagues, church members and church officers, students and strangers.

We are told to not use terms like “world” or “culture”. Even though God tells us not to love the world (1 John 2:15), people will tell us that we’re supposed to love the world. They will quote John 3:16 and say that because God so loved the world that we should so love the world. I am very accepting of that statement but only when we remember how God loved the world—by sending His Son! He sent His Son, not because the world was lovable in itself nor because it was in the right relationship with Him. He sent His Son because the world needed saving—and saving from itself!

We are not gnostic (i.e. the idea that the physical is bad and only the spiritual is good). Our God is the God of Creation and what He says is good is good. Nevertheless, we know that sin has scarred, wrecked, and broken Creation. God’s glory is throughout all the earth (Is. 6:3) but at the same time God’s glory must go throughout all the earth.

We love this world but not in such a way that eclipses our love for the next world nor in such a way that endorses the sins of this world. We love the world despite the sins of the world and we love the world in such a way as to see this world long for the next world. We agree with C.S. Lewis that those who do the most worldly good are those who are the most heavenly-minded.

We forget that Christ Himself brought out this distinction between God’s people and the world many times.

“They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

John 17:16

We have allowed various influences to lead us away from biblical sexuality, biblical justice, biblical ethnic unity, biblical marriage, biblical ethics, the biblical mission of the church, biblical counseling¹ and biblical love of others.

No teaching, Sunday school series, sermon, discussion group, counseling session, discipleship should ever teach contrary to Scripture or take away the emphasis of the gospel of grace. No matter what other churches might do, academics authorities say is right, culture says we should teach or else, or politics might pressure us to say, we must stay on task of being the House of Christ’s Glory.

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Colossians 1:18

Our churches should never despise other churches, academic authorities, culture, or politics. At the same time, we should only ever submit to the Lord and His Word. And when one of these bodies goes against Scripture then we should reveal these things to our flock so that wolves do not lead them astray and devour them (2 Tim. 4:3-4; 2 Pet. 2:1). Christians are called to re-form these areas rather than succumb to their ideas (Rom. 12:1-2).

We are not a “holy huddle”. We don’t even make it our hobbyhorse to only say what we disagree with! We do not take away “holy curiosity”. Rather, we gladly, humbly, lovingly interact with all things while at the same time actively bringing in the authoritative Scriptures and the gospel of grace to transform all areas of life.

When we let anything or anyone (pastors included) take away from Christ being all-glorious then we are in danger of having “Ichabod” written over our churches.

The Privilege of Beholding the Glory of Christ

There is simply no greater privilege in life than to behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit through faith in the gospel of grace.

To downplay this, neglect it, water it down, shrug it off, or to de-emphasize this is the epitome of foolishness.

It is not owed to us to see the glory of Christ. It is the utmost privilege to have this opportunity. To trade it for something else is the wickedness of sin.

My friends, what a privilege we have to have our eyes of faith opened by the Holy Spirit! Do we understand what glory we see? Do we understand what this means? Do we know what glories await us? Christ Jesus—the Son of Man, the King of Kings, the One seated upon the Throne—has condescended to us to reveal to us His salvific glory. He has not only brought us into His Presence—He has brought His Presence to us and made us temples of the Living God (2 Cor. 6).

Nothing surpasses this chief end. Nothing comes close to glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. It is because of His unsurpassable worth.

Stephen Charnock has said, “When we enjoy God, we enjoy Him in His eternity without any flux… After many ages, the joys will be as savory and satisfying as if they had been but that moment first tasted by our hungry appetites. When the glory of the Lord shall rise upon you, it shall be so far from ever setting, that after millions of years are expired, as numerous as the sands on the seashore, the sun, in the light of whose countenance you shall live, shall be as bright as at the first appearance; He will be so far from ceasing to flow, that He will flow as strong, as full, as at the first communication of Himself in glory to the creature.”

This is what will make Heaven heavenly—beholding the glory of Christ. If we look down upon that here then how can we expect to enjoy it there?

Heaven would be a very hell to an unholy heart. If now – the presence of God in His servants, and the presence of God in His ordinances – is such a hell to unholy souls; ah, what a hell would the presence of God in heaven be – to unholy hearts!  It is true, an unholy heart may desire heaven – as it is a place of freedom from troubles, afflictions, oppressions, vexations, etc., and as it is a place of peace, rest, ease, safety, etc. But this is the least and lowest part of heaven. To desire heaven as it is a place of purity, a place of grace, a place of holiness, a place of enjoying God, etc. – is above the reach of an unholy heart. The company of heaven are all holy, the employments of heaven are all holy, the enjoyments of heaven are all holy – therefore heaven would be a most undesirable thing to unholy hearts. An unholy heart is no way desirous nor ambitious of such a heaven as will rid him of his darling sins, as will make him conformable to a holy God, as will everlastingly divorce him from his precious lusts, as will link him forever to those gracious souls whom he has scorned, despised, and persecuted in this world.

— Thomas Brooks

1. I understand this is a phrase that brings much response from numerous people. The idea here is that we are to provide counsel that is truly in line with the Bible, emphasizing its emphases, prioritizing its priorities, and prescribing its prescriptions for all of life and godliness.