And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Acts 7:41
I believe the Golden Calf cult is still functioning today! When it first emerged during the Israelites’ wilderness journey, this strange cult developed a huge following, but then it appeared to die out as a result of drastic measures by God through Moses. But it has emerged in our day and appears to be much stronger than ever. What? You have never seen any sign of this cult? You have never been buttonholed for a contribution to this strange cult? Or have never seen Golden Calf literature posted on some airport wall? Or had groups of Golden Calf canvassers flood your neighbourhood? Well, actually, neither have I. But I have seen plenty of adherents to the same doctrine of the Golden Calfites of Moses’ day. And most of them call themselves Christians!
When Moses was conferring with God in the mountain, the children of Israel had Aaron make them a golden calf; we know the story. And we remember how angry God was, how angry Moses was, and how many people died. The golden calf was an idea of the people, with no basis whatsoever in the Word of God. In fact, it violated the first of the great commandments that God had given His people. It was an idea that the people came up with on their own. That’s why it appealed to them; it made sense to them and so it must be right. That sounds just like the drivel being pumped out by the mainline denominations of Christendom today. The ‘do the best you can and your works will get you to Heaven’ doctrine makes sense to those who don’t know the Scriptures. But it is the very opposite of God’s declaration that all of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) and that we must repent of all of our evil deeds. But the Golden Calfites swallow the lies, perform their religious duties, donate to their good causes, participate in their good works campaigns, and even do good to a selected group of their neighbours. As our text declares, they rejoice in the works of their own hands and must bear the punishment of their error.
Sadly, Golden Calfism is running rampant these days amid what we used to call the evangelical denominations. Some of those places still have some semblance of the Gospel preached by men who know the new birth. But the message that more and more of them are preaching is less and less of God’s plan of salvation and more on man’s version of that plan. Instead of preaching the repentance that God requires, they urge people to give their hearts to Jesus, or ask Jesus into their hearts. This defies Scripture’s admonition that the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). This new gospel tells people they can save themselves by following a simple formula. Is it any wonder that this Golden Calf gospel produces no change in hearts?
God’s way of salvation has never changed. The way that seems right unto a man is the way of death. -Jim MacIntosh