Does God still punish people who disrespect him (see Leviticus 10:1-2)?
I thought of this recently when hearing R.C. Sproul recount the story of God’s judgment against Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu, for “profaning” the worship of Holy God. (Dr. Sproul also talks about this in his classic The Holiness of God written 25 years ago.) These two priests, sons of the first high priest in the Hebrew priesthood, were killed instantly when they lit the censers of incense improperly during worship. The scriptures say, “Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them.”What did they do that so infuriated the Lord that he judged them so harshly?
The biblical text says they offered “profane” worship. What’s that? Different translations use words like strange, unholy, illicit, improper, or alien. The NIV says it was “unauthorized”.
Some Christ-followers expressed outrage recently when an art museum in Loveland. Colorado displayed Enrique Chagoya's "The Misadventures of the Romantic Cannibals," which included a picture of Jesus and another man in a very suggestive pose. The word “organism” was posted near the panel showing Christ. You can read about it here.
The museum and art critics responded to the protest by saying, “We have to be a country where freedom of expression thrives.”
You may respond to my citing this example (other similar incidents could be provided to illustrate my point), by saying the college art professor who created “Romantic Cannibals” doesn’t represent mainstream America. Perhaps you’re right.
Let’s just focus on Christians. I don’t know if Professor Chagoya is a professed believer or not, but let’s focus on Christians we know. Do we profane the holiness of God in other ways?
Is the casual manner in which we approach God in worship “improper” in God’s sight?
Is the approach Christian parents take to raising our children without a vibrant faith a “strange” way to honor the God who gave us our children?
Is it possible that refusing to return at least a tithe of our income to the God we worship is a form of profanity toward the Lord?
God is not any less holy today than he was in Aaron’s day. Jesus taught us to respect the holiness of God. The Bible clearly teaches that to do otherwise warrants the judgment of God. Such judgment is not waived, but only delayed until we stand before God and give an account.
