To make a name

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. – Genesis 11.1-4

Early on, twice in fact, God told man to go out, multiply, and fill the earth. It was important that the world be filled, and it was God’s plan that men spread all over the place. God also knew that man was a sinner and that if man tried to set up some type of universal utopia it would fail because, at the end of the day, man is a sinner.

This folks decided though that what was really important was to show how important they were and to build something that would make a name for themselves, and not for God.

But man still likes to make a name for himself. We like to be the biggest and the strongest and the most powerful. ‘Home of the world’s biggest whatever’ can be seen almost anywhere. There is always a striving to be number one and to be ‘known’ and we like to leave a name for ourselves.

Sadly the church can get caught in this trap ‘America’s Biggest Church’ or ‘The World’s Biggest Sunday School’ are sought after titles.

And it is all about pride. These folks aat Babel were proud of what they could do and wanted to build a huge tower to prove it!

It is really tragic that so many churches around the world today are so much about being number one. ‘Look at us everybody! Look at the size of our church and how fancy and ornate we are. Look at our Christian college that has the best swimming pool of any college in America! Look we have a Starbucks and a beautiful family centre! We are really something!’

It really is not about having those things or not. It is the attitude that comes with it. But I sometimes wonder if God is really being honoured – or is it the church or school or whatever is making a name for itself.