A Review of David Orton’s Snakes in the Temple
Steve Eastman
Published in “Review & Preview” www.GlobalMissiology.org
January 2009
David Orton takes what
is for many an obscure Old Testament scripture and uses it to diagnose a major problem with the Western
church in the twenty-first century. Then he prescribes a treatment that many are currently unwilling to undergo.
The good news, according to
scripture, is that many eventually do respond to voices such as Orton’s.
Ezekiel
8 describes the elders of Israel gathered in a secret room of the temple. The walls are covered with portrayals of “... all
kinds of crawling things, and detestable animals and all the idols of the house of Israel.” Each elder stands by
in approval with a cloud of incense
rising from his censer. Orton legitimately sees Israel as a type and shadow of the church. The question is what kind
of idolatry hides in the temple of the Body
of Christ today?
The answer is not
obvious to today’s Western Christian who views idolatry as a relic of the past that only exists in third world and
similar cultures. However, Orton reminds us of Ezekiel 14:3 which speaks of the elders setting up idols in their
hearts. Idolatry then is a mental
process including fantasies and false self-images. According to Orton’s definition, “Idolatry is the feeling of well being
gained from my relationship to a created thing, either material or non-material.” For the Western church idolatry
often involves productivity, power,
buildings, budgets and titles.
Orton traces the
present day spiritual malaise of the church to the second century when the
office of bishop replaced apostolic leadership. He draws a parallel to the days
of Samuel when the Old Testament
church exchanged prophetic leadership for an earthly king. Orton presents a convincing argument from
the Greek that the word “office” was inserted
into the translation of a key scripture to legitimize current church
government. His argument goes like this. The original apostles heard from God.
People who trusted the gifting of a particular apostle listened. There was no
hierarchy.
Interestingly enough, Orton says we are not to
condemn the “monarch” nor stand in judgment
against the religious system, but he anticipates a kairos moment when the new wineskin eclipses the old. Again he looks to the
book of Ezekiel for an appropriate word picture. He sees the valley of dry bones in chapter 37 as signifying
personal renewal culminating in
corporate renewal. The restoration of God’s manifest presence will defeat the idol of well-intentioned church
programs. Orton reminds us that God uses
circumstances to conform us to the likeness of His
Son. If we cooperate we will experience
purity, brokenness and humility of heart.
“... it is time to return to the Lordto finish
‘playing church’ and living for self.”
Amen. You’ve said it well, David Orton.
Snakes in The
Temple http://www.amazon.com/Snakes-Temple-Unmasking-SpiritualBreakthrough/dp/1852403764
(posted by permission
from http://www.openheaven.com)