In Judges chapter 6, we find Israel dominated by the Midianites. During this time of oppression, God called Gideon to deliver His people. God’s first instruction to Gideon was to destroy the altar of Baal in his father’s house and replace it with an altar to the Living God. Gideon obeyed at night, accompanied by ten servants.
When the townspeople awoke to find their idol destroyed, they demanded Gideon’s life.
In our church today, this kind of reaction, also reflects how we sometimes respond when our “modern idols” are challenged.
So, in situations like this, we can ask ourselves: Are we fanatics for an idol, or disciples of the Living God?
Idols Demand Fanatics to Defend Them
When the men of the city saw the ruined altar, they cried out to Gideon’s father, Joash: “Bring out your son, that he may die.” Because Baalโa man-made idolโwas silent and powerless to defend himself, he required human “fanatics” to prosecute his case.
Thus, fanatics are compelled by a blind, uncompromising zeal. They take matters into their own hands because they serve a “god” who cannot act.
Fanatics often justify wickedness under the guise of spirituality. These men were willing to commit murder (killing Gideon) to avenge a broken piece of wood (the altar).
Fanatics assume their personal opinions are the will of God. Nowhere did Baal speak; the people simply projected their anger onto his silence.
In the church, fanaticism appears when we are more concerned with “defending the honor” of the institution or our personal traditions than with following God.
It manifests as a desire to shame or “investigate” others rather than offering grace.
When we act as fanatics, we downgrade the Living God into an idol. We act as if He is incapable of judging or reigning without our aggressive intervention.
God Commands Disciples to Serve Him
Unlike Baal, the true God does not need us to vindicate Him. When Satan accused God’s character in the book of Job, or when the world rejects Him today, God vindicates Himselfโmost purely through the sacrifice of His Son. He does not demand “defense attorneys”; He demands disciples.
Micah 6:8 highlights the key attributes of a true disciple, which include acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly. A disciple prioritizes personal righteousness and integrity instead of demanding faultlessness from others. Rather than seeking to punish others for their sins, a disciple introspects, recognizing their own need for repentance while treating others with compassion. Additionally, while fanatics may exhibit arrogance and loud opinions, disciples are characterized by their humility and a sincere relationship with their Creator.
The Evidence of Discipleship: Love, Not Zeal
Jesus gave a “new commandment”: that we love one another as He has loved us. This is the ultimate “litmus test” for our faith.
Intolerance defines the fanatic. Compassion defines the disciple.
Many think serving God means “helping” Him carry the weight of the world’s problems. But God needs no additional shoulders. The only sacrifice needed for salvation was Christ’s. Our role is simply to extend that love.
The servants of Baal wanted to kill a son to restore their God’s honor. On the cross, the Son of God prayed, “Father, forgive them,” to restore our lives.
A Call to Transformation
We must ask ourselves honestly: Do I have more disgust for the sinner than for the sin?
If you feel justified in hating someone because they are a sinner, or if you find yourself gossiping about church leaders under the guise of “caring for the church,” you are acting as a servant of Baal. You are protecting an idol of your own making.
Stop hating sinners on God’s behalf. God did not send you to hate; He sent you to love. He is perfectly capable of pleading His own case. Our calling is to be leaders and members defined by justice, mercy, and humility.
๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฑ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ง๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด๐ข๐จ๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ข๐ด๐ต๐ฐ๐ณ ๐๐ข๐ต๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐๐ณ๐ข๐ฏ๐ค๐ฐ๐ช๐ด, ๐.๐๐ช๐ฏ., ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ช๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ฏ. 13, 2026, ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ณ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ฆ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ข๐บ of the ๐๐ข๐ด๐ต ๐๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ณ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ญ๐ช๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐๐ฏ๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ง๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ณ๐ข๐บ๐ฆ๐ณ.
Lyn Lucero โธ ๐๐ข๐ด๐ต ๐๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ณ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ฉ๐ช๐ญ๐ช๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐๐ฏ๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ง๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ