Why "Personal Spirituality" Does Not Work

Judges 18:1–2 (ESV) In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them. 2 So the people of Dan sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, “Go and explore the land.” And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.

The tribe of Dan is on the hunt for land. They were the one tribe unable to secure an inheritance after the conquest. Now, they are looking for a piece of the pie. And where do they arrive but at Micah's house? Micah, who from the last chapter was organizing his own little spiritual conclave in his home with a priest and idol cast from part of the silver he stole and returned to his mother.

The scouts from Dan arrive and meet the acting priest. They find out about Micah's self-made shrine and decide not only to take nearby land but to claim Micah's spiritual system for themselves. They entice the priest who happily goes off with them in response to their offer of a more distinguished "calling"...

Judges 18:18–20 (NLT) When the priest saw the men carrying all the sacred objects out of Micah’s shrine, he said, “What are you doing?” 19 “Be quiet and come with us,” they said. “Be a father and priest to all of us. Isn’t it better to be a priest for an entire tribe and clan of Israel than for the household of just one man?” 20 The young priest was quite happy to go with them, so he took along the sacred ephod, the household idols, and the carved image.

All that Micah established for himself is not leaving. When the townspeople, who must have come to use and appreciate Micah's shrine see it, they go with Micah to reclaim their stolen goods.

Judges 18:22–24 (NLT) When the people from the tribe of Dan were quite a distance from Micah’s house, the people who lived near Micah came chasing after them. 23 They were shouting as they caught up with them. The men of Dan turned around and said to Micah, “What’s the matter? Why have you called these men together and chased after us like this?” 24 “What do you mean, ‘What’s the matter?’ ” Micah replied. “You’ve taken away all the gods I have made, and my priest, and I have nothing left!”

The Danites turn to answer with a veiled threat:"

Judges 18:25 (NLT) The men of Dan said, “Watch what you say! There are some short-tempered men around here who might get angry and kill you and your family.”

Micah's only option is to return home empty. The tribe of Dan, however, continue on their pursuit of land in Laish where they kill everyone and rename the city "Dan", then they appoint their "stolen" priest to serve them in perpetuity. 

Now for the most striking detail of the story... Notice who the priest ends up being?

Judges 18:30 (NLT) Then they set up the carved image, and they appointed Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses, as their priest. This family continued as priests for the tribe of Dan until the Exile.

Moses' grandson is the priest who was willing to sell his services first to Micah and now to the tribe of Dan. Moses' grandson was breaking all kinds of ordinances for his calling as a member of the Levite tribe, settling for a role that provided him prominence and position but was ultimately far removed from his sacred calling to be near to God's tabernacle and serve the whole nation of Israel. God has no "grand-children". One generation knows the Lord, the next assumes they know Him, and the following may indeed forget Him altogether. 

The story is proof that personal spiritually is dangerous. Micah wanted his own "shrine" and "priestly system." The priest (Moses' grandson) wanted his own status and position. The tribe of Dan wanted their own path to God as an individual tribe. Everyone is doing their own thing spiritually. And in the next chapter things are going to be even worse for Israel. 

The idea that you can survive solely on your "personal relationship" to God is contrary to scripture in both the Old and New Testaments. God establishes a people not individual persons to live together in community for one another and His glory. This is why all Christians, though divided by denomination ONLY ever come to God through Jesus Christ. The Church is called to represent the ONE WAY path to God for ALL people. But personal spirituality has infected the Church in dangerous ways. Everyone wants their "own form" of Christian faith and the consequences are confusion, infighting (as we see in Isreal here) and self-promotion. 

Christians are God's PEOPLE. They are not individual self-made worshipers. If you are not already, get into a local church and serve the body of Christ. Submit to spiritual authority guided by the scriptures and become part of what God is doing globally. It's how God prescribed you to live.