the "Bethel" problem

I was reading tonight in Jeremiah 48. It's talking about the horrific destruction of the City of Moab and how they provoked the Lord to anger because of the way they trusted in their deeds and riches, had become lazy, were worshipping other gods and were an overall disgusting fragrance to the LORD.  In verse 13 it says, "Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh (a god they were currently serving), as the house of Israel was ashamed when they trusted in Bethel."

I was like, wait, I thought Bethel was a sweet awesome place that Jacob wrested with God at and that David ran to find refuge in. And doesn't it mean "house of God??"  Why was the house of Israel ashamed when they trusted in Bethel?

So, after looking around, I ended up in Amos.  In Amos 5 [actually, in all of Amos], the LORD is calling the nation of Israel to turn their hearts to Him and repent.  He says, "Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba."  It's as if He is insinuating that Israel thought that, maybe if they went to the places where God was known to have dwelt, they would be safe.

We do this.  Often times I think we go to church simply to feel safe.  We aren't really seeking the Lord out in our own homes on our own time, thinking that by going to church, we will get our fill for the week.  We feel safe in this idea because we are surrounded by a.) people doing the exact same thing as we are b.) "holy" people who will bring the presence of God for the rest of type a people.  We are relying on our "Bethel" to save us, not the on-going and growing relationship God requires.

Another "Bethel" problem is going from one place to the next, thinking we will find something that will stimulate our relationship with the Lord.  Like, if we go to this internship or this church or this college, we will grow so much deeper in our personal relationship with Him.  If we are around this "holy" person or in this certain spiritual environment, they will rub off on us in a dramatic, life-changing way.  We think that we will be safe because we placed ourselves under their teaching.

I'm definitely not trying to insinuate that Bible colleges, churches, and teaching is bad.  Definitely not.  It is mostly true that a "Bethel" is an amazing tool to use to further your relationship with the Lord.   But what I am definitely trying to say [and what I feel the Lord is saying] is that a place is not going to make us safe.  Our comfort in going somewhere and being apart of something can only rest in the knowing that it is where He told us to go when we sought Him out here, in this time, in our own closet.

It's all about you and God, folks.  There is no organization, no church, no holy place that you can go to and be saved, solely because of it's reputation.  Safety in God can only come in seeking Him first and then going to "Bethel" because it adds to the solid foundation you have built with Him in the secret place.  

Man, it can be so easy to for me to rely on people for my safety. Arg.