“Idolatry” – What is It? (Part 2)

Previously, I wrote an article titled “Are There Idols to Kill?” and since people commented about wanting more clarity on the subject please read that article before this one.

Unfortunately, in our modern culture we don’t recognize idols when they are present do in part to stereotyping them as statues in old movies or in books depicting ancient culture statues. Secondly, we miss identifying idols because we think it’s an Old Testament concept that doesn’t relate to the time of Jesus onward, which is far from the truth. It’s similar for many Christians to assume demons no longer torment people’s lives nor control certain behaviors. That they don’t typify the behavior of the man in the New Testament with the legion of demons. Satan is smart enough to mask his activities and warfare to fool the simple-minded and cover his deception.

So let’s start with the beginning of humanity’s struggle with idols and God’s instruction about idols.

Starting in Genesis, God set Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden to cultivate it with limits.

Genesis 2:15-17 

Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”

Any good parent would want to place their kids in a good environment that will help develop their lives to maturity and put boundaries to both protect and safeguard them and the family.

Secondly, Satan was at work to undermine and ruin this God-man relationship by initiating rebellion.

Genesis 3:1 

Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 

Genesis 3:5-6 

“For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 

So, the main issue is Satan wants man to rebel against God’s authority and man embraces this life. The problem is either putting ourselves as supreme over someone or something. The instruction of God through Moses was to educate and instruct the children of God to see any form of substitute for the Creator. When Moses gives the children of Israel the Ten Commandments the first three commandments deal with this idea of who is the rightful authority and who isn’t.

Exodus 20:3-5 

“You shall have no other gods before Me”.

Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! I do not leave unpunished the sins of those who hate me, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations. 

This is the essence of idolatry, placing something and someone above the Lord and therefore standing in rebellion to the Creator and His creation.  God knows that when we have no rightful authority over our lives we become lawbreakers and destroy the creation.  Satan wants us to believe that if we are in charge life will not only go our way but also go better. God knows that if we are in charge things fall apart and become corrupt. Humanity thinks if we get smarter and more technologically advanced we will be able to do anything.  All one has to do is go though a hurricane like what hit North Carolina recently and we all realize we were never in charge and have always been at the mercy of the weather and His is just one element of creation.

So God wants us in rightful submission to His authority and to protect this attitude and behavior so we won’t end up ruined as an individual or as a people. When we drift from this standard it is due, in part, to our hearts becoming rebellious as Satan works to undermine our relationship with God.  Look at what King David said about being close to God as we were designed to be.

Psalms 24:3-4 

Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?  Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.

David understood that we have a choice to be close to the Lord or far away. If we choose to be close then we have certain conditions that must be made first. Idols will cause our hearts to drift away from God and contaminate our attitude towards the Lord. Instead of being thankful for His blessings and grace we treat these things as common or having little value.

The prophets Isaiah and  Jeremiah explains why idols are bad and should be rejected.

Isaiah 44:9-11 

How foolish are those who manufacture idols to be their gods. These highly valued objects are really worthless. They themselves are witnesses that this is so, for their idols neither see nor know. No wonder those who worship them are put to shame. Who but a fool would make his own god—an idol that cannot help him one bit! All who worship idols will stand before the LORD in shame, along with all these craftsmen—mere humans—who claim they can make a god. Together they will stand in terror and shame.

Jeremiah 10:15-16 

Idols are worthless; they are lies! The time is coming when they will all be destroyed. But the God of Israel is no idol! He is the Creator of everything that exists, including Israel, his own special possession. The LORD Almighty is his name!

So, lets keep in mind the reasons for identifying and rejecting any and all idols that the Holy Spirit reveals to us in our personal lives.

1) Idols replace the respect and honor that the God of the universe deserves.

2) Idols undermine our relationship and intimacy with God.

3) Idols prevent us from being in God’s favor and under His protection.

4) Idols are forbidden and open us up to God’s judgement.

In the next article I will identify how idols have, to some extent, become “covert” in their behavior but are still as sinister as ever. Once identified, we need to repent for allowing them a place in our lives and ask for God’s healing grace for our souls. Always remember that God’s intentions are good towards those who love Him and He understands Satan is behind all deception, but we can not lean on Satan’s treachery as an excuse to continue in any form of rebellion, such as having idols in our lives.

Questions:

Has the Holy Spirit identified any idols in your life?  Renounce and embrace the loving kindness of the Lord.

Do you find it difficult to feel close to God? It could be there are idols present without your awareness.

Exodus 34:5-6 

Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and called out his own name, “the LORD,” as Moses stood there in his presence. He passed in front of Moses and said, “I am the LORD, I am the LORD, the merciful and gracious God. I am slow to anger and rich in unfailing love and faithfulness. 

Look for “Idols” part 4 coming soon!

Pastor Dale