How To Recognize & Rid Yourself of Idols (Part 3)

In Part 1 I talked about getting trapped in the deception of idols in our lives. That it’s not just an Old Testament idea or practice. I shared that Israel being set free from the slavery of Egypt were trapped in the wilderness because they continued to have idols in their lives which messed up their relationship with God. Finally, I closed the first article with how Joshua, the leader of Israel after Moses, challenged the Israelites to rid themselves of the idols their parents had brought with them from Egypt and had taught their children to embrace at such a high cost.

In Part 2 I talked about what idolatry really is at its core. How Adam and Eve listened to the lie of Satan and rejected the God of the universe for themselves as their only authority, thus violating the commands of God and losing the blessing and protection of God for themselves and their children. Our choice to be in rebellion to God and his authority is the ultimate core of idolatry no matter what the object of our focus. We discussed how the Old Testament prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah spoke about how foolish it is to embrace idols that can neither speak or protect us. Finally, I ended with the scripture in Exodus 34:5-6 and how God spoke to Moses about who he was and that he was the Lord who is “Merciful and Gracious” and “Slow to Anger” and “Rich in Unfailing Love & Faithfulness” to provoke all of us to see wisdom and seek the Lord and His forgiveness whenever we get off track in life.

In this article, which is Part 3, I want to discuss how the apostles in the New Testament challenged the believers in Jesus Christ to also rid themselves of idols as it’s easy for Satan to divide us into embracing idols of our own generation.  For example, the last of the original living 12 apostles wrote just before his death when he was nearly 95 years old, probably 65 years after the resurrection of Jesus.

1 John 5:21 

Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Now if the problem of having idols was only an Old Testament issue, as some would teach, why would John warn us to be careful? The answer is pretty obvious! Idols are just as real and dangerous today as they have ever been.

In my first article I wrote about idols I had in my life before Christ. One of them was riding motorcycles and riding them fast. When I got saved I knew my “Excess” in motorcycles needed to come to an end and felt the Holy Spirit telling me not to even ride.  So for 10 years I would have friends offer me their bikes because they knew I loved riding and I would say no. One day a friend offered his bike to me and, just as I was saying thanks but no thanks, the Holy Spirit spoke and said, “It’s all right now – You’re free“. I almost started crying and when I got on the bike I was a little afraid that “the old me” would come out and I would ride like a maniac. As I rode down the street again I almost started crying knowing that part of me was no longer in bondage to my old idol. You see, it’s not so much the object of our idols but the bondage and dependency. One person can enjoy sailing and another has an idol of sailing. One person can love football and another can have an idol of football.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians about how to manage their lives since they became believers in Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:5-7 

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 

Paul says we need to still make the choice every day to walk in harmony with God. At any time our old habits can get the best of us and Satan can use them to once again enslave us with them. Paul, visiting Athens, Greece, said this about what he saw.

Acts 17:16 

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. 

Why would he be deeply troubled? Because idols put roots of deception and rebellion in our hearts to wean us away from our love for God. They slowly drain our confidence and trust of God so that when it comes to simple things like reading the scripture, being generous or praying, we go back to whatever habits we had before knowing Christ. Look what Paul says about fellowshipping with believers that refuse to rid themselves of such idols.

1 Corinthians 5:11 

What I meant was that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a Christian yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Don’t even eat with such people.

1 Corinthians 10:19-20 

What am I trying to say? Am I saying that the idols to whom the pagans bring sacrifices are real gods and that these sacrifices are of some value? No, not at all. What I am saying is that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want any of you to be partners with demons. 

So Paul says that having fellowship with people who call themselves Christians who indulge in behavior contrary to what Christ taught is actually becoming partners with demonic spirits. Demons are behind the idols that motivate our behavior. Let me say right off that we are not supposed to be policing other believers, but when we know these “friends” are not living for Christ yet calling themselves believers we need to minimize our time with them lest we become like them. Our response to them should be as if we are around unbelievers. We have our guard up but still show the love of God to hopefully see them saved.

Paul speaks about how we should respond to demonic threats that try to bring us into bondage again.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 

We are human, but we don’t wage war with human plans and methods. 

We use God’s mighty weapons, not merely worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ. 

In closing, I hope I have been able to bring some light to the danger of making idols out of ordinary things in life. Anything in life can become an idol where we make them more important than our loyalty and devotion to Christ and His Kingdom. You can normally detect idols when you are willing to compromise your love for God for it.

Questions:

1. Is there any “thing” in your life that is “crowding” out your love of God? Pray for forgiveness & healing.
2. Is there anything that takes priority in your life above God and His kingdom? Confess the idol & get rid of it.

1 Thessalonians 1:9  –  May Our Testimony Be Like Minded

For they themselves keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God. 

Pastor Dale