Praise and Worship
The Bible refers to an idol, or false god, as any object of worship that is not sanctioned by God. In the Old Testament these idols took on several forms, often deities of other cultures and religions that competing societies adopted. In the New Testament, by contrast, idling is more widely understood and followed with the seeking of vain, false, and empty satisfaction.
In most cases, an idol is an image or object that is worshipped, adored or placed into veneration. The Bible uses the Greek term eidólon, which essentially means “image”, to describe an idol. God in His Word clearly speaks about false idols: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth” (Exodus 20:4 ESV).
In the Old Testament, those who worshipped idols were usually punished for their transgressions. For example, in 1 Chronicles 16:26, during King David’s reign, we read, “For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.” This is clear – God is the ultimate ruler, and worship of any other god is idolatry.
What Constitutes Idolatry?
To understand what constitutes idolatry, it is important first to understand the worship of true God. In the Old Testament, the Jews were to bring offerings to the tabernacle and temple with the understanding that those sacrifices would be exclusively made to Yahweh. Anything that competed with this worship was an idol.
In the New Testament, idolatry is seen as anything that offends God, or in any way competes with the worship of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul constantly warns believers not to indulge in things that hinder their devotion, such as the worship of other gods, thus constituting idolatry.
In 1 Corinthians 10:19-22, Paul urges believers to, “Flee from idolatry… No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation he will also provide escape.”
The Idolization of Money
Nowadays, one of the most pressing issues of idolatry is the idolization of money. When money becomes an idol and more important than spiritual matters, the consequences are sure to be destructive. While some people may think money gives them security, they are clearly missing the point.
In the book of Matthew 6:24, Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” This verse clearly demonstrates the folly of idolizing money and what consequences may follow.
God demands us to seek His kingdom and His righteousness, not our own material wealth. Money cannot give true security, as it cannot protect against every single evil lurks on this world. It is only God who gives genuine security and His Word is sure and trustworthy. As Psalm 119:142 says, “Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true.”
The Problem of Worldliness
One other problem that often goes hand in hand with idolatry is worldliness. Worldliness is defined as “preoccupation with affairs and ideas that are related to this world by opposition to spiritual values.” In other words, it is characterizing moral choices by the influence of the world instead of the influence of God.
The Apostle John refers to worldliness versus Godliness, or spiritual living, in 1 John 2:15-17: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
It is evident then that even in the Bible, idolatry and worldliness go hand in hand, as both are contrary to the will of God. If we idolize worldly things, then we are taking our focus away from the true God, and falling in sin.
The Need for Discernment
With the presence of several competing forces in our society, it is important for believers to develop discernment. Discernment is the ability to recognize truth from error, and what is positive from negative. Sound discernment requires living by the guidance of God’s Word, instead of our own judgement. We should strive to always be attentive to God’s leading, in order to make right decisions.
As Proverbs 20:12-13 ESV says, “The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both. Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes and you will have plenty of bread.” This passage force us to recognize that we should continuously strive to develop discernment of God’s will and to pay attention to his warnings.
The Danger of Pride
It is easy to fall into the trap of pride when thinking we are immune to committing acts of idolatry. Pride is highly prohibited and detested by God in His Word. In Proverbs 8:13, it is written “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”
The Bible warns us to always be humble and to never think too highly of ourselves, or to think that we are capable of avoiding wrongs and mistakes without relying on God’s grace. Thus, we should strive to always be watchful and in constant prayer for discernment, as any sin can separate us from God.
The Call for Repentance and Renewal
In view of the dangers of idolatry and other related spiritual pitfalls, the Bible calls us to the path of repentance and renewal. As John the Baptist states in Luke 3:8-9, “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.”
The ultimate goal should be to never fall into the temptation of idolizing and idolatry. Therefore, the Bible encourages individuals to be vigilant and steadfast in their faith in order to avoid any form of idolatry. Pray for discernment and strength to follow God’s will, and when possible, help your neighbors keep away from the danger of idolatry as well.
The Necessity for Obedience and Faith
Idolatry is a serious sin, and when it is present in our lives, it shows God’s wrath and our faithlessness. Therefore, it is important to follow the instructions of the Bible strictly, and to have faith that God will protect us from all the evil that is happening all around us.
Psalm 95:6-7 says, “O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.” This scripture encourages us to bow down not to stones and images, but to our Maker and to the Lord of the universe.
Another important aspect of obedience is to always obey the instructions of Jesus. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus says; “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house. Yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and due not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.”
The Power of God’s Grace
Lastly, it is important to recognize the power of God’s grace. We are saved not by our own strength and works, but by the selfless, unconditional love of God Almighty. As Romans 3:23-24 demonstrates, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
In the same way that we receive grace, so God offers us forgiveness for our transgressions in exchange for our repentance. In Luke 7:47-50, Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” In these verses, Jesus encourages us to always ask for forgiveness when we have sinned, as this is the only way to receive reconciliation with God.
In conclusion, no one is immune to the temptation of Idolatry, however with the right discernment of the will of God, and with the power of God’s word and grace, we are sure to be successful in avoiding this pitfall.
