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FLEE FROM IDOLATRY
Besides other terms, the Bible contains
the words “idol,” “idols” and “idolatry” a total of 128 times. In 1
Corinthians 10:14, Paul wrote saying,
“Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.”
Idolatry was then and continues now to be a
problem among professing Christians and in their churches. Because of this
the children of God are instructed to run from idolatry in whatever form it
raises its ugly head.
We often think that idols are made of wood
or stone or metal and indeed often they are. But there are mental gods as
well as metal ones. That which is venerated or worshiped in place of the
true God of the Bible is idolatry. So, then, idolatry is not limited to
bowing or kneeling or kissing or venerating statues or relics or so-called
holy objects. It is first of all a mental attitude springing from a sinful
heart.
Idolatry is the honoring of nature or
natural, physical things or mental imaginations rather than the worship of
God. The Bible says about sinful men: “Who
changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature
more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen,”
(Romans 1:25). Instead of worshiping the Creator, Jesus Christ, men and
women often worship this or that created thing. Most pagan religions embrace
the sun as an object of worship and engage in observance of solstices, etc.
Basically such worship is connected with fertility rites – hence bunnies and
eggs in the Springtime and evergreen trees in mid-winter, etc.
One test as to whether worship is idolatry
is found in the manner in which worship is carried on. Again the Bible tells
us, “God that made the world and all
things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in
temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though
he needed any thing...” (Acts 17:24-25).
Whenever worship involves “men's hands” that is a sign of idolatry. After
all, the Lord Jesus said, “But the hour
cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in
spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him,”
(John 4:23). Worship is one thing while service
to God is another. Service may involve men's hands, but worship is first of
all a spiritual matter. It can be accomplished only by a person who has been
regenerated or made alive by the Holy Spirit in the new birth.
The second thing about worship is that it
must be according to truth: not according to men's' ideas or to what someone
may sincerely believes is truth. This means that if we would worship God we
must first of all have been born from above: born by the power of the Holy
Spirit. Then we must know the truth and worship God according to it. John
wrote,
“...no lie is of the truth,”
(1 John 2:21). Any untruth we hold to makes our worship unacceptable. Flee
idolatry! |
