MODERN DAY IDOLATRY
MODERN DAY IDOLATRY
TEXT: 1Kg 12: 26-33
What is an idol?
A graven image or representation of anything that is revered, or believed to convey spiritual power
Bible definition of idols
What is an idol? Anything and everything that draws the affection and devotion of heart and soul from the Lord Jesus Christ Luk 10:27.
Everything which occupies the place that is due to God.
Psa 115:4-8 KJV 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: 6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: 7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. 8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.
Deu 4:28 KJV And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
Under New Testament
Enjoined to stay away from idolaters
1Co 5:11 KJV But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
An idol is not to be reckoned with
1Co 8:4 KJV As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
We are not to partake with any form of sacrifice offered to any idol
1Co 10:20-21 KJV 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
We are to be separated from idols totally
2Co 6:16 KJV And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Covetousness is idolatry
Col 3:5 KJV Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
We are to flee idolatry
1Jn 5:21 KJV Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Keep yourselves from idols – From worshipping them; from all that would imply communion with them or their devotees.
TODAYS’ IDOL
- The word rendered “idols” here means, properly, an image, specter, shade – as of the dead; then any image or figure which would represent anything, particularly anything invisible; and hence anything designed to represent God, and that was set up with a view to be acknowledged as representing him, or to bring, him. Exo 20:3-4
- We are not in danger, indeed, of bowing down to idols, or of engaging in the grosser forms of idol-worship.
- But we may be in danger of idolatry when we are substituting other things in our affections in the place of the true God, and of devoting to them the time and the affection which are due to him.
- Have no object of idolatrous worship; no pictures, relics, consecrated tapers, wafers, crosses, by attending to which your minds may be divided, and prevented from worshipping the infinite Spirit in spirit and in truth.
- A man’s idol or god is from which he seeks his happiness; no matter whether it be Jupiter, Juno, Apollo, Minerva, Venus, or Diana; or pleasure, wealth, fame, a fine house, superb furniture, splendid equipage, medals, curiosities, books, titles, human friendships, or any earthly or heavenly thing, God, the supreme good, only excepted
Our children it is possible to love with such an attachment as shall effectively exclude the true God from the heart. Example is Abraham
The world – “its wealth, pleasures, and honors – we may love with a degree of attachment such as even an idolater would hardly shew to his idol-gods. 1John 2:15
Our work, business, pleasure, entertainment, phones, material things, football, movies, music, etc.
IDOLIZING MEN
A wife who idolizes her husband: This is when we expect them to take on the attributes only God possesses. El shaddai, Jehovah Jireh
When the Pastor is the one that has the final say over our choices, dictates the way things are done, becomes our major consultants and takes on the attributes that only God possesses.
At one time or the other, we have all been guilty of idolatry.