Why Do We Worship Idols
We worship idols because we are sinful human beings who need more of Jesus Christ and we often turn to other things to satisfy that need.
anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, and anything that you seek to give you what only God can give.
Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods
Why on earth do we do that?
Personally, I do it because its easier than the alternative. Receiving grace is hard. Its far easier to believe that I can create my own feelings of contentment or control my own satisfaction in life.
Do you do that, too? Its certainly easy to do. Culture spouts off these ideas that sound so profound and empowering but are nothing but lies.
Grace, however, showers truth.
When I accept the truth that Gods grace is a gift and I cant control it, I have to let go of the lie that I determine my future, my happiness, and my life.
Thats scary for a recovering-by-the-grace-of-God control-freak like me. What about you?
Idolatry In The Old Testament: Baal Molek And Other Idol
Israel constantly struggled in their faithful allegiance to Yahweh. Despite the Lord acting powerfully for them, Israel regularly flirted with foreign deities. The temptation was to adopt the religious and spiritual practices of the neighboring nations. Time and again, God reminded Israel of the unique identity of God for them, exhorting the people to remain faithful. For example, the Ten Commandments begin with the call to remember the identity of God, followed by a specific commandment against idolatry: I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt. You shall have no other Gods but me . The rest of the commandments necessarily flow from this primary one. From their journey through the desert through the time of the prophets, the Lord continually reminded Israel of the dangers of idolatry.
Throughout the Old Testament, we see references to these idol-gods. Chemosh, Dagon, Asherah, and others, are frequently mentioned as temptations to Israels faithfulness. In each instance, these idols threaten the single-hearted devotion that God requires of Gods people. And yet, despite these times of idolatry, the Lord remains faithful. God keeps his covenant with Israel again and again.
Does The Bible Say Anything About Mixing Associated With The Events
When God called Israel away from Egypt, they were warned by him about having anything to do with one other countries. As an example, if the nations started marrying folks of other nations, theyd commence to follow their methods. Their hearts would pursue other gods and worship idols that have been actually maybe not gods at all. The Lord warned Israel again and again. The Moabites attempted over and over repeatedly to possess Balaam curse Israel, but he cannot. They also wanted to pay him to curse them but he refused, alternatively, Balaam spoke their message: Balak brought me personally from Aram, the master of Moab through the eastern hills. Come, he said, curse Jacob for me come, denounce Israel. How to curse those who God hasnt cursed? How to denounce those whom the father have not denounced ?
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Questions You Need To Ask
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Every single one of us worships idols. Maybe we dont all bow down before a a little golden calf or other obvious false gods, but we certainly struggle with putting our desires before God. Use these 4 questions to identify idols in your life.
I have a confession to make. I worship idols.
Every. Single. Day.
I dont like this about myself, and I pray about it constantly. But I still do it.
And I bet you do, too.
John Calvin stated that mans nature, so to speak, is a perpetual factory of idols.
Im going to ask you to hang around. Dont assume this is the same old sermon about loving your husband, kids, home, and life more than God, okay? Now, lets get to the truth
What This Means For Us
Briefly, let me offer four points of application from this text.
1. This passage should humble us.
Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. .
If idolatry includes false worship of the true God, worship of a god made according to our tastes is, according to Scripture, idolatrous. Its not just neo-paganism that promotes idolatry. Its not just Rob Bell saying he can worship God best on his surfboard.
Its our desire to downplay the holiness and holy wrath of God when we talk about him. Its our Athenian-like fascination with new ideas. Its in our fixation on the latest online controversy, and our reluctance to sing aloud when the music plays at church. All these show how easily tempted we are to worship a god after our image, rather than the God who speaks.
2. This passage warns us against excusing sin.
Many Christians struggle to say someone has done wrong when they meant well, but Aarons interpretation of the calf-worship warns us that good intentions are insufficient. The road to hell really is paved with good intentions. A cow statue called Yahweh is still a statue. A white lie is still a lie. Good intentions require a foundation of divine instruction, if they are to result in God-honoring worship. Thats true in our lives.
3. This passage helps us see theology is devotional.
4. This passage helps us see we need Gods grace.
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Important Bible Verses About Food And Eating
Sep 12, 2021 ·What does the Bible say about food and eating? Whether meat, seafood, vegetables, fruits, etc. All food is more than a source of energy. It is a blessing from the Lord. When Scripture talks about food its not always talking about the physical. Sometimes it is talking about the spiritual and the spiritual food is something that most people …
The True Cost Of Idolatry
When you make idolatry more about the way you think and react, its a lot harder to dismiss its existence, isnt it?
And the cost is incredibly expensive.
Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.
Jonah 2:8, ESV
Ouch.
What else does justifying the presence of these behaviors cost you? Lets go back to Ezekiel and check out what comes next.
Tell them, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Israel have set up idols in their hearts and fallen into sin, and then they go to a prophet asking for a message. So I, the Lord, will give them the kind of answer their great idolatry deserves. I will do this to capture the minds and hearts of all my people who have turned from me to worship their detestable idols.
Ezekiel 14:4-5, NLT
When we worship idols, our minds and hearts are the prices we pay. And yet God will answer our idolatry. He will give the kind of answer great idolatry deserves.
I dont know about you, but I do not want that to happen.
I want Gods grace. I want to fix my thoughts on Jesus and His Word, and let the Bible change my life. I want to tear down every altar Ive erected that isnt for God, and lay waste to every idol Ive given space to in my mind or heart.
If youre ready to eliminate idols from your life, READ PART 2 HERE.
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What Does The Bible Say About Repentance What Does It
Apr 26, 2021 ·Answer. The word repentance in the Bible literally means the act of changing ones mind.. True biblical repentance goes beyond remorse, regret, or feeling bad about ones sin. It involves more than merely turning away from sin. Eerdmans Bible Dictionary includes this definition of repentance: In its fullest sense it is a term for a …
The Only Antidote To Idols Is A Superior Affection
We all worship something. If we are not worshipping God, idols will naturally slip in to fill the void. 1 John 5:21 urges, Dear children, keep yourselves from idols, but doing so can seem impossible in a world filled with the siren songs of gifts masquerading as gods. The only way to overcome love for idols is to be overcome with a greater love. Thomas Chalmers writes that it is impossible to merely get rid of idols, because the heart must have something to cling to…Therefore the superior affection for God through the free Gospel of Christ is necessary to displace worldly affections. God is not embarrassed by our strong affections or desires. In fact, C.S. Lewis explains: It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
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Dont Become Unequally Yoked
Paul ended up being also not teaching Christians that are already hitched to leave their spouse as he states in 1 Corinthians 7:39, A woman is bound to her spouse as long as he lives. But if her spouse dies, shes liberated to marry anybody she wants, but he must participate in god. Nowhere into the Bible does God allow a currently hitched believer to divorce or leave an unbelieving spouse just since theyre not really a Christian. God hates divorce or separation although under conditions of abuse or unrepentant sexual immorality , you can find exceptions.
Do You Value It Over People
Are you so tied to an end result that you will trample on feelings to get to it?
Its easy to say, No, of course not! but lets take an honest look.
When someones actions make you late, how angry do you get?
When someones incompetency or laziness cost you time and money, do you handle it well or do you shout at them?
When someone hurts your feelings, do you pause and wait until you can respond calmly or do you lash out in anger at them?
When youve just cleaned the house and the kids leave a trail of lego down the hall and your husband makes a snack and trails crumbs across your clean counter, do you shout at them about the mess or calmly ask them to pick it up?
Its way too easy to get angry when others inconvenience us. And when that happens and you shout at them, its sin. And that sin can lead us to allow our schedule or clean house or budget or any other good thing to become an idol.
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What Does The Bible Declare About Interracial Dating And Marriage
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What Does the Bible Declare About Interracial Dating and Marriage?
I s here anything in the Bible that forbids people from various cultural origins from marrying or dating? Can A african-american marry an Anglo-Saxon? Could it be biblical to have a Hispanic or Latino person marry an indigenous United states? What are the Scriptures that address this issue?
First Samuel 16:7b says, The LORD does not glance at the things individuals examine. Individuals go through the outward look, but the LORD talks about the center.
Humility: What The Bible Really Says About Being Humble
But, what does the Bible actually say about it? Here are four Biblical points that every Christian should know about humility. 1. Humility means submission, but not groveling. Humility and submission go hand in hand. Gods Word tells us that, as Christians, we are to submit to one another in lowliness of mind.
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Jerusalem Will Be Punished
12 Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said,13 Son of man, I will punish any nation that leaves me and sins against me. I will stop their food supply. I might cause a famine and remove the people and animals from that country.14 I would punish that country even if Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there. They could save their own lives by their goodness, but they could not save the whole country. This is what the Lord God said.
15 Or I might send wild animals through that country to kill all the people. Then no one would travel through that country because of the wild animals.16 If Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there, those three men could save their own lives. But I promise by my own life that they could not save the lives of other peoplenot even their own sons and daughters! That evil country would be destroyed. This is what the Lord God said.
17 Or I might send an enemy army to fight against that country. The soldiers would destroy that countryI would remove all the people and animals from that country.18 If Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there, those three men could save their own lives. But I promise by my own life that they could not save the lives of other peoplenot even their own sons and daughters! That evil country would be destroyed. This is what the Lord God said.
Footnotes
Idolatry In The Bible
I want to briefly look at what the Bible says about idolatry. To put it concisely, it doesnt say anything positive. Idol worship is condemned in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Heres a full list of what the Bible says about idols: Bible Verses About Idolatry
God sets the precedent for his people early on that his people shall have no Gods except him. The 10 Commandments lead off with a command against idolatry . And in most subsequent books in the Old Testament echo this commandment.
The New Testament is also vocal about idolatry. Colossians 3:5 and Romans 1:22-23 remind us of the dangers of idolatry. Many times the New Testament warns of being seduced by the things of this world to the point where they become the most important thing in our life- which is, by definition, idolatry.
We see time and time again in the Bible that we tend to drift away from God. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament are full of warnings against idolatry because we are so prone to wander. We must be diligent in examining our life for idols.
Now that we know what is an idol and have a good idolatry definition, lets switch gears and look at what modern day idols are still worshipped.
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Example Of Idolatry In The Bible
The Jews were called to be a special nation in the eyes of the Lord. But due to their disobedience, the Lord punished them many times. All of the people of Israel forget what the Lord had done to their forefathers, and they started following the idols of their surrounding nations.
1 Samuel 15:23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king
Explanation:- When the Israelites began to turn from the Lord, it affected them badly. The Lord repeatedly prohibited them not to worship any idols.
They missed the glorious blessings that they have from the Lord. When God saw his people departing from his face, he brought many trials and hardships in thor life.
The Jews were looking for a king and the Lord wanted them to be his people. But when they rejected God, the Lord allowed them to have a king.
Jeremiah 7:18The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger
Explanation:- When the children of Israel prepared themselves to worship before the other gods the lord was extremely angry upon them and he decided to separate himself from their presence.
The Lord told Jeremiah to remind them that they were the chosen nation and the Lord had many blessings for them if they stayed in his promises.
Cultural Context Of The Commandment
The idols of the Ancient Near East were central figures of the tribal cults around the Isaraelites. They are said to have been placed upon pedestals, clothed and colored, and fastened with chains of silver or nails of iron lest they should fall over or be carried off. To demonstrate victory over an enemys idols, it was customary to take away the idols of the vanquished, and a similar custom is frequently mentioned in the cuneiform texts.
Scholars have discussed whether idol worshipers made a distinction between a spiritual being that existed independently of idols and the physical idols themselves. Some scholars opine that the pagans in the Hebrew Bible did not literally worship the objects themselves, so that the issue of idolatry is really concerned with whether one is pursuing a “false god” or I am the Lord your God | “the true God. In addition to the spiritual aspect of their worship, peoples in the Ancient Near East took great care to physically maintain their cult idols and thought that the instructions for their manufacture and maintenance came from the spirit of the god. Magical ceremonies were performed through which the people believed the spirit of the god came to live in the physical idol. When idols were captured or not cared for, the associated religious practices also flagged. So while scholars may debate the relative importance of belief in the physical object or the spirit it represented or housed, in practice the distinction was not easy to discern.
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