by Keith Sharp
“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14).
The Scriptures tell us whom to worship and how to worship Him, but they never just command us to worship. Man, with a spirit derived from God and in the image of God, naturally worships something. Those who turn away from the worship of the one true and living God turn naturally to idolatry, sorcery, or both (Galatians 5:20). The Gentiles, who refused to know God, turned to idols (Romans 1:20-23).
“Idolatry originally meant the worship of idols, or the worship of false gods by means of idols, but came to mean among the Old Testament Hebrews any worship of false gods, whether by images or otherwise, and finally the worship of Yahweh (the LORD – KS) through visible symbols” (ISBE; cf. Hosea 8:5-6).
The first of the Ten Commandments forbade Israel to worship idols (Exodus 20:4-6; Deuteronomy 5:8-10). This included not only images of various animals or even humans representing foreign gods (Romans 1:22-23) but attempting to represent the LORD, who is an invisible spirit, in some visible way (John 4:24; 1 Timothy 1:17; Exodus 32:4-5). The primary reason the Lord rejected Israel and Judah and sent them into captivity was their idolatry, the most basic breach of His covenant with them (Acts 7:38-43).
Our Catholic friends are idolaters. They claim they don’t worship the images before whom they bow but “venerate” them. Worship is “an act of homage or reverence” (Vine. 686). Veneration is worship. Catholics make a distinction where there is no difference. Catholics pray to Mary and the so-called “saints,” but we are to pray to the Father through His Son, Christ Jesus (Colossians 3:17). This leaves out prayers to saints, including Mary, and leaves out Mary as the one through whom we pray to the Father.
The apostle Paul lists idolatry among the works of the flesh, because idolatry’s appeal is to fleshly desires. The worship of idols was and is accompanied by the grossest of immorality (Romans 1:24- 32; c f. Jeremiah 19:2-6; Amos 2:7-8; Hosea 4:13).
All idols are in actuality nothing; there is no spiritual reality behind the physical image (1 Corinthians 8:4).
The New Testament describes anything that takes the place of God in our hearts as idolatry. Covetousness, the greedy desire for material, things is idolatry (Colossians 3:5-6). We can make an idol of pleasure (2 Timothy 3:4), and many Americans do, living for the enjoyment of the moment. Many make an idol of human wisdom (Romans 1:22-23), and many others put their families ahead of the Lord, and thus turn them into an idol (Matthew 10:34-37).
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen” (1 John 5:21).
Works Cited
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Vine. W.E., An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
