What happens when worship goes anywhere but towards the Almighty.
- Idol /'aɪ.dl/ n. Image or representation of a [false] god, used to worship it.
- 2. Person or thing that’s greatly loved, revered, or worshiped.
- [Idolatry /aɪ'dɑl.ə.tri/ n., idolater /aɪ'dɑl.ə.dər/ n.]
It’s often said humans were created to worship. It’s something humans do instinctively; so much so, most people on the planet believe in a god of some form. Thus if we’re not worshiping Y
Might be a spouse, parent, child, friend, or some other loved one. Might be a pop star. Or a position in business or government. Or power. Wealth. The pursuit of the perfect high, whether from drugs or sex or adrenaline. The pursuit of a comfortable existence. Some possession or hobby or philosophy you intend to devote all your time and life to. You name it, you can make an idol of it.
Anything we prioritize above God, or pursue instead of God, is an idol.
Now yeah, this is a relatively recent definition of “idol.” It’s not the definition we see in the bible. The authors of the scriptures definitely meant the statues of pagan gods. The L
Exodus 20.3-6 = Deuteronomy 5.7-10 KWL - 3=7 “For you, there mustn’t be any other gods in my presence.
- 4=8 Don’t manufacture any idol for yourself;
- any form from the skies above, from the land below, from the water below the land.”
- 5=9 Don’t bow down to them. Don’t serve them.
- For I’m your L
ORD God: I’m El-Qanná/‘Possessive God.’- I have children suffer consequences for their parents’ evil
- —and the grandchildren, and great-grandchildren—when they hate me.
- 6=10 But I show love to a thousand generations
- when they love me and observe my commands.”
The problem with limiting the definition of “idol” to paintings and statues, are kinda obvious:
Not every god has a statue. Ancient middle easterners made loads of statues of their gods. Most cultures do. But some cultures don’t: They recognize their gods as too holy to be depicted by inadequate human art. Pharaoh Akhenaten, fr’instance, ordered the Egyptians to only depict his god Aten as a circle. So not every organized religion is gonna have a god-statue. And if all we do is get rid of statues, yet do nothing about the problematic underlying beliefs, we’ve really done nothing.
Certainly not every disorganized religion has a god-statue. Wealth-worshipers don’t set up a shrine to Mammon in their homes; nor even their summer homes. But they’re as devout a worshiper as any adherent of any other religion. It’s just when they’re Christian, they don’t always realize all the compromises they’ve made to the gospel in favor of their stuff. Or they may totally recognize their devotion, but would never call it “worship.” (Even if it is; too crass.)
Um… we have statues. Every so often some Christian will read Deuteronomy 5.8 and say, “Wait, I have images of Jesus round the house.” There’s the crucifix on the wall. Ikons in the office. In the rec room there’s a kitschy figurine of Jesus playing soccer with neighborhood kids. Christian art is everywhere; doesn’t it violate God’s command?