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God & Idolatry s SERMON 8 s God & Idolatry Text: 1 Co rin thians 10:14–22. Such a message is very relevant in our world today, which is still largely given to idolatry. aul had previously told the Corinthian Many revere gods, spirits, or powers other than brethren that it was acceptable for them the Lord God of the Bible. P to eat meat that had been offered to idols, as long as no spiritual harm was done either to THE TEACHING OF THE BIBLE fellow Christians or to outsiders.1 However, in CONCERNING IDOLATRY 10:14–22, the apostle drew a line which Christians Idolatry is a prevalent theme in both the Old were not to cross. They could not participate in and the New Testaments. What, specifically, does pagan religious activities: the Bible say about idolatry? Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I Idolatry Is Intolerable to God speak as to wise men; you judge what I say. Is God told the Israelites, “I am the LORD your not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, break a sharing in the body of Christ? Since there out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other is one bread, we who are many are one body; gods before Me” (Exodus 20:2, 3). This was the for we all partake of the one bread. Look at the nation Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices first of His Ten Commandments. Through Moses, sharers in the altar? What do I mean then? That God told His people just before they entered the a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an Promised Land, idol is anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to You shall fear only the LORD your God; and you demons and not to God; and I do not want you shall worship Him and swear by His name. You to become sharers in demons. You cannot drink shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you the peoples who surround you, for the LORD cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to otherwise the anger of the LORD your God will jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we? be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off (10:14–22). the face of the earth (Deuteronomy 6:13–15).2 1The principle that allowed Christians to eat meat The prohibition of idolatry included forbid­ offered to idols also allows us to participate in activities ding the manufacture and worship of idols. that might have connections with idolatry, as long as reli­ gious services are not involved and no one—neither Chris­ This was the second of the Ten Commandments tian nor outsider—can be harmed spiritually. This prin­ (Exodus 20:4–6). The Israelites were not even to ciple allows Christians to call the months and the days of the weeks by their ordinary names, even though many of those names originated with pagan gods. Further, it permits 2This passage was quoted by Jesus in Matthew 4:10 Christians to engage in many common practices (such as (see also Exodus 23:24a). For other laws forbidding mak­ the celebration of holidays) which were first rooted in ing or worshiping idols, see Exodus 34:17; Leviticus 19:4; idolatrous beliefs but whose association with other gods 26:1; Deuteronomy 4:15–19, 25, 26; 11:16, 17, 28; 16:21, 22; and spirits have long been forgotten. 27:15; 30:17, 18. 1 mention the names of other gods (Exodus 23:13). (1 Co rin thians 5:11). The ultimate destiny of Tied closely to the law prohibiting idolatry were those who persist in idolatry—whether they are ordinances which forbade sorcery and other known as Christians or not—“will be in the lake forms of witchcraft (Leviticus 19:26b, 31; 20:6; that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the Deuteronomy 18:9–14).3 second death” (Revelation 21:8). Those who want The penalty for idolatry was death, both for to serve God, obey Him, and be saved eternally the individual (Exodus 22:20) and for the nation must refuse to acknowledge or worship any god (Deuteronomy 6:14, 15; see 1 Kings 9:6–9). So that but the one God of the Bible, the Lord of heaven the Israelites would not be tempted to worship and earth! other gods, they were told to destroy the na­ tions in Canaan when they conquered the land Idolatry Is Incompatible (Exodus 23:23, 24). In fact, because they failed to With the Worship of God drive the people out of the land completely, the The Bible teaches that the practice of idolatry Israelites became idolatrous and their own na­ is incompatible with the worship of the Lord tion was eventually destroyed (2 Kings 17:7–18). God. Paul made exactly that point when he said, One writer described their situation well: “The “You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and sense of Scripture was to destroy idolatry or be the table of demons [idols]” (1 Co rin thians destroyed by it.”4 10:21b). He meant that one cannot please God by In the New Testament, we are reminded that professing to follow Him while also worshiping 7 there is only “one God” (Ephesians 4:6)—that some other god. “there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and That idea is a major biblical theme. God is that there is no God but one” (1 Co rinthians 8:4b).5 a jealous God (Deuteronomy 5:9a); He tolerates Inspired first-century evangelists urged people no rivals. “You shall have no other gods before to “turn from these vain things [idols] to a living Me” (Exodus 20:3) means not only that we must God, who made the heaven and the earth” (Acts not forsake Him to worship other gods, but also 14:15; see 17:22–31). Gentile Christians had come that we are to have no other gods in addition to out of idolatry. The Thessalonians, for example, Him or along with Him. had “turned to God from idols to serve a living The fact that God does not approve of wor­ and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9b; see also shiping other gods along with Him is a truth 1 Co rin thians 12:2). Consequently, they were told which God’s people have always tended to for­ to have nothing more to do with idolatry; they get. In Old Testament times, Israel did not re­ were to “flee from idolatry” (1 Co rin thians 10:14; nounce their faith in the Lord and worship other see also 1 John 5:21; 1 Peter 4:3)6 and were warned gods instead. Rather, they were inclined to add that idolaters were among those who would not other gods to their worship of the Lord God. For inherit the kingdom of God (1 Co rin thians 6:9; instance, “priests offered sacrifices to Baal [a see Galatians 5:19–21). Idol-worshipers were false god] and Yahweh [the Lord God] and idols subject to church discipline, along with immoral were erected in the temple itself (2 Chron. 15:16; 8 and covetous church members and Christians Jer. 32:34; Ezek. 8:5–11).” who were revilers, drunkards, and swindlers Today, Christians are also unlikely to reject God openly and transfer their allegiance to 3Those who practiced sorcery or gave false prophe­ other gods; but many serve other gods in addi­ cies were to be put to death (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27; tion to worshiping Him. Christians tend to serve Deuteronomy 13:5). mammon (or money) along with God, in disobe­ 4Robert D. Spender, “Idol, Idolatry,” in Baker’s Theo- logical Dictionary of the Bible, ed. Walter A. Elwell (Grand dience to His command. Some African churches Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 2000), 364. 5Paul went on to explain, “For even if there are so- 7Compare Jesus’ statement “You cannot serve God and called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there wealth” (Matthew 6:24). are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one 8Spender, 364. Regarding altars for false gods built in God” (1 Co rin thians 8:5, 6a). In saying, “There is no such the temple, see also 2 Kings 21:3–5. Israel’s idolatrous prac­ thing as an idol,” he obviously meant that idols have no tices, committed while they were still ostensibly serving living existence. They are not alive as God is. and worshiping the Lord, are pointed out in many pas­ 6See also Matthew 4:10, where Jesus endorsed the sages. (See, for instance, Isaiah 57:6; 65:11; Jeremiah 7:17, worship of God alone. 18; 19:13; 32:29; 44:17, 19, 25; Ezekiel 20:28–31.) 2 also have a common problem, according to Wen­ Idols Are Incomparable to God dell Broom, a missionary with many years of The Bible teaches that idols cannot be com­ experience on that continent. In an interview he pared to God. The prophets of Israel showed that said, idols are not worthy of worship. Likewise, Paul said, they are not really “anything” (1 Co rin thians What has happened in Africa is that the old 10:19): They have no real existence and no life; gods have gone underground, so that apparently faithful church members still, in a time of illness they are powerless.
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