The Subtle Idols We Create
Moses, the Psalms, the prophets, and the apostles all agree. The Apostle John makes an impassioned plea at the end of 1 John: “Keep yourselves from idols.” This same apostle received the Revelation of Jesus on the isle of Patmos. As you read the seven letters to the churches in the early chapters, it is clear that idolatry was prevalent and deadly. While Jesus does not use the word idolatry in Revelation 2:4, I think the one thing Jesus said he had against this church is an example of what idolatry is about: loving anything more than we love Jesus.
Martin Luther believed that all sins begin with a violation of the first commandment that says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” And the second commandment specifically instructs the people of God that they were not to make a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven or on earth.
I have never known a fellow Christian who literally has manufactured, carved, or molded an image of an animal, person, or of something in nature and then chose to worship it. But I wonder how many times we might participate in the crafting of idols in ways we never anticipated.
Lately I have wondered how much of our participation in social media serves as a modern day activity that at least sometimes helps mold or make idols. Do our posts, shares, and likes help advance or raise people, pleasures, or even political parties and leaders higher than our love for God?
The Apostle John was exiled to Patmos by Rome because of his unwillingness to bow to the worship of the emperor. Is there a warning for us from the life and experiences of John and the early saints who experienced persecution because they would not bow to Rome and her leadership?
Maybe the current fascination with the power of political parties and our government leaders is not idol worship, but are we getting close to the warning of Jesus to the church in Ephesus? “You have abandoned the love you had at first.”
We have all heard that an inspection of where we spend our money is an indication of what we really value. And we have heard a similar warning that our calendars indicate what is most important to us. But I suspect the time we spend watching the news and participating in social media posts are not reflected in our bank accounts or our calendars, yet how much of our time and attention is given to agreeing with or arguing about politics? I fear it is far more time than we spend doing what Paul urges us to do in Philippians 4:8:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Lord, today we are convicted by so many reminders from scripture that tell us that you are to be our focus, our hope, and our salvation. We lift you up and praise you as our creator and our almighty God. Forgive us for the intentional and accidental ways that we have allowed other things and other ideologies to occupy our time and energy. Today we turn from all other things and declare that you are Lord. Today we seek whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise. Today we want you, Jesus, to reign first in our lives and be reflected in how we treat those around us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Exodus 20:3-4; Leviticus 26:1; Psalm 115:1-11; 1 John 5:21; Revelation 2:4 ESV
Photo by fauxels
Photo by Tracy Le Blanc
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