Idolatry And Falsehoods

Idolatry and Falsehoods

Many of us associate idolatry as simply worshiping a false god. Would it surprise you to read that within the King James Bible and the New King James Bible the words “False Idol(s)” never appear together? Certainly, there are many verses concerning idols, graven images, and false gods. But the term “false idols” is never found.

So let's refresh ourselves on some of the verses addressing this topic. We find both a promise of blessing and retribution within Leviticus. Chapter 26, verse 1 ‘You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the Lord your God. Verse 30 warns “I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and cast your carcasses on the lifeless forms of your idols; and My soul shall abhor you.”

More than eight hundred years later Ezekiel 6:5 quoted, “And I will lay the corpses of the children of Israel before their idols, and I will scatter your bones all around your altars.”

Let's also set our definitions here. Idolatry is rendering worship to something other than God - a grave offense against the First Commandment

Idolatry is the worship of a physical object as a god or an immoderate attachment or devotion to something.

Idol is a likeness of something, or an object of extreme devotion as with a movie idol, or a symbolic representation of an object of worship.

Falsehood is something not true or genuine like false testimony, or anything untrue intentionally intended to mislead, like a false promise.

Of course, the term "false god" equates to something worshiped that is not of the Creator, Father God. This could be a religious symbol on a wall or building, a statue on a desk or shelf, a person, or things treasured to the extreme. In fact, even activities done in the extreme or done ignoring of God, like a workaholic can be categorized as a false god. Supreme loyalty to anything other than God is idolatry. Worshiping any image, graven or otherwise, is idolatry, which is not only is an offense against God, it is harmful to us and those around us.

Covetousness is Idolatry (Ephesians 5.5, Colossians 3.5)

Idolatry brings guilt on everyone involved (Ezekiel 44.10)

Idolatry is in opposition and inconsistent with Christ

Idolatry is listed among the vilest sins of the flesh (Galatians 5.19-21)

Idolatry is an inordinate desire, or lust (Philippians 3.18-19)

Worshiping angels is idolatry (Colossians 2.18)

Worshiping dead men is idolatry (Psalm 106.28-29)

Worshiping demons is idolatry (Revelation 9.20)

You might wish to ask; Where is my time spent? Where does my money go? Where is my joy? What captures f my mind the majority of the time? Common idols are materialism, money, pride, ego, the need to be accepted, and the fulfillment of the self to the exclusion of others and their needs.

More than five hundred years before Christ was born Zechariah said, "LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress, to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, “Our ancestors possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good. Today, it seems like Generation X, 1965 to 1980, and the Y/Millenniums, 1981 to 2000, and this new, upcoming generation are fixated on false gods and celebrity idols. Don't you agree?

And even if not called idols, politicians of today are as Zechariah described when he stated; “the idols speak deceitfully, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.

When Americans of the Silent Generation from 1927 to 1945, or the Baby Boomers born 1946 to 1964, thought about idol worship growing up, many thought of Buddha, Egyptian gods, or the decadent activities of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

The idolatry that surrounds us now is not just about bowing down or offering sacrifices to false gods. Idolatry is not limited to simply bowing down before graven images, burning incense, or offering gifts to a physical image. It is also about those who believe the ungodly heresy of the far left. Like; there are more than two genders, men can birth babies. They spout that it is certainly fair for men to call themselves women and dominate sports or enter the Ladies Room where a juvenile young female might be. Idolatry is anything that takes your trust or loyalty away from the true living God. Idolatry is in opposition and inconsistent with Jesus, Participating in idolatry is participating with demons. Our country, if not the world, needs cleansing like the events described by 1 Kings 15:12. And he banished the perverted persons from the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.