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.
That would be to the benefit of all because any false god – any object, idea, philosophy, habit, occupation, sport, or whatever that one devotes their primary interest, involvement, or loyalty to lessens or diverges your love of God.
The disciple Paul told the Corinthians to flee from wrong situations involving immorality. “Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”
Paul used the present imperative. He showed that Christians cannot live a habitual lifestyle of Idolatry. In chapter 10, Paul didn’t simply say leave he said to flee from the temptations all of us face. His warnings were; “No temptation has overtaken you except as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say.”
In other words, do not allow anything to come between you and your worship and service to the one true living God! Do not think that you are some kind of super Christian that can dabble with these sins and remain unstained. Flee, for your immortal soul.
It’s best to flee from sin-things for just being near them could lead you into trouble. Just as a benign thought can morph into a morbid sin—an association you think you can control can lead to spiritual disaster. Because every act of idolatry you participate in becomes worship of other than the one true God, in a true way. As an idolater, you risk sin’s serious contamination.
When we worship idols, activities, or people we separate ourselves away from God's commandments and crack the door open for chaos to consume our lives. You know, but all do not know the one true God, Yahweh of the Old Testament as revealed in Jesus Christ in the New Testament, is a jealous God and will not share His Glory or Worship with another. Exodus 34.13-14 instructs us; But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
Within the first chapter of the Book of Romans, there is a message for all, yet the sinful worlds of men and women continue to worship false gods and sinful activities in pagan ways. Paul was preaching some fifty years after the death of Christ when he scribed Romans 1:16-32, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into images made like corruptible man—or birds, beasts, slithering or creeping things.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for lies, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Jeremiah penned 2 Kings 17:11-13 in 580 BC. He stated: There they burned incense on all the high places, like the nations whom the Lord had carried away before them; and they did wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger, for they served idols, of which the Lord had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.” Yet the Lord testified against Israel and against Judah, by all of His prophets, every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways, and keep My commandments and My statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by My servants the prophets.”
That describes people serving idols and doing wicked acts. If you worship what you do and possess, if you center your life on gratifying yourself, you are denying God, which, in and of itself, is an unforgivable sin. Yes, Christians are vulnerable to the influence of demons and the devil. When we freely ignore God’s commands and flirt with idols and the devil we open ourselves to Satanic influence.
Psalm 115, 2-8 tells us that those who make them and those who trust in them will become like the idols. Revelation 21 tells us idols will ultimately be cast into the lake of fire. Idols and Idolaters will be cast into the eternal tempest of torture known as the Lake of Fire. If you trust in anything other than Jesus and the Grace of God you are trusting in an idol and you will be cast into the lake of fire.
“When thinking about our fight with the relentless attacks of Satan, we can easily get a victim complex about ourselves, easily subjugating the responsibilities of our own hearts and will. Just review how we choose to live, either righteously or wrongly. But we certainly have not been abandoned or left to fumble around in our own ways. Only through the power of Jesus can we renounce our sins, sever our alliances with Satan, and be restored to the glorious fellowship of God.”
What sins have we given over to Satan so he can grasp a foothold? What are our life's idols which crowd out the Lord Jesus from our hearts and lives?
Is it a wonder then, why Paul told us to prove all things as found in 1 Thessalonians 5:21. It is our sacred responsibility to examine our every action to judge it “good or bad.” We should analyze every Bible study or sermon to determine if it is true or false. But how can authenticated doctrine be distinguished from the false?
How can we distinguish teachers of truth from teachers of error? Actual Scriptural screening, of the differing versions of the bible, is the best way to determine if they are true or false. Of what we hear, see, or read, it is our responsibility to validate it and value it, or reject it.
Origin authenticity is the first test. It may sound overly simplistic but Godly doctrine originates with God. False doctrine originates with Satan or humans and was not created by God. For the Galatians, Paul went to great lengths to convince the church that taught the gospel of Jesus Christ, not his own, but from God. “Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that the Good News message I told you was not made up by anyone. I did not get my message from any other human. The Good News is not something I learned from other people. Jesus Christ himself gave it to me. He showed me the Good News that I should tell people. ” (Galatians 1:11-12, ERV). So let's evaluate the same verses from the 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV), “Now I certify you, brethren, that the Gospel which was preached of me, was not after man. For neither received I it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
In this particular case, I would judge the ERV verses as not only being true but preferred because of the term “Good News” over the more simple “it” from the GNV.
Jesus was clear that he taught only what God had instructed him to teach: Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.” (John 7:16-18). True doctrine originates with the God who is true (Titus 1:2).
As true doctrine is divine in its origin, false doctrine is darkened by its worldly roots. Paul warned the Colossians to avoid doctrine “according to human precepts and teachings.” He told Timothy that some would depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons. His straightforward, dependable teaching originated with God. False teachers and false speakers are puppeteered by demons, if not Satan himself! When it comes to doctrine, if the devil or man formulated it, then we should not hold to it! We should correct it when possible. God is the Father of truth and Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44).
A more problematic question would be: Does this doctrine originate with God or has it been fabricated or translated by someone else with a mistaken or hidden agenda? Since neither you nor I can read the ancient scripts, we are left with an obvious question: How can we know the origin of a doctrine? Sometimes its origin is manifestly evident, but more often it is not. When we are uncertain, the next criteria is to determine the authority.
True doctrine's authority is from the Bible; false doctrine is developed outside the Bible or the Bible's message is contorted, maligned, misused, or plain old mistakes. Surely Satan danced with glee when the 1631 King James was printed missing one word “not” from one commandment. Exodus 20:14 then read, “Thou shalt commit adultery” or the 1716 version which inadvertently transposed an “n” with an “o” and became “Go and sin on more”!
Admittedly, some people are concerned about the King James Bible of 1611 with its old English because that translations allegedly removed a few verses from the original manuscripts. Certainly, anyone could counter-challenge that the texts used in the newer King James Bible added them in! Who has a single grouping of the true originals? No one! All we have are just scraps or copies from ancient scrolls. The King James Bible and the New King James Bible are dependable, in my opinion, because of the immense scrutiny exercised by large scholarly committees, and also the clarity and scriptural continuity of the translated message.
The King James Bible and its more modern issues are God’s inerrant and infallible Word and the authoritative disclosure of what God himself expressed. The doctrines that originated from God, revealing what He wanted to reveal to us, are recorded in His Word and in our hearts. In most modern Bibles there is a clear correlation of origin, authority, and our God-given messages. The Bible is not only true, it is self-sufficient to be our guiding light, amplifying God's Word without adulteration.
The Thessalonians were praised by Paul for their careful appraisal and acceptance of his teaching of the gospel because they understood its authority was divine. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 records, “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”
However, when Holy texts are evaluated, concerns might still remain if two teachers assert the divine authority of the Bible, yet they teach very different messages from the same verses or sections of the Bible. How can we know which is the correct interpretation?
In that case, we must examine the consistency of the message as supported by other verses within the Bible. Moreover, true doctrine is consistent with the whole of Scripture; false doctrine is inconsistent with some parts of Scripture.
There is a sameness or familiarity to genuine doctrine and a strangeness or unfamiliarity to false doctrine. The unidentified man, possibly Paul, who wrote Hebrews, warned that congregation about “diverse and strange teachings.” Paul also warned Timothy about accepting “different doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:3, 6:3). Both emphasized doctrine must always be compared to the established, accepted body of truth. Scripture interprets Scripture. When “proof of consistency” is found lacking, then the falsehood must be immediately identified and refuted, as there can be no contradiction in the mind of God, there can be no contradiction in the revelation of God.
What the Bible teaches in one place cannot be refuted in another. Therefore, any true doctrine must be in agreement with the whole of Scripture. Doctrine must never be considered or believed in isolation, but always within the complete and correct understanding of the entire Bible. Far too many false teachers isolate verses or ideas that cannot withstand the scrutiny of the whole Book.
Those false teachers preach spurious sermons. Consider Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who altered a version of the King James Bible to fit the Mormon theology he preached when forming a pseudo-Christian cult. Did you know Brian Simmons, in singularity, translated God's Word to promote his non-biblical New Apostolic Reformation principles? He did that to corrupt the eyewitness testimony that the disciples of Jesus originally wrote. Even worse, remember the frightening account of mass suicide carried out by members of the People’s Temple, a cult born in the 1950s. They were supposedly practicing Apostolic Socialism. The 1970s Guyana mission post was allegedly a benevolent communist community and sanctuary for racial and social equality headed Jim Jones a self-styled, dangerously false prophet. More than 900 followers were brainwashed to commit mass suicide.
Is the doctrine in question supported or refuted by the entirety of Scripture? Once the doctrine under consideration is examined and found true according to the preceding criterion, we, and those around us as well, can benefit from its study and application.
Once true doctrine is applied, we should see our spiritual growth and spiritual health. Whereas, false doctrine leads to spiritual weakness and provides the conditions to fall deeper into sin.
In counseling his protege and helper Timothy, Paul said, “If you put (examine) these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed” (1 Timothy 4:6). Timothy had himself trained in the recently developing Christian doctrine and was a student of the Old Testament values. He accepted, applied, and spoke the truths he had been exposed to under Paul's tutelage. Through this continual spiritual growth, his ongoing dedication to the Word of God, he had matured spiritually. He had accumulated an exhaustive knowledge of God's Word. This is why Paul spoke of Timothy as a “man of God” with “sincere faith” (1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 1:5).
Sound doctrine and the removal of all idols encourage spiritual health and more mature, knowledgeable Christians. The false doctrine makes spiritually unhealthy, immature, ignorant Christians. Those may not be Christians at all—no matter what they may claim to be!
It is reasonably simple to consider all of the Biblical evidence and reach a forthright, responsible conclusion about the quality of any message in question. Thus, we are able to respond correctly. True words from God the Father and Jesus the Christ must be accepted and held fast. Idolatry and false doctrine must be rejected and denied. When Jesus spoke to the believers in Thyatira, he praised them for clinging to truth and told them to “hold fast what you have until I come.” (Revelation 2:25)
Our responsibilities are crystal clear: We must examine and hold fast to accept what is true while rejecting and denying falsehoods. Likewise, we should welcome and follow the guidance of those who teach sound doctrine and rebuke those who do not.
In summary, true doctrine originates with God, is grounded in the Bible's authority, and agrees consistently with the whole of Scripture. Because such doctrine is dependable, it is of healthy benefit, and valuable for us, and we are responsible for holding it and sharing it without corruption.
False ideas or erroneous content originates with man and is not grounded in the Bible's authority, and contradicts scripture. Because such doctrine is unsound, it is dangerously unhealthy and detrimental, and we are responsible for rejecting it outright.
Commentaries by the left repeatedly emphasize the words fairness, morality, equality, community, and the poor. According to the far left, their versions of morality and fairness concepts are economically based, not biblical based or divine commands. Their views of morality and fairness are undermined by “disparity.” They want us all to end up equally. This may sound good at face value, but to achieve this, they wish to take earned wealth from some and then give it to others. That was not the way Jesus taught. Leviticus, chapter 19 instructed the Israelites to leave the margins of their grain fields unharvested. This, and the fact that they were not to pick up whatever garden goods fell to the ground, was God's command on sharing—not giving. Also, the owners were to harvest their vineyards only once, taking only the ripe grapes so the poor living among them could gather the later ripening fruit.
Please take note, the poor were expected to work by gathering up the grains and fruits of this God-directed generosity.
The Left seems to think we are awful, fanatical, and outrageous Christians, who are disrupting “the community” because we also want equality. But the different equality we strive for is; all persons start out equal, with equal opportunities, so a person's drive, intellect, perseverance, and willingness to work will gain that person fair and equitable rewards. This, of course, is not equal in the end because some work mightily and some are downright lazy whether in school, the workforce, or sitting on the controlling boards of corporations.
But there are even more dangerous concepts the far left wishes to invoke: Kill babies upon exit of the womb, remove income inequality by taking from those that earned it, punish the rich for getting rich, stop our love of gas-driven autos, and such wasteful stuff as wanting to be warm in the winter. Did you know there has been talk of remotely controlling our home thermostats? With this and other infringements on our freedom and self-determination, they, the dastardly government, could then micromanage us on a daily basis. Those are some of the false ideas of the far-left. So, by their mistaken mindset, they think we would have a more healthy, unified, better society and world. Wrong!
Let us renounce once and for all those false and superficial thoughts from those that bow to the altar of political correctness and their erroneously digressive, non-progressive, views of social equity. How often have we heard leftists criticize Christians for not living up to biblical standards of morality? Who are they to judge us? Our Judeo-Christian standard of morality is a standard of righteousness based on the commandments of God! The idolatry of not confronting political correctness can be considered akin to supporting political correctness. When we don't stand up for Christian values, we are not following God's command. We weren't created to be passive or violent. Just consistently Christian.
Yes, we must watch out for falsehoods from the podium and also guard against idolatry, and non-Christian speakings or directions.
Psalm 106:36 They served their idols, Which became a snare to them.
Ezekiel 14:6 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.”
Read the Bible, replenish yourself in His word, repent as needed, and be kind and forgiving of our fellow humans, while going forth and making disciples of all nations. Amen
The End
