The Apostle John was quite clear when he wrote to his readers, “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” In fact, he ended his first letter with these words (1 John 5:21).
Around the world are people who literally worship idols they’ve made with their own hands. For others of us, our idolatry is a bit more subtle but no less wrong. It’s possible that you are an idolater if . . .
- You refuse to give up a sin. If you know it’s a sin, and you choose to hang on to it, you’ve made it your god. You’ve chosen it over God. That’s idolatry.
- You hold on to a grudge. If you don’t forgive those who hurt you, the Father doesn’t forgive you (Matt. 6:14-15). To hold on to a grudge and refuse to forgive is to make an idol out of our anger.
- You choose not to get over your pain. Sadly, other people wound us. Idolatry happens, though, if you continually remind people of your pain and choose not to move beyond it; it’s a sinful way of drawing attention to yourself.
- You don’t pray much, or you pray only when you must. I’ve written before about this issue of believers not praying. Prayerlessness is, simply stated, idolatry of the self.
- You’re living to get the next “thing” on your list. That next thing might be a possession, a position, some power, or even a person. If your striving for that “thing” takes priority over your personal walk with God, that thing may well be an idol.
- Your position in your church is more important than your walk with God. Some church members fight to protect their position in the church, but they simply do not walk with God in their personal life. If that’s you, power may have become your God.
- Your happiness is dependent on someone other than God. God created us to be in relationships (Gen. 2:18), but no relationship should take precedence over Him. If your happiness is based on how a certain person relates to you, you may have allowed that person to become an idol.
- You need know everything about anything and everybody in your church. Some people feel powerful when they’re “in the know,” and they’re quickly offended when they’re not. I call them “information idolaters.”
What other signs of idolatry come to mind for you?
When sports, entertainment and recreation are more important than church.
People today use Sunday to take their kids to their sports games, to take their kids to theme parks, or to take their kids fishing or to some other form of recreation or entertainment. When they do so they are not only failing to keep Sunday Holy and worship God, but they are also teaching their kids to do so as well, and teaching their kids that those things are more important than worshiping God.
Thanks, Dale, for your thoughts.
You make a great point but still…..I’m sorry….but keeping Sunday Holy??? Are you kidding me? Sounds similar to mandatory Sabbath keeping to me! And whats your idea of “church”? Don’t tell me you mean weekly religious denominational institutionalization. See The Accuser has deceived the vast majority of believers of God and of the Bible that Sunday church attendance is mandatory! That’s nothing but external religious practice. God never asked his servants to be members of an institutionalized church organization, instead He is calling believers out of religious institutionalization and into a genuine relationship with Him and a life led by His Spirit. Why only keep Sunday holy…or infant merely keep one day of the week holy…All that is considered religion in this New Covenant. The first day of the week a.k.a. “Sunday” has no extra-significant purpose biblically other than that it’s only another God-given day for Christians to love YHWH and love their neighbor as themselves (without religion–“church” involved) and a God-given day for sinners to come to repentance. True Holy Spirit-filled Christians are to ALWAYS worship Master YHWH in spirit and in truth 24 hours every day, 7 days every week not just on Sunday! “For crying out loud, we are are saved supernaturally via Spiritual internal renovation (being born again) …not external religious practice (church attendance!”
‘ Amen”
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for your contribution. I think what is being suggested by Dale above, is how important it is to fellowship, and meet regularly with other followers of Jesus Christ in a familiar, arranged environment. Such as walking groups, bike groups and other groups with shared interests would do, on a regular basis. But if you are suggesting we, followers of Christ, meet more regularly, that’s fine all so 🙂
I always heard the sabbath day was Saturday and that God sanctified it,
set apart, declare holy? If it is we are we sinning by worshiping on SUNday? Seems peoples were in to serpent and sun worship all over the world in other beliefs around the world. Just wondering. As a christian I know I fail at so many things, Just wondering if any christian is 100% perfect like Jesus, and what happens if none of us are? Do all SUNday worshipers go to hell for breaking or making the sabbath into a pagan day of worship?
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27)
Thanks, Daniel.
I haven’t found where THE HEAVENLY FATHER, HIS SON, or anyone in scripture changed it. Constantine and the Catholic Church changed it!
Has anyone noticed that a majority of the time, the sun shines on Sunday although the others days of the week may seem gloomy? To me, it’s a beginning of a new week and God is saying to Not Forget Him and Always Make each Day A New Day, He’s With Us Always. The Creator of ALL is so powerful and loving right in front of Our Eyes. We humans make our relationship harder than it has to be.
A simple Child of God that Loves Jesus!
Sometimes I worry i will make my wife an idol. I’m always reminding myself God is first but when kids come along I worry it will be her or them.
And suggestions to avoid this/ prepare.
Hi Nathan,
I believe the order should be God, Jesus Christ, Man, Woman, Children… I pray that you are able to remain focused on Him! God bless you.
Sports are gods in the US. At Mercy Hill Church in Milwaukee, WI: as soon as u step into the lobby from the sanctuary , there’s a large- screen TV showing the football game which is already in progress. The guys – including the Pastor -Tom Orlando-grunt , showing off w glee. Yep- keep the women and children out. And this is the god that divides marriages and families all over the US!! The god that takes time from marriages and children from their fathers. These guys think they are SOOO cute and SOOO funny…! I will thank God forever that my father preferred the company of his family over football games…!
Sports are gods in US. At my church, there’s a large -screen tv in the lobby as you leave the sanctuary w the football game already in progress.(Mercy Hill Church, Milwaukee, WI.) The head pastor comes out and the guys all laugh.Wives & kids: left out.Let us worship the sports god!!