What does the Bible teach about idolatry?

Throughout the Bible there are many passages that teach against idolatry.  In the Old Testament, idolatry was restricted to shunning the worship of graven images, idols, stars, planets, false gods and like manner.  However, the New Testament broadened the definition of idolatry by commanding individuals to remove any hindrance, be it the worship of false gods, graven images, stars, planets, money, success, or like manner which interferes with one’s relationship with God.

Idolatry was listed among the Ten Commandments, with the following words.

“’You shall have no other gods before me.  You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.’” (Deuteronomy 5:7-10 NIV, italics added for emphasis)

Some groups of believers may that take this Old Testament passage to the extreme by saying you cannot make (or take)  images of anything, to include taking photographs of people or making statues to commemorate people.  Obviously, when the entire passage is read within context, the commandment is against people making images of Godly or earthly things, for the purpose of literally worshipping them as gods.  Moses himself encountered this problem among the Israelites while he was speaking with God on Mount Sinai for an extended length of time, as the Israelites wanted instant gratification by worshipping a god they could see…evident by their actions of melting gold jewelry for molding an idol shaped like a golden calf. (Exodus 32)

Even in the New Testament, idolatry was a major problem as Apostle Paul included it several times among the various lists of sinful behaviors.

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”  (I Corinthians 6:9-10 NIV, italics added for emphasis)

   

“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.  I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21 NIV, italics added for emphasis)

In Apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he further explained the definition of idolatry, by saying.

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” (II Timothy 3:1-2, 4-5 NIV, italics added for emphasis)

Overall, Scripture teaches that individuals are to enjoy the things of this world, as long as they do it in righteousness, be it recreation, personal hobbies and interests, success or like manner.  In fact, hobbies and interests play an integral role in the well-roundedness of our personal lives…along with our relationship with God and our niche in our communities.  On the contrary, we still need to use caution about elevating our pleasures and interests, whether intentionally or unintentionally, to a point that makes them trump our relationship with God.  As believers mature, they will understand the importance of removing any hindrance, be it the love of success, money or like manner that interferes with their relationship with God.  

Should believers show mercifulness?

As we go through our everyday routines, we often pass people who need help as well as many who claim they need it.  Just drive down the street and you will often see your regulars standing on their respective street corners – some who stand on the same exact street intersection everyday with their cardboard signs asking for money and so on, while others whom seem rotate their locations for those of us who may catch onto their schemes.  Yet, there are many other people who are truly in need and would never ask for anything from anybody, but you can see the desperation in their eyes.

 

Do churches and believers have an obligation to show mercifulness to others who are truly in need?  Idealistically, most churches would agree they want to help people and they love doing mission work to help others.  Realistically though, many churches actually cringe when some of these same people show up at their doorsteps.  Why do you think the New Testament author of the Book of James wrote so much about some people getting treated differently in churches, based on their perceived social and/or financial statuses?

The Apostle Paul includes being unmerciful among a list of sinful behaviors in his letter to the Romans.

 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness…without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”  (Romans 1:28-29, 31-32 KJV, italics added for emphasis)

Even in the everyday business world, people and companies can take advantage of the most innocent of people with the right team of attorneys.  How often do we almost accidentally sign that dotted line on an agreement or contract…just to find out we may have signed away our rights to everything we own and more.  And for what reasons, probably because we did not want to hurt anyone’s feelings or we were too lazy or trusting to not bother reading the fine print.  So who is to blame, the business attorneys who fancily craft these worded contracts and take advantage of people or the naivety of the people who sign them?  Regardless, there are many ways of not showing mercy on people, whether it involves passing by hurting people on the street or taking advantage of people in general.

In the Old Testament, King Solomon wrote about how it was wrong to take advantage of the needy and then financially destroy them in court.

“Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the Lord will take up their case and will exact life for life.” (Proverbs 16:22-23, NIV)

Realistically, we cannot help everyone to self-sufficiency since Jesus Christ explained that we will always have the poor among us. (Matthew 26:11) However, we still need to use wisdom in helping others, especially since there is a plentiful supply of people who will try to take advantage a good situation.  Regardless, Jesus taught about loving others and having mercy on them, even those who persecute us.

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:44-45 NIV)

Jesus also explained how we honor him by helping out those truly in need, with the following words.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.   All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?   When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:31-40 NIV, italics added for emphasis)

Nevertheless, we should make a concerted effort as churches and individuals in reaching out to people who truly need assistance.  Sometimes reaching out means getting out of our comfort zone, not by just handing over some loose change or leftover food, but actually interacting with people in helping them learn more about God’s love.  King Solomon does a great job at summarizing the importance of showing mercifulness with the words.

“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” (Proverbs 14:31 NIV)