[Between the Lines]

I wondered how our church here in the states should respond to all of the idolatry in the world. What are the options?

Mr. Randall seems to miss the point here. I kept expecting him to search inwardly about idolatry, but he continues to point fingers instead.

The ten commandments are not about how others should live their lives, but are about how I am to live. They are not rules for them, but rules for us. Any question that directs the problem of not following the ten commandments to others and not ourselves misses the point entirely.

Perhaps a definition of just what idolatry is would help.

Look at the fifth chapter of Matthew.

17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus makes it clear that the commandments still apply and that we are not only to practice them, but to teach them also.

22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

In these verses (and in other verses in this chapter) we see how Jesus expounds on the commandments and shows us how it is not the letter of the law that is to be followed, but it is the intent of the law that matters.

So just what is the 'intent' of the commandment forbidding idol worship?

God wants us to worship him and nothing else. The American Heritage Dictionary defines worship as "the reverent love and allegiance accorded a deity, idol, or sacred object." The Greek words for worship combine the ideas of "falling down before," "paying homage to," and "serving." From these definitions it is obvious that worship involves recognition of worth in God, and the offering of our honor, praise, and adoration to the One who is altogether worthy.

So following Jesus' example of expounding on the commandments it is reasonable to define 'idol worship' as anything that we put above God or between ourselves and God that prevents (or inhibits) our reverent love and total allegiance to Him.

An idol is anything that comes between ourselves and God. Both inanimate objects and abstract pursuits (money, pleasure, sports, relationships, even religion) can come between us and God and become forms of idolatry. Religion you say? Yes, The pharisees became so consumed with how well they followed God’s commands that they forgot to have a relationship with God. They were prideful about how well they obeyed the law and in doing so, forgot the intent of the law.

We need to examine ourselves regularly to see if there is anything that we wouldn’t be willing to give up if God asked. If it is more important to us than God, then it is an idol in our lives. It may not be wrong in itself. It’s wrong because it’s taken priority above God.

Many see statues, icons, crucifixes, crosses, relics, etc. as idols, but they are not idols. It is what we make of them in our own hearts that determines if they are idols. Because we lack the ability to judge what is in another person's heart, it is impossible for us to tell just what is and what isn't a idol in their lives.

but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Mr. Randall need look no further than this verse for the answer in how to deal with idolatry in the world today. We are to first practice His commandments and secondly teach. If we do not approach this introspectively first, then all of our teaching is for nothing. If we are not an example of our own teachings, then we are nothing, but hypocrites.

We must repent of our sin and turn ourselves over to Christ, removing our own idols. Only then is the pathway to Christ cleared where we can enter into eternal fellowship with our living Savior and be the salt and the light for others to follow.

[Quix]

Very good and important points well stated, imho.

Thx.

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

Shucks - if you read the entire post by Randall you would see that he is distressed by what he sees in his own life and in the church he pastors. However, Christians are never told to accept false teaching or heresy, but to examine it and hold on to what is True.

What Randall saw in Mexico City was not, as reported by an RCC guard dog, made up. This type of idolatry gets reported on TC several times a year as people worship the dead (Mexico’s “Day of the Dead”) and very imagined apparition of Mary possible.

One would have to be delusional to deny that such things take place. To the degree that the people doing such are affiliated with the RCC, the RCC ought to discipline them rather than defend them.