What Does the Bible Say About Idolatry
Is celebrity worship, idolatry? We have prime time shows called 'American Idol' and 'Canadian Idol' and others such as 'Dancing with the Star' or 'So You Think You Can Dance' for just a few examples. We may think that these are all innocent shows to watch and that they have no effect on us; but is that the cases. When you search the Web with these words you find numerous sites that instantly promote celebrites, movie stars and singers as idols, stars, and icons, etc.
Each year millions are watching each week and casting their votes. These celebrities are setting the stage of standards that so many try hard to imitate. There are clothing lines, cosmetic lines and more that come out; and the younger generation especially try to keep up with the trends. Many follow patterns that the idols and celebrities portrait as normal.
We use the word 'Idol' so innocently and with no thought; but we are projecting an image of worship among society. Then we as a general population without realizing try to follow and imitate closely, standards that are being set by thier actions, dress, moral beliefs, etc. Also kids are surfing the net on you-tube, myspace and whatever else, where almost anything goes. Is anyone watching, does anyone care?
Those that follow these shows, do they not think more of the movie actors and rock stars than they do of God, if God is even considered at all. Are not women driven to keep the up with the image of their favorite celebrities by getting plastic surgery and breast implants. Are not many and especially the teens following the trend of the clothes stars wear, the cars they drive, the music they listen too and the moral or immoral standards they portray. When you place anyone or anyting above god, this is idol woeship.
Is there an idol that dominates your lifestyle, influences you in what you wear, affects your moral beliefs, destroys your own self worth. Is today the day that you recognize how far you have gone; if yes there is one you can turn to. Come to Jesus today. Ask him into your life.
Forms of idol worship come by way of temples, altars, and statues that were erected to the gods, figures of oxen and of other animals; and the worship of high places was a favorite as is shown by the book of Kings. Prayer, stretched out hands and bent knees were offered to these gods. They were called by their names, praised, burning incense, and some were invoked in the taking of oaths and giving sacrifices.
God was saying that we are getting our focus on something or someone less than Him. Also that the focus here is on the creation not the Creator; which will lead to moral decline. As our focus gets on less than the standard ‘God’ than we settle for whatever the idol stands for; and what do many of our idols stand for!!! We must be careful not to place anyone up on a pedestal that they can become an idol.
The Bible is clear that we are all sinners and undeserving of any grace; but the love of Jesus Christ was so great that he reached down to us through His own death and resurrection on that cross. You need only to acknowledge that you are a sinner and cannot do anything (referred to in the Bible as works) to save yourself. It is through faith that we need to recognize that it is the sacrifice that Jesus, that you can be saved.
Paul reminds the Ephesians that salvation is ‘not of works so no man may boast'. There is no work of any quality or quantity that any man can do, thus no person can boast of their works as having any power to save themselves. If their works could save them in any way; Jesus sacrifice would have been in vain. Come to Jesus today, from your heart recognize that you are a sinner in need of salvation, ask Jesus to come into your heart and save you from your sin.
If you ask Him with a sincere and trustful heart He will save you.
