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| Imagine this plated in gold. Would you worship it? |
However, it didn't take long for Israel to falter. Moses, who was God's representative, left them alone for forty days. By the time he had returned to their camp, they had already invented a golden calf to worship. Moses was furious. He invented the expression to "break the commandments" by smashing the tablets God had given him against the ground. He then proceeded to destroy the idol in the most extravagant method possible. "And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it." Exodus 32:20
Does This Commandment Even Apply Anymore?
How it applies depends on the culture. Some faiths involve special shrines or images that they worship. They could represent God or an ancestor. However, even in cultures without this form of worship, idolatry is still one of the most common practices around. The problem hasn't changed, but its form sure has. Idolatry has gone digital!
It only takes a single search on Google Images to see that Idolatry is alive and well. Celebrities have ascended far beyond healthy fame to become world-wide obsessions, fictional characters have become more influential than many real life people, and the name of Jesus Christ has become hidden behind heroes who imitate His feats without any sort of saving power. Idolatry used to be limited to certain religions, but in this digital age, idolatry is everywhere and almost nobody is exempt. Today, the challenge isn't avoiding Idolatry, it's getting out of it!
So yes, this commandment still applies; it's one of the most overlooked and yet, one of the hardest to live.
What Is Modern Idolatry?
This is how I would explain Idolatry. God has his own personal throne in all of our hearts where He helps manage our lives (not a literal throne, don't be so silly). Everything's fine until something or someone boots God out of His seat. God is our Heavenly Father, so when a idol replaces Him, that becomes our father! Many of the bizarre and disturbing problems in this world (people who think they're dogs or cats, for example) come from idolatry changing their perspective of who they are. If you want a powerful example of this, consider pornography. This poisonous cocktail of lust and idolatry will stain every aspect of life with darkness. People have already observed that most of the crime in the world begins from normal people viewing pornography. Gambling and hoarding also come to my mind as prime examples of how frustrating and addictive idolatry is.
The key to all of this is that throne in our hearts (the metaphorical one).Who is sitting there? If God is already sitting there, we need to keep Him there. If He's not though, we need find out what is on His throne and boot it off! But how do we do that? How can we possibly overcome ingrained idolatry? The solution might actually be simpler that we think.
Whenever any form of image or sensory enters our brain, our brain initially believes it, and then labels it as either real or fictional. Thus, even if we know something isn't real, it still has an effect on us. We can literally change who we are by changing what we view. Changes as simple as viewing more images of God and reading the scriptures more often can slide Him back onto His throne and restore our perspective. We can break free from the sorrows of idolatry and enjoy the company of "The True and Living God, Jesus Christ"
Watch out for Repetition
Usually when something becomes an idol to us, we end up viewing or using it over and over. Let's take Facebook for an example. Ever had those days where you checked your Facebook over four times in a half hour? Nothing is different, but you just have to check! The best way to escape the idolatry loop is to step back and take a break. Do something you haven't done in a while, like reading a book or visiting with your family.
Participate in more Spiritual Activities
We can place God back on His throne by spending more time with Spiritual Activities. This is how I look at it, the more time we give God, the happier we'll be during our remaining time. Activities like fervent prayer, scripture study, and church attendance bring us closer to God and place Him back on His Throne in our hearts. We will have a happier thought process and receive the constant blessings of loving God more than Idols. We will see ourselves as Children of God with divine potential rather than as servants to vain fantasies.
Consider all of the Consequences
If we're struggling with Idolatry, we can increase our desire to escape it by considering the consequences that come from it. Am I willing to create tension in my family, just to play this violent game? Am I willing to sacrifice the peace in my family, just to do meth? Usually when we consider the consequences, we discover that Idols cost far much more than they're worth. This method can help us keep our lives from being thrown out of balance by Idolatry.
The key to all of this is that throne in our hearts (the metaphorical one).Who is sitting there? If God is already sitting there, we need to keep Him there. If He's not though, we need find out what is on His throne and boot it off! But how do we do that? How can we possibly overcome ingrained idolatry? The solution might actually be simpler that we think.
Whenever any form of image or sensory enters our brain, our brain initially believes it, and then labels it as either real or fictional. Thus, even if we know something isn't real, it still has an effect on us. We can literally change who we are by changing what we view. Changes as simple as viewing more images of God and reading the scriptures more often can slide Him back onto His throne and restore our perspective. We can break free from the sorrows of idolatry and enjoy the company of "The True and Living God, Jesus Christ"
Ideas To Live This Commandment
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| Don't let Idolatry distract us from what matters most in life. |
Usually when something becomes an idol to us, we end up viewing or using it over and over. Let's take Facebook for an example. Ever had those days where you checked your Facebook over four times in a half hour? Nothing is different, but you just have to check! The best way to escape the idolatry loop is to step back and take a break. Do something you haven't done in a while, like reading a book or visiting with your family.
Participate in more Spiritual Activities
We can place God back on His throne by spending more time with Spiritual Activities. This is how I look at it, the more time we give God, the happier we'll be during our remaining time. Activities like fervent prayer, scripture study, and church attendance bring us closer to God and place Him back on His Throne in our hearts. We will have a happier thought process and receive the constant blessings of loving God more than Idols. We will see ourselves as Children of God with divine potential rather than as servants to vain fantasies.
Consider all of the Consequences
If we're struggling with Idolatry, we can increase our desire to escape it by considering the consequences that come from it. Am I willing to create tension in my family, just to play this violent game? Am I willing to sacrifice the peace in my family, just to do meth? Usually when we consider the consequences, we discover that Idols cost far much more than they're worth. This method can help us keep our lives from being thrown out of balance by Idolatry.
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