Idolatry Is Not Dead!

by Betty Jackson 

The Lord God said in Exodus 20:2-3, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage before Me.” The Lord’s reminding the Israelites of his rescuing them from Egyptian slavery, causes one to recall how he did that.The miracles of the ten plagues were grand demonstrations of his power in contrast to the impotent Egyptian gods.They also declared his sovereignty and authority over the earth and its inhabitants. (See Ex. 7-14.)                        (cf.https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/563-israels-exodus-from-egypt .)

Because of who he is, our God commanded that they were not to have any other gods before him. Only he is worthy of worship. But who are these “other gods?” Are they living beings? The Bible describes these “gods” in Ps. 115:4-7, “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but do not see. They have ears, but they do not hear; noses they have, but they do not smell. They have hands, but they do not handle; feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat…”

The Bible makes it clear that these gods were man-made idols. “For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols; but the Lord made the heavens” (1 Chron. 16:25-26).

It is a verifiable fact that human beings are generally worshiping creatures. Archaeological discoveries have shown that idolatry existed in earlier known civilizations.The relics of ancient Mesopotamia, otherwise known as the Cradle of Civilization, demonstrate that false gods were worshiped there.

Leaving the truth of God can lead to being seduced by the doctrines of false teachers (1 Tim. 4:1-2) or idolatry. The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans concerning the foolishness of worshiping images of creatures.Those who sink into that hole of darkness are without excuse because the evidence for the power and divinity of God is declared by the created universe and all that is in it (Rom. 1:20-26). 

The Lord further instructed the Israelites, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them…” Sadly, they didn’t always obey that command. Like people of the ancient past, and the nations around them, they began to make and worship idols. The result was a spiral into deep, dark wickedness. Immorality and abuse of children as sacrifices to these false gods was common. Even Manasseh, one of the kings of Judah, sacrificed his sons by fire (2 Chron. 33:6). When one leaves biblical principals and the true God, evil can abound with debauchery.

Elijah, the prophet, challenged Jezebel’s so-called prophets of her god, Baal, to a contest. Elijah chided them saying why doesn’t Baal answer? Is he using the bathroom, on a vacation, or taking a nap!? Of course, the Lord won the contest (1 Kgs. 18:25-29). Why did Baal lose? Because he was a man-made idol. 

What about idolatry today? It still exists in our world. In India, and other countries ancestors are worshiped. According to Hinduism animals have souls. The cow is considered a caretaker, and so beef is not eaten by strict Hindus.The Hindu religion celebrates many gods and goddesses. Pictured above is one of these.

There are people who worship the stars. For some, this resides in astrology. Astrology or divination (telling the future by the stars or planets) is invalid and condemned in the Bible (Isaiah 47:13-15). If astrology is able to reveal secrets, King Nebuchadnezzar’s astrologers could have helped him with his dream (which was given by the Lord). Instead, Daniel, by the power of God was able to tell the king his dream and interpret it. (See Daniel 2.) Others are involved with witchcraft, the occult, and even the worship of Satan. More wickedness cannot be found on the face of this earth than in Satanism. The abuse and self-indulgence by these wicked people cannot be described here.

But even those who may not slip into the sins associated with such things may be guilty of idolatry. Paul, the apostle, explained that covetousness is idolatry (Col. 3:5). What is covetousness? It is defined as excessive desire for what another has (wife, husband, property), or obsession with pursuing riches, power, popularity, loving possessions, or loving a person more than God. (cf. Matt. 19:16-22.) “Covetousness, therefore, is basic to the commandments against murder, adultery, stealing, and lying” (cf. https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/covetousness/.)

Let us beware! If we are more concerned with things of the earth (even things not intrinsically wrong) than setting our minds on things above (Colossians 3:1-2), we need to follow the example of the Christians of Thessalonica and turn to “God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9).

How can we keep ourselves free from idolatry? We must be aware that Satan is alive and aims to destroy us. However, we can resist him, and “he will flee” (James 4:7). He cannot overcome us against our will. He is powerful, but we have freedom of choice. When we choose to ignore the Lord, it is not Satan “making us” choose. There is due reward in hell for the devil and those who give him homage.

We need to have a deep faith in God. How can we do that? Have a good and honest heart (Lk. 8:15). “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God”(Rom.10:17). Study and obey the Holy Bible. Assemble with God’s people, as they faithfully carry out his plan for worship. 

Jesus has the answer for avoiding idolatry: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”  (Lk. 10:27).     

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Note: Biblical references are taken from the New King James Version of the Bible (NKJV).

Suggested reading:

https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/46-christianity-and-world-religions

https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/997-1-thessalonians-1-9-conversion-a-turning-process

https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/458-a-realistic-look-at-sin

 

Will Your Child Keep the Faith?

by Betty Jackson

The grip of unbelief is carrying our children away from the Lord. Are we unaware that humanism fostered by evolutionary propaganda has infiltrated the thinking of many young people? 

Research by David Kinnaman revealed that “three out of ten young adults with a “Christian background” feel that “churches are out of step with the scientific world we live in” (29%).  Another one-quarter embrace the perception that “Christianity is anti-science.” And nearly the same proportion (23%) said they have been “turned off by the creation-versus-evolution debate.” (cf. https://www.barna.com/research/six-reasons-young-christians-leave-church/).

In his book, Already Gone, Ken Ham reported that some young people began losing their faith during the middle grades. Evolution was aggressively taught as a fact and that the Bible contradicts science. In a companion book, Already Compromised, Mr. Ham indicts numerous so-called “Christian universities.”  Many schools across the country, both denominational and those affiliated with the church of Christ are no longer strictly creationist. (cf. http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/760-creationism-in-our-schools).

Evolution with all of its tenets is the tool of humanistic predators. In 1930, Charles F. Potter, the founder of the First Humanistic Society of New York, wrote, “Education is thus a most powerful ally of humanism, and every American school is a school of humanism. What can a theistic Sunday school’s meeting for an hour once a week and teaching only a fraction of the children do to stem the tide of the five-day program of humanistic teaching?” (cf. http://creationrevolution.com/2011/03/charles-f-potter-on-secular-humanism-excluding-god-from-schools-society/).

Humanist John J. Dunphy wrote, “I am convinced that the battle for humankind’s future must be waged and won in the public school classroom by teachers who correctly perceive their role as the proselytizers of a new faith… These teachers must … be ministers of another sort, utilizing a classroom instead of a pulpit to convey humanist values in whatever subject they teach, regardless of the educational level …  The classroom must and will become an arena of conflict between the old and the new — the rotting corpse of Christianity, together with all its adjacent evils and misery, and the new faith of humanism.” (Dunphy, John, A Religion for a New Age, Humanist, Jan. - Feb. 1983, p. 26. See at: http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/secular-humanism.htm.)

Isolation of our children will not protect them. Christianity is based on facts and reason (See Romans 1:20-21.) We need to prepare ourselves to teach children how to think logically. Otherwise, Charles F. Potter will be right—an hour a week will not be enough to keep our children from drowning in the mire of evolution and humanism propaganda. 

The fact is the fruits of atheism are discernible in world-wide culture. “Atheism is a bleak, worthless ideology. It robs the brain of reason, the conscience of moral guidance, the mind of tranquility, and the soul of hope.” (Wayne Jackson: https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1533-atheism-the-no-god-religion.)

Let us as parents, grandparents, Bible class teachers, youth ministers, church leaders seek to counter Satan’s working, snatching our children out of the fire of humanism. (cf. Jude 23). We cannot stand by and just let it happen. 

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Other articles: 

Wayne Jackson: https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/764-fortifying-the-faith-of-our-children

https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/866-the-value-of-youth-to-the-cause-of-god

Jason Jackson: https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1221-will-our-children-trust-in-the-lord

More about: Life Without Parole

by Betty Jackson

You may have read the previous article, Life Without Parole, posted almost a year and a half ago. Shyrl Lamar attempted several times over the past few years to obtain a parole. It was denied, until she had new legal representation. The Governor commuted her sentence to 34 years to life. Having served 35 years, she appealed the Parole Board again. The board agreed to her parole, based on her sincere regret for her past behaviors. There were a couple more hurdles, but she was paroled in December of 2020.

Shyrl did her best to honor Christ under difficult circumstances. Because of the Covid virus issues, she did not have to go to a type of "half-way" home for women. She is now living with her son and his wife and children. She is so excited to be there. 

I pray for Shyrl. I believe she will do her best to be faithful to the Lord.