Never Before Acknowledged

“‘For Israel has forsaken me and turned this valley into a place of wickedness. The people burn incense to foreign gods—idols never before acknowledged by this generation, by their ancestors, or by the kings of Judah. And they have filled this place with the blood of innocent children. [Jeremiah 19.4] 

There is a phrase in the passage above that tells a great deal about the nature of idols that few understand today. The phrase idols never before acknowledged by this generation, by their ancestors, or by the kings of Judah reveals that idols are ever-changing. In other words, idols should never be limited to the ancient depictions of them.

When discussing idols, one of the earliest presentations of an idol in the Bible is when Israel made the gold calf in the wilderness. Jeremiah 19.4 alerts (warns) us that modern idols will not remain identifiable by old definitions. They will, in fact, be something never before acknowledged. We should never take comfort that idolatry is not a problem today just because we don't have gold calves to worship!

The relevance of what is said up to this point is that, while idols are ever changing, there is one specific identifier of idols that remains unchanged throughout the span of history as we know it: killing innocent children. The modern word for this act is abortion.

Abortion (or, killing innocent children) does not reveal any specific idol but rather the presence of idolatry in general. It is up to the astute student of the Bible to determine what those ever-changing idols are (the likelihood of them being a gold calf is nil).

So, if unchecked abortion tells us there is an idol problem, how then do we identify those idols specifically? What are the specific identifiers of idols? There are several idol "identifiers" but mankind today (sadly including the Church) is not prepared to give them up based on their identification. Four identifiers are listed below:

The first identifier of an idol is that it is something man trusts instead of, or in addition to, God. The fact that God is indeed "God" and, as a rule, deserves undivided trust and adoration for that fact alone is one thing, but, the fact that God defined Himself as man's source for particular named facets of man's life is another altogether. God said, "I am your Healer" and is just one of those specific facets. For man to trust anything instead of, or in addition to, God for healing and health is idolatry. The Bible contains many other facets of man's life that God claims authority over...

The second identifier of an idol is that it is something valuable. In other words, although not exclusively so, money, more often than not, can lead us right to our idols. Ancient idols involved expensive materials (gold & silver) in their manufacture and maintenance, and modern idols involve money in their manufacture and maintenance. Along with this identifier, in the "manufacture" of idols, it must be recognized that idols don't create themselves - modern idols are identified by the fact that man makes them for himself and money is always involved.

The third identifier of an idol is its propensity toward sexual sin. This an identifier that no idol can escape. Idols ever so subtly (at first) entice man with seemingly harmless self-gratification for needs that eventually lures man into full-blown sexual sin and perversion. Among other things, unchecked sex leads to unwanted pregnancies. And here is where, in general application, the killing of innocent children becomes the ultimate tell-tale sign that idolatry is afoot. The astute Bible student will recognize that idols employ the market strategy of self-gratification that, more times than not, ends up as "sex sells" and then babies die.

The fourth, and most dangerous identifier of an idol, is that it attempts to attach itself to "God" thus cloaking its true identity. If an idol can convince people it is an extension of God (a gift from God, etc...), it can effectively secure its existence undetected for what it truly is.

Jeremiah's timeless description of idols, idols never before acknowledged, is indeed a warning to God's people today that idols have advanced in step with mankind in their complexity. It should be no surprise to us that idols have crept into our daily lives undetected. This author challenges every reader to consider for himself or herself whether or not man's industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology indeed all display the identifiers listed above. They all exist to turn man away from trusting God ALONE. They all involve money. They all employ self-gratification to secure their victims. And, they all convince God's people that they are gifts from God. The implications of this are HUGE!

Before God, our only option, in light of the implications above, is found in Jesus' directives:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6.33]

And, 

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

These directives identify a true believer. Any explanation of these two directives that begins with, "Yes, but..." or "Now, God knows..." is a proud religious defense of man's idolatry.

The Bible effectively describes idols contemporary to its writing. It is up to us to recognize and acknowledge idols never before acknowledged that are contemporary to our lives.

Father, ignorance of Your Word has left us helpless and vulnerable to idols never before acknowledged... while the lives of innocent children are being snuffed out in appalling numbers. May we Your people passionately return to Your Word - to You - giving up our own way (idols never before acknowledged), taking up our cross, and following Jesus. So be it.

No Repentance = No Forgiveness

Perhaps the people of Judah will repent when they hear again all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings.” [Jeremiah 36.3] 

God's forgiveness is blocked by man's unrepentance.

No repentance = no forgiveness.

Jesus was clear about it too:

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” [Mark 1.15]

Father in heaven, we need Your forgiveness. Help us to see from Your Word that the pride we display in refusing to repent is the wall that prevents Your forgiveness from reaching us. So be it.

God Is Speaking, We're Just Not Listening

“Again and again the LORD has sent you his servants, the prophets, but you have not listened or even paid attention. Each time the message was this: ‘Turn from the evil road you are traveling and from the evil things you are doing. Only then will I let you live in this land that the LORD gave to you and your ancestors forever. Do not provoke my anger by worshiping idols you made with your own hands. Then I will not harm you.’ “But you would not listen to me,” says the LORD. “You made me furious by worshiping idols you made with your own hands, bringing on yourselves all the disasters you now suffer. [Jeremiah 25.4-7] 

Just because God's people were not listening did not mean God was not speaking.

Let's make this contemporary:

Just because you are not listening does not mean God is not speaking.

Or, let's make it a little more in-your-face:

God is speaking, we're just not listening.

What is God speaking about? He is speaking about His people not trusting in Him ALONE. He is speaking about idolatry - about any and every idol man trusts in that he has made for himself. The Bible would be content-less without the repeated subject of idolatry and God's jealousy provoked by it all under the promise of redemption - Jesus Christ.

An idol is not an idol because it is called an idol. It is an idol because of its function. The function of an idol is to do for man anything (real or perceived) that God specifically said He would do for man. 

The most undetected, and therefore the most dangerous, idols are those man makes with his own hands - those industries man has made for himself and justified by the fact that God gave man knowledge. The fallacy of this line of reasoning is revealed when we reason that God also gave man the knowledge of murder... but that is not God's endorsement to do it!

Cover to cover, the Bible is speaking still today - God is speaking RIGHT NOW. Even though His own Son walked the earth in the flesh revealing God's miraculous intentions toward those who simply believe, followed by eternal life, people today, just like God's ancient people, would rather trust the idols they make for themselves. And, so they do. And no one even questions why God's people today suffer all the same disasters the world suffers. God is speaking - we're just not listening.

Father, pierce our hard hearts with the truth of Your Word today. Show us our gross unbelief - our idolatry - that is provoking Your jealousy by our completely ignoring Your Son's call for undivided faith. Show us how we are indistinguishable from the world. May we be found turning away from our idols - giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. So be it.

Consider Your Choices

After Josiah had finished restoring the Temple, King Neco of Egypt led his army up from Egypt to do battle at Carchemish on the Euphrates River, and Josiah and his army marched out to fight him. But King Neco sent messengers to Josiah with this message: “What do you want with me, king of Judah? I have no quarrel with you today! I am on my way to fight another nation, and God has told me to hurry! Do not interfere with God, who is with me, or he will destroy you.” But Josiah refused to listen to Neco, to whom God had indeed spoken, and he would not turn back. Instead, he disguised himself and led his army into battle on the plain of Megiddo. But the enemy archers hit King Josiah with their arrows and wounded him. He cried out to his men, “Take me from the battle, for I am badly wounded!” So they lifted Josiah out of his chariot and placed him in another chariot. Then they brought him back to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried there in the royal cemetery. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him. [2 Chronicles 35.20-24]

Only of late, as Bible history goes, have God's people adopted the Biblically unsubstantiated idea that bad things happen to good people.

As 2 Chronicles reveals in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading, Josiah, good as he was up to this point, made a bad choice. He simply did not consult or follow God in his decision to fight King Neco.

We might think that Josiah would have at least consulted God once King Neco announced that he was sent by God to fight Carchemish. But Josiah did not. It would seem that Josiah let pride get the best of him. Josiah died for his choice. End of story.

Father, help me to consider every choice I make today. So be it.

What Are We Paying For? II

Your silver and gold will not save you on that day of the LORD’s anger. For the whole land will be  devoured by the fire of his jealousy. He will make a terrifying end of all the people on earth. [Zephaniah 1.18] 

Two years ago, I wrote the article What Are We Paying For? It is an unfiltered and powerful (albeit unpopular) look at idolatry and what it actually looks like today.

Today however, I wish to explore Zephaniah 1.18 just a little deeper. To do so, we should first consider another passage included in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading:

“What good is an idol carved by man, or a cast image that deceives you? How foolish to trust in your own creation—a god that can’t even talk! [Habakkuk 2.18]

Most people comfort themselves that they are not worshiping idols today simply because they don't have little dolls or large statues to whom they bow down in worship. But the little dolls or large statues are NOT the problem - they never were. The problem lies with who made the little dolls or large statues! Habakkuk rightly pointed this out: your own creation. This warrants a review of God's commandment about idolatry:

“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. [Exodus 20.4-6]

The key phrase most people ignore in God's 2nd Commandment is the phrase make for yourself. The sin of idolatry is not the manufactured object of idolatry (the idol itself), but instead the motivation behind the manufacture of the idol: to make for ourselves something to mitigate vulnerability and fear in ourselves or the world around us.

The best way to digest what is said in the previous paragraph is to go straight to God's Word. There we will see exactly how idols work. We need only to look back in the Garden of Eden:

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. [Genesis 3.6-7]

Instead of "going to God" in repentance, Adam and Eve made for themselves a covering of fig leaves in attempt to mitigate their vulnerability and fear. What follows next is nothing short of profound. In His jealousy, God rejected Adam and Eve's pathetic solution and provided a solution of His own design: and in that solution we find an early prophecy of Jesus Christ:

And the LORD God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife. [Genesis 3.21]

Blood was shed by animals symbolic of the blood of Jesus Christ that would be shed to mitigate the vulnerability and fear Adam and Eve had brought upon themselves and all mankind through disobedience.

What about man's worship of the sun, moon, and stars (and the likes)? Man did not make those, right? Right! But what man did do was make for himself the decision to worship those instead of God. So, you see, make for himself, whether idol or decision, is consistent in that God is excluded as God ALONE (man's source for everything). The motivation for both is independence of God (to any degree: partial or complete).

So, it's one thing for man to worship something (through his trust) that costs him nothing (the sun, moon, stars, etc.) but another altogether to pay (silver and gold: money) to do so! If it makes God jealous for us to worship that which is found freely in nature, how much more jealous does it make Him when we pay to worship? The Bible warns against both spiritual adultery and spiritual prostitution (see Hosea in the Bible)! And, here is where, again, Zephaniah brings reality:

Your silver and gold will not save you on that day of the LORD’s anger. For the whole land will be  devoured by the fire of his jealousy. He will make a terrifying end of all the people on earth. [Zephaniah 1.18] 

What does man trust (depend on) today that he pays for? The industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology are very much man's "fig leaves" today.

To be clear: Not waiting for God's provision by repeatedly paying interest payments is the idolatry of finance. Not waiting for God's protection by repeatedly paying insurance premiums is the idolatry of insurance. Not waiting for God's health by repeatedly paying for prescriptions to stay alive is the idolatry of medicine. Not waiting for God's solutions by repeatedly paying for tools designed to wear out prematurely is the idolatry of technology.

Just to stir the pot a little deeper... The institutional church as a business (industry) might just as easily fit the description of something man made for himself that costs him money. We have to consider everything, right?

The very thought of giving up the industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology that man made for himself - let alone, the thought of giving up institutionalized "church" as a business - is ludicrous! Right?

For all that the man-made industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology promise to provide, Jesus simply said this:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6.33]

And, as we consider the idea of trusting Jesus alone (God's mitigation for the curses of sin upon the world), should we not understand what He demands?

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

If it makes God jealous for man to make for himself industries (that, by the way, he has to pay for), how much more jealous does it make God for man to do so rejecting His Son? 

Your silver and gold will not save you on that day of the LORD’s anger. For the whole land will be  devoured by the fire of his jealousy. He will make a terrifying end of all the people on earth. [Zephaniah 1.18]

If giving up our man-made idol industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology (and possibly even institutional "church" as we know it) seems impossible, then and only then, might we begin to calculate the price Jesus paid with His own blood to make it possible.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [John 3.16]

In total consistency with God, Jesus calls us to complete dependence upon Him, free from the encumbrance of idols. Sadly, our money repeatedly spent on man-made solutions out of vulnerability and fear points straight to our idols.

Father, Your Word is overwhelmingly biased against idolatry. Help us to see that if we truly trusted in You ALONE, as Your 1st Commandment demands, not a single idol would even appeal to us. Help us to see Jesus as Your mitigation for ALL our vulnerabilities and fears. Help us give up our own way of making for ourselves solutions for these vulnerabilities and fears, completely and thoroughly fearless even to the point of death, and follow Jesus. So be it.

Shrine Prostitutes And God's People Today

He also tore down the living quarters of the male and female shrine prostitutes that were inside the Temple of the LORD, where the women wove coverings for the Asherah pole. [2 Kings 23.7] 

I can imagine there is much more to this story than meets the eye.

We should explore the implications of 2 Kings 23.7 because, only when we do will we understand just how relevant it is to our current circumstances today.

The "state of the union" Josiah set out to reform was one of wanton idolatry. The problem, as seen above, was not that God's people had abandoned God altogether, but had, instead, included idolatry with their worship of God.

As appalling as the paragraph above is, God's people today should not be so quick to judge...

Idolatry is trusting anything other than, or in addition to God. As the Bible goes, this problem is THE problem of God's people that is repeatedly addressed throughout their history. In the case of 2 Kings 23.7, man's idolatry involved sex (big surprise, right?). Be that as it may however, the story is not about the sex, but about the brazen act of bringing that particular idol-practice (in this case, sex AND weaving coverings for the Asherah pole) into God's Temple. The prostitutes were literally living in the Temple!

Now we are getting somewhere.

In God's eyes, spiritual prostitution (idolatry) is the same whether it involves sex or not. When Israel depended on ally nations, God saw it as spiritual prostitution. When Israel called on Baal, God saw it as spiritual prostitution. In fact, anything or anyone Israel went to, trusted in, or called upon instead of, or simply in addition to God, was viewed by God as an idol. What we MUST understand is that God STILL views it that way.

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.2-7]

It should be noted here that in the context of today's One Year Chronological Bible reading we find Nahum's words:

The LORD is a jealous God... [Nahum 1.2] 

What have God's people "brought into the Temple" today? What have God's people included in and with their worship of God invoking His jealousy? It will come as no surprise that this author will quickly reply: finance, insurance, medicine and technology. These are all idols by virtue of man's trust in them instead of, or in addition to God. The fact that these idol industries ALL employ "sex" to varying degrees in their advertisements only further makes 2 Kings 23.7 highly relevant to us today!

As uncomfortable as it makes us, Jesus' words should always be taken literal:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6.33]

Every need of man, including those allegedly met by finance, insurance, medicine and technology, are NOT the concern of a true Kingdom-Seeker as they are all provided exclusively by the King of the Kingdom.

Furthermore, Jesus more clearly indicated that for His followers to 'care for themselves' (understandably the way of man) is something that MUST be given up (even to the point of death):

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

Any religious interpretation of Jesus' words that is less than literal is the same religious spirit found in those who hated and crucified Jesus.

Until we understand that even our simplest, most justifiable (in our eyes) idols are no different than the shrine prostitutes of 2 Kings 23.7, we effectively look upon Jesus as did the hyper-religious spiritual leaders who cried out for His crucifixion (thinking they knew more than God).

Father, may our eyes be opened to the spiritual adultery we justify every day as part of our "trust" in You. May we be found repentant - giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. So be it. 

No, That's Not The Road We Want!

This is what the LORD says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.[Jeremiah 6.16] 

Eleven years ago today, I wrote the article Rest For Your Soul. As simple as the message of that article in 2015 was then, it rings even more true today in 2026.

In my journey through the Word of God year upon year, I have become quite vocal about the subject of idolatry found throughout the Bible as it contrasts simple undivided trust in God alone. In fact, Jeremiah addresses this over and over in stern language. I have become emboldened by the Word to begin to decry man's industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology. Of late, I have also seen how the institutionalized church has played a role not only in facilitating this idolatry among God's people, but even in promoting it (and certainly not speaking out against it).

So, what do we do?

This is what the LORD says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. [Jeremiah 6.16] 

God's people today have become just as embroiled in the self-centered endless pursuit of "more" as is the godless world. All the while, an old godly way with timeless relevance is clearly revealed in the Bible. This old godly way is the simple way of trusting God ALONE as opposed to trusting in man's way (himself) and his plethora of man-made idols for life's "essentials." 

Not ironically, man's estimation of "essentials" is molded by the clever advertisements of the idols of finance, insurance, medicine and technology. The institutional church as we know it has succumbed to the effective advertising of these idol industries and sadly, most even promote it. This occurs without a moment's recognition that these idols' advertisements not only invite people to trust in them (as opposed to trusting only in God), but do so with increasingly less subtle, and even glaring depictions of godless hedonistic and perverted lifestyles. But as long as the church is growing, God is in it, right? WRONG!

There are more every day, like myself, who are questioning the current chaos we call "life." They are beginning to see and question the real motivation behind the industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology. Ultimately, they are asking, "What do we do?"

This is what the LORD says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. [Jeremiah 6.16] 

Jesus said it like this:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

In fact, Jesus' words above effectively sum up all of the Ten Commandments: 

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you. “You must not murder. “You must not commit adultery. “You must not steal. “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.” [Exodus 20.2-17]

All ten of these old godly way commandments are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. However! Not a one of them is fulfilled for us unless we believe in Jesus. 

Jesus (Who existed before Creation) IS the old godly way.

This is what the LORD says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. [Jeremiah 6.16] 

Jesus, the old godly way, requires our full investment in Him. 

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [John 14.6]

We are to give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Him. We are allowed no baggage. The way of the world - man's way - is idolatry and we are given no exception to trust in a single idol. Although misunderstood through the ages and certainly so today in the age of highly advanced and covert idolatry, Jesus' words have simple but profound meaning:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6.33]

The world's idols and all who are controlled by them (including the institutional church) make all manner of exceptions to Jesus' red-letter demands above going so far as to deceive themselves that "God understands..." their non-compliance. The "crowds" don't get it. And, for this reason, Jesus gave the hauntingly true look at the condition of mankind today:

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14]

So, again, what do we do?

I am afraid many have already decided what to do and, their decision is revealed in the full version of Jeremiah 6.16:

This is what the LORD says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ [Jeremiah 6.16] 

Father in heaven, You must be highly grieved by our excuses and self-justifications which are nothing more than us replying, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’  May Your people return to Your Word with a passion that yields their giving up their own way, taking up their cross, and following Jesus. May Your people reciprocate a jealousy to trust You alone that matches Your jealousy to be trusted alone. So be it.