Just Stop Already With All The Talk About Idols!

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” [Ephesians 5.10-14] 

Regarding my writing over the year or so leading up to this point, people may say to me, "Greg, why have you become so focused on idolatry? Haven't you just become fixated on finding an idol under every rock? Just stop already with all the talk about idols!"

My response is this: "Have you carefully determined what pleases the Lord? Are you taking part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness? Or, are you exposing them?"

I could go on... "Are you talking about the things that ungodly people do in secret but not shining the light of truth upon them?"

"But," one might argue, "that's all well and good, but why all the talk about idolatry?"

My answer is found in the discussion leading up to the subject passage above - particularly the part made bold:

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. [Ephesians 5.1-9]

While Paul writes that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God why did he say only greed involved idolatry? We find the answer to this question elsewhere in Paul's writings:

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. [1 Timothy 6.10] 

Immorality and impurity stem from greed. Greed (the love of money) is the root of all kinds of evil. A greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

When Jesus told us to follow Him, He was not vague about it:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “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)]

What is our own way if it is not greed? And, is not greed the root of every other evil? Jesus simply allows none of it - we must give it all up.

But, giving up our own way is not all there is to it. Jesus further clarified that, like the apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, we must also expose the worthless deeds of evil and darkness. And, how do we do that? On the only place evil and darkness can truly be exposed (the way Jesus exposed them): on our cross.

There remains one more matter however... we must follow Jesus.

QUESTION: Why didn't Jesus simply tell us to "follow Him" because that would take care of everything else (giving up our own way and taking up our cross)?

ANSWER: Because, until we completely give up on and forsake idols for ourselves, and, in all other circumstances expose them, we are blind and deaf neither seeing nor hearing Jesus, incapable of following Him.

Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 115.4-8]

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have  mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 135.15-18]

The Bible could not be any plainer on the subject of idolatry. Idolatry has been man's problem starting in the Garden of Eden and still is up to this very day. It is no wonder, when God gave the Ten Commandments, that the first three so strictly addressed this very subject:

“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]

Although following Jesus is not possible until we have given up our own way and taken up our cross, giving up our own way and taking up our cross is not possible until we search only for Jesus. As long as we stubbornly hold to idols and refuse to expose them, the light of Christ will not shine upon our hearts.

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” [Ephesians 5.10-14] 

Father, Your Word is clear on the subject of idolatry. May I be found taking no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; but exposing them. May this be done in exalting Christ Jesus and Him alone. May I be found having given up my own way, having taken up my cross, and following Jesus. So be it.