“After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’ [Daniel 4.34-35]
Acknowledging the problem is simply not enough. What is the solution?
For some time now I have written numerous articles on the problem of idolatry. Although it should be obvious enough what the solution is, it is my goal with this article to be clear about the solution to idolatry. The Apostle Paul was indeed clear:
So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. [1 Corinthians 10.14]
But what exactly did Paul mean? He meant the exact same thing as when he encouraged his protégé, Timothy to flee from youthful lusts:
Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. [2 Timothy 2.22]
For everything named as, or even questioned as, an idol, the position of a true worshiper of God ALONE should be to get as far away from it as possible getting as close as possible to God.
When the Word of God takes root in a person's life, whether as the result of unquestioning obedience (like David - discussed below) or following severe punishment (as with Nebuchadnezzar), that Word leads the true student of it, like Nebuchadnezzar, to praise and worship the Most High God honoring Him as the One Who lives forever - Whose rule is everlasting, and Whose kingdom is eternal...
We might think of the "honor" mentioned above as what David defended when he foolishly (in the world's eyes) faced off with Goliath. David first pointed out to his fellow Israelites' their shortcoming:
David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” [1 Samuel 17.26]
Then, David defended God's honor in no uncertain terms directly to Goliath's face:
Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled. David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” [1 Samuel 17.41-47]
The solution to idolatry is NOT TO IGNORE IT but to march right through it in the Name of the LORD as if it was not even there - effectively 'fleeing' from the idea that idols hold any power! When God's people are so in relationship with God that they understand His dominance over everything, there are no alternatives (idols) that can deter them.
As I have insisted for years now that man's industries of finance, insurance, medicine and technology are among the top "idol" problems of today, it should be understood that, like Goliath, they threaten anyone who would challenge them (with financial ruin, loss, sickness, and great inconvenience). The solution is not to bow to them conceding that they are right - that they are too big to fight. The solution is to flee from any idea that they are even a 'bump in the road' for God's honor and power and might. The solution is to ignore their threats of financial ruin, loss, sickness, and great inconvenience and to live free from their captivity. Behind Goliath was the entire Philistine army that had to be defeated!
When God's people realize from God's Word that He rules all, they will see that finance, insurance, medicine and technology are just 'Goliaths' spewing all manner of threats defying God and His people. They must be overcome, not bowed down to - not backed away from. We don't fight these giants with a sword however, we fight them with money - we stop giving it to them! When we flee from their demands for our obedience and instead run to and honor only God, these giants will be defeated and lie helpless beneath our feet.
The solution to our idolatry is to stop feeding it - stop funding it! We must STOP pouring money into finance, insurance, medicine and technology as if to pay ransom for our lives!
But what if we suffer? Let me just ask this question: Does our suffering mean that the Most High God is not the Most High God?
So, here we shall discuss the threat of suffering... When Nebuchadnezzar demanded that the idol he had made be bowed down to and worshipped and that those who refuse would suffer death by fire...
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” [Daniel 3.16-18]
So, what if finance, insurance, medicine and technology threaten us with all manner of suffering (even death) unless we bow to them (pay them for their services)? Will we insist on unadulterated praise and worship of God ALONE or will we 'bow down'? Will we, in our minds, flee from thoughts of idolatry, thus running to the Most High God inadvertently defeating those idols, or, will we 'pay' them homage? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were so committed to God that, even if they died, they would not bow down to Nebuchadnezzar's idol.
Jesus, unironically, gave us His timeless demand knowing what we would be facing:
“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]
"Your own way" is the way of man and the idols he makes for himself to do for himself what God said He ALONE would do. Jesus said "give it up."
"Take up your cross" is the degree to which we are willing to "give up our own way." It is, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego demonstrated, the willingness to die just to avoid bowing down to idols.
To "follow Jesus" is to honor the Most High God ALONE.
That is the solution.
Father, forgive me for bowing down to the idols of my day who threaten me with all manner of suffering if I do not pay homage to them. May I be found giving up my own useless ways of idolatry, taking up my cross, unafraid of death and destruction, and following Jesus - Your Way - the ONLY Way - to You. So be it!
