MODERN-DAY IDOLATRY

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Matthew 22:37

An idol is anything that replaces the one and only true God in our lives. It can be anything that appeals to our own heart more than God does, and anything that takes a significant amount of our time leaving us with little or no time to spend with him. While the Scripture condemns idolatry in strong terms (Jer. 25:6), many Christians engage in idol worship today without knowing it.

WHAT ARE FORMS OF MODERN-DAY IDOLATRY?

Unlike the past, where idol worship is bowed down to statues and object typical of pagans in many cultures, modern-day idol worship is expected through various insatiable pursuits and cravings of man, driven by his sinful nature. These shift all attention to man, leaving God out of the equation (Isa. 42:. It is also expressed by portraying and painting God contrary to sound and total biblical precepts but revealing Him to suit personal values and ideologies (2Tim. 4:3). Quite often, modern-day idolatry takes the form of:
1. Self-worship - expressed through aggressive pursuit and realization of goals and dreams in which God is excluded.

2. Materialism - great or excessive regard for worldly possession (1Cor. 7:31).

3. Pride and Ego - which often takes the form of obsession with career/business to increase social status (Eccl. 2:21-23; Prov. 8:13).

4. Idolising fellow humans - reverencing renowned individuals above God e.g. music stars/actors, footballers, ministers of God, politicians, spouses, etc.

5. Naturalism and the power of science - this clings to the illusion that man is the Lord of his world due to scientific and technological breakthroughs (2Pet. 3:10-13).

6. Self-indulgence - through alcohol, drugs, excessive watching of TV, excessive and abnormal use of social media, clubbing, and gambling among other things (1Cor. 10:31).

ARE THERE CONSEQUENCES?

1. Deviation from the laws and teachings of the Lord (2Tim. 4:3-4).

2. Loss of zeal for the things of God (2Tim. 4:10).

3. Generation departure from God (Hoses 4:17).

4. Eternal separation from God (1Sam. 2:29-36).

5. Incurring a divine curse (Dan. 4:30-33).

In conclusion, Self-worship is the basis of all modern-day idolatry. It is a lifelong battle in Christian life that must be resisted (Eph. 6:11; 2Tim. 2:3-4).

Focus Bible Passage - 11 Exodus 20: 3-5

Adapted from: RCCG Sunday School of today