The letter of 1 John was penned by John the Beloved to the “Elect Lady” and the “Church that meets in her house.” That leads us to believe that the people in this group were not novices in the things of God. They were heavy hitters in the Spirit, veritable spiritual giants by any metric we might use today to measure such a thing. That being the case, then why, in the last verse of this letter, does John give them the following warning:
[1Jo 5:21] Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Suppose you read this book and think about to whom it is addressed. In that case, you can only conclude that there was no way these believers were sneaking out when no one was looking to visit the local temple of Jupiter, or Diana, or Aphrodite for a little session of idol worship. They knew better. Yet the warning is given. Are Christians capable of idolatry? How does idolatry manifest itself? Here is what the Lord told me on this subject:
“When we look outwardly to people or things for what we ought to look to the Lord for, that is idolatry.”
Now, like the Jews under Roman captivity saying, “We’ve never been in bondage to any man!” Most believers, perhaps all, would say, “I’ve never done that – this doesn’t apply to me…” Well, let’s think about that.
Idolatry and pagan worship evolved to comfort the people in times of upheaval and uncertainty when things beyond their control challenged their lives. Thus, the seed of idolatry lies and becomes exposed when we think about what moves us emotionally and what causes us to fear.
Politics is a modern-day idolatry. I’ve seen people put far more energy into political discourse than they do spiritual things. I’ve seen leaders whose name, if I mentioned them, you would be SHOCKED giving “altar calls” for people to join the Republican party and to warn those who weren’t Republican to become so or face the judgment (pink hair and all – that’s all I’m going to say about that).
The Cult of Celebrity constitutes idolatry among God’s people. Christians are not immune from being enamored by those larger-than-life people, entertainers, actors, musicians, singers, influencers, etc., all of those larger-than-life figures who take themselves so seriously. The word celebrity comes from the word for “star.” The ancient idolaters worshiped the stars, and it seems that even today, this practice continues not to look at the sky. Still, at the flashy, loud, insistent voices of those who couldn’t find the moral high ground with a GPS device for all the decadence and sinfulness of their lifestyles, the church and the people of God’s church demonstrate the same “idol worship” of the Cult of Celebrity as those without faith.
Sports figures. I love watching my favorite football team and baseball teams. Yet this also can be an idolatry among God’s people. Christians who sit quietly, hands folded in God’s presence, will scream their lungs out, face painted and wearing all the regalia of their favorite team at the stadium. Likewise, if a minister is wealthy, there is a UNIVERSAL complaint among Christians about how wrong this is. Yet, they have no opinion and, in fact, support their favorite sports figure when their salaries are obscene beyond words. This, too is idolatry.
Exposing idolatry can come much closer to home. When our children fail us, we often think, “Where did I go wrong…” Which belies the fact that our children’s successes or failures strongly influence our own sense of ourselves. Likewise, if they are brain surgeons or some other successful endeavor, we stick our chests out saying, “That’s my girl” or “That’s my boy…” Listen, we are to extract our sense of self from who God is in our life and not anything else.
God is a jealous God. What you allow to come between you and Him, He will Remove.
You might say, “I would never do that….” Well, let’s ask the Father about that. Are you looking to man for what you should look to God for? Scripture tells us, “Cursed be he who trusts in man making the arm of flesh his strength….” Many wounded people are crying out for healing when the brokenness in their lives arose and derived from regard for people or things in their lives that constituted idolatry before a holy God.
Not popular. I’m sure there will be comments pointing out how out of touch such a perspective is. Yet the cost continues to be exacted in our lives, and unnecessarily so, if we will be turned away from the False Political Messiahs, the Entertainers, the larger-than-life figures to whom we have given so much of our time, our resources, and our attention when THEY DIDN’T DIE FOR YOU and they can never raise you to new life.
Note: Does this post resonate with you? Could you give it a like or an amen? Are you convicted by what you’ve read? Then, in the comment field, say, “Prophet Russ, I repent…”
Amazing, we rejoice in public and repent in private – let’s do it differently.
Do you disagree? Let’s hear it – for God is discovering the skirts of God’s church upon her face and all her lovers, which the prophets say will one day leave her desolate. Let’s choose to withdraw from the cult of personality and politics, etc., and give God the worship and honor due to his name – publically and privately.
Prophet Russ
Additional Verses to Consider:
[Jer 29:31-32 KJV] 31 Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie: 32 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD.
