Apologetics

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IDOLATRY, IF BY ANY OTHER NAME


Some years ago I was corresponding with an ardent self-proclaimed atheist. At one point, I protested: “Atheism is what you don’t believe, but what do you believe?” He agreed, while identifying himself as a humanist. That is, one who adheres to a human based morality. Hence, to preclude divine revelation.
On another occasion, I was having tea with the prominent Christian philosopher Arthur Holmes. A former colleague, I had not been in touch for an extended time. “Have you recently published?” I inquired of him. When he mentioned ethics, I asked further: “What was the thrust of your text?”
He succinctly replied, “Without God there is no ethics.” That is, there is no uniform standard by which we can judge right from wrong. All that remains is a plethora of opinions, some seemingly more credible than others.
Moreover, humanism serves as an apologetic for idolatry. In this regard, “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them” (Exod. 20:4-5). Why? Because God is zealous for the truth.
“God is spirit,” Jesus insisted, “and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). “The statement is emphatic. Since he is essentially spirit it follows that the worship brought to him must be essentially of a spiritual kind” (Leon Morris, The Gospel of John, p. 240).
What is implied by the term worship? Reverence and adoration. Such as is appropriate concerning the sovereign Lord and benefactor, but reserved for him alone.
In Jewish tradition, great care was taken not to give even the impression of idolatry. So that if one were to drop something while in the vicinity of an idol, he or she was encouraged to turn away from the idol before picking it up. Otherwise, one might think the person engaged in idolatrous worship. Then, too, it was thought that the simple act of bowing before an idol might condition one to repeat the practice in sincerity.
The prohibition against idolatry was comprehensive, there being no exceptions. No aspect of creation, nor human product. Accordingly, “God created humans; whereupon humans subsequently made idols.” As confirmed by the first of several apt quotes from Goodquotes online, “If God created us in his own image, we have more than reciprocated” (Voltaire).
Then, too, “Idolatry is when you become the source of your own joy” (Paul Washer).
And so on, “Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really our God, your functional savior” (Marin Luther).
“What are you really living for? It’s crucial to realize that you either glorify God, or you glorify something or someone else” (Ken Sande).
“By giving us control, our new technologies tend to enhance existing idols in our lives” (Tim Challies).
“Whatever controls us is our Lord” (Rebecca Manley Pippert).
“Could it be that desire for a good thing has become a bad thing because that desire has become a ruling thing?” (Paul Tripp).
In conclusion, we are initially reminded that idolatry consists of usurping divine prerogatives in some manner or other. Whether identified as such or not. Whether intentionally or inadvertently. No less prevalent today than in antiquity.
We also recall the emphatic prohibition against idolatry set forth in the Decalogue, while in context of God’s righteous zeal. Hence, to be embraced and sustained. While soliciting a provocative passage I have appreciatively quoted on other occasions: “Life is good. Wherefore a man should treasure it, not despise it; affirm and not deny it; have faith in it and never despair of its possibilities. For behind it is God” (Milton Steinberg, Basic Judaism, p. 59).
Then by way of qualification, “Life is good and man can find it such, provided—and this is the great condition to everything else—that it is properly lived.” Thus free from idolatry, if by any other name.

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