Sermon by Donald R. Hart – Antioch Christian Church, Pittsburg, Missouri – March 25, 2007
(All Scripture quoted is from the NIV unless otherwise noted)
IDOLATRY DEFINED
Text: Jeremiah 10:11-16
INTRODUCTION
Since the beginning of time the devil has been trying to get man’s allegiance diverted from Almighty God to whomever or to whatever he could. That was really the problem in the Garden of Eden as his ploy to Eve was that if she would eat then she too would be like God, thus taking away from God’s supremacy.
God knows that man is easily distracted by the things that surround him and especially those things involving his fleshly nature. Self-indulgence has always had a stronger pull than self-discipline for mankind.
I suppose that is why when God gave the Ten Commandments He listed as Number One –
“You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3)
He then followed that with the Second one which clarified the prohibition of the first -
4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
(Exodus 20:4-6)
One time when Jesus was asked a question about The Law he answered this way in Matthew 22:37-40: 37 Jesus replied: "’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ’Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you are going to put God first in your heart, soul and mind, you do not have any “wiggle room” for anything or anyone else to supplant the place of God in your life or actions. But we know it isn’t that simple for we are bombarded with conflicting allegiances and through the ages man has succumbed to some form of idolatry.
PROPOSITION
Our text today is just a part of a dissertation by Jeremiah to the people of Judah exposing their sins and especially their involvement with idolatry. Today in this message I want to talk about idolatry – past and present and to also talk about the God who made everything and who should be taking first place in our lives.
I. ACKNOWLEDGING IDOLS OF THE PAST
Idolatry has reared its ugly head in every generation because, as I said in the beginning, the devil wants to divert attention away from God Almighty, the true creator of mankind.
Idolatry in Israel took a number of forms, with the golden calf by Aaron, along with the subsequent involvement with the different forms of Baal.
Baal worship prevailed much in Israel, except during Gideon’s judgeship (hence called Jerubbaal, "let Baal plead"), up until Samuel’s time. At Samuel’s reproof they put away this worship for a period of time (1 Samuel 7:4).
Solomon brought back Ashtoreth worship in order to please his foreign wives. Ahab, king of Israel, under Jezebel’s influence (who was the daughter of Ethbaal, priest of Baal and king of Zidon), established the worship of Baal and Asherah, also known as “the groves” (1 Kings 16:31-33; 18:19-22). For a time the prophet Elijah successfully resisted it. His influence and that of King Jehoshaphat produced its effect on through the reign of Jehu. However, for the most part idolatry prevailed until the Lord in vengeance removed the ten tribes from their land.
Notice 2 Kings 17:16-18 - 16 They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. 17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking him to anger.
18 So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left…
Baal worship also found an entrance into Judah under King Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:2-3), but it was suppressed by Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:4). King Manasseh sought to bring Judah to the same state of Baal worship as Israel had been under Ahab, but King Josiah made a thorough eradication it during his reign. As you continue reading the history of Judah you find that it was still a problem and that is why Jeremiah of our text is lashing out against it. Finally, during Jeremiah’s time, God used Babylon to bring His people into captivity and to purge from them the practice of idol worship.
Although God’s people never again used idols in worship, they did allow other practices to become priorities in their lives, such as a real affinity for power and materialism. These were some of the problems that Jesus faced during his time on the earth.
II. ACKNOWLEDING IDOLS OF THE PRESENT
Although we may not have idols and images such as they had in years past, we still have those things or practices that are every bit a form of idolatry as they had. We abound in things which would and do push aside our allegiance to God in some form or another.
Our nation is on a fast track to destruction because it has forgotten its roots in the things of God. George Washington in his farewell address said,
“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who would labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens…”
“Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.”
One does not have to look too far to see that many of our political leaders have moved far away from the thinking of George Washington and other such leaders that were a part of the founding of this nation.
An area in our land that has become an idolatrous subverting force is that of public education. Over the past several years, or should I say several decades, it has with great subtlety slowly eroded away the role of the family unit. What started out with noble intentions, has become a dominate force in taking over the lives of our children and in moving them into an institutional form of thinking, which is actually a form of socialism.
As most of you know that in my ministries I have supplemented my part-time ministerial income by driving school bus for 25 plus years. Before that I have served as P.T.A. president at two different schools and served on an advisory committee for one school district during a major bond issue campaign.
I am not against public education, but I have seen it growing into a more dominate and a controlling force in our children’s life. What used to be a few extra-curricular activities have now mushroomed into everyday, from morning to night involvement.
The first thing to come about was the removal of God in the form of Darwinism and the theory of evolution. That has been followed by the attempt to remove any form of Bible reading and prayer from any and all school functions.
Back in 1998, Mildred Rosario, a Bronx schoolteacher lost her job because she prayed with students who were upset over the drowning death of a fellow classmate. It would have been OK to sit in a circle, hold hands and meditate – that would have been permissible, but because she chose to pray with them, that was intolerable.
More recently, the Sisters School Board in Sisters, Oregon, fired part-time biology teacher Kris Helphenstine because he deviated from the curriculum on the theory of evolution and included some Biblical references. This 27-year-old teacher, who holds a master’s degree in science from Oregon State, said he used the Bible references to help the students learn critical thinking and he included supplemental material to teach the students about the bias in many sources. (From “The Pastor’s Weekly Briefing”, Focus on the Family, March 23, 2007)
David Zimmerman, pastor of the Bible Baptist Church in Sapulpa, OK, said in a sermon, “It should not surprise us that it is acceptable to promote atheism, occultism, Eastern Mysticism, evolution, homosexuality and pornography in the classroom. But try to promote Christianity, and you are in danger of being fired.”
The same Pastor’s Weekly Briefing tells about the North Newton High School in Newton, MA, held a seminar that explained to the students how to know they are homosexual. It was a seminar to which parents were banned from attending.
In San Diego, CA., some Christians sought to prevent minor children from a K-8 charter school from marching in the 33rd annual homosexual pride parade. The San Diego School Board has chosen to not intervene in the matter. The parade is to take place on July 21st and is one of their largest civic events with over 200 floats. I will tell you nothing more than it is a very filthy, immoral event and to march little children in it is absurd.
Parental duties have been minimized by the addition of serving breakfast and now even sending food home with them for the weekend or over vacation. I know the rationale of this, but what has happened to parental responsibilities? Why are they not doing what they should be doing?
Furthermore, it used to be that Wednesday night activities were not scheduled because of the kids who went to church. No day is now sacred as sports and other activities are scheduled every night of the week and even on Saturdays and sometimes on Sundays. The schools are not even giving the children the weekend free and I will not even go to the practice of expanding the Summer School programs. Public education is fast becoming an idol of our society designed to draw our children away from their parents and away from the things of God.
The desire for entertainment has become another idol of our time. We feel that we must have something to keep us amused at all times. I especially see it in our young people who must have a “X-box” or a “Game boy” or a cell phone with video capabilities - or some electronic gadget so as to occupy them at all times. In the car they miss the scenery and the world around them because our cars are now equipped with DVD players.
I am not opposed to such things except to say that the gods of entertainment have tried to take over our lives. Entertainers have become the standard by which people try to measure or to model their lives. And for the most part they model lifestyles that are far from godly living or even basic decency. We become amused at their antics and want to know every little detail about them regardless of how debased or shameful their lives might be.
Glamour and popularity follow closely to our fascination with the entertainment world. We begin to idolize how they live, how they dress, how they talk, how they think about issues and thus we try to mimic their ways. Glamour and popularity rather than godliness soon becomes the goal of our life.
Then there are always the two main ploys of Satan – greed for money and things and the seeking to fulfill the lusts of our natural man. These have been driving forces for people down through the ages. Jesus dealt with those of his day this way – notice Luke 16:13-15:
13 “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.”
We do not have the time to go into the pleasure mongers of our time except to say that they are vociferously promoting their wares worldwide. In the April 2007 issue of Pulpit Helps there is a quoted press release (page 23) in regard to the exposure to pornography by Internet users ages 10-17. 42% said they had seen online pornography in the last year.
The problem with these figures is that the study is two years old and the figure is probably higher now than was reported then.
Gambling and gaming is another idol that has become a mark of our time. It is so interesting to see how that communities and state governments see this medium as the answer to their financial woes. In actuality it creates a false economy based upon the idea of getting something for nothing. A scratch-off or lottery ticket is not a viable durable good of any value beyond the remote possibility of maybe being a winner.
Another idol of our time is gluttony. Although the Bible has a lot to say about the subject, the ministry has not. It is almost a taboo subject of our times. Fast food and fat food have become standards of our time. We glorify the buffet and then let our belt out another notch. Even though we may enjoy our potluck dinners because of the variety they provide, we must keep in mind the admonitions of Scripture in regard to overeating. We can make food an idol of sizeable proportions (pun intended).
I would ask you to consider this question - Is it any more sinful to buy a lottery ticket than it is to overindulge at the buffet table?
Even though Paul is dealing with eating or not eating meat sacrificed to idols his comments in Romans 14:17 gives us an insight as to what our dominate habits should be in Christ – he says, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”
III. ACKNOWLEGING THE END OF IDOLATRY
Jeremiah in our text clearly points out that God will eventually destroy all idolatry. Whether they be the idols – graven images of the past or the indulgences of the present – all are worthless and the objects of mockery. When judgment comes all forms of idolatry will perish.
Peter in writing about the end of time says this in 2 Peter 3:10-12 -
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
We need to remember that whatever we have will someday be destroyed. We need to keep in mind that all things, be they grand and glorious or humble and lowly, will pass away.
All the mansions, castles and cathedrals will pass away.
All the cars and collectables will pass away.
All the trinkets and toys will pass away.
Peter asked, “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?”
IV. ACKNOWLEDGING THE MAKER OF ALL THINGS
Our text said in Jeremiah 10:12 –
But God made the earth by his power;
he founded the world by his wisdom
and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
And then verse 16 adds, “for he is the Maker of all things…”
Not only is He the maker of all things, but He wants to be the priority of your life. He wants no other idols before Him. He wants to have first place in your life. As a matter of fact He wants you so badly that He sacrificed His own son on your behalf – just so you could be called a child of God.
Even though He is a jealous God, He is also a God of love. He loves you with an everlasting love and does not want you to perish. Cast aside any idol and make Him the Lord of your life – He has twice earned that right. Once by creation and once by the sacrifice of His son.
CONCLUSION
Our closing song today is “Whiter Than Snow”. The first verse says: Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul,
Break down ev ‘ry idol, cast out ev ‘ry foe;
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
It may be that you have never allowed Him to wash you whiter than the snow. Why not cast aside your idols and come to Him. Believe on Him, surrender your life to Him, confess His name as Lord and then be baptized for the remission of your sins.
And I would add the question Peter asked – “…what kind of people ought you to be?” If there is a need for a decision you come while we sing our song of invitation.
