Works of the Flesh: Idolatry

We have occasionally been examining the works of the flesh as Paul describes them in Galatians 5:19-21. We have already examined three such works that more often than not refer to sexual improprieties, namely sexual immorality (or "fornication"), uncleanness (which can refer to physical uncleanness and other forms of uncleanness, but often used in a sexual context), and lasciviousness (which also can refer to other sins of excess, but often used in a sexual context). The rest of the works of the flesh described by Paul do not share in this emphasis, but refer to many of the other activities done by mankind despite the disapproval of God. Let us now examine the next such work of the flesh listed, idolatry, as seen in Galatians 5:19-20:

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties...

The word translated as "idolatry" is the Greek term eidololatreia, defined by Thayer as

1) the worship of false gods, idolatry
1a) of the formal sacrificial feats held in honour of false gods
1b) of avarice, as a worship of Mammon
2) in the plural, the vices springing from idolatry and peculiar to it

The same term is used in 1 Corinthians 10:13 and 1 Peter 4:3. We see from these passages how idolatry represents giving the worship and honor due to God to images.

If we examine the Old Testament, we are confronted with the plague of idolatry. The Israelites were often guilty of worshipping the gods of the peoples around them; these "gods" were nothing more than statues made by men, supposedly representing the form of the god. The prophet Hosea likens the idolatry of the Israelites to an adulteress who prostitutes herself to her lovers and does not esteem her husband (Hosea 1:2). God was provoked to strong anger because of their idolatry, and the Kings author explains in detail in 2 Kings 17:6-23 the consequences of the idolatry of Israel (and also Judah)-- God sent both peoples into exile. We can see how God considered idolatry to be a detestable thing!

While such represented idolatry in Israel and among the Gentile peoples in the ancient world, we do not see such things around us in the modern Western world. Does this mean that we are not liable to commit idolatry? By no means! Paul tells us the following in Colossians 3:5:

Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

It may be noted that the term for "idolatry" in this passage is the same word used previously in Galatians 5:20 and other passages; therefore, "covetousness," the excessive desire for physical gain, is considered "idolatry." How can this be so? Jesus explains this for us in Matthew 6:24:

"No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

"Mammon" is understood by us today as "money," and Jesus here explains clearly the difficulty with serving money and serving God: you cannot do both satisfactorily, and you will be forced at many opportunities to choose one over the other. We may see from this example that "idolatry" may be defined for the Christian today as "holding fast to any belief or practice that overshadows your relationship with God." This is understood with money: if you desire much money, you will be often tempted to acquire it either shamefully or at the expense of your conscience/fellowship with God. If you are willing to sacrifice your morality and your religion for the sake of financial gain, then you have committed idolatry.

Seeing then that idolatry may be so defined, we may look at the world around us and find many temptations for idolatry. Television, entertainment, fame, the pursuit of diversions, etc. all can lead one to put God "second".

Since idolatry is still rampant among us (for people in the world have made for themselves many idols, including money, the physical form of a person, celebrity, the various media, etc.), let us affirm that Christ is our Head, and that we do as He tells us in Matthew 6:33:

"But seek ye first His Kingdom, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

We must place God first in our lives, just like He desired the Israelites to place Him first in theirs. If we allow other things in our lives (even those things that are not sinful in and of themselves) to crowd Jesus and His righteousness out of our existence, we may incur the guilt of idolatry, and we have seen how grave the consequences of idolatry can be. Israel and Judah were taken into exile for their idolatry; how much more guilt shall we incur if we commit idolatry, seeing that God has sent His only Son to die for us that we may have eternal life? I shall conclude with the thought that the Apostle John thought fit to conclude his first letter in 1 John 5:21:

My little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Ethan R. Longhenry
evangelist@norwalkchurch.org

The church of Christ in Norwalk, Ohio

Thank you for reading the electronic version of our bulletin, Good News for Norwalk. If you live in Norwalk or happen to be traveling in the Norwalk area, we would certainly love to have you visit one of our assemblies!

Our location:

386 North Edgewood Drive (just off US 250 just north of Norwalk's city limits)
Norwalk, Ohio 44857

Our assemblies:

Sunday morning assembly: 10:30am
Sunday evening assembly: 6:00pm

Our Bible studies:

Sunday morning Bible study: 9:30am
Wednesday evening Bible study: 7:00pm

For More Information

If you have any questions or comments about anything you have read here, or desire more information, please contact our evangelist, Ethan Longhenry, at evangelist@norwalkchurch.org.

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