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| The Altars of False Gods Do you bow at the altars of false gods? You may be thinking, before I answer, who or what are these false gods? Well, let’s start with the Bible. There are approximately 50 false gods mentioned in the Bible. You may be familiar with the names of some of them like Molech, Asherah, Baal and Diana. Besides the mention of false gods in the Bible, you may be familiar with the Muslim god Allah, the Buddhist god Buddah and the various Hindu gods such as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva only to mention a very few of the 33 gods they claim. In addition to that, there are various other religions that claim other false gods as well. Armed with that information, you should be able to answer my question, do you bow at the altars of false gods? However, the idea of false gods extends beyond formerly recognized religions and gods. The first of the ten commandments given to the nation Israel by God [Elohim] through Moses states, EX 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.” Literally the Hebrew says, “Not shall there be for you gods before my face.” Moses also writes in the Torah, DT 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord [Jehovah] our God [Elohim], the Lord [Jehovah] is one. In other words, Jehovah is the one and only true God. With this understood, it is obvious that practicing a religion that has any other god other than Elohim is false and dishonors Him. For that matter, any form of idolatry dishonors Elohim and falls short of God’s standard. In reality, you can violate the first commandment and dishonor Elohim by simply making any object, person or activity more desirable than Elohim. The demand of Elohim is first place as the one and only God. Moses writes, DT 6:5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. At this point, we may need to clear up any confusion of what a false god not associated with an organized religion may be. So then, what are some examples of these gods we elevate and love more than Elohim? Here are just a few examples: self, money, power, sex, sports, career, entertainment, leisure activity, comfort, video games, social media, addictions, collections and possessions. That’s right. You got it. It can be about anything or anyone. Unfortunately, based on a vast amount of evidence, even those who call themselves Christians are often syncretists. Meaning, we say we follow Jesus but we tend to blend non-biblical teachings with secular ideas and practices to include committing idolatry. How do you know when you are committing idolatry? The answer to the following sample of questions will reveal whether you’re worshipping at the altars of false gods. Who or what gets priority in the use of your time, money, thought and activity? Where are you when the church meets for worship and why? Who gets the first fruits of your labor and why? Where do you volunteer the majority of your time and why? How often do you talk about your faith with others and why? How well do you know God and what are you doing to get to know Him better? Do others see your love for God regardless of where you are and what you’re doing? How would you describe the health of your relationships with other Christians and your church and why? Allow me to ask again. Do you bow at the altars of false gods? It doesn’t matter who or what the false god may be, whether formal or informal, because putting anything or anyone above Elohim is idolatry. It’s not good enough to say you follow Jesus and you love Jesus if you’re otherwise worshipping false gods in any form. Without equivocation and quibbling, it remains idolatry. So, at this point, I hope you’re wondering what you can do to stop bowing at the altars of false gods. Let me get you started. First, you can repent and ask for forgiveness and Jesus will forgive you. Second, you can ask others to mentor you and disciple you in living the Christian life and faith. Third, you can make worship a priority and not just on Sunday morning but as a lifestyle. A Work in Progress, Pastor Gene |
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