Why Are Christians Warned from Idols?
“Why did he do that?” “I can’t believe he acted like that, it seems so out of character!”
If you have been observing other Christians for any length of time, you have no doubt said something similar because of bizarre behaviour from someone whom you thought knew better. Regularly it seems we hear about professing Christians getting involved in activities of which we never thought them capable.
As a pastor, I am regularly astounded by the choices members make and actions they take despite having been properly taught. It is one of the conundrums of ministry – why do people say they believe one thing, but then they do or say something that they know is not right?
However, if we are honest with ourselves, we would have to admit that we have acted in ways contrary to the faith, and possibly even contrary to our convictions. In this particular area we cannot and must not claim the moral high ground.
The question we must ask ourselves is, “Why do people do things that they know in their heads to be wrong?”
The short answer is: our hearts rule our heads. Or to put it another way, our affections override our intellect/logic. We should not be surprised by such a statement, Jesus said in Matthew 12:35, “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” ((Sometimes the Bible uses the word “heart” to refer to the center of man which would include his affections, other times the Bible uses the word “heart” to refer to the place of reason. I am using the word in the sense of affections. See also: Matt 15:8, 18-19.)) We may pride ourselves for our knowledge and our ability to reason, however, eventually our heart wins.
A wonderful illustration of this phenomenon is found in Acts 19:26-27. Paul had spent 3 years ministering in Ephesus. While he was there God gave much fruit for his labours. The Gospel’s influence was evident to the residents. In verse 26, the craftsmen associated with the Temple of Diana opined: “This Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: so that not only this our craft is in danger but…” Did you notice that logic did not matter to the craftsmen? A god which can be manufactured is an impotent god. They did not see how ludicrous it was to manufacture and then bow down to the idols they fashioned with their hands.1 And they could not reason logically because their income would be greatly affected if they were honest with themselves. Their reaction demonstrates their true inner affections – their love of money hindered them from reasoning and acting logically.
The obvious lesson is simple: The love of money has a way of distorting man’s perception of right and wrong.2 (The more subtle lesson is: what we love will dictate our thoughts and eventually our actions.)
One of the biggest battles I face as a pastor is persuading people to receive and live by truth. And the reason why many seem to be incapable of receiving and living by truth is because of their lack of love for God and their love for wealth (and the things which it can buy). Unfortunately, I have found that even when their problem is exposed, they fail to understand and change.
That is why Paul warned, “The love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim 6:10). It seems that many are like the proverbial alcoholic who refuses to admit he has a problem – other people are covetous and materialistic but NOT THEM! And often people hide behind the belief that only rich people are lovers of money (and they aren’t rich). But the problem is not in possessing money, but whether money possesses and controls us. And even the poorest person can be “possessed” by money simply by craving after material wealth. That is why Paul said, “covetousness … is idolatry” (Col 3:5). When one loves and covets material wealth he demonstrates that he does not love God as he should (Matt 22:37) and the money becomes his idol which he loves and ultimately serves (Matt 6:24). Ironically, at the end of his wonderful epistle, John warned his Christian readers, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). John wasn’t concerned that his readers might prostrate themselves before idols fashioned out of earthly matter. He was concerned that his readers might love the things of the world more than they loved God, because what they loved they would worship and ultimately serve (1 John 2:15-17).
No wonder Jesus said, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt 6:24).
The decisions you make are a reflection of what/who you really love. The man who spends his hard-earned money on his fishing toys at the expense of his family’ needs and at the expense of his local church giving is demonstrating a heart which loves self and not God.
The man who decides to move his family to another city in order to take a new job without asking whether there is a good church in the destination city that his family could attend is demonstrating he loves money more than God. If he loved God, he would be guided by the reasonable principles laid out in Scripture.
The couple who buys a house beyond their means and then has to cut their local church giving in order to pay for and maintain it is demonstrating they love the things of the world more than they love God. Because when we love God we submit ourselves to His reasonable commands for us.
If God is your priority, you will do those things which please and glorify Him – you will live in obedience to His logical and reasonable will. If you love something other than God, it will eventually show itself in your life.
Why do you do what you know you shouldn’t? Look at your heart for the answer.
Darren Hammermeister is a missionary-church planter at New Life Baptist Church in Surrey, British Columbia, serving under Baptist World Mission.
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