Becoming Whom You Worship

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands … Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them. Psalm 115:4, 8

There are a few reasons why the Bible consistently condemns idolatry:

1. Idolatry is the worship of subtle goals of man. Idolatry begins when people reject what they know about God. Instead of looking to Him as the Creator and Sustainer of life, they see themselves as the center of the universe. They soon invent “gods” that are convenient projections of their own selfish plans and decrees. These gods may be wooden figures, but they are often goals or things idolaters pursue such as prosperity, power or pleasure. They express their greed for money by the worship of a money god. They express their lust for pleasure by worshiping a god of sensuality. They express their insecurity toward the future by the worship of a god of protection or good-luck.
2. Idolatry is the worship of the things God made rather than God Himself. Idols reduce the living God to lifeless images. “They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear; noses they have, but they do not smell; they have hands, but they do not handle; feet they have, but they do not walk; nor do they mutter through their throat” (Ps. 115:5-7).
3. Idolatry is part of an overall rejection of God. In Romans 1:18-32, Paul clearly portrays the inevitable downward spiral into sin. First people reject God. Next, they make up their own ideas of what a god should be and do. They then fall into sin—sexual sin, greed, hatred, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip. Finally, they grow to hate God and encourage others to do so. Once caught in the downward spiral, no one can pull himself or herself out without Jesus’ help.
4. Idolatry opens doors for demons. Idols may be carved from dead wood, silver and gold, but something more sinister lurks behind them. Paul warns, “What I am saying is that those who offer food to these idols are united together in sacrifi cing to demons, certainly not to God. And I don’t want any of you to be partners with demons when you eat the same food, along with the heathen, that has been offered to these idols” (1 Cor. 10:20, TLB). Satan hides behind the idols to receive the worship of the idolaters, opening doors for demonic oppression.
5. Idolatry transforms a person into the image of the idols they worship. Although idols have no power, those who worship them take upon themselves the characteristics of the demons behind the idols. For this reason, the Lord is seeking believers who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Because you will become more like Him as you worship Him. You will be transformed from glory to glory into His very likeness.