Idols Not Made from Hands

 

Exodus 20: 3, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

 

Ezekiel 14:6 -8, “Therefore say unto the House of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God: Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all abominations.”

 

It is easy to see from just these two verses that the Holy God of the Bible forbids any worship of idols.  Further in Exodus 20: 5 He tells why. “For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God.”  Too often, however, we interpret idols as something made of hands, which the Egyptians were certainly guilty.  It is also easy for the so-called evangelicals (Protestants) to point fingers at the Roman Catholics with their idols made of hands—statues of saints, statues of  Mary, the Eucharistic wafer, imaginative sculptures and photos of Jesus Christ, etc.  The Episcopal Church is not far behind her mother church, Rome, in idol-worshipping through her countless genuflecting during the services.

 

But, what about these so-called evangelical Protestants?  There are some who may criticize Roman Catholics for statutes, etc., but each Christmas season put out their own version of manger scenes that are not exactly accurate along with Santa Clause and reindeer.

 

But, what about the “heart” of so-called evangelical Protestants.  It is not fair to throw everyone into the same basket.  However, there are many denominations that you could throw in the same basket and no matter which one you pulled out it would be no different than the second one you pulled out.  Some people worship their denomination.  Some people’s idol is their denomination or their denomination is their idol.  Whichever way you want to say it, it is the same.  It is sometimes difficult to get in a conversation with some people without them talking about their denomination and what their denomination says and what their denomination believes.  Yes, they may mention the Bible.  They may mention God.  They may mention Jesus Christ.  They may mention the Holy Spirit.  But the crux talk about what their denomination says and does.

 

God said He is a jealous God and He meant it.  If, no when, people place their denominational beliefs in the forefront it could be no different that bowing down to the idols made with hands.