Through His prophets and leaders, God called upon the people of ancient Israel to obey Him so their lives would be filled with purpose, joy and contentment. At the same time He strongly cautioned them to spurn the veneration of false gods (Leviticus 19:4, Ezekiel 20:18). But the people’s curiosity with idols got the better of them. The fascination they found in such worship quickly turned them away from their Creator. They would not heed His instructions or warnings but gave their time, treasure and devotion to useless idols (2 Kings 17:12-15). Through their idolatrous practices the people became so acutely corrupt that it led them into demonism and the ritual sacrificial killing of their own little children (Psalms 106:36-38).

Why did people, who had the Eternal God in their midst, depart from Him into senseless idolatry (Jeremiah 2:5)? Why did they abandon a way of life that would guarantee their happiness, serenity and productivity (Deuteronomy 28:1-14)?

Deep roots of idolatry

When the tribes of Israel entered Palestine, after having wandered in the wilderness for 40 years (Exodus 16:35), the land’s inhabitants, the Canaanites, already had deep roots in idolatry. Canaanite worship had descended into profound degradation through fertility cults, which exalted such fictional deities as Mot, the god of death and Shapash, the Sun goddess. Likewise they worshiped Molech [also named Milcom], the Canaanite version of the Egyptian god Set, the deity of fire and evil.

Molech and his fertility goddess consort Ashtoreth are described in Scripture as an “abomination,” partly due to licentious sex used in their worship (1 Kings 11:5). Referring to this goddess, “… the primary motive of the worship of Ishtar [Ashtoreth] was the impulse to deify sensuousness and sensuality. She not only legitimated the sexual indulgences … but she was naturally taken as the authoress of the sexual passion …” (The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Volume I, http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/encyc01.html?term=ashtoreth).

Ancient Israelites enticed and influenced

How did the enticing attraction of such libertine sensuality affect the Israelites? “Many Israelites succumbed to the allurements of the fertility-laden rituals and practices of the Canaanite religion, partly because it was new and different from the Yahwistic [Godly] religion, and possibly because of a tendency of a rigorous faith and ethic to weaken under the influence of sexual attractions” (The International World History Project, essay: “Canaanite Culture and Religion,” http://history-world.org/). 

God knew that pagan worship, which often included illicit sexual practices, could lead the Israelites into personal immoral conduct. Sadly however, His many admonitions against it went unheeded which resulted in the people participating in degenerate sexual acts as part of fertility rituals. Pagan worship also included child sacrifice to Molech (Leviticus 18:21). The most common reason for this was the “fulfillment of a vow before or after obtaining a special favor from the gods, a favor that brings blessing or success to the dedicant” (Associates for Biblical Research, “Abortion and the Ancient Practice of Child Sacrifice,” by Andrew White, M.D., January 5, 2012).

How appalling was this heathen death ritual? “The image of Moloch was a human figure with a bull’s head and outreached arms, ready to receive the children destined for sacrifice. The image of metal was heated red-hot by a fire kindled within, and the children laid on its arms rolled off into the fiery pit below. In order to drown the cries of the victims, flutes were played and drums were beaten; and mothers stood by without tears or sobs, to give the impression of the voluntary character of their offering” (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Volume III, page 2075).

Considering the horror of such depraved practices, it is any wonder the Bible describes idolatry with terms such as abominable and filthy (Ezekiel 16:36; Ezekiel 20:8; 1 Peter 4:3) and vain, lying and delusional (Zechariah 10:2)?

God’s clear warnings against idolatry are found in numerous biblical passages. For example, Ezekiel 14:6 declares, “’Thus says the Lord God: Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.’” Also, the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:14 “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”

Idolatry—only a past problem?

In today’s Western world, most people would likely agree that the former worship of fictitious deities, represented by wood or stone idols, was absurd. But does that mean idolatry is a long-forgotten problem of past ages and has little or nothing to do with contemporary society?

We need to first understand the definition of idolatry, which is, “… the paying of divine honors to any created thing; worship in the form of idealism or abstractions or mental qualities …” (Unger’s Bible Dictionary, page 512). Also, the Bible itself defines idolatry as covetousness, which is setting one’s heart and mind on anything other than the Creator and His perfect, living laws (Colossians 3:5). Author Tim Keller wrote, “What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give” (Counterfeit Gods, pages xvii-xix).

Idolatry today

So although idolatry may not often resemble its ancient predecessors, it actually occurs today in many other ways. What comprises idolatry now? What can come before God in one’s life? It could be materialism and the attainment of wealth and riches. Consider also the desire for status, power and control. What about achievement, work, politics and even patriotism? These too can absorb a person’s utter devotion. Also, what about recreation and entertainment, including pop-culture, celebrities, music, hobbies and sports? Let’s not forget television, the Internet, smartphones, movies, books, tobacco, food, drinking and drugs.

Additionally, what about relationships, including one’s family, wife, husband, children, girlfriend, boyfriend and even oneself as an idol? Besides these, we could add image, physical appearance and sex.

Moreover, consider religion, including its many traditional, long-held doctrines and beliefs. In this regard, even though various professing Christian churches purport to obey God, they actually teach and promote doctrines and practices not found in the Bible. As Christ said in Mark 7:7 “… in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” (For more information see our Beyond Today video “Hard Questions: Are Christians Guilty of Idolatry?” found at www.ucg.org/beyond-today/.)

No room for God

So when God said, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3), He wasn't just describing fictional deities that seem ridiculous to many people today. Rather, He was telling us that an idol can be anything that usurps His place as Creator, Ruler and Sustainer in our lives. A person can become so absorbed in the daily whirl of activities that he or she leaves no room for God or His Word.

Richard Keyes wrote, “Rather than look to the Creator and have to deal with His lordship, we orient our lives toward the creation, where we can be more free to control and shape our lives in our desired directions. An idol is something within creation that is inflated to function as a substitute for God. All sorts of things are potential idols, depending only on our attitudes and actions toward them.” (The Idol Factory, pp. 31-33). 

Also, C. S. Lewis wrote, “What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could ... be their own masters — invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history — money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery — the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy. The reason why it can never succeed is this. God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other” (Mere Christianity, pp. 49-50).

“Their land is also full of idols”

So, a question: have we not become a society, a nation, indeed a world of idolaters? If it was not so, would nations and individuals be struggling so intently with the countless intractable problems that seem to defy solution? The prophet Isaiah was inspired to write to ancient Israel and Judah, “Their land is also full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made” (Isaiah 2:8). How is our current age described in biblical prophecy? “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people" (2 Timothy 3:2-5).

Rather than focusing attention and devotion on our Creator as He rightly deserves, we tend to cram all kinds of created things, projects and activates into our daily lives. In our quest to find our own way to happiness and meaning, we heap up idols for ourselves, which can never give us true, lasting joy and satisfaction. They in fact blind us to life’s true purpose and our incredible potential future in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33; Ephesians 4:18; Revelation 5:10).

Tim Keller wrote, “Most people spend their lives trying to make their heart’s fondest dreams come true. Isn’t that what life is all about, ‘the pursuit of happiness?’ We search endlessly for ways to acquire the things we desire, and we are willing to sacrifice much to achieve them. We never imagine that getting our heart’s deepest desires might be the worst thing that can ever happen to us” (Counterfeit Gods, p. 1).

The solution to idolatry

In the end, these idols—anything we put before God—leave us unfulfilled and empty because they were never intended to satisfy the place God should occupy. So, what is the solution to this problem? Certainly we must earn a living, care for our families and carry out other daily responsibilities, but does God and His way of life come first and foremost? Do we truly obey all of His commandments, which He designed for our happiness? When we violate any of God’s laws are we not effectively placing something before Him? True worship and obedience go hand-in-hand. Attempting to venerate God outside of compliance to His Ten Commandments is in fact idolatry (1 Kings 9:6-7).

Dispense with idol curiosity

Our world, this nation, and each of us individually, must beware of idolatrous influences that we choose to place ahead of our Creator. Such idols will only leave us unsatisfied and frustrated (Proverbs 10:2). The many biblical admonitions warning against idol worship do in fact apply to us today. The answer to the problem of idolatry is to always give God first place and to diligently obey His commandments (Acts 3:19; Colossians 3:5).

So let us leave no space for idol curiosity nor pin our hopes and dreams on people, things, projects and humanly-designed concepts. Rather, let us always give top priority to God and His Word and the wonderful future that awaits us in His coming, great Kingdom (Matthew 6:33; Matthew 13:43-45).