I think your question is important for several reasons. First, to give a gift of an idolatrous nature/image is wrong for the very simple, obvious reason, that it negates almost the entire focus, internal heart, of Scripture, which is God’s clear mandate to spread the good news of the gospel of our “Lord Jesus Christ” to the whole world. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).” And we are called to, “"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Mat 28:19).”
To put into the hands of a potential convert, a person being witnessed to for Christ, the very image of a godless satanic being, is to say the least, a very dangerous and sick thing to do. The statue is a representation of a false god, there is no real god behind the carved wooden image, but many unsuspecting, unchurched people do not know this. And the true heighth of insanity, would be for a true Christian to actually give consent and partake in this very evil deed, which is to hand over to Satan, on a silver platter, AS IT WERE, the precious soul of a human being…. this is scary, unthinkable and inexcusable.
In Jeremiah God says. “Also I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, sending them again and again, saying: 'Turn now every man from his evil way and amend your deeds, and do not go after ***other gods*** to worship them.” Other god’s, as we know it, means anything that is deified and given a particular, superior place of relevance and of almost reverent proportions of worship, in our hearts and lives. For some it could be money, sex, materialism, sports, entertainment, computers, and ad infinitum. Anything we give our attention, focus, and heart to, can potentially be an idol in the making.
God has declared, “I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other (Isa 45:5-6).” This is literal, true to fact, perspicacious language for anyone to understand, you don’t even need to have ears to hear this, even the unregenerate know in their hearts that there is a God and are without excuse.
We also have to be very careful to NOT hand over anyone to a false, well established religion, such as the RCC. God warns that, “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds (2 John 1:10-11). I think of this when I hear people commend the RCC for the great work of evangelism that they do, and of those truly born again believers who do not take a stand against this false religion, they in essence give their consent by REMAINING SILENT ON THE ISSUE. It is truly heart breaking. We can give consent in more ways than one, and remaining silent on such an issue as this is also inexcusable, when God has made truth perfectly clear, and has given strict commands to contend for the faith.
It is a sin to NOT tell anyone the dangers of a false religion and false gods, because this goes against the very LOVE we claim to have for that individual soul, who if not told the truth of Scripture, is in imminent danger of spending an eternity without God. TRUE LOVE for another human being, has the SOUL of that person at the heart of his or her ministry, and if not, then I would question the Godly love that person claims to have.
The other reasons are obvious, God tells us, “I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images (Isa 42:8).” “…the LORD made a covenant and commanded them, saying, "You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down yourselves to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them (2 Kings 17:55).” And the final and authoritative commandments of God, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; Do not have any other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me..(Exo 20:2-5).”
That’s it for now, bro Dan. What say you? Sis Mary
I got to thinking about what you posted concerning idols and that yes, our God is a jealous God and we should never put anyone or thing above Him.
I think of all the religions out in the world that have rejected Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Demanding that we tolerate their religion as being just as Divine.
Sis, these people have heard the Word and know of Christ yet they are not drawn to Him. Billions do not have the desire to draw near to our Lord. What does this confirm for us?
Doesn't it confirm that the path is narrow and not many find it, meaning they have not been chosen?
It is a hard thing to comprehend, bro Dan. That some are chosen and others are left in their sin and are self condemned.
I have always believed, so it is hard for me to see why people DON’T see it.
I remember in High School, we had assignments we had to complete for our journal in Literature class. I chose, as my assignment, to go and interview some of my favorite teachers. My question was, did they believe in Jesus? I can't tell you how stunned I was, not only stunned, but so disappointed, and totally let down. I guess I just thought because I believed, everyone else did too. How wrong I was. Out of ten not one believed in Jesus.
I will never forget this as long as I live; it made such an impression on me.
5 comments:
Hi bro Dan:
I think your question is important for several reasons. First, to give a gift of an idolatrous nature/image is wrong for the very simple, obvious reason, that it negates almost the entire focus, internal heart, of Scripture, which is God’s clear mandate to spread the good news of the gospel of our “Lord Jesus Christ” to the whole world. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).” And we are called to, “"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Mat 28:19).”
To put into the hands of a potential convert, a person being witnessed to for Christ, the very image of a godless satanic being, is to say the least, a very dangerous and sick thing to do. The statue is a representation of a false god, there is no real god behind the carved wooden image, but many unsuspecting, unchurched people do not know this. And the true heighth of insanity, would be for a true Christian to actually give consent and partake in this very evil deed, which is to hand over to Satan, on a silver platter, AS IT WERE, the precious soul of a human being…. this is scary, unthinkable and inexcusable.
In Jeremiah God says. “Also I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, sending them again and again, saying: 'Turn now every man from his evil way and amend your deeds, and do not go after ***other gods*** to worship them.” Other god’s, as we know it, means anything that is deified and given a particular, superior place of relevance and of almost reverent proportions of worship, in our hearts and lives. For some it could be money, sex, materialism, sports, entertainment, computers, and ad infinitum. Anything we give our attention, focus, and heart to, can potentially be an idol in the making.
God has declared, “I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun That there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other (Isa 45:5-6).” This is literal, true to fact, perspicacious language for anyone to understand, you don’t even need to have ears to hear this, even the unregenerate know in their hearts that there is a God and are without excuse.
We also have to be very careful to NOT hand over anyone to a false, well established religion, such as the RCC. God warns that, “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds (2 John 1:10-11). I think of this when I hear people commend the RCC for the great work of evangelism that they do, and of those truly born again believers who do not take a stand against this false religion, they in essence give their consent by REMAINING SILENT ON THE ISSUE. It is truly heart breaking. We can give consent in more ways than one, and remaining silent on such an issue as this is also inexcusable, when God has made truth perfectly clear, and has given strict commands to contend for the faith.
It is a sin to NOT tell anyone the dangers of a false religion and false gods, because this goes against the very LOVE we claim to have for that individual soul, who if not told the truth of Scripture, is in imminent danger of spending an eternity without God. TRUE LOVE for another human being, has the SOUL of that person at the heart of his or her ministry, and if not, then I would question the Godly love that person claims to have.
The other reasons are obvious, God tells us, “I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images (Isa 42:8).” “…the LORD made a covenant and commanded them, saying, "You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down yourselves to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them (2 Kings 17:55).” And the final and authoritative commandments of God, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; Do not have any other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me..(Exo 20:2-5).”
That’s it for now, bro Dan. What say you?
Sis Mary
Amen, Sis :)
I think you covered the answer with much wisdom. I can not think of any thing to ask, or add to what you have said.
Thank you for your insight. It is helpful.
bro Dan
Hi sis,
I got to thinking about what you posted concerning idols and that yes, our God is a jealous God and we should never put anyone or thing above Him.
I think of all the religions out in the world that have rejected Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Demanding that we tolerate their religion as being just as Divine.
Sis, these people have heard the Word and know of Christ yet they are not drawn to Him. Billions do not have the desire to draw near to our Lord. What does this confirm for us?
Doesn't it confirm that the path is narrow and not many find it, meaning they have not been chosen?
bro Dan
It is a hard thing to comprehend, bro Dan. That some are chosen and others are left in their sin and are self condemned.
I have always believed, so it is hard for me to see why people DON’T see it.
I remember in High School, we had assignments we had to complete for our journal in Literature class. I chose, as my assignment, to go and interview some of my favorite teachers. My question was, did they believe in Jesus? I can't tell you how stunned I was, not only stunned, but so disappointed, and totally let down. I guess I just thought because I believed, everyone else did too. How wrong I was. Out of ten not one believed in Jesus.
I will never forget this as long as I live; it made such an impression on me.
Sis Mary
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