A question on idols...

Here's the question...

I need clarification from scripture of what it is to have idols in ones own life. What constitutes an idol? How do you know if something you enjoy doing as a hobby becomes a god in your life? Are we to literally turn from all things in the world? If we took the bible seriously, that would mean no TV, no videogames, no books, nothing of the world. Because if you as a Christian stand before someone and declare their interaction with ___________ an idol then they would look at you and say well you read it, played it, watched it too. Then of course Paul comes to mind when he told the brothers to not eat of the meat of the sacrifice even though they knew the truth. Honestly reviewing things like television I have struggled with finding a show that didn't have something wrong with it whether it is showing premarital sex, adultery, idolatry, homosexuality, with an opposing view to such things. Thus it is deemed normal. Even if you did find a decent show the commercials would render the finding obsolete.

The same goes for books, there a some good ones but the kind I love to read are those involving wizards and warriors, fantasy type. Of course the use of sorcery is strictly forbidden in scripture I believe in Deuteronomy. But if the setting is in a fantasy world with fictitious characters and the use of magic fine within the realm of this authors imagination then is it sinful to read it in this context? Where is the line? If we take the approach that we should be better safe than sorry then of course you might as well never read again in the fiction section. Are we not to have any imagination at all? Videogames would fall under the same rule as books, there are different kinds from puzzle to role playing to action. But from what context are we to judge them if they are set in a fantasy setting where perhaps the person who created the game decided that the universe functions in a different way etc?

my response.......

My first few months at Crosspoint, I preached through the 10 commandments. The commandmant to "have no other gods before Me" is an appropriate place to find a diagnostic instrument for idols assesment. I always understood the commandment to mean that God should be 1st in my life. Well, after some Hebrew study, I found that what it actually says is "you shall have no other gods before My face." Now, that changes things. Given that God is omnipresent....there's no place His face isn't. So, rather than meaning God should be 1st in my life, it means God should be 1st, 2nd, 3rd.....infinity in my life! He should be Lord over all and in all. He should invade every compartment and space and activity and pass-time.

Now, when you consider whether something is an idol or not, you have to ask the question, is there some place or activity or pass time in my life that is irreconcilable with God? Is there some place in our lives where it would be inappropriate for God to be? Are there some activities that we cannot possibly do in faith? MOST tv shows and movies cannot be viewed in faith. Period. Some can though. For the sake of recreation or relaxation, for example. MANY video games would be difficult to enjoy in faith....at least some of the stuff I've seen lately. If they can't be enjoyed in faith and yet we want to continue participating in them.....then we've got another god "before His face" and hence an idol.

This exercise can potentially become very man-centered and legalistic and performance-oriented. So take great care in guarding your heart as you examine yourself and the responses you make. Don't EVEN venture to do them to validate your faith or earn your salvation. The heart of these activities MUST be to glorify God and enjoy Him more. Don't be afraid to be radical, for when you consider potential idols, I suspect you'll see many. I do in my own life.

I can't tell you what's an idol and what's not. ANYTHING can become an idol if not enjoyed in faithful moderation. Food is potentially an idol for me....for I often look to it more than God for comfort and satisfaction. If enjoyed in moderation and consumed in faith, enjoying the God of the food more than the food itself, then it's not an idol. Whoever thought up the idea of prayer before EVERY meal knew my heart (and maybe the heart of man). What's enjoyed in faith today can be an idol tomorrow. And what's an idol today can be enjoyed in faith tomorrow.

Ben