Yep, I got 'em...

Idols, that is... 

I have spent the week looking at idols in my life. A scary adventure at best. No need to bore you with the laundry list, but, because we are a curious sort... here's a few:

my laptop/Internet

my classroom

my students

work

activities that keep my family too busy

praise of others

pleasing others

food

obsessing over plans

my to do list

FACEBOOK!

emails

$

and topping the list this week: 

http://apps.facebook.com/bejeweledblitz/?lpt=bookmark

So, I am pretty great at identifying the idols but, the real question is/the God question is...

"What are you going to do about it?"

Please note I am not trying to demean or underestimate the severity of contemporary idol worshipping, in fact, the truth and sneaky way these idols steal from my joy, peace and intimacy with God actually scares me to the bone. 

Our world, like no other time before, is filled with THINGS that are made into idols. Everything from obsessing about popularity, possessions, television shows, relationships, music, movies and the infamous Internet. These modern day idols are not small trinkets or great golden calves of the days of Biblical history but, equally steal our attention and strength and above all create a deep separation from the one and only who is eternal. Our soul should ache for God not another round of Bejewled Blitz or another "You've Got Mail" message. 

Our God is a very jealous God. He wants our undivided attention and nothing less. The Word of God is crystal clear on idols worshipping; 

"Thou shalt not have any other God before me." - Exodus 20: 3

The warning is also very clear: Have idols? be cursed! - Deut. 7:26.

So, again, what am I going to do with all this head knowledge about my God and idols? Can I move the head knowledge into heart knowledge that actually penetrates my stubborn ways? 

I must take action: commit God's word to my heart in order to combat the contemporary idol worship that seems to lay low like a dark cloud some days. 

I  keep on identifying these idols in order to banish them from stealing my attention from my God. 

I will work to continually turn every thought & word captive in order to honor my God and not these idols.

I will be cautious with my time, energy & attitudes to prevent more worldly influences from becoming idols in my life. 

I will commit to spend time with God not idling turn over this precious time to the Internet or mindless time wasters. Good bye Bejeweled Blitz and all the other online games that come before my God.

As a parent, I realize my example of putting aside these worldly idols is paramount for training up my children in the way they should follow God. So, off with the TV, the Internet and prioritizing our activities so, that we don't become ruled by the IDOL of BUSY... is above all my call to action for my family.

I'll never be perfect... but, My God is... and through his strength I will pray that his favor and not curse will rule over these idols and the idols won't rule over me. 

Now, off to seek his kingdom and not another Facebook friend. 

ElizaBeth 

Ok, I'll admit it...I never caught the whole American Idol craze...I can't even tell you who the contestants are...am I pitiful or what? So no comments here with that. Sorry Staceracer, that one was all yours! =) hee,hee

There are many passages about idol worship in scripture. In thinking about idols this week I read several things and then looked it up in the dictionary. I found the 3 definitions interesting.

1. an image worshiped as a god
2. a false god
3. an object of passionate devotion

I found it interesting that even the dictionary said an idol was FALSE. It really easy to say, oh I'm ok...I don't have any little statues around that I worship...or do we? Anything that takes a higher place than God is an idol. I think we as Americans we are bombarded by things that can easily become idols. Good things...cool stuff, kids, sports, people, work, family, music, or hobbies can become idols.

Exodus 20:2 - You shall have no other gods before me.

So who or what do you give more time or importance to than God. Keep God #1.

Table for 2 please!

The Bible is clear on idol worship - don't do it! An idol is not necessarily a person or a figure. It can be a habit, an idea or a way of life. It can be your spouse, a parent, a sibling or even a child. Bottom line - it is anything you place before God.

I love journals. The problem is when I buy a new one I cannot bring myself to write in it because I don't want to mess it up...so, most of them remain blank. The same is true about Idols - they look so pretty on the outside and you find yourself collecting them without realizing it, but then you open them and realize they are empty on the inside. There is no substance, only surface level satisfaction. The only fulfilling idol you can have is God.

While reading my Bible in preperation for this week, I was led to one of my favorite books, 1 Corinthians. Chapter 10 is titled 'Warning against Idolatry'. For those of you who think you do not need a lesson on the danger of idolatry - think again! I'm sure God is putting up yellow warning tape all around your dream world as we speak. Why? Check out chapter 10, verse 21, which caught my attention because it explained my personal dealings with idolatry.

"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons."

I often find myself unable to pry my hand away from the cup of demons. Of course I think I am getting cozy with God but it's a false comfort because I am really not putting Him first. My table is littered with cups. What are in my cups of demons? To name a few...
Celebrity Gossip
My husband
Secular ideology
My Blackberry
Facebook
Money
Material possessions

Sometimes I find myself knee deep in idol worship before I recognize it for what it is!

Have you ever wanted to try to cleanly pull a tablecloth out from under a set table? Imagine God is the tablecloth and you have a bunch of stuff just sitting on top of Him. Pull the cloth and walkaway from the mess. You are holding on to the only thing that matters.

Take a look at your cup and your table. Recognize what is taking priority over God in your life, walk away from the table of demons and have a seat for 2 with God at his table.