Idolatry

Americans have many idols. We have almost made idolatry an art form. People spend countless hours in front of TV sets and computer screens, obsessing over celebrities, and worshipping the rich and powerful of our society. I sometimes think that Christians could solve many of the problems in the world if we would all agree to turn in our televisions, cell phones, and computers for at least one year. Who knows, we might actually start having real face-to-face relationships with other human beings? Maybe we would all of the sudden find that margin in our lives that we've always wanted to use to serve others?

For all the gods of nations are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
Strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
- Psalm 96: 5-6

Christopher Wright says, "the gods worshipped by the nations are personifications of all that impresses us - splendor and majesty, strength and glory. We look for such magnificence and power, and worship these things wherever they inspire awe and trembling admiration; in the stadiums of great sporting triumph or in the lives of pampered sporting heroes; in massed battalions of soldiers, parades of military hardware or on the decks of aircraft carriers; on the stage of rock concerts or the glare of TV and movie celebrity; on the pinnacles of the thrusting towers of corporate power and greed in great cities. All of these can be enticing and idolatrous. But such places, says our Psalm, are not where we will find genuine deity. If we are looking for true splendor, majesty, strength or glory, they are to be found in the presence of the living Creator God alone. Some commentators see these four words as personifications, as if they were the great angelic companions of YHWH's throne, in stark contrast to the false gods that claimed such magnificence but lacked even real existence."

I have recently asked myself which idols I have in my life. The answers were not pretty. When was the last time you took an idol inventory? What are your idols? American Idol? Professional sports? Celebrities? TV? Shopping? Just imagine what Christianity would look like in the world if we gave up our idols and focused all of our worship on God. We might actually start to talk and live like real, true, authentic Christians. Wouldn't that be something? Instead, we embrace the same idols as the world and people think we're a bunch of hypocrites (just ask them).