Scripture Judges 6:25-26
“Tear down the alter of Baal that your father owns and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then build a proper kind of alter to the Lord your God…” - Judges 6:25-26
When we hear the word “idolatry” today, we tend to picture statues, shrines with incense, golden calves, or ancient people bowing down to carved images. However idolatry, especially in America is alive and well - it’s just that our idols are much more socially acceptable. They don’t fill our mantles. They fill our stadiums.
An idol is often not an inherently bad thing. Some of the most dangerous idols in our lives are good things.
- Marriage is a good thing
- Children are a good thing
- A career is a good thing
- Money is a good thing
- Success is a good thing
- Comfort is a good thing
- Approval is a good thing
- Relationships are a good thing
But a good thing becomes a bad thing when it becomes the ultimate thing.
Paul says it this way: “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” - Romans 1:24-25
Idolatry happens when something created takes the place that belongs to the Creator God.
The issue isn’t necessarily that the thing is in your life. The issue is that the thing is out of place in your life. There are things God doesn’t necessarily want to remove from your life - He just wants to reorder them in your life.
Don’t worship your family. Worship with your family.
Don’t worship your career. Worship with your career.
Don’t worship your money. Worship with your money.
In addition, we often divide humanity into two categories: people who worship and people who don’t. However, biblically there is no such thing as a non-worshiper. The reality is - everybody worships. Even the atheist worships.
The question is not: "Are you worshiping?"
The question is: "What is the object of your worship?"
Everyone has something they look to for identity, security, significance, or hope. Something sits at the center. Something gets the greater allegiance. Something gets the final word on your life. And whatever or whoever occupies that place is functioning as a little god.
Here are some questions you can ask to reveal a potential idol in your life:
- What am I terrified of losing?
- Who do I believe I have to have in order to be happy?
- Whose approval do I crave more than God’s?
- Whose rejection do I fear more than God’s?
- What am I unwilling to surrender if Jesus asks for it?
Sometimes, the easiest way to identify your god is to identify what you cannot imagine living without. Because whatever sits highest in your life will eventually shape everything underneath it. And Gideon’s story reminds us that sometimes revival begins with demolition.
There are altars that have to come down.
There are loves that have to be re-prioritized.
There are gifts that have to be returned to their proper place.
And there is only One who belongs at the center. Jesus doesn’t simply want a place in your life. He demands His proper place over your life.
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