Idolatry has been around since ancient times, but it continues to manifest itself in new forms in the modern day. At its core, idolatry refers to worshipping or revering anything other than the one true God. This article will examine what constitutes idolatry, why people fall into it, and examples of modern idols that people worship today.
What is the definition of idolatry?
Idolatry is defined as the worship of idols or false gods. This includes revering or loving anything in place of the one true God. An idol can be any person, object, ideology, or pursuit that takes first place in someone’s heart and mind over God. Idolatry stems from looking to find purpose, meaning, satisfaction, identity, and worth in created things rather than in relationship with the Creator. When we elevate anything above its proper place, making it more important to us than God, it becomes an idol.
Why do people fall into idolatry?
There are several reasons why people fall into idolatry:
- Seeking control – Idols give people a false sense of control over their circumstances and destiny. People may feel empowered worshipping something they can see and touch.
- Seeking meaning – Idols offer purpose and significance that people may feel is lacking in life. Devotion to a cause, ideal, or institution can provide this.
- Seeking security – Idols offer comfort and security in the midst of a chaotic world. Things like money, success, and relationships can provide a feeling of safety.
- Seeking satisfaction – Idols promise happiness and fulfillment. People can place their hope in experiences, relationships, or achievements to find lasting joy.
- Misplaced priorities – Focusing on good things like family, work, or ministry to the exclusion of God turns them into idols.
- Cultural influence – Every culture has its own idols that people are tempted to adopt. These idols shape desires and lifestyles.
At the root, idolatry springs from a desire to live independently from God. It is a heart issue where people seek solutions for life apart from God. Idols promise what only God can deliver. So idols always disappoint and enslave people over time.
What are some modern day idols?
Some examples of common idols in modern society include:
Technology
Technology like smartphones, social media, and entertainment media can become idols when obsession with technology interferes with relationship with God and others. Technology promises connection, information, pleasure, and escape, often delivering only isolation. Time spent mindlessly scrolling could be better spent in prayer, worship, God’s Word, and relationships.
Money and possessions
Money and accumulated wealth or possessions can become idols when achieving, hoarding, and trusting in these things start to rule your heart. Loving money and possessions leads to greed, envy, pride, anxiety, and a lack of generosity. God promises to provide while money only provides false security.
Success and achievement
When your work, career advancement, productivity, reputation, and recognition become more important than anything else, they essentially become false gods. Achievement often requires sacrificing time for rest, worship, family, and godly passions. Success cannot deliver lasting fulfillment, identity, or purpose like God can.
Relationships
Spouses, romantic partners, children, or friendships can become idols when the relationship supersedes devotion to God. Relationships easily become codependent, possessive, or abusive when made into an idol. No human can fulfill the role of God in your life. Healthy human relationships require keeping God first.
Ideologies and virtues
Political, social, or religious ideologies can become idols when adherence to their principles outweighs obedience to God. Likewise, values like tolerance, diversity, equality, or environmentalism can morph into idolatry when given priority over God’s truth. Idolizing any ideology leads to division and irrational thinking.
Experiences
Experiences like entertainment, travel, food, and adventures can become idols when obsession with fun and thrill-seeking starts ruling your time, energy, and money. Living mainly for the next experience causes you to miss out on everyday life. It reflects desire to fill spiritual emptiness with fleeting pleasure.
Self
Self can become an idol when your main pursuit in life is lifting up and serving yourself through things like self-glorification, comfort, pleasure, or pursing self-defined morality. Believing “I know best” is the height of human arrogance and futility. Living for self leads only to emptiness.
How can you identify modern idols?
Here are some ways to identify if something has become an idol in your life:
- It consumes a large amount of your thoughts, time, energy, or money
- You rely on it to meet your deepest needs for security, satisfaction, or significance
- You experience anxiety or despair when you feel it threatened
- You pursue it with greater passion than pursuing God
- You compromise godly morals or principles to obtain or keep it
- You defend and rationalize your allegiance to it
- Your identity, purpose, and happiness depend too heavily on it
Ask yourself regularly what occupies first place in your heart. Examine what you spend the most time doing or thinking about. Pay attention when something starts demanding too much of your energy and affection.
Why is idolatry dangerous spiritually?
Idolatry is dangerous and destructive spiritually for several reasons:
- It is forbidden by God who demands exclusive devotion – God prohibits idolatry which exchanges His glory for created things (Exodus 20:3-6).
- It leads to spiritual deception and blindness – Idols distort views of God, truth, and reality causing people to live in darkness and lies.
- It results in spiritual bondage – Idols enslave people to sinful desires preventing true freedom found in Christ.
- It incurs God’s judgment and wrath – Throughout Scripture, idolatry brought devastating consequences on individuals and nations.
- It prevents true worship of God – Idols get in the way of the heart connection with God that brings meaning and joy.
At its core, idolatry is spiritual adultery. It breaks trust and intimacy with God. It provokes God to jealousy over the love and affection that belongs to Him alone. Idolatry damages the spiritual life reducing faith, prayer, and obedience to religious rituals.
How can someone refrain from modern idolatry?
Here are some practical tips for avoiding modern idolatry:
- Repent of existing idols – Name any current idols and pray deliberately to renounce worship of them.
- Regularly examine your heart – Ask God to search your heart and reveal any areas putting something above Him (Psalm 139:23-24).
- Fill your mind with Scripture – God’s Word exposes idols and renews your mind to focus on God (Psalm 119:9-16).
- Cultivate continual worship – Develop daily disciplines of prayer, praise, meditating on God’s glory to keep Him first.
- Pursue humility and simplicity – Let go of worldly status, recognition, and luxuries that feed idolatry.
- Focus on Christ’s sufficiency – Remind yourself regularly that fullness is found in Christ alone.
- Avoid idol gateway habits – Be aware of habits that can lead to idolatry like excessive media usage.
- Hold things lightly – Maintain an open hand posture toward relationships, success, money, and possessions.
Combating idolatry requires intentionality in seeking God, loving Him, and pursuing life defined by eternal priorities rather than temporal things.
Conclusion
Idolatry remains a relevant spiritual danger even in modern times. Anything can become an idol when elevated above God in importance in our lives. Idolatry promises meaning, security, satisfaction, and purpose that only God can provide. Falling into idolatry causes spiritual blindness and bondage to empty sources of significance. God in His Word makes clear the exclusivity He requires in worship and the dangers of idolatry. Avoiding modern idols involves intentionality in pursuing relationship with God, maintaining an eternal perspective, and seeking contentment in Christ alone.