Seven Idols That Can Weaken the Church Today

The author begins with memories of mission work in India, where roadside shrines to Hindu gods were a common sight. Living in the Western world, the author notes that such statues are less visible, but argues that idolatry is still a real concern for Christians today. An idol, as the post describes it, is anything we worship in place of God, whether a physical object or our own intellect and philosophy.

The post points to the many Old Testament warnings against idols, noting that the commandments against other gods and graven images appear near the start of the Ten Commandments. It also observes that Israel repeatedly turned back to idolatry, and that God kept calling the people home. The author gives two reasons this matters: there is only one God, so worshiping anything else is a falsehood, and idolatry tends to shape behavior, showing up alongside the oppression of the poor, violence against the innocent, and sexual immorality.

The first idol the post names is lethargy and passivity. Drawing on the parable of the sower, the author notes that the seed was choked not by openly grievous sins but by the ordinary cares of life and the pull of wealth. The author also recalls Joshua’s charge to Israel to be strong and courageous when facing fearsome enemies, and contrasts that with the earlier generation that shrank back in fear and lost its promise.

The post reminds readers that believers are caught up in a spiritual conflict between God’s kingdom and the kingdom of darkness. The author argues that distraction and fear can keep Christians from the calling God has given the Church, and urges them to reject passivity, stay watchful, and stand firm in faith.

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