How Do I Keep Idols Out of My Life?

Summary

Podcast Summary

Podcast: Christian Questions Bible Podcast
Episode: How Do I Keep Idols Out of My Life? (Ten Commandments Series, Part 2)
Hosts: Rick & Julie
Date: July 13, 2026

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode explores the Second Commandment—“You shall not make for yourself an idol”—and investigates both ancient and modern forms of idolatry. Rick and Julie break down what idolatry means, why it’s dangerous on a spiritual level, how it sneaks into modern lives, and what listeners can do to recognize and overcome it. The episode draws from scriptural context, highlights the generational impact of idolatry, and presents practical tools for Christians to keep their allegiance solely on God.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Structure and Meaning of the First and Second Commandments

• First Commandment (Exodus 20:3): An internal instruction—total devotion to God begins in the heart and mind (Rick at 01:46).
• Second Commandment (Exodus 20:4–6): Focuses on external actions—do not make or serve idols. God emphasizes the seriousness of idolatry and its generational effects.
  • Idolatry is a “root sin”—it turns the heart away even before other sins begin (Julie at 03:19).

God’s Jealousy and the Generational Impact

• God’s “jealousy” is more about “protective covenant loyalty,” akin to a husband devoted to preserving his marriage (Julie at 02:46).
  • “This isn’t about emotional insecurity. He’s a jealous God…showing loving kindness unto thousands…that love Me and keep My commandments.”

The Essence of Idolatry

• Idolatry is not just bowing to statues; it’s anything—physical or emotional—that competes with God for our loyalty (Rick at 09:17).
• Bow down = to yield authority and loyalty.
• Serve = to devote energy, become bound to, or “take care of” something that rules you (04:41–05:49).

Ancient and Modern Idolatry

• God’s people didn’t see Him physically—the Israelites heard God but didn’t see a form, emphasizing that anything made in His likeness is inherently insufficient and dangerous (Deuteronomy 4:15–20; Julie at 06:28).
• The golden calf (Exodus) is cited as humanity’s impatience leading to seeking “quick reassurance” rather than lasting transformation (09:42).

Modern Idols: Subtle and Pervasive

Forms of Modern Idolatry:

• Ego, validation, power, success, social standing, possessions—anything that threatens to edge God out. (Rick at 10:20)
• Technology, especially Artificial Intelligence:
  • “AI can become an idol...because it offers what idols have always offered, a shortcut.” (Julie at 11:24)
  • The temptation to let AI, rather than spiritual discipline, be the source of insight and direction (12:14–13:03).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Idolatry replaces the true image of God with something that we create and it corrupts the very purpose for which we were rescued.” — Julie [08:03]
• “Do I own a phone? Or does a phone own me?...my friend Harrison calls this the pocket God.” — Julie [18:58]
• “Our stand in Christ requires us to, from the inside out, have no other gods before God. So we can clearly, firmly, consistently and overwhelmingly seek out and destroy any forms of idolatry that might be lurking in the corners of our hearts.” — Julie [34:24]
• “Idolatry grows out of insecurity. True godliness grows out of security and faith in Jesus to get to the Heavenly Father.” — Rick [34:57]

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• [00:22–01:33] – Introduction and recap of the First Commandment’s internal focus.
• [02:46–04:03] – Detailed reading and breakdown of the Second Commandment; explanation of God’s “jealousy” and generational consequences.
• [04:41–05:49] – Linguistic depth: “bow down” and “serve”; how idolatry redefines one’s loyalty and energy.
• [06:28–08:12] – Deuteronomy’s expanded warning about idols of all forms—heavenly and earthly.
• [09:42–10:20] – Golden calf as symbol of quick fixes in spirituality.
• [11:24–13:03] – Artificial Intelligence as a modern idol; Rick shares a personal stance on rejecting AI shortcuts in spiritual work.
• [16:12–18:03] – Apostle Paul’s example in Athens: recognizing idolatry and respectfully engaging those ensnared by it.
• [18:58–19:36] – “Pocket God”: the subtlety of digital dependency as idolatry.
• [21:08–21:39] – Validation and being “right” as another form of personal idolatry.
• [23:13–25:10] – Paul’s gentle teaching strategy: illuminating God’s reality to idol-worshippers; practical application for listeners.
• [27:10–28:14] – Repentance as the antidote; confession, accountability, and returning to God.
• [29:51–30:43] – Control: Preference for controllable idols vs. trust in the uncontrollable God.
• [32:06–32:59] – Paul’s conclusion in Athens: introducing Jesus and resurrection as the proof and path away from idols.
• [33:39–34:24] – Covetousness is tied to idolatry (Ephesians 5:5); the need to root out even “good” things that become competitors for loyalty to God.

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Scriptural Anchors

• Exodus 20:3–6 — Core commandments about God and idols.
• Deuteronomy 4:15–20 — Israel’s reminder: God is unseen, don’t make images.
• Acts 17:16–31 — Paul's interaction in Athens: model for engaging idolatry outside and inside.
• 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; Galatians 5:19–20; Ephesians 5:5 — New Testament warnings tying idolatry to lost inheritance in God’s kingdom.
• 2 Corinthians 6:16 — Believers themselves as God’s temple, not made for idols.

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Practical Takeaways

• Recognize the Pattern of Idolatry:

  1. Observation (Noticing something attractive)
  2. Feeling & Thinking (Lingering in awe)
  3. Rationalizing (Convincing oneself of its importance)
  4. Action (Outward service or devotion)
     (Rick at 14:01)

• Self-Examination Questions:

  • What would make my life feel unlivable if I lost it?
  • Am I seeking validation from God, or elsewhere?
  • What fills my environment and mental space—God, or something else?

• Dealing with Idolatry:

  • Recognize it, isolate and repent, confess, and recommit to worshiping God alone.
  • Gently engage others with truth, starting from where they are, as Paul did.
  • Realize even “good” things (family, work, personal achievement) can become idols if they compete with God for your loyalty.

• Celebrate God’s Accessibility:
  “...that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.” — Acts 17:27 [27:59]

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Conclusion

• The Second Commandment builds on the first: No other gods before me means no idols—nothing competes for our ultimate loyalty, not even good things taken out of proportion (Rick at 34:57).
• Modern idolatry is rarely about statues, but about whatever captures our energy, trust, and allegiance—sometimes subtly, sometimes through validation, ego, or technology.
• Rooting out idolatry is a lifelong, spiritual battle that must be fought with honesty, repentance, accountability, and an ever-deepening relationship with God through Christ.

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Next Episode Teaser:
“Do I Ever Take God’s Name in Vain?” (Part three in the Ten Commandments series)

Transcript

[Narrator]

Think about the Bible like you never have before. You're listening to Christian Questions. Access more audio videos and Bible Study [e-mail] Our topic is How Do I Keep Idols out of My Life? Part two of our Ten Commandments series. Here's Rick and Julie.

[Rick]

Welcome everyone. I'm Rick, joined by Julie, a longtime contributor and a Julie what's our theme scripture for this episode?

[Julie]

Exodus 20, verse 4 you shall not make for yourself an idol or any likeness of what is in heaven above, or on the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth.

[Rick]

In our last episode, we unfolded the revealing of the Ten Commandments to the nation of Israel after they were miraculously freed from Egyptian slavery. We observed how God powerfully reminded them that their deliverance came from him and how their loyalty to him was to be reflected by the First Commandments instructions of having no other gods before Him. We as Christians were also rescued from the slavery of sin and death by God and through the sacrifice of Jesus. We therefore are required to follow this commandment and have our loyalty solely focused on God through Christ. The second commandment instructs us to have no idols in our lives and build squarely upon the first. So practically speaking, what does being idle free look like and what are the dangers of not living up to the standard?

[Julie]

Just a quick recap from our last episode. The Ten Commandments structure first honors God and then focuses on respecting our human family. So the first commandment in Exodus 20, verse 3 you shall have no other

[Rick]

gods before me, and that commandment, you shall know other gods before me, is an internal instruction. It's fulfilled within our hearts and minds. It establishes the necessity of having our hearts and minds clearly fixed on God through Jesus as our only object of loyalty and praise. Again, that's on the inside out. People can't necessarily see that it's an internal formulation of loyalty. To keep this commandment, we need to know who God is and to also immerse ourselves in living according to that knowledge. And a very vital point, that violation of that first commandment, having no other gods before God, is the beginning of the downfall of any individual or any civilization. With that in mind, as we examine the Second Commandment, let's do so with both the nation of Israel who received these commandments and Christianity in mind. So Julie, let's go to the second commandment. Exodus 20, verses 4 to 6 Thou

[Julie]

shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them, for I am Jehovah, thy God, am a jealous God. And by the way, this means protective covenant loyalty, kind of like a husband guarding a marriage. This isn't about emotional insecurity. He's a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third, and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing loving kindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. So this second commandment, Rick, is unique in that it comes with the longest explanation of any of the other nine. God pauses to spell out the why, the danger, and the generational impact. So idolatry is what we might call a root sin. It's at the very heart of it. It misdirects our heart before any other sin even begins. It means we've already turned in the wrong direction, we're headed to the wrong address. So if you've ever wondered why certain sins keep repeating in your life, it might be that the direction of your heart was off right from the start. Then it spreads. It makes patterns, loyalties that can affect our children, grandchildren, and way beyond.

[Rick]

Again, you've got that first commandment, having no other gods, that internal instructions. Now, with this making of vitals, the scripture starts, thou shalt not make. This shows us that this is a commandment which is an external action instruction. You've got something inside and you're acting on it. It's the fulfillment that can be outwardly observed. To make an idol is to create a physically or emotionally tangible object of worship, to physically or emotionally bow down to and serve. So we need to understand bow down and serve. What do they mean?

[Julie]

Well, bow down is more than just you bend your knees. It means lowering yourself, yielding, placing yourself under the authority of whatever you bow to. So it's the posture of giving something, your awe, your trust, your loyalty. Now, to serve means devoting yourself, working for, even becoming bound to whatever you serve. So it's the language of commitment and also of slavery. So here we have God commanding. Do not lower yourself before anything created, and don't bind your life to anything that will rule you.

[Rick]

That's powerful language when we pause and consider what the commandment, the essence of what this commandment actually means. So this idea of serving is to take care of. It's to have responsibility towards. And there's lots of examples, but one very specific, very interesting example of that is in Genesis, chapter 3, verse 23.

[Julie]

Therefore, the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden to till the ground from whence he was taken. So this till is that same Hebrew word for serve. Adam was now bound to the ground. He had to give it his energy.

[Rick]

Why? Because the ground would support him. So he had to pour his energy into it. So when you bow down and serve an idol, it shows that you're pouring our energy into something. It's a very positive way to be dedicated to, but it shows us the depth of what idolatry can do. The expansiveness of idolatry is more fully explained in Deuteronomy. And this is interesting because Deuteronomy, it's essentially re explaining the giving of the Commandments. And Moses is going through this giving of the commandments. But. But listen to the details he goes into as he's re explaining this much, much later in his life. Deuteronomy, chapter 4, verses 15 to 20.

[Julie]

So watch yourselves carefully since you did not see any form on the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire.

[Rick]

Okay, let's pause there. You didn't see God. You heard him, but you didn't see him. Moses is explaining having no idols, and he's saying, look, you don't even know what God looks like. You didn't see him. You just were instructed by him. Let's continue with verse 16.

[Julie]

So that you do not act corruptly, which means decay or ruin you and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female.

[Rick]

Okay, let's pause there again. So you don't act in a way that will corrupt, decay, will ruin you by making an image of something. His point was you can't see God. How can you possibly think about making an image? And yet that's what we do as humans. Don't make an image in the likeness of any man or woman. But he doesn't stop there.

[Julie]

Yes, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth. The likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky. The likeness of anything that creeps on the ground. The likeness of any fish that is in the water below the earth. He said that he has to go through this detail.

[Rick]

Well, and the thing about us going through the detail is make sure idols are not fashioned after anything. The world is wide. There's lots of things to have awe of. But do not take any of them and make them into an image. You can't see God, and he's saying loyalty has to be just in one place. And he doesn't stop there. Let's go to verse 19.

[Julie]

And beware not to lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, and be drawn away and worship them and serve them.

[Rick]

What it's saying here is it's showing us that even when you look at the magnitude of the stars and the sun and the moon and all of that, no, they're not to be worshiped either. You can't see God. He is your only loyalty. That's where we need to be.

[Julie]

But the Lord has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace from Egypt to be a people for his own possession. It's interesting how God described their slavery in Egypt as an iron furnace. Because he was using that intense experience to shape Israel into a people, people who would bear his name and reflect his character. And since humanity was already made in God's image, and you said they didn't know what he looked like, there's no reason to create an image of Him. They were to be his living representation. And that's what makes the second commandment so serious. Idolatry replaces the true image of God with something that we create and it corrupts the very purpose for which we were rescued. So it's not for us about statues or symbols. It's anything that we construct physically or emotionally that competes with God for our loyalty.

[Rick]

What an insult to our Creator when you think about it. What an insult. And remember, don't make any idols is an external action instruction. This instruction from Jehovah God tells us that nothing should be construed or constructed that would interfere with and ruin our singular loyalty to Him. Period. That's where it ends. That's what this second commandment is all about.

[Julie]

Now, the first physical idol that we know the exact shape of was the golden calf in Exodus. And it's a clear example of idolatry as a shortcut. Moses was taking too long, so the people demanded something that they could see immediately. And the tragedy of the golden calf is that they traded the glory of God who rescued them for this man made object that showed their fears and their impatience. And so idolatry still works in that way today. It offers this quick reassurance. But we know that God calls us to something slower, deeper, the work of real transformation. And that takes time.

[Rick]

So when we look at that and we look at idols in those days, we are much more sophisticated now. See, our idols can be much, much, much bigger, much better, much more subtle, much more easy to take along with us. Some Potential other gods, for instance, ego, that can be a God. People, other people. Success, comfort, wealth, power, social media, social position. Those kinds of things can be idols. We can idolize each and every one of those things. Whether you're in business or in school or on a team or whatever it is, those things can become idols. Other things that can be idols, perhaps our possessions can be idols. Objects, pictures, symbols, all of these things can enhance ego. Now, remember Lucifer? Remember Satan? His ego was way out of whack. These kinds of things can enhance our ego, can unduly elevate other people, can depict success, depict comfort, depict wealth, depict power or social position. Anything like that can easily become an idol. We need to be very, very careful.

[Julie]

Yeah. And we have to talk about artificial intelligence.

[Rick]

Yep.

[Julie]

So AI can become an idol. Not that the technology is inherently ev, but because it offers what idols have always offered, A shortcut. You know, idols let us bypass that slow personal work of trusting God. And so are we turning to AI first for direction or reassurance? Are we shortcutting our spiritual life? Are we getting instant answers without the deeper discipline of prayer and meditation? So AI is powerful, but it can't sanctify us. It can't shape our character. It can't replace long obedience of walking with God. And when we let a short cut stand where God should be, we've stepped right back into that ancient pattern of idolatry. But in a modern form, we need to be careful with AI It's a tool.

[Rick]

It's a tool in its modern form. It is far more devious than building a simple idol. That's almost easy compared to looking at something like this, because we can feed off of AI we can build ourselves up to a point where we look like, well, look at the work that they did. Look how eloquently they express themselves. And we've got to be careful, especially in the context of our spirituality, to not let AI be what speaks, but we should speak from our heart, driven by God's spirit to be able to do things.

[Julie]

You're a great writer, Rick. I just have to say so. Have you ever been tempted to put in your subject title, like, I know a lot of speakers who are giving sermons do, and out pops a sermon, and they just give that sermon. Have you ever been tempted to do that?

[Rick]

No, never. As a matter of fact, it scares me to death. And I'm very emphatic about this because in my own experience, my study, my writing, all of those things I truly believe are coming from understanding and studying the scriptures and God's spirit working with that. Why would I take something that artificially gathers pieces together when I can have the genuineness of God's word and the beauty of his spirit and provoking to dig deep into his word to express something. You know what? It may not come out as eloquent, it may not come out as impressive, but it's genuinely working to honor God. So no, never for me have I ever been tempted that way. It scares me. I'm afraid of it. I'll use it to help me understand a word here or there. And that's about as far as I can go myself.

[Julie]

That's good.

[Rick]

So let's go a little further. There is a simple and devious pattern that runs through every example of our attraction to idolatry. Simple, devious pattern. First is observation. Seeing something or someone that's attractive, that begs for attention. It draws us to it. And we find ourselves keep looking that direction because it's just drawing us. And then comes the feeling and the thinking, purposefully holding in awe the image that was. Which was attractive, whatever it is, it's. You just. You're just holding onto it. Then comes the rationalizing, convincing ourselves that we owe attention and loyalty to that which is so attractive. Well, look, I need to. And now all of a sudden becomes a responsibility instead of a choice. And then comes the action. Transform the wrongly placed emotional worship into an outward sin of active worship. And we have become idolatrous. Observation, feeling and thinking, rationalizing and action. We need to be careful. So let's go back to the second commandment. This commandment was soundly stated throughout the Old Testament. It's referred to with the same intensity in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul in Athens not only states this objection to idols with intensity, he also shows us how to approach it. And this is key. So let's apply this, his teaching regarding idolatry to those around us as well as to ourselves. So Paul is going to be preaching at Mars Hill in Athens. Here's what happens as he builds up to that, as he gets to that point. And we want to look at the lesson from what he did to show us what we can do with and for others who may be in idolatrous positions. And then say, okay, but what about me? Am I in that position? Do I need to learn something? So if baseline our Christian responsibility to identify and stand against idolatry, we have a responsibility to stand against it. We need to have a spiritually sound awareness. Not an awareness, a spiritually sound awareness. Let's look at this Account. Let's begin with Acts 17, verses 16 to 17.

[Julie]

Now, while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols. So he was reasoning in the synagogue with the Jews and the God fearing Gentiles and in the marketplace every day, that praise, city full of idols. That Greek idea behind the word idol is an appearance or likeness that looks like something real, but it isn't the real thing. It's a shadow that resembles reality, but with no substance.

[Rick]

So he sees it and he's reacting to it like, this isn't good, gotta do something about this. So he's starting conversations. And what we need to learn from him is to intentionally seek to be aware of the, the depths of idolatry that may surround us. He saw what surrounded him and he started conversations. We need to intentionally also be aware of what surrounds us.

[Julie]

Yeah. Take a look at your own life for the moment. Where are the idols in your marketplace? What fills your environment, your schedule, your mental space?

[Rick]

Yeah, schedule and mental space. That's good, that's good. And the question that needs to go with this is how firmly am I willing to stand in my determination to have no other gods before God?

[Julie]

Modern humans don't normally carve statues, but we have the same heart. We still crave something tangible to trust. So instead of wood and stone, you know this, we turn to screens and brands and entertainment and habits and identities and comforts. And these things give us that same sense of immediacy and reassurance that physical idols once did for humans. So that's why this modern idolatry is even more subtle and more dangerous. Because we're not obviously bowing down to statues. We are bowing down to what captures our time and energy. And it's the same temptation as it was in Exodus. Let something created take the place of the Creator. No.

[Rick]

So Paul's in this foreign city, he sees all of this and he's going to do something. His intensity against idolatry was recognized in these conversations. And then he was invited to speak about this publicly. So he's got the opportunity because he recognized it and he began to act quietly and start conversations. So in Paul's approaching the Athenians, here's what he did. He respectfully addressed those who may have been open to listening. So when we are in an environment where there is an overt amount of idolatry, maybe we should take the same advice, respectfully address those around us who may be open to listening. What should we do? What should we do to Bring it up in a way that it can be heard. What about us now? What about if the idolatry is within us? How do we take this lesson of looking at it on the outside and applying it to the inside?

[Julie]

We need to recognize what potential idolatry might be developing in our hearts. And we look in the mirror. One question that might help is what if I had to give it up completely, would make life feel unlivable? Maybe. Do I own a phone? Or does a phone own me? Does it use me? My friend Harrison calls this the pocket God. And I've left the house without my phone. And I have felt very uncomfortable to the point of being anxious. And I was with other people who had phones, so it wasn't like I was afraid of being in an emergency with no call for help. But I've had to really take a look and see how dependent am I on this little pocket God.

[Rick]

And we've got to be very, very careful. It's a great place to start in looking at ourselves and idolatry. So let's see what Paul did, the Apostle Paul, what does he do? He's beginning to speak. Let's go to Acts 17:22 and the beginning of verse 23.

[Julie]

So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription to the unknown God. I just need to stop here. I love how Paul, before we know he was in a city of idols. He was probably horrified by what he saw. But to them, he's not calling them idols, empty images, he's calling them objects of your worship. Or in the Greek it means things you revere. So he clearly saw the idolatry, but he spoke to the people gently. And this is a model for us. We can recognize false worship for what it is without demeaning those who are caught up in it.

[Rick]

It's called meeting people where they are. Yes, and that's exactly what he did. Paul used the Athenians own thinking and habits to stimulate them to listen so he could draw them up higher and away from their deeply idolatrous ways. So there's a great example of what he did and what we can do with others. But what about me? Am I observing and any of these same issues within myself? Am I addressing them? Am I looking at and saying I need to do something about this to make this real?

[Julie]

I'm going to name a big one that affects Many of us, doesn't it feel good to be validated and have somebody say, you're right, Rick, you're right. There's a danger when you're looked upon as the expert in the room, at work or in church or. Or in relationships or in the advice that we give others. And sometimes it's not even about being right. It's about having the last word, making sure that we really get our point. And that pressure to be right and to stay right can quietly become an idol.

[Rick]

I'm glad you brought that out, because in some of my counseling experience, some of the things we talk about is personal validation. And one of the things we rehearse in those circumstances is where should our validation really come from? Should come from God above what other people say and think really should not be the things that drive us. It should be honoring Him. Let him bless us in his way. And that's not as tangible a validation, but it is a powerful validation, and it's a great, great, great example. Let's look at idolatry and its power in the New Testament and in relation to us. First Corinthians, chapter 6, verses 9 through 10.

[Julie]

Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, and then a long list follows will inherit the kingdom of God.

[Rick]

So the idolater is on the list of not inheriting the kingdom. If you're a Christian, take that to heart. We need to be aware of the potential for idolatry in our own. My own heart. Let's go back to the Apostle Paul and how he dealt with the Athenians. There was a very gentle, very profound introduction. So now he did some tactful informing. And that's what we need to do. Tactfully inform those who are listening to God's sovereignty. If they're listening, tactfully inform them of who God is, small step by small step by small step. That's how we handle it when we're dealing with those on the outside. But Julie, what about when we're dealing with the idolatry on the inside? How do we take Paul's lesson and apply it to ourselves?

[Julie]

But once we've recognized it, we isolate and treat it. We hold our own idolatry actions up to the light of God's sovereignty. And so I love how the Apostle Paul did this. Take a look at Acts 17:23 to 26, because remember, he talked about that unknown God. Here's what he did to teach these Athenians. Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you, the God who made the world and all things in it, since he is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands, nor is he served by human hands as though he needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth.

[Rick]

So what he did, he gave this beautiful, gentle introduction. And he basically says what you are looking for in this idol to an unknown God. Let me explain in detail what this God is all about. He told them, the Apostle Paul told them that he could reveal what they were searching for to the unknown God. I've got the answer, because here is who he is, God who is the ultimate Creator of all. And he says he doesn't dwell in the temples of men. That's a very kind way of saying all the things that you're building are not representing them. Okay? All of that stuff, not going to do anything. He instead, the apostle says is above all further. He says, God created one man and all were born through that one man. Therefore, every one of you owe your loyalty to that one unknown God. What a beautiful way to put this in order so they could have the potential. Now, everybody wasn't going to believe it, but they could have the potential to say, maybe there's more that I'm not seeing.

[Julie]

It's like a giant arrow this way, this way.

[Rick]

Yeah. And if we can take that same approach, meet them where they are and gently guide them to look towards something. Because God looking toward God is very appealing, that can be appealing and give them answers that's good for people outside of us. But what about me? What about the idolatry I deal with? If I am in any way struggling with idolatry, what parts of these truths have I put aside? What have I neglected? What have I not been paying attention to?

[Julie]

Well, let's look at Galatians 5, 19 and 20. Another one of these really bad lists. Now, the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, entities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes. This is not the list you want anything to do with. And all the bad lists idolatry shows

[Rick]

up on, it's true, all of them. Idolatry is always in the middle of all of these things. Because when we build something that replaces our ultimate loyalty, we have built a bridge toward our own destruction. That's what our idols really are. We have to just be face it and be careful to be understanding of that. Let's go back to Paul again. He is continuing to teach them. He's whet their appetite. Now he's shown them this is the one God. He's the creator of all men. He doesn't dwell in the temples that you've built. He's beyond, he's above that. So next he's going to invite them to listen, to genuinely seek after this one powerful God. And that's what we need to do in our environment, if we can meet them where they are and find a way to give them that logic and that clarity. What we want to do is invite those who listen to genuinely seek after this one loving, powerful and accessible God. That's how we want to draw those around us. But again, what about when the idolatry is in me? What do we do, Julie?

[Julie]

Well, our next step would be to repent. We unequivocally change direction and resume walking in the light. And we talked about this in episode 144 1. Is it necessary to confess my sins? About how important Confession is to help see ourselves the way God sees us, leading to repentance, leading back to a relationship with God. So walking in the light not only keeps us spiritually awake, but it keeps us accountable.

[Rick]

Absolutely. And we need to be awake. And while we are awake, we need to be accountable. You need both pieces of that so that repenting is very, very, very important. So now let's go further and see how the Apostle Paul addressed the Athenians, inviting them to genuinely seek. Let's go to Acts 17:27, 28.

[Julie]

That they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said. For we also are his children.

[Rick]

You see what he does? He quotes their own poets. He's still meeting them where they are. He says maybe you can seek for him. You might have to grope for him because this is very, very unfamiliar to you. But he's accessible, he can be found and he's real. That's the point. He's real. He's telling them he's real. He's above all of this other stuff. Paul gave the Athenians an invitation to know God in a comfortable relationship manner. What a beautiful example for us.

[Julie]

Yeah. And to understand why this mattered so much, we need to step into their world for a moment. In the ancient world, idols were believed to become living containers of a God's presence. There was a well documented ritual called the opening of the mouth ceremony. Priests would symbolically open the idol's ears, eyes and mouth so the deity could enter it. And once activated, the idol was treated as a living, divine presence, being washed and fed and clothed and consulted. That's the world Israel lived in. So the second commandment was a radical rejection of the idea that God could be seen, summoned, contained in an object, or that the worshiper could control access to the divine. And if we find ourselves struggling with idolatry today, we might be wanting a God that we can control, something visible or emotionally immediate, rather than trusting the God that can't be contained and can't be manipulated. Modern idols work just like the ancient ones. They promise comfort, a reassurance, and control, but they shape us in their image instead of allowing God to shape us in his.

[Rick]

And so it's a matter of control. Do I need control or do I give God control? So the personal question how quickly am I bringing myself back to my relationship with God? How quickly am I saying I'm on the wrong path, I will stop, I will consider, I will turn and I will leave it behind and go the other direction? And we're going to look at Second Corinthians 6:16. And this is in the context of not being unequally yoked with unbelievers. In other words, not having too, too much to do with the world around you because of the idolatry, because of all of the things that are going on. So let's look at Second Corinthians 6:16 with that in mind.

[Julie]

Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. So idols have temples, but we are the temple. God dwells in us, not in objects.

[Rick]

So now let's conclude. Let's go to how the Apostle Paul makes his conclusion with the Athenians and how we should therefore make our conclusion when we're dealing with the idolatry around us. Conclude with gently stating the irrefutable evidence against idolatry and reaffirming God's love. That's a mouthful. There's a lot to do there. We're going to read the scripture in a moment, but it's the conclusion that puts things in order very clearly. Now, that's when we're dealing with people around us. But Julie, when it's idolatry within, how does this conclusion apply?

[Julie]

Well, once we've looked around and we've seen it and we've acknowledged it and we've tried to get rid of it, and then we have Gotten rid of it. Let's restart, embrace the purity of no other gods before God and figure out what those other gods are for you. Let's go back to Paul, Acts 17:29 31. He finishes with this being, then the children of God. We ought not to think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone or image formed by the art and thought of man. Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent because he has fixed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness through a man whom he has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising him from the dead.

[Rick]

So he talks about idolatry, and he says, the divine nature is informed by hands. So guess what? It's different. It's higher. You've got to walk away from that. And then he introduces Jesus, and then he introduces the miracle of his being raised from the dead. And of course, some were like, got to hear more about this. And some said, nope, don't want anything to do with it. And that's okay, that's okay. The point is, he concluded by giving them the irrefutable evidence, Paul informed the deeply idolatrous Athenians of a new and higher way to live. He showed them the way to follow God's external action instruction of no idols. Don't make anything that gets in the way of our relationship with him about the idolatry in our own hearts. What about me? How conclusive is my shutting down of my own idolatry?

[Julie]

Do I cut off its influence completely or do I leave a small pathway open just in case, you know, not all idols are anti God or against God. In Greek, anti or anti means in place of. So today's idols might not look like they're against God at all. So we have to look for what's competing with him sometimes. This might not even be obviously sinful. There's a danger of even good things like family or work, comfort, being the smartest one in the room, becoming an idol when they become the important things. And that's why the foundation of the first commandment to love God is so important.

[Rick]

And it really does come back to that validation piece that you mentioned earlier. And let's look at Ephesians 5:5 as we wrap this up for this, you know with certainty that no immoral or impure person or covetous man who is an idolater has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. It talks about a covetous man who is an idolater. When we are idolatrous, we are inevitably coveting something, be it comfort, be it direction, be it recognition, whatever it is we are coveting something. We need to stay away from those and look to our Heavenly Father through Jesus for our blessings. So when we wrap up identifying, attacking and shutting down idolatry, what do we have to become?

[Julie]

Subtly, idolatrous is far too easy. Our stand in Christ requires us to, from the inside out, have no other gods before God. So we can clearly, firmly, consistently and overwhelmingly seek out and destroy any forms of idolatry that might be lurking in the corners of our hearts. This rooting out is far bigger than our own strength. It requires faith in God's power in our lives. We have to say, I will not have or hold any idolatrous images in my life.

[Rick]

So the bottom line is really, really simple. The first commandment, have no other gods before me. The second commandment, make no images, no idols of any anything that would take you away from having any other God before the God, the Creator of all things. Why would we want to do that anyway? Because we're sinful. Because we're broken. Because we're insecure. Idolatry grows out of insecurity. True godliness grows out of security and faith in Jesus to get to the Heavenly Father. He is our God. Thinking about it, folks. Coming up in our next episode, part three of our Ten Commandments series, do I ever take God's name in vain?