The Idol of Self (Part 2)
The heart of our American culture increasingly is bending toward finding meaning, comfort, hope, and worth outside of what God desires to fulfill in us. Our pursuit of fulfillment is being replaced by possessions, wealth, and well-being created by human thought and material inventiveness. This pursuit has driven people to cherish created things rather than the creator. Good things have become the ultimate things—and that is the definition of idolatry. I’ve been writing this series of blogs called, IDOLATRY—SOMETHING GOOD BECOMES ULTIMATE and today, I want to wrap up some thoughts on the IDOL OF SELF.
Live According to God's Absolutes
In my last posting, I defined moral relativism as, “Ethical beliefs and truths that depend on individuals and groups holding them but not necessarily true for others.” Let’s say you define what you believe to be absolutely true about “stealing” and I do the same. How we define it could be polar opposites. So, who is right? Truth becomes opinion and logically, that could make it not true for others. However, what if God reveals to us what stealing is? What will we choose—God’s truth or our truth? On a much larger scale, that is the moral dilemma for our day.
God calls his people to live lives consistent with his absolutes. Sticking with the example of stealing, Exodus 20:15 says, “You must not steal.” Ephesians 4:28 says, "If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.” This of course is just one example of God’s absolutes. The Old Testament standard is found in the 10 Commandments. Exodus 20 reveals God’s standard of truth and holiness for us:
1. “You must not have any other god but me.
2. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.”
3. “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God.”
4. “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy and set it apart as holy.”
5. “Honor your father and mother.”
6. “You must not murder.”
7. “You must not commit adultery.”
8. “You must not steal.”
9. “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.”
10. “You must not covet your neighbor’s house, wife, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”
In this list, God covered a number of absolutes: 1) Loving God first and foremost; 2) Idols that steal love from God; 3) Speech that dishonors, misuses or misrepresents who God is; 4) Set apart time to honor and worship God; 5) Proper treatment of parents; 6) Taking of innocent life; 7) Sexual misconduct; 8) Stealing; 9) Lying; 10) Coveting, lusting, unrestrained desire.
All of these represent God’s absolutes. These moral standards of God are explained and expanded upon in the balance of the scriptures. And any departure from these is not only sin but playing God (redefining God's truth and replacing it with our own) and that is idolatry of self.
God’s Definition of Holiness
I mentioned above that in the Old Testament God revealed his absolutes and at the same time, the holiness of his character. He did that by defining what is right, good and true from what is wrong, bad, and false. In the New Testament, Jesus and his disciples explained and expanded upon the 10 Commandments as God’s moral absolutes and holiness. In regard to holiness, 1 Peter 1:15 we read, "But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy." Holiness for you and me is when we live out the moral absolutes of God; living in obedience to his truth. Jesus summarized what God’s absolute yardstick for holiness is in Matthew 22:37-40…
"Jesus said to him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
Jesus summarized God’s absolutes with two great commands: Love God first and foremost, and love your neighbor. Whether it’s the 10 Commandments or the Great Commandment, God has given us standards of his truth and the measurement of holiness. I believe that Christ-followers can and should grow to the point that their personal life with God (Father, Son, and Spirit) is so intimate that the thought of hurting him by disobedience is unimaginable.
God’s Truth at the Center of our Lives
We need to be careful that we’re not adhering to the current cultural narrative, but instead, align our lives with God’s truth. For instance, consider these moral absolutes: When our culture says abortion is a personal human right, the Biblical Christian instead aligns their opinion and actions with God’s view of life. Genesis 1:27 says, "So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." God gives ultimate value to each human life that is knit together by God in the mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13 says, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.” If God creates and grows pre-born life but we take it upon ourselves to forcefully take that life from the womb and snuff it out, it's murder. Proverbs 24:11 says, “Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die; save them as they stagger to their death.” Exodus 20:13 says, “You must not murder.”
When our culture treats adultery lightly. God says in Genesis 20:17, “You must not covet your neighbor’s wife.” Our culture says co-habitation before marriage is normal and healthy, but Genesis 2:24 says, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” Concerning homosexuality, Leviticus 20:13 says, “If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man…both men have committed a detestable act.” And in
1 Corinthians 6:9-10, we read, “Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality…will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” Our culture is moving toward acceptance of euthanasia; but Psalm 71:9 says, “In my old age, don’t set me aside. Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.” Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother.” Public schools teach evolution, but Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created…”
I’m just scratching the surface. My point is this: God’s truth is supreme. He calls his people to live lives consistent with his absolutes. Anything else is simply idolatry of self. I can't help but wonder what would happen if instead, God’s people were sold out to living God's truth and absolutes.
Next Step
1. Take your fundamental and core Biblical beliefs and live them out with consistency. Make sure that what you believe is consistent with what the Bible says.
2. This week demonstrate a Godly standard of living to those in your day to day life. Let your light shine!
3. Encourage other followers of Jesus to practiced God’s truths with consistency (start with your family).
4. Rather than idol of self, measure your life by your love for God and love for people—seek to live a holy life. May God give you the desire and strength to do this.
