This article is a summary from the following episode: Let's Talk About Idolatry.
When we were growing up in the church, we used to chuckle at the Israelites. Here they were, carrying around little statues in the desert—as if a chunk of wood or stone could do anything—while God Himself was splitting seas and raining down bread from heaven.
It seemed ridiculous.
But the older we get, and the more honest we are, the more we realize something: idolatry hasn’t gone away. It’s not just some Old Testament relic. It’s alive and well today. And it’s just as dangerous now as it was then.
We need a clearer understanding of what idolatry really is—and why it still matters for us.
Not Just Good Luck Charms
When we think of idolatry today, we usually imagine something primitive—superstitious people bowing to statues or wearing charms for luck. And while the Bible does mock that kind of thing at times (and rightly so), there’s far more going on.
Idolatry in the Bible isn’t just about dumb objects. It's about worship. It's about hearts and minds being pulled away from the living God and given over to something else—something dark.
And here's the kicker: behind those idols, there’s real spiritual power.
The Bible is clear: when people worship idols, they are fellowshipping with demons (1 Corinthians 10:20–21). There’s a dark, unseen reality working to pull people away from God’s truth and into bondage. And it doesn’t always look obvious. Sometimes, it looks religious. Sometimes, it looks noble. But it’s deadly.
Idolatry Isn’t Just a Heart Problem
Today, especially in the West, we mostly talk about "idols of the heart." Things like sports, family, career, success—good things that we can turn into ultimate things.
That’s real. We don’t deny it. Our hearts are indeed idol factories, as Calvin said. We are constantly tempted to trust in created things rather than the Creator. And yes, football can become an idol. So can food. So can a career. So can a relationship.
But when the Bible talks about idolatry, especially in the Old Testament, it goes deeper than that. It's not just about misplaced priorities. It's about false worship. It’s about allegiance to spiritual powers that oppose God.
It’s about trusting in something other than the Lord to save us, define us, and satisfy us.
And that kind of idolatry is still happening all around us—often in ways we don’t even recognize.
Idolatry Is Alive and Well
We see it in our culture's obsession with self. We see it in the way we celebrate autonomy, redefine morality, and sacrifice truth for comfort and acceptance.
Think about it: the Old Testament prophets railed against child sacrifice to Molech. Today, we see millions of lives ended before they ever begin—because children are viewed as obstacles to personal freedom. It's the same demonic logic dressed up in modern clothes.
The powers behind the idols haven’t changed. They’ve just evolved their tactics.
Where the Old Testament had temples and shrines, we have entertainment empires, social movements, and political ideologies. But the goal is the same: pull people away from God. Get them to worship created things rather than the Creator.
And sadly, even Christians can get swept up in it if we’re not watchful.
The Gospel Tears Down Idols
Here's the good news: Jesus came to tear all of this down.
He came to rescue us from the domain of darkness and transfer us into His kingdom of light (Colossians 1:13). He didn’t just come to give us better habits—He came to set captives free.
We don't fight idolatry by simply trying harder. We fight by clinging to Christ. By proclaiming the gospel to ourselves and to one another. By remembering that our standing before God isn’t based on what we do or how strong we are—it’s based entirely on Jesus’ finished work.
We resist the pull of false worship by being constantly drawn back to the beauty and sufficiency of Christ. We fix our eyes on Him, the author and finisher of our faith.
And we remember: the devil may roar, but he's a defeated lion. Christ has already crushed his head.
Keep Looking to Jesus
So let's be clear: idolatry isn’t just about ancient statues or misplaced affections. It's about who (or what) we trust, worship, and give our lives to.
And the only one worthy of that trust—the only one who can truly save—is Jesus.
Let’s keep pointing each other to Him. Let's keep hearing the gospel. Let's keep resting in Christ.
Because the only thing powerful enough to tear down the strongholds of idolatry is the power of God—the gospel of Jesus Christ.
