Idolatry is such an old-fashioned Christian-y word. I hesitate to use it. But if you opened this blog, you probably know we are living in a time of tremendous evil. Today, I’m going to point out some basic history of what idolatry was (and still is).
If you wanna see the quick video I made to go with today’s blog, here it is.
Best of all, today I unmask a quick trick. It helps you tell the difference between healthy God-designed shame and false shame instantly. False shame is the nasty way the devil often tries to keep us oppressed. But, we shall know the truth and the truth shall set us free! You’re gonna love this!
First, I’m going to share a story that would have seemed normal at the dinner table of my childhood. My dad was a doctor. We thought nothing of discussing blood, guts, and yes, pus, at mealtimes as we ate. What? That isn’t normal? This is the sanitized version.
The Boil Story
“Your son is approaching puberty. I need to tell you something important about boys and puberty,” said the elderly neighbor lady.
“Oh dear,” thought the young mom. Then, the neighbor explained.
“If you ever see a pimple on your son’s thigh, take him to the doctor immediately because it’s a boil. All boys get them. It’s not because they don’t like to shower at that age; it’s just something that happens.”
One day, about a year later, her son came in and said, “Mom, I have this pimple on my thigh.”
Right then, she called the doctor’s office. The doctor took one look at the “pimple” and the atmosphere in the treatment room changed instantly. Two nurses hustled in with a small surgical tray and a couple of syringes.
“May I give your son a shot for the pain?” asked the doctor. As the doctor treated the spot, her tough teenage son started to squirm. Finally, the doctor relaxed. As they left, he instructed them to attend to the wound carefully.
Why? Because infections can enter the bloodstream and turn systemic. A seemingly innocent boil can become life threatening, even in an otherwise healthy teenager.
By the way, I’m not a doctor, so I’m in no way recommending any treatment info here.
However, false shame is like a boil. It seems like a little “pimple” when really false shame goes toxic and systemic quickly. It can poison a family, a church, a community, or even a whole culture.
False shame often masquerades as negative self-talk. For a quick test of if you or someone you love is under fake shame, click here.
Actually, we are all feeling the effects of false shame in our culture right now. It’s a main reason there is so much division.
What We’ve Looked at So Far
Well, I confess, I took November and December off.
Last October, we looked at how God intended for healthy shame to divide us—from idolatry. Thus, we’re circling back to idolatry today.
Remember God designed all our emotions, including shame. Healthy shame is supposed to be the fuel that drives our return to worshiping God with pure, humble hearts. Of course, we all know how Satan introduces false shame with ridiculous accusations and lies. He’s a pest and the father of lies. Ick!
In today’s lesson, we’ll see why idolatry and shame are closely related. The 10 Commandments can be an excellent, quick tool for identifying whether we suffer from healthy shame or false shame.
Today’s Questions
- Question #1 — How do we know the difference between false shame and true healing shame?
- Question #2 — How do we know what are true moral issues and what are false accusations?
- Question #3 — How does idolatry actually look exactly the same today as it did in the Old Testament? Yes, idolatry is simply what we call worldliness today. See more below.
Question #1
How do we know the difference between false shame and true healing shame?
Healthy shame is connected with true moral issues. Do you hate someone? Are you disrespectful of your parents?
False Shame is connected with foolish burdens. Did you miss a meeting; shame on you? Did you burn supper; shame on you? Honest mistakes are actually an opportunity to grant yourself and others grace. We get to practice grace on small stuff. Then, when real moral issues pops up, we’re ready for repentance, grace, and forgiveness.
For example, did your spouse flirt with a coworker? Did you flirt with a coworker? True shame helps us confess the temptation. Healthy shame and confession can help a couple stick together before temptation morphs into more destruction.
Question #2
How do we know what are true moral issues and what are false accusations?
The 10 Commandments are a great place to start. That’s how we know which issues are moral issues. Very simple. Our good God gave them to His people to separate them from the pagan, idol worshiping cultures around them. These are values that separate us from the world. If we move away from these basic tenants, first we will experience guilt.
Then, if our lifestyle habitually ignores these commands, we should expect healthy shame to follow.
The 10 Commandments from Exodus 20:1-17
- #1 “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Or, “Trust God only” ~From the Open Bible notes, pg 91)
- #2 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image…” (Or, “Worship God only.”)
- #3 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” (Or, “Use God’s name in ways that honor Him.”)
- #4 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Or, “Rest on the Sabbath day and think about God.”)
- #5 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” (Or, “Respect and obey your parents.”)
- #6 “You shall not murder.” (Or, “Protect and respect human life.”)
- #7 “You shall not commit adultery. (Or, “Be true to your husband or wife.”)
- #8 “You shall not steal. (Or, “Do not take what belongs to others.”)
- #9 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Or, “Do not lie about others.”)
- #10 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Or, “Be satisfied with what you have.)
Question #3
How does idolatry actually look exactly the same today as it did in the Old Testament?
Yes. Idolatry is simply what we call worldliness today. Our culture is filled with symptoms of idolatry. Check out today’s headlines and memes. Or, just consider private islands, Hollywood parties, and rampant sex trafficking. You get the idea.
The outward symptoms of idolatry haven’t changed a bit; self-indulgence, self-rejection and self-destruction are all primary themes of idolatry. They are also the undercurrents in many modern worldly pursuits that pass as entertainment. All condemnation of others is rooted in self-condemnation.
Examples of Idolatry in Scripture
Let’s take a look at some examples in scripture.
In Exodus 32, we see that when Moses came down after meeting with God on Mt. Sinai with 10 Commandments and broke the first set, the people were partying. The Bible adds,“to their shame among their enemies.” ~Ex. 32:25
Shame is always tied to anything that substitutes for our relationship with God.
I am not a prude, but a party should not include any activity that preys on other people. God clearly warned Moses to counsel His children to give up idolatry.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances.”~Leviticus 18:1-4
So, what exactly were they doing in Egypt and Canaan in the name of religious freedom?
Idolatry Then and Now
Here are a few destructive patterns you may recognize in today’s culture, too:
Examples from Canaanite idolatry—
- Fertility rites,
- veneration of the dead,
- sacrifices of animals, humans, and children,
- worship of gods associated with war, weather, hunting, fertility, and eroticism.
Examples from Egyptian idolatry—
- Fertility rites,
- worship of almost anything you can think of. The list includes worship of vegetation, agriculture, the Nile River, creation, bulls and cows, frogs, the sun, and many more.
In Leviticus 17:12, among others, God forbids “eating” blood. Obviously raw blood allows the spread of dangerous contagions, so that’s one good reason not to ingest blood. But in this example, blood was also a significant part of pagan rituals.
In another example, Leviticus devotes a whole chapter to specific forms of incest. There are so many, I shudder when I read the chapter. I spoke with a rabbi. He confirmed that the forms of incest outlined in Leviticus 18 correspond directly to actual pagan practices. It’s pretty hard to overstate the destruction and licentiousness that idol worshipers were willing not to just tolerate, but exalt.
Envy is Idolatry? Ouch!
Finally, here’s an unexpected example for modern readers. Envy is listed as a form of idolatry. We don’t often think of covetousness or envy as destructive. But envy is a quick route to disunity in families and churches. Yep, envy made the list with some other seriously worldly attributes: adultery, drunkenness, dissensions, just to name a few.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” ~Galatians 5:19-21
It’s a long list. Envy surprises me for some reason. I never thought of envy as serious until I noticed the warnings in scripture. I’ve seen it tear through churches, though. At the risk of overemphasizing covetousness and envy, here’s one more verse to consider.
“When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” ~Colossians 3:4-5 (italics mine)
Covetness? Envy? Whoda thunk? How is envy idolatrous? Commandment #10 gives a clue to the moral implications; Thou shall not covet.
Sadly, not much has changed today when it comes to idolatry. There’s a good reason for the children of Israel–-and us–-to obey God.
Relief for Devil Resisters
Fortunately, the Galatians passage follows up with hope for those of us who want to resist the devil and submit to God.
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”~James 4:7 NKJV
The word “idolatry” seems silly today, watered down somehow, but it is really the same old evil worldliness, with a new book cover.
We don’t always associate the symptoms of idolatry with worshiping false gods or demonic, rebellious angels. We minimize demonic activity.
My own pastor pointed out one Sunday that some superheroes could actually be tied directly to demonic idols from history. Thor is just one example. Ouch! That was an eye-opener for me. It’s not even that subtle now that he mentioned it, but I hadn’t caught on. (Just FYI, I’m not getting all legalistic about super heroes. I’m just paying closer attention to the temptation they represent.)
Who wouldn’t prefer to live in love, peace, patience, kindness and all the other good stuff listed in Galatians?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” ~Galatians 5:22-26
In Contrast
I hope you see a contrast. Jesus summed up the law and the prophets in two sentences: Basically, (1) love God, (2) love others.
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.’” ~Matthew 22: 37-40
Dealing with true shame and putting aside false shame does not have to be complicated. Jesus kept it simple, so should we. Loving God, loving yourself and loving others is a very good place to start.
Summary
God gave the Israelites the 10 Commandments to help separate them from a pagan culture. Idolatry wasn’t any different then than it is now. When we ignore the problem, we may find ourselves swept away in self-destruction.
So far, we’ve talked about why God gives us shame. Healthy shame divides us from the world and to sets us apart for Himself. We’ve looked at how to know the difference between false shame and healthy shame.
There are some great things coming up as we come to the last few blogs of our Shame Reboot. We also have a very special handout. It is about how to recognize addictions that may actually be a subtle form of idolatry.
Releasing Our Kids (and Each Other)
Just like a boil, false shame goes systemic quickly. False shame can infect the life-blood of a family or church before anyone even suspects what is happening.
We don’t have to spread this little “pimple” of false shame to our kids.
We may think, “Oh, I just scolded my child a little bit. He deserves it because he needs to put his empty water bottles in his trash can.”
As you carry a trash bag around his room picking up his trash, you might think, This is a moral issue. Why? Because he’s disrespecting his Mama. Alright. Maybe. But really, do you want him to think he earns your affection by hitting his trash can? Children are gonna miss sometimes. So do we.
Instead, how much better to save our anguish, our warnings, our passion for things that really matter. This reminds me of the verse in 2 Timothy 2:1.
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
This is my prayer for all of us, for our families, our churches, our neighborhoods. First, that we would rightly divide the word of truth. Next, that we would know the difference between false shame and true shame. Thirdly, that we could rightly divide between idolatry and nitpick-y false accusations.
Most importantly, my prayer is that we would turn from idols. I pray we devote ourselves to worshiping God with whole hearts. Let us confess any true shame, let healthy shame drive us back to God, and unite us with each other.
🙂
cathy
Conversation Questions
In case you want to create a better conversation in your family, small group, or church:
- How does idolatry look in our lives today, especially in our families?
- Is there anyone here who does not have a prodigal child in their family?
- How can we get rid of false shame at church?
Let’s pray together
Dear good Father, for our families, our churches, our neighborhoods, help us rightly divide the word of truth. We ask You to teach us the difference between false shame and healthy shame. Help us joyfully obey You and resist the devil. We want to turn from idols and devote ourselves to worshiping You with whole hearts. Let any healthy shame we carry now drive us back to You and unite us with each other. Bless us now because that is Your heart’s desire. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Next time—
We’ll take a look at addictions and how even some woundedness could be reframed as idolatry. The clue is in the self-destruction. And why God’s Holy Spirit is nicknamed the Comforter. Yep, the truth in our next blog will be life transforming. Please don’t miss it!
Making Marriage Great Again
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Also watch for my upcoming video series about how Jesus communicated with those who opposed Him.
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Special Shout Out
A special shout out to my friend Mark Legg. He patiently challenged me to think harder. Thank you, Mark, for reading and critiquing the Shame Reboot Series. You let me stay true to my own opinions, while bolstering my confidence with your Biblical insight.
Additionally, thank you to all my friends who read the Shame Reboot before it ever saw the light of day. You know who you are and I am grateful for all your advice, correction, and encouragement.
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Cathy Krafve, host of Fireside Talk Radio and author of The Well: The Art of Drawing Out Authentic Conversations and Marriage Conversation: From Coexisting to Cherished. Your stories, ideas, and questions welcomed here!
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