Idols (1)
Romans 2:22 thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?
The church has robbed pagan practices from temples. The Christmas tree was robbed from an idol temple. The Germans used it in the worship to Odin and the Babylonians used it in their worship to Baal.
1Corinthians 5:10 not at all meaning with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world: 11 but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat.
It is not possible to avoid all Christmas trees and other items of pagan worship. We live in the world and are surrounded by this. You don’t need to leave a store because they have a Christmas tree or leave your company party because they have a Christmas tree. No, if someone claims to be a brother or sister and is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard or an extortioner. These are all serious issues. This does not mean that a fornicator cannot get saved, they can. The charge is not whether or not someone has sinned and repented of that sin, the charge is about someone who thinks they can openly live in sin while also claiming to be a Christian. Everyone is probably familiar with the Pedophile priests in the Catholic church, that represents about 5% of the priests. However, 50% of priests engage in consensual sex with adults. They are fornicators. The only reason the Pedophile priests were able to flourish in the Catholic church was because of the fornicating priests. If they exposed these 5% they in turn might expose the 50%. This is why Paul says to be very strict. Then what happens to those people who know about the Priests who are fornicators? No wonder they see the Church as a bunch of self righteous hypocrites condemning others for the things that they themselves do.
1Corinthians 8:8 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.
We need to come to this topic with love and with the intention of building one another up. Idol worship involves making a sacrifice to an idol. Some will claim that all the Christmas decorations are just that, decorations. The same thing with the Easter celebration, just fun and games. I would ask if you are “making a sacrifice to that idol”? Simply a question to take to the Lord.
4 Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is anything in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many; 6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.
It is impossible to be in this world and not be surrounded by idols. You will go to a restaurant, you will go to a store, your company, even the things people wear. We do not have to walk around like some looney tunes every time we see an idol. These things are meaningless. As a teacher we are required to decorate our rooms for holidays. I would never put up a Christmas tree nor would I mention Santa Claus in my decorations. However, another teacher might, I just ignore that. It is nothing.
7 Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as of a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak. 10 For if a man see thee who hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols? 11 For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died. 12 And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ. 13 Wherefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble.
These verses are completely misquoted by many Christians. If you go to a restaurant that has a little idol up that is an offering to their God, typical in Asian restaurants, that is eating meat in an idol temple. This does not mean you went to a Buddhist temple for lunch. In the US this could also refer to going to a football game or a baseball game. Now there are many people who get invited to these games for work or some other reason. You don’t have to respond “O no, I am a Christian, I would never go to that idol temple”. However, there are others who have season tickets, they fill up their home with all kinds of junk celebrating their favorite team or player. Buying those things is what is known as “sacrificing to an idol”. So if a brother or sister is offended that you are going to the game you simply say fine, if this stumbles you I won’t go ever again. That is evidence that you are not worshiping this thing as an idol because you are happy to cut it completely out of your life for the sake of your brother’s conscience. However, many Christians apply this to their home. That does not make sense. If a believer sees that your home is set up as an idol temple you can’t make some claim that this means nothing to you. You have already sacrificed to this idol.
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