I had to turn my head to avoid looking. The wedding couple left the center of the ‘sanctuary’ (as it was called) to approach a near life-size statue. They both knelt and bowed before the statue. (That’s when I turned my head.)
It did not matter who or what the statue represented. How could they not see that they were bowing before an idol!?
The second of the Ten Commandments is, “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. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God….” (Exodus 20:4-5)
In short, NO IDOLS, regardless of what the image represented.
While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments and the law, the Israelite nation grew weary of waiting. They demanded that Aaron make a god/idol for them. Gold jewelry was collected and Aaron “fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf.” Then the people said, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.”
(Read about this event in Exodus 32.)
The appalling idol may distract us from the reality of its intent. The people did not say that the golden calf was a god of the Egyptians. Rather, it was the god “who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” The calf was intended to represent their God, the God of Abraham, the Creator! Aaron acknowledged as much when he announced, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” (v. 5) The term “Lord” is literally the Hebrew name of God (sometimes written in English as ‘Yahweh’).
Israel was not turning away from God but making a physical representation of God...an idol. They were not justified in making the idol simply because it represented the one true God. Idols were forbidden regardless of what they represented. Idolatry was a despicable practice, an abomination. God destroyed nations for idolatry and turned away from His chosen people because of idolatry.
You don’t see much about idols in the New Testament until the Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys in Gentile territories. We then read strong teachings against idolatry.
Historically the Eastern Orthodox church criticized the Roman Catholic church for using idols (statues and other images). They justified their own idols by noting that they were only two-dimensional representations which are technically not ‘images.’ And yet, change the words; they are still idols.
It’s a good thing ‘we’ are past all that, right? ‘We’ don’t have idols.
And yet, what are all the manger scenes at Christmas? What about the yard ornaments (statues of Jesus or Mary or Joseph or the saints)? What about images in stained glass? What are all the crosses that adorn the walls in our homes, adorn the jewelry worn around our necks and wrists? What is the ‘fish’ emblem carved into plaques or affixed on the backs of our cars? What is the crucifix atop our communion trays or atop the communion table in many church buildings? How have we justified/rationalized these idols?
Among the last writings of the New Testament is the short letter called First John. Here’s the final verse, a warning: “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”
Take this warning seriously. Idols come in all shapes and sizes, from little silver trinkets to life-size statues and larger. The warning applies still today because idolaters will have no part in the kingdom of God!
The appalling idol may distract us from the reality of its intent. The people did not say that the golden calf was a god of the Egyptians. Rather, it was the god “who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” The calf was intended to represent their God, the God of Abraham, the Creator! Aaron acknowledged as much when he announced, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the Lord.” (v. 5) The term “Lord” is literally the Hebrew name of God (sometimes written in English as ‘Yahweh’).
Israel was not turning away from God but making a physical representation of God...an idol. They were not justified in making the idol simply because it represented the one true God. Idols were forbidden regardless of what they represented. Idolatry was a despicable practice, an abomination. God destroyed nations for idolatry and turned away from His chosen people because of idolatry.
You don’t see much about idols in the New Testament until the Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys in Gentile territories. We then read strong teachings against idolatry.
Historically the Eastern Orthodox church criticized the Roman Catholic church for using idols (statues and other images). They justified their own idols by noting that they were only two-dimensional representations which are technically not ‘images.’ And yet, change the words; they are still idols.
It’s a good thing ‘we’ are past all that, right? ‘We’ don’t have idols.
And yet, what are all the manger scenes at Christmas? What about the yard ornaments (statues of Jesus or Mary or Joseph or the saints)? What about images in stained glass? What are all the crosses that adorn the walls in our homes, adorn the jewelry worn around our necks and wrists? What is the ‘fish’ emblem carved into plaques or affixed on the backs of our cars? What is the crucifix atop our communion trays or atop the communion table in many church buildings? How have we justified/rationalized these idols?
Among the last writings of the New Testament is the short letter called First John. Here’s the final verse, a warning: “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”
Take this warning seriously. Idols come in all shapes and sizes, from little silver trinkets to life-size statues and larger. The warning applies still today because idolaters will have no part in the kingdom of God!
Mark Stinnett
March 8, 2026
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