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Avodah Zarah, God’s People And Other Gods

Avodah Zarah, God’s People And Other Gods

Last updated on: October 29, 2023 at 7:59 pm by Martin Thomas Johnson

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Avodah Zarah, God’s People And Other Gods 2023-10-29T19:59:35-04:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

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Recently, Taylor Swift achieved billionaire status thanks in part to her concert/movie. Her success is due to the unwavering support of her faithful fans who follow her no matter what. Her tribe of “Swifties” has placed her on a pedestal that few people in this life will achieve.

Cassette tape

Image by Pixabay

I get it; every generation has an icon. Below are a few of my childhood heroes that I looked up to, gave money to, and admired.

Debbie Gibson
Tiffany
Richard Marx
Pelé

Those who are still alive have faded from spotlight. Not because we live in a different world. And not because they are older, but because earthly success and greatness are temporary.

Another childhood hero Mary Lou Retton had a health scare and revealed she had no insurance. Her family asked for money to help pay her bills. All of this proves what King Solomon said about money and fame (Ecclesiastes 1:2). Earthly things shouldn’t be worshiped, the Bible calls this idolatry.

Idolatry

While most of us don’t worship foreign deities, we are guilty of idolatry. There is a misunderstanding that idols are only gods from other religions. Idolatry is defined as “Immoderate attachment or devotion to something, looking up to with extreme reverence.”

Worship

Image by Pixabay

In Christianity, idolatry is defined as the worship of someone or something other than God as though it were God. The Bible has a lot to say about idolatry, because God’s people have always gone astray.

The Apostle Paul warned the early church not to be enslaved to things as though they are gods (Galatians 4:8) he was a little firmer with the church at Corinth because they worshiped the god of sex (1 Corinthians 6:9; 10:7). Paul was simply reminding the early church of the Jewish teaching of Avodah Zarah.

Avodah Zarah

The Mitzvah forbids God’s people to commit idolatry (Exodus 20:3-6). Avodah Zarah literally means “foreign worship” and separates God’s people from the ways of the world. The ancient world had a smorgasbord of false gods people worshiped. Below are some of the idols Israel encountered.

Baal
Asherim
Teraphim
Matztzebah
Chamman or Hammanim
Aven
‘Elil
Emah
Miphletzeth
Gillulim

In some Jewish writings, Abram opposed false gods and even smashed the idols his father carved and sold, and that is why God considered him faithful.

The early church still had to weed out some of these false idols and teachings God’s people still clung to. Jesus never used the word idolatry, but He did say his sheep know His voice and will not follow another shepherd (John 10:1-27).

Lost Sheep

Image by Pixabay

This is why Jesus had to remind his followers about the Shema, God’s people need to love God with everything they have, not the blessings or ways of this world.

He also said we must love Him more than we love our lives and our families (Matthew 10: 37-39). Jesus knew if God didn’t have our heart, we would put our faith in someone or something else.

Faithful

Abram trusted God over idols and his family—God called him faithful. We are called to trust, hope, and love God; not what He gives us or the things of this world.

Image by Pixabay

We mustn’t worship graven images or what this world values. It isn’t a coincidence that the currency of every country has images on it.

Jesus taught His followers to give to Caesar what had his image and give God what bears His image (Matthew 22:21). We shouldn’t put our faith into things of this world.

Money
People
Success

I am not saying God doesn’t give or want us to have good things, but that they shouldn’t have us. Things can blur our hearts and our sight. God is our standard, not the things of this world; if not that is Avodah Zarah!

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