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SEARCH FOR THE AMERICAN IDOL (September 6, 2009) |
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Written by Ron Woodrum
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Saturday, 05 September 2009 |
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Psalm 115:4-8 "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak. They have eyes, but they do not see. They have ears, but they do not hear. They have noses, but they do not smell. They have hands, but they do not handle. They have feet, but they do not walk. Nor do they mutter through their throat. Those who make them are like them. So is everyone that trust in them." One of the most watched show on TV today is American Idol. It has not only captured the hearts and imaginations of the American public, both you and old, but it has also launched the careers of some very talented and excellant artists. But actually America has a long history of searching for, finding, and worshipping idols. Voltaire, the French infidel, said, "In the beginning God created man in His image, and now man has returned the favor!" Indeed fallen man is extremely gifted at creating, embracing, and worshipping gods of his own making. Paul, when he visited Athens, was greatly grieved by the idolatry he saw on every hand. W.A. Criswell writes, "It has been said that it was easier to find a god in Athens, than it was to find a man. Wherever there was a niche into which a marble statue of a god or goddess could be placed, there it was placed! Everywhere, down every street, on every hill, in every shrine, in every temple, gods and goddesses could be found" (Acts vol.II, p. 275). Athens illustrates to what great heights of achievement man can ascend and still be ignorant of the Living God, while wallowing in gross and flagrant idolatry. Fallen man populated Mt. Olympus with fallen gods. The savagery and immorality of their gods were fabled. They had no knowledge of salvation, no Divine inspiration. If a Greek wanted to get drunk he turned to worship Dionysius. If he wanted to indulge in his lust and passion he turned to the unbridled worship of Aphrodite. Worshipping Hermes soothed his conscience concerning stealing. Gods without morals only produce worshippers in their image, also without morals. Lest we think we have advance beyond such idolatry today in the 21st century, even a quick perusal of our culture reveals many idols on every corner in Bloomington-Normal too! We call them by different names, but they are no less ruinous and catastrophic! We would not say we worship Mammon, but we sell our souls to climb the executive ladder, or succeed in our careers. We do not admit to worshipping the god Bacchus, but we over indulge in alcohol and drugs until we are overcome with the chains of addiction. We do not bow down before Aphrodite or Venus, but we live for sexual fulfillment and satisfaction, and will reach for it at any cost. Many today, knowing that promiscuity may be fatal, still pursue such a lifestyle, while playing Russian Roulette would be a safer hobby! We do not worship Mars, but we love the power of politics, and pursue nationalism at any cost, and justify war, if it is especially in our interests. The Psalmist said there are two tragic results to idolatry. One is that we worship gods that have eyes, the appearance to see, but are blind. Ears, but do not hear. Mouths but cannot speak. Feet, but do not walk. Hands, but do not handle. They have all the appearance of life, but are lifeless. So are those who worship them. They appear to be alive, but are the walking dead, only going through the motions, but lacking real life! Only Jesus can give life, and life abundant (John 10:10). The second tradgedy is we become like the idols we worship-fallen, immoral, tragic, and pathetic! No wonder the second commandment warns us-"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: "To detect error, expose it to the light on God's inerrant Word!" |
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