Ancient gods, Modern Worshippers Part 1- Laying the Foundation

Photo by Jorgen Hendriksen on Unsplash

As a Christian, I subscribe to the existence of one God and I believe beyond reasonable doubt that this God is the Biblical God. The triune, eternal, infinite God. This is not a denial that many world religions and other gods exist. Paul says it this way-

So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. 1 Corinthians 8:4–6

If indeed there is just one true God, then where did the other gods come from? The origin of other gods or idols traces back to the creation of humanity. The Bible tells us in Genesis that God created the world and what is within it, including human beings.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:26–28

God created humans in his image, which means we were to have dominion over the earth and everything in it. Humans were to mirror God’s dominion over all created things. However, humans were to remain under the dominion and Lordship of God, as the creator of all things. He gave the first created humans an instruction to test their allegiance and submission to him. He created us with free will, which means that humans were given the privilege of choice. We can choose to disobey God or obey him. But our decisions are not without consequences, as the quoted verse below clearly spells out.

And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” Genesis 2:16–17

God also created heavenly beings. These beings were given free will as well. One of these beings got jealous of God’s place as Lord over all created things and coveted that position. He crafted a plan to deceive humans to defy God to achieve this. The rationale was simple, if humans could obey him and disobey God, then he would become Lord over them. This heavenly being would speak through the serpent, one of God’s creations.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:1–6

This was the first recorded act of idolatry and from the above-quoted verses, we can make some inferences.

1. Idolatry is obedience and allegiance to anything or being aside from the true God and creator of all things. When the first humans disobeyed God’s instruction, this was exactly what they did. Ultimately, they became servants of the devil.
2. Idolatry stems from deception. The devil deceived the first humans into disobeying God and refusing his Lordship. But what was the allure? This leads to my next inference.
3. Idolatry is self-seeking or self-pleasing. The allure of idolatry is the deception of pleasing oneself, instead of obeying God. The serpent/devil said, “You will be like God, knowing good and evil”. Once that statement was made, the woman desired it. Humans were created to please God and live in submission to Him. However, idolatry in whatever form, seeks to please humans and satisfy human desires, over God.
4. Idolatry has negative consequences. In the verses of Genesis 3 following the sixth verse, we see that the first humans ran away from God after they disobeyed. This is called spiritual death, a situation where humans distance themselves from God, because of shame and guilt. God pronounced punishments on all parties involved in this act of disobedience. This aligns with his just character, he rewards good and punishes evil. Finally, the first humans were sent out of this place of perfection and beauty, where God had unhindered fellowship with them. This is the origin of sin, evil, death, and all that is terrible in this world, including idols and false religions.

God is merciful and, in his foreknowledge, he prepared a plan to restore humanity. As he drove the first humans out of the beautiful garden he had created, he left them with a promise of hope.

And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15

This plan would be fulfilled in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ and his defeat of the devil at his resurrection. The true God took on flesh to restore humanity. Where other religions have a list of dos and don’ts to reach their gods, the true God says he has done the work needed to approach Him. All that is required to be reconciled to God is to believe in what he has done through Jesus Christ.

Idolatry is treated as a terrible sin before God and is the first of the Ten Commandments.

“You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:3–6

In the following parts, I will address the subject of idolatry and its present practice. Thank you for reading. Please clap, share, and comment.