FLEE FROM IDOLATRY IN IDOLATROUS WORLD

2 Chronicles 34:1-8 & 1 Corinthians 10:1-14

What is Idolatry?

IDOLATRY in Hebrew (פֶּסֶל, pesel): Devine Image. The worship of images made to represent Yahweh or any other deity. (Lexham Bible Dictionary)\

IDOL (εἴδωλον, eidōlon) and IDOLATRY (εἰδωλολατρία, eidōlolatrēs): cultic image/representation of an alleged transcendent being

Whatever your heart clings to and relies upon, that is your God; trust and faith of the heart alone make both God and idol (New Dictionary of Biblical Theology)

The idol is whatever claims the loyalty that belongs to God alone. (We Become What We Worship, G. K. Beale)

It is simply anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give and provide. (Counterfeit God, Tim Keller)

Pasian Za Aluah, Ala, Atuh thei na pepeuh Idol hi.

Nuntaakna Khiatna (Meaning/Purpose), Manneihna (Value), Lungkimna (Satisfaction), leh Kingakna (Dependence) ih koihkoih na pen idol hi.

The Consequences of Idolatry:

Idolatry is the Root of all other Sin. Idolatry leads to Spiritual Ruin.

Idol Biakna in Khamit tawsak, Khabil ngong sak. Amaan Pasian Biakna pan ong paikhial sak hi.

Idol biakna pen khalam nu leh pa mawhna bawlna khat hi (Idolatry is spiritual adultery in essence)

Ih Biak peuhpeuh akisuak, akisuun ki hi hi (We Become What We Worship)

What you resemble, what you revere either to ruin or restore.

Themes of Idolatry in the Old Testament (External/Physical Images)

Israel mite in Idol na bia uh ahih man in abiak uh idol mah sun pah in na kisia uh hi.

Idolatry is the main reason of 10 Commandments (other laws & commend) and the Invasion of other nations

OT idols were vividly External: Statutes, Image, Molten Image, and Likeness, (ex. Golden Calf)

Israel’s Worship of Idols

Immediately after their deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites made their first idol—the Golden Calf (Exodus 32)

In the land of Canaan, Israel began worshiping idols after Joshua’s death (Judg 2:11–13).

In the tribal period, Israel would alternately be obedient (while led by a judge) and idolatrous the rest the time.

During the united monarchy, Solomon married foreign women and worshiped the idols of their deities (1 Kgs 11:1–8). This marked the coming fall of the monarchy.

During the divided monarchy, both Israel and Judah worshiped idols. After splitting from Judah, Jeroboam made golden calves for the northern kingdom to worship instead of Yahweh (1 Kgs 12:25–33). In Judah, Rehoboam worshiped Asherahs (1 Kgs 14:23). The worship of idols continued in Judah—only Hezekiah, King of Judah (2 Kgs 18:4) and Josiah (2 Kgs 23:4–25) attempted to eradicate it.

During the Babylonian exile, the prophets condemn Israel for idolatry. Isaiah 42:17 prophesies that those who worship idols will be humiliated.

In the postexilic period, intermarriage with foreign nations, which led to idol worship, is condemned (Mal 2:10–16; Ezra 9–10; Neh 13:23–31).Despite the Old Testament’s ban against idols, archaeologist

Themes of Idolatry in the New Testament:

Traditions of Men. Pupa Ngeina, Daan leh Ciin te ultung sak luakna hang aa Pasian nangawng nawl khin khaliang (Matthew 15:1-9; Mark 7:1-13)

Love of the Glory of Men. Min leh Zaa, Vangneihna leh Mipahtaak ding utluatna (John 12:42-43)

Physical Temple Worship. Physical Temple ultung sak luatna hang a, True Temple ahi Jesu na ngawng nawl khin leh sang khalo liang (John 2:19; 4:19-24; Acts 7:40-45)

Idolatry: Cultural Idols in Post-Christian Culture

Self gods (Western cultures):

Individual freedom: Self-love, self-right, self-centeredness, the pursuit of self-importance, self-justification, self-fulfillment, self-pleasure, self-help, self-esteem, self-discipline, self-confident, self-discovery - Pasian thu pen mimal phattuam na leh nopsak na ding ciang bek aa ngaihsuk na

Moral Virtue: Moral performance (nones movement - “there can be spirituality outside of religion”)

Spiritual Gift and (talent, ability, performance, growth) are often mistaken for what the Bible calls spiritual “fruit.” - KhaSiang Tho letsong teng zangkhial a, mimal phattuam na ding bek ciang tut khaak na

Money & Material gods

The love of materialism and money - Pasian thu pen hauhna ding leh ci leh sa thupha ding bekbek aa laakluak na

A perilous prosperity gospel (a distortion of true faith that equates material abundance with spiritual blessing)

Sex gods:

Nulepa mawhna, a kilawm lo gamtatna, hukna, lanna, a hoih lo lunggulhna

Idolatry in Paul’s Epistles:

Romans 1:18-32 emphasizes that idolatry involves not only physical images but also the Worship of Created Things instead of the Creator.

Participation in Immoral Activities and the Rejection of God’s Moral standards

Critical Issues of 1 Corinthians:

Corinth was the largest city in first-century Greece, serving as capital of the Roman province of Achaia. It prospered due to its location on a narrow (about 3.5 miles wide) neck of land, or isthmus, between seas to the east and the west.

Corinth was thus an important center of commercial and social interchange.

Corinth was famous not only for its bustling trade and wealth but also for its immorality.

Greco-Roman sexual practices, never lofty by biblical standards, descended to remarkable lows in the form of extensive and lucrative prostitution. This activity was sometimes part of pagan worship and may help to explain the sexual excesses among the Corinthian believers

Paul mentions that prior to their conversion to Christ, some of the Corinthians had been “sexually immoral,” “idolaters,” “adulterers,” and “men who have sex with men” (1 Cor. 6:9, 11).

Those who partake in the table of demons cannot partake in the table of the Lord (1 Cor. 10:21-22)

Doctrinal & Denominational gods

Rely on the rightness of their Doctrine (Denomination) for their standing with God rather than on God Himself and His grace

Doctrine (Theology) pom leh saan te leh denomination upna te ultung sak lualiang a Pasian nangawng nawl khin liang.

Work & Ministry gods

Power (Position & Authority) - Min leh zaa, vang leh thuneihna deih luatna

The Love of Glory of Men & Recognition of Men - mite theih pih leh pahtawi ding utluatna

Ministry Success - Pasian nasep na ah Pasian ih lawhcing cih ding sang aa mite muhna ah lawhcing hih ding utluatna

Ministry itself can become idol

Implications: Replacing Idols

Lessons from Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)

“Amaute a pai laitakun khua khatah Jesuh bang a, Martha kici numei khat in a inn-ah na tungsak hi. Martha in Mary kici nau numei khat nei a, Topa’ thugente ngai-in Mary a om hi. Martha bek in na semin manlah mahmah ahih manin a heh suak a, “Topa aw, ka naunu in kei bek na hong sepsak niloh phamawh sa lo na hi hiam? Kei hong huh nadingin hong sawl in,” a ci hi. Ahi zongin Topa in, “Martha, Martha aw, nang na lunghihmawhna tam hi. Ahi zongin a kisam taktak khat bek om a, Mary in tua a kisam na pen a semsem ahih manin, a nasep kikhawlsak lo ding hi,” ci-in a dawng hi.”

Khephung ah tu cih pen thadah man, adang te sepnop loh man a tu hi lo hi.

Jewish te culture ah Rabi te khephung ah tu cih pen Rabi te kiang pan sinnuam, sangkah nuam, thei nuam, ni khat ni teh Rabi te daan suak nuam cih na hi.

Replacing Idols:

Colossians 3:1-5

“Note pen Khrih tawh a thokik khinte na hih manun, Pasian’ taklam a kumpi tokhom tungah Khrih a tutna mun vantung thute ngaihsutin nei un. Vantungah a om thute ngaihsutin nei unla, leitungah a om thute ngaihsutin nei kei un. Note a sikhin na hi uh a, note’ nuntakna pen Khrih tawh Pasian’ sungah a kiseelkhawm ahi hi. Note’ nuntakna taktak Khrih ahih manin amah hong kilat ciangin note zong amah tawh hong kilang khawmin amah tawh na minthang khawm ding uh hi. Tua ahih manin nulepa mawhna, a kilawm lo gamtatna, hukna lanna, a hoih lo lunggulhna, le milim biakna nam khat ahih manin huaihamna ahi note sungah a om leitung lungsimte na sisak un.”

2 Chronicles 34:8

“Tu-in ama uk a kum sawm le giatna, gam sung le biakinn a siansak khit ciangin, Topa a Pasian’ biakinn a puah dingin amah in Azariah’ tapa Shafan, le khuapi sung ukpa Maaseiah, le thu ciamteh pa ahi, Joahaz’ tapa Joah a sawl hi.”ssb

Questions:

Ih nuntaakna ah bang mun teng ah bang idol phuuk ding, suksiak ding, vatmai ding, beimai sak ding, leh sihsak ding om lai kha ding hiam?