There seem to be three basic forms of idols.
HUMAN ~ In the secular world there are actors, singers, and a variety of people that represent the things that we either look up to or desire to have in our own lives. They could also be our boss, parents, children, a high political figure, or even a pet. In the Christian world we have the big name preachers, our pastor, favorite music artists or any other individual that represents a great spirituality. These are human idols.
MATERIAL ~ Then there are idols that folks of both secular and religious backgrounds that are not in human form. They could be our car, boats, money, houses, jewelry, and an assortment of other possessions.
RELIGIOUS ~ I used to think a religious idol was perhaps something the Catholics practiced or ‘other’ religions’. Mainstream Protestants practice just as much idol worship. Everyone seems to have put Jesus in his or her own box. We all want to interpret the scriptures to mean that Jesus was like this or that. Some have a loving Jesus while others see him as the judge. We have pretty boy Jesus, soccer playing Jesus, baby Jesus, hanging Jesus, and even Jesus and the Easter bunny. Then there is an ecumenical Jesus, political Jesus, and the ever-popular ‘bless-me’ Jesus.
We artistically create Jesus in our minds to be whatever we need or want him to be for the time in our life. We mold and make him into things he never was, could be or would want to be. I highly doubt that he wore the ‘just-bleached’ white robe and that his feet were soft from the anointing oil… Oh, it was poured on his head not his feet. So his hair was probably greasy.
When we mold Jesus into our denominational structures, make him to pounce at our demands through our positive confessions of faith through speaking the promises; when we let him be a part of this portion of our lives but not another we then have created our own Jesus idol similar to the golden calf. We decide what color his hair is, his eyes, what his demeanor for a certain situation would be, and what promises he meant just for us personally, then we craft him into our image, put him on a stand in our minds, shut the doors to our hearts for change and worship our golden calf.
HUMAN ~ In the secular world there are actors, singers, and a variety of people that represent the things that we either look up to or desire to have in our own lives. They could also be our boss, parents, children, a high political figure, or even a pet. In the Christian world we have the big name preachers, our pastor, favorite music artists or any other individual that represents a great spirituality. These are human idols.
MATERIAL ~ Then there are idols that folks of both secular and religious backgrounds that are not in human form. They could be our car, boats, money, houses, jewelry, and an assortment of other possessions.
RELIGIOUS ~ I used to think a religious idol was perhaps something the Catholics practiced or ‘other’ religions’. Mainstream Protestants practice just as much idol worship. Everyone seems to have put Jesus in his or her own box. We all want to interpret the scriptures to mean that Jesus was like this or that. Some have a loving Jesus while others see him as the judge. We have pretty boy Jesus, soccer playing Jesus, baby Jesus, hanging Jesus, and even Jesus and the Easter bunny. Then there is an ecumenical Jesus, political Jesus, and the ever-popular ‘bless-me’ Jesus.
We artistically create Jesus in our minds to be whatever we need or want him to be for the time in our life. We mold and make him into things he never was, could be or would want to be. I highly doubt that he wore the ‘just-bleached’ white robe and that his feet were soft from the anointing oil… Oh, it was poured on his head not his feet. So his hair was probably greasy.
When we mold Jesus into our denominational structures, make him to pounce at our demands through our positive confessions of faith through speaking the promises; when we let him be a part of this portion of our lives but not another we then have created our own Jesus idol similar to the golden calf. We decide what color his hair is, his eyes, what his demeanor for a certain situation would be, and what promises he meant just for us personally, then we craft him into our image, put him on a stand in our minds, shut the doors to our hearts for change and worship our golden calf.
Can we let Jesus off the cross and out of our boxes and allow him to be whatever he wants to be in our lives?
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