Paganism in Developed Countries.

Scripture:
“For God knows that when you eat from [the tree of knowledge] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:5 (NIV)


“Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry…you cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.  Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?” 1 Corinthians 10:14, 21,22 (NIV)


“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Isaiah 14:12-14 (KJV)


“As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one.’” Romans 3:10 (NIV)



Application:


We make the mistake of thinking that pagan idols are crudely carved wooden images found in remote villages populated with semi-clothed “savages.” But the most dangerous pagan idols aren’t the carved wooden figurines dedicated to Baal, an animal, or some other figure. In fact, the most dangerous idols aren’t physical objects at all.


Anything that demotes God from His supreme authority and promotes us as little gods is a pagan idol.

Modern-day pagan idols of developed country cultures include:

• self-promotion (Isaiah 14:12-14);
• the power of our self-driven actions, words, positive thinking, or the “indomitable human spirit” (Ephesians 2:8);
• Wealth and accumulation of “stuff” as our little kingdoms (Matthew 6:24);
• The belief that any human hero, or worldly government or political system, is itself divine (Acts 12:21-23);
• The belief that people, by nature, are good and can deliver the world to paradise.  (Romans 3:10)

These all overlap. Why? Because there is one core trait that is shared by them all, and it is at root of the original sin in Genesis 3:5: they exalt human ideologies, powers, and ultimately, ourselves, over God. Looked at this way, those crudely carved wooden images are easier to destroy than these developed country pagan idols.


Prayer:
Dear Lord, please help us recognize, and give us the power to destroy, the pagan idols that are in and around our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.