An idolater and also a person who worships several gods. The ABC of salvation is idolatry. attitude towards idolatry

And their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have a mouth, but they do not speak; they have eyes, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear; they have nostrils, but they do not smell; they have hands, but they do not touch; they have legs, but do not walk; and they do not speak with their larynx.

Put to death therefore your members on earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil lust, and covetousness, which is idolatry, for which the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.

The idols of the pagans are silver and gold, the work of human hands: they have a mouth, but do not speak; they have eyes, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear, and there is no breath in their mouth.

What good is a sacrifice to an idol? he neither eats nor smells: so persecuted by the Lord, looking with his eyes and groaning, is like a eunuch who embraces a maiden and sighs.

And they served idols, of which the Lord spoke to them: "Do not do this."

Therefore, there will also be judgment on pagan idols, since in the midst of God's creation they have become an abomination, a stumbling block for human souls and a snare for the feet of the foolish.

For the invention of idols is the beginning of fornication, and their invention is the corruption of life.

Although man made them and the borrowing spirit formed them, yet no man can form a god like himself. Being mortal, he makes dead things with impious hands, therefore he is more excellent than his deities, for he lived, and they never did. Prem. 15,16–17

Do not turn to idols and do not make cast gods for yourself.

Who made a god and poured out an idol that does no good? All those who take part in this will be ashamed: for the artists themselves are of the same people.

Children! keep yourself from idols.

They were not (ed.-idols) at the beginning, and they will not be forever.

They entered the world through human vanity, and therefore the end is near for them.

I hate the worshipers of vain idols, but I trust in the Lord.

Take heed that you do not forget the covenant of the Lord your God which he has made with you, and that you do not make for yourselves idols depicting anything, as the Lord your God has commanded you.

The service of idols unworthy of a name is the beginning and the cause and the end of all evil.

And there you will serve other gods made by human hands of wood and stone, who neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.

All of them will be ashamed and confounded; all who make idols will go with them in shame.

….because I do not worship idols made by hands, but I worship the living God who created heaven and earth and has dominion over all flesh.

Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Turn back and turn away from your idols, and turn away your face from all your abominations.

Relying on soulless idols, they do not think of being punished for swearing unjustly.

But for both, judgment will come upon them, both because they thought wickedly of God, turning to idols, and because they swore falsely, deceitfully despising the holy.

You know that when you were pagans, you went to mute idols as if you were being led.

So, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

What is the use of an image made by an artist, this cast of false teachers, although the sculptor, making dumb idols, relies on his work?

Woe to the one who says to the tree, "Get up!" and to the dumb stone: "Awake!" Will he teach you something? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, but there is no breath in it.

Exodus 32

It is worth noting that, obviously, the delay of Moses became an occasion for a retreat among the people of God (see Eze. 12:21-28; Hab. 2:2-4; Mt. 25:1-13). Likewise, some will not be ready to meet the Lord when He appears “the second time” (see Heb. 9:28). Many will say in that day, "My lord will not come soon," and will give way to evil (Matt. 24:45-51; Luke 12:37-48; 2 Peter 3:3-18).

The Israelites feared that their leader, on whom they depended, had abandoned them. As long as Moses was with them to encourage them, exhort them, and encourage them by his example, they were able to keep their spiritual life on a higher level, "to walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). When his presence was removed from them, a backlash began, and the "flesh" triumphed over the "spirit". Although the cloud of thick darkness into which Moses entered when he went up the mountain with Joshua was visible from the plain, the top of the mountain was occasionally illuminated by lightning from the Divine presence, and it seemed to many in the camp that Moses had abandoned them or been consumed by the consuming fire. Ground for the sad manifestation of idolatry.
This experience presents other strikingly opposite examples so characteristic of the Bible, such as Christ in glory on the Mount of Transfiguration and His disciples in the valley below, chagrined and defeated (Matt. 17:1-18). Here, while Moses was on the mountain, receiving the tablets of the law and instructions regarding true worship and the high and holy office of the high priest, the people below turned away from the Lord in a crying manner. Paradoxically, they were led to idolatry by the very man who had been called to serve the Lord.

To Aaron. Had Moses' brother been firm in faith and character, this unfortunate event in Israel's history could have been avoided. Aaron's weakness of character and spirit of compromise not only rendered his spiritual leadership ineffective, but also placed him in the position of leader of the rebellion.
Make us a god. Since their time in Egypt had accustomed the Jews to the material forms of the deity, it was difficult for them to trust the invisible God. Although the Hebrew word for "god" here is XElohim, the plural form of the word, some Bible scholars maintain that "gods" here and in v. 4, 8, and 31 should be translated "god", assuming the plural is used to emphasize the fact that the golden calf was a false god as opposed to the Lord, the true God.
Would walk in front of us. Tired of waiting so long at Sinai and eager to continue their journey to the Promised Land, the people demanded a visible god ahead of them to inspire them with confidence and courage (see 1 Sam. 4:3-8). How good it would be if they spent this time of waiting meditating on the law of God, and thereby preparing their hearts to receive further revelations from Him. If they did, they would be able to resist this temptation.
To a large extent, the spirit of apostasy was engendered by the "many foreigners" who joined the Israelites to escape the plagues of Egypt. They were a constant hindrance and trap for Israel (Ex. 12:38; Numbers 11:4). They are comparable to the "bad people" of DA.17:5.
2. Alarmed by the reckless stupidity and menacing attitude of the people, fearing for his own safety, Aaron gave in to the demands of the mob instead of nobly and boldly upholding the honor of God (see Ex. 23:2). Hoping that they would not give up their possessions, he demanded a collection of "gold earrings". But he was wrong in his hope. Having taken the first step towards compromise, he could no longer back down.

4. Here is your god. "Taurus" seems natural to the Israelites because they witnessed the worship of the Apis bull in Egypt. But the golden calf was apparently a material representation of the true God, not some pagan deity (see v. 5).
5. Proclaimed. Feeling the approval of the people, Aaron went further, announcing a "banquet". Oddly enough, it was supposed to be a "feast to the Lord." This spirit of compromise, the desire to reconcile the worship of the Lord with idolatry, was manifested by Israel not only in this case; it also motivated much of the idolatry that hindered them in the future
(1 Kings 12:26-33; 2 Kings 17:32-33; Zeph. 1:5).
6. Got up early. The people were so excited and excited about their newfound religion that they couldn't get up early enough to begin the service.
Sit down to eat. Only certain parts of the sacrificial animals were usually burned, the rest were eaten by the worshippers.
Got up to play. It was a sensual act. Pagan sacrificial feasts turned into wasteful orgies (Numbers 25:1-9; 1 Cor. 10:7-8). This episode illustrates the ongoing warfare between the flesh and the Spirit in human nature (Rom. 7:23; 8:1-13). From the time the Israelites left Egypt, they led a spiritual life, relying on the invisible God and resting under His protection. In the end, however, when the restraining influence of the example and guidance of Moses was removed, evil prevailed. They returned to the idolatry and licentiousness that was inextricably linked with pagan worship. Sensual pleasure was masked by religion (2 Tim. 3:4-5). Such a religion is just as pleasing to many people today as it was in the age of Israel. And there are still yielding leaders who yield to the desires of the unsanctified and encourage them to sin (PP 317).
7. Your people. God rejected Israel; He no longer referred to them as "my people" (Ex. 3:10; etc.; cf. Mt. 21:13; 23:28). They broke their covenant with Him and "separated" themselves from His care and guidance (Isaiah 59:2). The abhorrence of sin is inherent in the divine character. God loves the sinner, but hates the sin. Moses, being far from the camp, did not know what was happening below.

8. Soon deviated. A few weeks earlier the people had entered into a solemn covenant with God and promised to obey Him (Ex. 19:8; 24:3). Now this covenant has been broken (PP 320). Having no “root” in temptation, people quickly fell into sin (see Matt. 13:20-21). Many, especially among the "multitude of the foreigners," could not resist their old idolatrous habits (see 2 Pet. 2:22). The word "cruel" conveys the idea of ​​viciousness, as with a horse that refuses to go the right way and balks when the driver pulls the reins to the right or left.
10. Leave Me. God tested Moses and prepared him for what lay ahead of him (see Gen. 18:23-32; 32:26-28). This was not the last time he had such an experience (Num. 16:21, 45). Moses felt that God's decision was not final and continued to intercede for his people.
I will produce from you. The Lord gave Moses the opportunity to choose between his own glory, the honor of God, and the well-being of those under his responsibility (see Matt. 4:8-10). He acted nobly and thus proved his devotion to God and the tasks entrusted to him.
11. Moses began to beg. Moses counters that Israel is still God's people - not his (see v. 7). God has done so much for them; of course, He will not reject them now, thus admitting the failure of His own plan. God could not afford to do this for the sake of His own name - was the first request of Moses. Moses could not forgive the sin of his people, but he could intercede for their forgiveness (see Job 42:10; Jer. 14:19-21; Eze. 14:14, 20; Dan. 9:4-11).
12. The surrounding countries learned of the miraculous deliverance of the Jews from Egypt, and as a result they were afraid of what the Lord could do for Israel. Therefore, if Israel were destroyed, the Gentiles would rejoice, and God would be disgraced. The accusation of the Egyptians would have been confirmed, that instead of taking the people into the wilderness for sacrifice (Ex. 5:1-3), He brought them there to be sacrificed (Ex. 10:10). To keep the Gentiles from triumphing over Israel was Moses' second request.

Remember Abraham. The third request consisted of reminding God of His promises to Abraham (Gen. 15:5; 17:2–8), Isaac (Gen. 26:4), and Jacob (Gen. 28:14; 35:11). These promises were only partially fulfilled by that time, and of course God will fulfill His word.

The Lord repented. The Lord was touched by the sincere, self-sacrificing prayer of His faithful servant. God could not refuse the prayer of one who thought more of his people than of his own exaltation and honor. The character of Moses was revealed, there was a revelation of Divine love (John 3:16; Phil. 2:5-8).

The words "The Lord repented" are a feeble attempt to express Divine desire in human language. Strictly speaking, God cannot change His plans because He knows "the end from the beginning" (1 Sam. 15:29; Isa. 46:9-10; 55:11). However, when sinners forsake their sin and turn to Him, when His children plead for His mercy and forgiveness, then He truly "repents." He exchanges anger for mercy, condemnation for gracious forgiveness (Ps. 106:44-45; Jer. 18:5-10; 26:3; Joel 2:12-14; Jonah 3:9-10; 4:2).

In his hand. That is, in the hands (Deut. 9:15).

When Joshua heard. On the way down, Moses met Joshua, who was staying where Moses had left him six weeks earlier (see Ex. 24:12-18). Together they went down to the camp. Being a soldier, Joshua thought that the sound coming from the camp was military, but Moses, warned by the Lord, suspected the true nature of the noise. The last part of the descent from Mount Sinai does not allow the plain below to be seen, so that any sound from the plain was heard before its source could be seen. Perhaps the hills at the foot of the mountain created an obstruction to the line of sight (see on Ex. 19:1).

He approached. The religious ceremonies of most ancient peoples included dancing. Among the Jews, this happened sometimes solemnly and dignifiedly, as in the case of David (2 Kings 6:14), sometimes festively and joyfully (see on Ex. 15:20). Among the pagans, however, and especially among the peoples of the East, such dances had a free and lascivious character. The Egyptian dancers were professional in a bad way, and their dancing was sensual and indecent. In Syria, Asia Minor and Babylon, dancing was a wild orgy. It was this kind of dance that the Israelites allowed themselves to do, which provoked the ardent anger of Moses. It was idolatry at its worst. No wonder he threw the two tablets to the ground in anger and "broke them". By this he showed that since they broke their covenant with God, God also broke his covenant with them (Deut. 9:17; PP 320).

He took the calf. Compare this with the action of Josiah (2 Sam. 23:1-27).

Scattered. Since this "water" was a "brook" that came down from the mountain (Deut. 9:21), and was the only water available, when the Israelites drank it, they swallowed particles of gold. Thus it came to be that the object of their sin became the instrument of their punishment. (Ps. 7:15-16; 9:16; Prov. 1:31-32; 5:22). In the complete destruction of the golden calf, Moses showed the people the futility and insignificance of their idol (1 Corinthians 8:4). If the bullock could not save himself, he certainly could not save his worshipers (Ps. 116:3-9; Is. 46:5-7).

To Aaron. Having destroyed the idol, Moses naturally turned to the one whom he had left in charge of the people, who was supposed to resist evil and stop this retreat (Ex. 24:14). Moses did not mean that the people did anything to Aaron; the question was asked reproachfully. If Aaron had taken a firm stand, this retreat might not have happened (PP 316, 317).

You know. Instead of meekly taking responsibility for idolatry, Aaron justified himself by placing the blame on the people. At the same time, he showed himself to be a true descendant of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:12-13). What a contrast to the spirit of Moses (see on Ex. 32:10-14, 32).

Released. To further justify his behavior, Aaron implied that a miracle had taken place, that a supernatural power had transmuted the gold bars "in the fire" into "this calf." The bewitching power of sin forces sane people to give rational meaning to their actions. Aaron would have been destroyed for his sin had it not been for the serious intercession of Moses (Deut. 9:20). Because of his position as leader, in the absence of Moses, Aaron's sin was even more reprehensible. To whom much is entrusted, more will be exacted from him (Luke 12:48).

Unbridled. Or perhaps "broke free." Thus, people gave vent to their wild passions. Moral restraint was completely abandoned. The people were practically in a state of rebellion, driving themselves to madness. They became a wild crowd, and Aaron was responsible for this orgy, as he made a calf and declared a holiday.

Their shame. Perhaps some of the Amalekites (see Ex. 17:8-16) were still around to see this rampage and its wanton obscenities.

Then Moses became. Unable to stop these terrible actions and realizing that something must be done, Moses stood at the "gates of the camp" and called for them to join him in putting down the rebellion. There is no neutral side in the war between good and evil. We are either on the side of God or on the side of Satan. There is no middle (Joshua 24:14-15; 1 Sam. 18:21; Matt. 6:24). The ultimate test of our being on the Lord's side will be our faithfulness when everyone around us is backsliding. (Matthew 7:13-14). Determined piety manifests itself in the ability to resist the influence of the multitude. It takes courage to maintain individuality (see Dan. 3:14-18). Only one among all the brothers "sons of Levi" rallied on the "side of the Lord." They did not participate in this idolatrous service.

Every sword. Wherever the Levites encountered those still participating in licentious rites, they were to "kill" them with the sword, ignoring family and friendship relationships (Deut. 33:8-9; Ezek. 9:6). Decisive action was needed to quell the uprising. Jesus made it clear that no earthly ties should be allowed to stand between us and our duty to Him (Matt. 8:21-22; 10:37). It came to pass that the place of the feast became the place of death. This quick execution of those who led the people into idolatry was necessary to show to the surrounding nations a certain displeasure of God against pagan worship. As for his own people, the Lord had to convince them that iniquity such as this would not be tolerated. If God allowed this transgression to go without severe punishment, the Jews in the future might more willingly succumb to the temptations of idolatry. As a loving protector of Israel, God removed from them those who were determined to go their own way of disobedience, lest they lead others to destruction. At this time, God in His mercy allowed some to perish in order to save many. Also, if sin persisted, God could no longer protect them, and they would fall defenseless before their enemies.

Dedicate yourself. Moses proclaims Heaven's mercy to the Levites, who have joined so diligently with him in punishing the idolaters. The Hebrew word for "sanctification" carries the idea of ​​being ordained to holy service. Here it also implies God's special "blessing" given to the Levites to be chosen to serve in the sanctuary (Num. 3:5-9; 18:1-7; Deut. 10:8).

The next day. This suggests that the people finally realized their great guilt and were terrified that every apostate would be killed. Moses' love and pity for his people compelled him to intercede again with the Lord for them. There is a deep lesson here that gospel ministers should think carefully about their actions. Just like the shepherds of the flock, they must love their church members and bring them closer to God, they must point people to their sins (Is.58:1). At the same time, they must earnestly plead with God for the forgiveness of sin through the mercy of Christ.

This people. Moses spoke to God about the Israelites as "Your people" (v. 11). Here, thinking of the severity of the sin that made them unworthy to be called God's people, he addresses them as "this people."

Sorry if not. So Moses moved on in his address to God without finishing the first part of it. It might be "Then I'll be content", or "I won't have any more to say". Similar phrases are found in Luke 13:9; 19:42.

Erase me. So great was Moses' love for his sinning brethren that if he could not prevent their destruction, he would not see it (Numbers 11:15). He was ready to be "blotted out of thy book" (see Isaiah 4:3). He was willing to give his own life if it would help atone for their sin. He was willing to bear their guilt, here and in the Hereafter, to secure their forgiveness. Paul showed similar selflessness to the Jews in his day (Rom. 9:1-3). Moses did many noble deeds, but this one was the noblest of them all. It is not easy to appreciate the measure of love of people like Moses and Paul, our limited abilities cannot comprehend this, as a small child cannot comprehend the courage of heroes. Moses is a type of the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep (John 10:11, 15), who was “cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of my people” (Is. 53:8; Dan. 9:26; Jn. 15:13).

From your book. This is an appeal to the "book of life", in which the names of all those who claimed to be the children of God are registered (Ps.68:28; Dan.12:1; Phil.4:3; Rev.3:5; 13:8 ; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27). Those who have fallen away from God, who, because of their unwillingness to leave sin, become insensitive to the influence of the Holy Spirit (Gen. 6:3; Eph. 4:30; Heb. 10:29; 1 Thess. 5:19) will be blotted out of the book life and destroyed.

Who sinned. In general, the Bible teaches that everyone must bear their punishment (Deut. 24:16; 2 Kings 14:6; Ps. 48:7-8; Jer. 31:29-30; Ezek. 18:20). There is only one substitutionary atonement that the Word of God accepts, and that is the Atonement of Jesus Christ, who, being without sin, can be punished for the sins of others (Is. 53:5-6; John 1:29; 1 Cor. 15:3; Heb. 9:28; 1 ​​Pet. 2:24). In the intercession he made for Israel, Moses symbolized the intercession of Christ for sinners. But he could not, like our Lord, bear the guilt of apostates.

On the day of the visit. It has been suggested that this refers to the statement that none of those who left Egypt would enter Canaan (Num. 14:26-35).

The Lord struck. After the defeat of 3,000 (v. 28), a plague broke out in the camp. Even this was evidence of Divine mercy to emphasize the danger of giving in to sin. Although God was ready to forgive His people, if forgiveness had been received very easily, they would have been encouraged to commit the crime again. They must see the evil consequences of iniquity. Softness was set aside so that persuasion could make a deeper impression.

In all of God's dealings with us today, we must learn to understand His divine will and learn lessons, He shows this for our instruction. In this way He would develop and strengthen our character.

According to the SDA Bible Commentary

“Like all things are the language of demons” (Ps. 95; 5)

Do you hear, brethren, what King David says? He says that the pagan gods had demons, that the pagans served and worshiped demons,

unclean spirits, in general - the devil. True, rude pagans worshiped idols as gods, served and worshiped idols, soulless idols - as gods. But the inspired King shows what thought guided those people who decided to set up idols for honor and worship. These people recognized demons as gods. An idol, says the Apostle Paul, is nothing in the world (1 Cor. 8; 4). The idol is just a human product. “Idols of the tongue,” says the same David, “silver and gold, the work of human hands” (Ps. 134; 15). Who is there to serve and bow to? Nothing and no one, if it were not for the belief that the spirits or demons that acted through idols are gods. Pagan idols were only the visible representation of demons. The real god of pagans and sinful people in general is the devil. The devil, having fallen away from God and the Creator and becoming an adversary to Him, wanted to be a god himself and began to demand divine worship from everyone. He promised divine dignity to our forefathers and, obviously, wanted to turn them away from God and take them under his power in order to rule over them and be their god. This also shows his temptation, with which he dared to approach our Savior Jesus Christ Himself, impudently demanding worship from Him. “This,” he said, “all (pointing to the kingdom and the glory of this world) I will give to you, if we bow down” (Matt. 4; 9). It was to this god, namely, the devil with his slanderers, that the pagans mainly served, fulfilled his evil will, brought him a sacrifice according to the kind of their passions, over which demons rule. And since man is not just a spiritual being, but at the same time a bodily one, the devil wanted man to serve him outwardly, bodily as a god, and so he inspired the pagans to instruct visible, material images of gods - idols, and serve and worship them as gods . Thus, the pagans, worshiping and offering sacrifices to idols, actually worshiped and served evil and unclean spirits, as it is said about the Jews, when they “worked with idols” (Ps. 105; 36), “devouring the demon, and not God” (Deut. 32; 17). This means that the bozi of the pagans, indeed, were demons.

The times of paganism are over, but is idolatry over? Are we, who have accepted the law of Christ, free from idolatry? - Not. The worship of idols, material idols, has ended, but the worship of spiritual idols, the service to the devil, has not ended. Spiritual idols are sinful passions. Whoever serves, pleases them, serves the devil. Three such main idols, which, unfortunately, we, Christians, often worship and serve, are ours, ambition, peacefulness and carnal pleasure. “Everything that is in the world,” says the holy Apostle John, “is carnal lust, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2; 16). The first spiritual idol is ambition and pride. Even though there is high in men, there is an abomination before God (Lk. 16; 15), says the Lord. And this idol, invented by the devil, became the first worshiper and servant of the devil himself, when he renounced obedience to the Creator and dreamed of being a god. This idol, by the seduction of the devil, was also worshiped by our forefathers, when they dreamed of being like a bosi. This idol is worshiped and served by all who dream of their own virtues, who love honor and glory, who seek differences and advantages over others. And why don't they sacrifice to this idol! Here one achieves a high rank and a place in order to magnify himself before others and admire the thought: “Do not be like other people” (Lk. 18; 11). Such a proud disposition is service to the spirit of pride. The other serves for honors and awards, bears labors and deeds, sparing neither his time, nor his strength, nor his health - for what? To get one or the other difference. Such ambitious service is a sacrifice to the demon of vanity. The third does good, donates to charitable institutions, builds or decorates even the temples of God - but for what? For his glory, to receive praise from society and from his superiors. What is this if not a sacrifice to the demon of love of glory? Others live in luxury, make acquaintances with great and noble people - and all for what? For one's vanity... Such vain wastefulness of one's possessions is a sacrifice to the demon of self-indulgence. All these and similar human sacrifices are precisely idol sacrifices. After all, judge for yourself, whom does a person serve in such cases, for whom does he work, to whom does he please and honor? Is it God? No, to their vicious desires and passions. Therefore, he serves them, and through them - the head of vices and passions, the devil with his slanderers.

The second spiritual idol is peacefulness. This idol is worshiped and served mainly by covetous and money-loving people. The Apostle Paul calls covetousness precisely idolatry (Col. 3; 5). Covetous people, as you know, turn all their attention, all their worries, all their labors into acquiring earthly treasures, and multiplying the acquired ones in every possible way; money-lovers guard their treasures, considering them more precious than their souls, and if they lend others, it is only for their own selfishness, so that later they can take what is theirs with a vengeance. Tell me, to whom do they dedicate their labors and their lives, if they have neither God nor their souls in mind, if they only satiate their passion for earthly treasures and blessings? To whom? - Mamone. The same idol is worshiped and served by lovers of panache and finery, who bring unceasing, innumerable and most valuable sacrifices to this insane passion. And they serve just like slaves to their master, like creatures to their god! And "for he who is defeated is also a laborer," says the Apostle Peter (2 Pet. 2; 19).

The third spiritual idol is carnality. The Holy Apostle Paul considers the ministry of the flesh and the womb precisely as idolatry and says that the womb for gluttons is God. “For such,” he says, “they do not work for our Lord Jesus Christ, but for their own belly” (Rom. 16:18), “whom God is the belly” (Phil. 3:19). Oh, what, in fact, the great god we have - the womb! We serve him all our lives, we give all our property as a sacrifice to him, we bear all the labors, we use all the worries, we endure all the troubles for him, as if only to please him. Not only do we constantly care about what “poisons, or what we drink” (Matt. 6: 31), but we also try to enjoy food, “we want to eat, drink and be glad” (Luke 12: 19). How, then, is it not God who is our womb, if we serve him so diligently, please him so carefully, and sacrifice him so much? There are many other lusts of the flesh and even passions of dishonor (Rom. 1; 26), which some of the Christians who bear the name do not refuse to serve and sacrifice everything, leaving nothing for the benefit of the soul, as if their life is only what is on earth .. .

So you see, brethren, not all Christians are free from idolatry. This means that we should more often remind ourselves of the commandment of God: do not make yourself an idol. And there are many such spiritual idols, so many that it almost equals the number of demons, crafty and unclean spirits. Saint Ephraim the Syrian in his prayer showed, of course, only a part of our passions, when he mentioned the spirits of idleness, despondency, ambition and idle talk. And if what passion, whether great or small, is for a person an idol that he worships and serves, then how many of these idols should Christians have, how soon do they live in vices and passions? Ah, brethren! It is terrible even to think of such idolatry! And it really is. Indeed, many, very many Christians idolize their passions, and through this they commit spiritual idolatry. And what ungodly, soul-destroying idolatry! After all, Christians entered into a covenant with God, denied Satan and all his deeds, and were united to Christ; after all, they must serve and worship the one God, and not their enemies, do the will of their Creator, and not the will of the evil demons, because the Christian soul must be the temple of God, and not a receptacle of passions.

Oh beloved! Let us take care to bring the light of Christianity into our minds and hearts, into our deeds and deeds, into our whole life. Just as we have rejected all material idols, pagan idols, so let us reject all carnal and spiritual passions, put in our souls in their place their Christian, divine images: humility, faith, obedience to God, love, doing good to one's neighbor, abstinence from sinful passions while observing oneself and purity of soul and body. Thus, let us serve God living and in truth (Heb. 9; 14), and worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4; 23), and then, only then will we be true Christians, people truly called out of darkness ... into God's wonderful light (1 Pet. 2:9), and we will be heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Tit. 3:7). Our God, glory to Thee!

(From the book "The Sower of Piety" by Archpriest V. Nordov)

Idolatry has embraced all men and the whole earth. A few chosen people have preserved the true knowledge of God and worship.

Keep yourself from idols

We know that everyone who is born of God does not sin, but he who is born of God keeps himself and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are from God and that the whole world lies in evil. We also know that the Son of God came and gave us light and understanding, so that we may know the true God and be in His true Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Children! keep yourself from idols. Amen

Food offered to idols

We know about food offered to idols, because we all have knowledge, but knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. Whoever thinks that he knows something, he still does not know anything as he should know. But whoever loves God has been given knowledge from Him. So, regarding the eating of food offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God than the One. For although there are so-called gods, either in heaven or on earth, since there are many gods and many lords, yet we have one God the Father, from whom are all things, and we are for him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom all and we im. But not everyone has such knowledge: some even now, with a conscience that recognizes idols, eat idol sacrifices as idol sacrifices, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. Food does not bring us closer to God: for if we eat, we gain nothing; if we don't eat, we don't lose anything. Beware, however, that this freedom of yours does not serve as a temptation to the weak. For if someone sees that you, having knowledge, are sitting at the table in a temple, then his conscience, as a weak one, will not also dispose of him to eat idolaters? And because of your knowledge, the weak brother, for whom Christ died, will perish. And by sinning in this way against your brothers and hurting their feeble conscience, you are sinning against Christ. And therefore, if food offends my brother, I will never eat meat, lest I offend my brother (1 Corinthians 8:1-13).

What am I saying? Is it that an idol is something, or that something sacrificed to an idol means something? No, but that the pagans, when they offer sacrifices, offer to demons, and not to God. But I don't want you to be in fellowship with demons (1 Corinthians 10:19-20).

You know that when you were pagans, you went to mute idols, as if you were being led. Therefore, I tell you that no one who speaks by the Spirit of God will utter anathema against Jesus, and no one can call Jesus Lord, except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:2-3).

Idolatry embraced all men and the whole earth

Satan was not satisfied with the fact that he subdued man with the earth under his power, that he kept him captive, arousing various passions in him and shackling him with them, that he brought him into service to himself by serving sin. The thought that enveloped the angel in heaven did not leave him in the heavenly places, where, as on the eve of hell, he was cast out of heaven: the thought of becoming equal to God. He brought it to fruition by introducing idolatry into the earth. The human race, gradually multiplying on earth, at the same time more and more passed from satisfying needs to satisfying whims and sinful desires. True knowledge of God and self-knowledge are incompatible with such a life! People, drowning in earthly cares and pleasures, having become exclusively flesh, have lost the very concept of the true God. But the feeling of worship of God is a feeling inalienable from the human heart, as innate and natural to him: it is not destroyed by the fall - it is devoid of correctness. Driven by this unconscious feeling, people rendered divine worship to the inventor and parent of sin - the fallen angel and the host of his demons.

Man deified the sin that killed him in all its forms, deified the representatives of sin - the demons. He recognized the satisfaction of all passions as divine pleasures. And fornication, and drunkenness, and theft, and murder are honored. Each passion was portrayed by its idol or idol. The idol was a symbol of a demon, completely alien to life, completely dead to spiritual sensations. Before such idols, both public and private or domestic worship was performed, before idols they were slaughtered and sacrifices were made from animals, and often from people. But the outward service to idols was in essence the service to demons, as the Divine Apostle Paul teaches us (1 Cor. 10:20). Idol temples and idols themselves were the favorite dwellings of demons. From these dwellings they issued voices and prophecies to deceive ill-fated mankind. And man himself, ceasing to be the temple of the Living God, became a temple and habitation of Satan (Luke 11:24-26).

Jews worship the golden calf

Idolatry has embraced all men and the whole earth. A few chosen people have preserved the true knowledge of God and worship. Subsequently, God chose and separated the people of Israel for His service, giving them a written law. But the disease of idolatry acted so strongly in fallen humanity that even the chosen people, often leaving the worship of the One true God, strove for the worship of idols.

Man, having been deprived by his fall of the Divine Light - the Holy Spirit, had to be content with his own meager light - reason. But this natural light led very few people to the knowledge of the true God: he strove most to provide all kinds of conveniences for earthly life, he invented various sciences and arts that definitely contributed and continue to contribute to the multiplication and development of these material conveniences, but together they also contribute to the strongest development sinful life, to the sealing and affirmation of the fall by decorating the fall with various phantoms of prosperity and triumph. Human sciences, being the fruit of the fall, satisfying man, presenting to him the grace of God and God Himself as unnecessary, blaspheming, rejecting, humiliating the Holy Spirit, have become the strongest tool and means of sin and the devil to maintain and strengthen the fall. The light of men united with the light of demons and formed human learning (wisdom), hostile to God, corrupting man with devil-like pride (1 Cor. 3:17,18). Embraced by the disease of learning, the sage of this world subordinates everything to his mind and serves as an idol for himself, fulfilling the proposal of Satan: “You will be like a Bozi, leading good and evil.”

Scholarship left to itself is self-delusion, it is demonic deceit, it is knowledge full of lies and placing the scientist in a false attitude both to himself and to everything. Learning is an abomination and folly before God, it is demonic possession. She proclaims her blindness as the most satisfactory knowledge and vision, and thus makes the blindness incurable, and the fall that it preserves is the inalienable property of the unfortunate scribe and Pharisee (John 9:41). “The wisdom of the flesh is enmity against God: it does not obey the law of God, it can be lower. Wisdom of the flesh is death” (Rom. 8:7,6). The Holy Spirit commands the rejection of earthly wisdom for those who want to approach God and become a partaker of spiritual wisdom (1 Cor. 3:18). The Apostle Paul notes that few of the scientists accepted the Christian faith (1 Cor. 1:26), on the contrary, for these imaginary and pompous wise men, spiritual wisdom seemed to be foolishness, which is abundantly and completely contained in Christ (1 Cor. 1:23). Philosophers and artists were the greatest champions of idolatry and enemies of true knowledge of God. After the establishment of the Christian faith in the world, learning gave birth to innumerable heresies and by them tried to overthrow the Holy Faith. The greatest crime - the murder of the God-man - was committed by scientists in the name of their wisdom and in the name of their law (John 11:49, 50). In our time, learning returns the pagans who have accepted Christianity to paganism and, rejecting Christianity, introduces idolatry and the service of Satan again, changing the forms for the most convenient deception of mankind. A rare, very rare scribe learns the Kingdom of Heaven and wears out the new teaching of the Spirit before the society of his brethren, clothing this teaching in the old rags of human learning so that it will be more conveniently accepted by those who love the old rather than the new (Matt. 13:52; Lk. 5 :39).

A new one has appearedgluttonous and stupid idol - a whole people

The new trend is not alien to Jewish messianism either, since according to its dogmatics the messianic or divine power belongs to the whole community of believers, and not to persons successively appointed by God Himself to serve the word of truth. Therefore, it is no longer God, but society, who empowers whom it wants to make the spokesmen for the messianic spiritual gifts that rightfully belong to the entire community of believers. This absurd doctrine passed from the spiritual sphere into the civil and political one and expressed itself in the fact that the establishment of power, contrary to the clear teaching of the Holy Apostles, does not come from God, but from society, by mutual agreement of authorization from society. This exaltation of society to the degree of Divine power is the political apostasy of entire societies. A new gluttonous and stupid idol appeared - a whole people empowering representatives to accept the power that belongs to him, this idol. The chosen ones of this idol, as legislators, in turn, grant executive power to their chosen ones, changing them every minute and leaving the supreme ruler, appointed by the God of Heaven to do the work of God, to nothing. All this constitutes the so-called "great principles obtained by the reformation and revolution," which, in essence, represent nothing more than the apostasy of the peoples, the imitation of the ancient Hamites.

Osipov Alexey Ilyich

Doctor of Theology. Professor MDA

Idolatry

Idolatry (from Greek - vision, ghost, appearance, dream, ideal, idol) in the truest sense of the word means the worship of idols, images of the gods. In polytheistic religions, this was expressed in the cult of various idols-gods (for example, in the Greek religion: the cult of Dionysus - the god of wine and fun, Aphrodite - the goddess of sensual love and beauty, etc.). These idols were sacrificed, sometimes even human.

In a figurative sense, idolatry is the worship of such “lusts”, ideas, idols and goals in life that spiritually blind, humiliate a person, make him a toy of his own passion. Passion idols are innumerable. The idea of ​​world domination, the cult of money, moral permissiveness and arbitrariness under the guise of freedom, and similar idols serve as objects of often gigantic sacrifices. The apostle calls idolatry, for example, the passion for wealth, "covetousness" (Col. 3:5), gluttony ("their god is the womb" - Phil. 3:19). Indeed, when a miser thinks of nothing but gain and money, and an ambitious man thinks of nothing but glory and honors, and devotes all his strength to achieving the goal, then they are idolaters in the full sense of the word. Abba Dorotheos points to three main idols that give birth to all others: “Every sin comes either from voluptuousness, or from the love of money, or from the love of glory”.

And in this sense Tertullian was right when he wrote: “The greatest crime of the human race, which includes all other crimes, the crime that is the reason for the condemnation of man, is idolatry”.

idolaters, i.e. real pagans can be people of various worldviews and religions: from an agnostic and an atheist to an Orthodox Christian. For loyalty to God is ultimately determined “not in word or tongue, but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18). And the Lord warns: “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

Idolatry, idolatry

After the flood, as can be seen from St. In the history of the Old Testament, evil people and evil deeds between people multiplied and reached the point where they stopped honoring God, and when they stopped honoring, they began to completely forget Him. When they forgot the true God, and meanwhile a certain feeling remained in the conscience that it was impossible to be without God, then they decided to consider the sun, moon, stars and other creatures as God. This is what is called idolatry, idolatry, otherwise paganism. The knowledge of the true God in the primitive times of the world was barely preserved in the offspring of Shem. Ap. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, beautifully explains the beginning and causes of idolatry among people in the following words: "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools: And they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things" (1:22-23).

The idolization of animals in Egypt is a striking confirmation of the words of the apostle Paul. In addition to the Bible, we find images of various types of idolatry on ancient monuments, among classical writers and in the apologies of very ancient Christian writers, and in the testimonies of various travelers about contemporary pagans. Nowhere is the extreme immorality of man and his persistence in sin so clearly and strikingly shown as in ancient and new idolatry. The strong attraction of people to this sin explains not only the general prevalence of this sin in the ancient world, but also the history of the Jews from the time of Moses to the Babylonian captivity. Despite the condemnation, reproof and punishment of God for this sin, the Jews were repeatedly infected with idolatry, but after the captivity they abandoned it forever. Christianity has always tried to protect its followers from this terrible evil. This great goal has been constantly pursued by all true Christians with greater or lesser constancy even up to our time, and it is to be hoped, on the basis of the experiences of the past and the Divine word, that idolatry will be completely destroyed on earth. Being in itself a tremendous evil, it is at the same time the root of innumerable evils, and therefore, for the good of mankind and the glory of God, it is the duty of all of us to watch, pray, and act zealously against idolatry.

Throughout its narrative, the Bible teaches to worship the One Alive God the Creator of Heaven and Earth. The second commandment of the Decalogue unequivocally and clearly prohibits believers from idolatry - the divine veneration of idols, idols and images. This is how it is stated in the Holy Scriptures and, accordingly, was carved on stone tablets:

"Don't make yourself idol and no picture what is in heaven above, and what is on the earth below, and what is in the water below the earth; do not worship them and do not serve them, for I am the Lord your God, God zealot, punishing the children for the guilt of the fathers to the third and fourth generations that hate Me, and showing mercy to thousands of generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.”(Ex. 20:4-6>).

Jesus repeated this thought: “Worship the Lord thy God and Him alone serve"(Matt. 4:10, Luke 4:8), quoting the Old Testament (see Deut. 6:13, Deut. 10:20, 1 Chr. 7:3).

From the side of some representatives of Orthodoxy one can hear the explanation: “We do not have idolatry. We worship the One God, not the idols of other gods. And we turn to shrines to “approach” the Creator.”

However, the second commandment gives a ban not just on idolatry, as on the worship of idols symbolizing other gods, but on reverence for everything living and non-living that is not By God himself. Look, the worship of other gods has already been forbidden by the Creator with the first commandment of the Decalogue: "Thou shalt not have other gods before my face"(Ex. 20:3). This means that the second commandment, without repeating the first, proclaims not only about other gods. Look, she says specifically about something else: idols and images . So, the second commandment is not only about idols, which are foreign gods. By the second commandment, God proclaims that the attention given to Him must all belong only to him and not to anyone or anything. Here and in other places of Scripture, speaking about His relationship with man, the Creator calls Himself zealot(see Ex. 20:5, Ex. 34:14, Deut. 4:24, Deut. 5:9) - a husband, where His chosen people are His wife: "The Creator is your spouse"(Is. 54:5, see also Jer. 3:1, Hos. 1:2, Eph. 5:25, Rev. 12:1,6, Rev. 19:7). From the texts of the Bible it is clearly seen what (whom) God is jealous of zealot. What kind of husband would like it if his wife would give part of her love to someone or something? Each spouse will be angry, even if adultery does not reach intimacy, but is limited to kisses, courtesies or caresses. I think few people will argue with the fact that turning to God through an icon, relics or a saint, a believer transfers part of his love to this "intermediary". in a relationship between two spouses third, fourth, fifth... superfluous. All "holy mediators" are not faceless "guides" for people to the heavenly Spouse, but acquire the features inherent in living personalities: each of the relics is perceived as part of the earthly body of the intercessor now living in heaven; famous icons have their own names, people choose between two icons at home and five in the temple - one is always nicer than the others, and it is she who is more pleasant to pray, and if some icon does not help, the believer goes to another; if the saint does not protect, the petitioner turns to the next, and so on. But God is One. Believers, kissing icons and relics, objects inside of which there is no God, know that God is Living, but continue adultery. This is what causes jealousy Creator.

As we have seen in previous chapters, only God answers prayers. Prayer in secret (see Matt. 6:6) illustrates the intimacy of the relationship between the Creator and each person. Only the Creator is the other side of the relationship. Therefore, the categorical nature of God in the matter of any of the varieties of idolatry is understandable. Lord husband- zealot through the Bible, more than once menacingly warns of the coming punishment for unfaithfulness:

“For all the adulterous acts of the apostate daughter of Israel, I let go her and gave her adjustable letter... Judea... by sheer fornication... defiled the earth, and committed adultery with stone and wood"(Jer. 3:8,9, see also Jer. 3 (entire chapter), Ezek. 16 (entire chapter), Ezek. 23 (entire chapter), Os. 2 (entire chapter).

God, through the Holy Scriptures, explains the senselessness and danger of idolatry - veneration by people of any products of human hands:

“What is the use of an idol, made by the artist this litago false teachers although the sculptor, making silent idols, relies on his work? Woe to the one who says to the tree, "Get up!" and to the dumb stone: "Awake!" Will he teach you something? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, but there is no breath in it. And the Lord is in His holy temple: let all the earth be silent before him!”(Hab. 2:18-20).

As we have already noticed, the Creator in the Bible, speaking of idolatry, forbids worshiping all idols And Images, even associated with Him. The Lord knows that anything can become an idol that moves away from Him alive even that dedicated to him. After all, any object that at first serves only as a symbol of God, over time, begins to acquire in the eyes of people creative power that belongs only to the Creator. Therefore, it was in the 2nd commandment that the Lord said that He zealot.

Look, immediately after receiving the commandments and making a covenant with God, the people of Israel, without waiting for Moses, who ascended the mountain for the tablets of the covenant, fell into idolatry - he made himself a sculpture the god of Israel:

“And all the people took the golden earrings out of their ears and brought them to Aaron. He took them out of their hands, and made of them a molten calf, and worked it with a chisel. And they said: Behold your God, Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!» (Ex. 32:3,4).

Here, people did not violate the 1st commandment of the Decalogue, because they did not find another god for themselves. The Israelites did not say, "Now our god is a calf." They only portrayed God, who brought out them from the land of Egypt as they imagined Him to be - in the form of a strong calf. However, the Creator was you don't want because the people violated the 2nd commandment of idolatry:

“The people have become corrupted… they soon turned away from the path which I commanded them, they made themselves a molten calf, and bowed him"(Ex. 32:7,8).

There is also an example in Scripture when the people of Israel began to serve the bronze serpent, through which God saved them in the wilderness (see Numbers 21:7-9). The venom of snakes symbolized the killing sin. And looking at the serpent, raised by Moses on the banner at the direction of God, healed people, being an act of faith (without kissing and touching) in the heavenly Savior. However, later the Israelites made an idol out of a copper serpent, which is also a kind of idolatry. Despite the fact that this object was a type of Christ (see John 3:14), such veneration didn't want Creator:

"And he did(King Hezekiah. - Approx. Aut.) pleasing in the sight of the Lord in all things as David his father did; he abolished heights, smashed statues, cut down oak forests and slew the copper serpent which Moses made, because until that day the children of Israel they censed him and called him Nekhushtan» (2 Kings 18:3,4).

Look, the people here are convicted of what they began to serve snake - to incense in front of him and even gave him a proper name Nekhushtan. Unfortunately, today many do not carefully read the Word of God. But in the second commandment about idolatry, not only worship is forbidden, but also service idols and images "Do not worship them and do not serve them» (Ex. 20:5). Therefore, the statement of some representatives of historical churches: "We do not worship, but only honor" is not an argument. After all, in any case, if Orthodox Christians do not worship, then definitely serve icons, relics and saints, which has signs of idolatry and is also a direct violation of the second commandment of the Decalogue. Service is an action for someone or something. It is obvious that icons and relics are arranged precisely ministries: processions dedicated to them, prayers, hymns, holidays, candles, incense, services in the temple, etc.

The biblical story of Gideon also vividly demonstrates the prohibition against worshiping items dedicated to God. So that the glory of victory would not be attributed to people, Gideon, at the command of the Lord, disbanded his army and defeated the army of Midian with only three hundred people. The rescued Israelis from the trophies each gave him an earring. In memory of the great victory given by God, Gideon made an ephod from the collected jewelry, which then turned into an object of worship for the people, which was don't like Creator:

“Gideon made an ephod out of this and laid it in his city, in Ophrah, and all the Israelites became prodigally go there for him, and he was network Gideon and all his house"(Judg. 8:27).

And in chapters 17 and 18 of the book of Judges of the Bible, a certain Micah, who lives on Mount Ephraim, is ridiculed, who placed in his house an image dedicated to the God of Israel, a cast idol, an ephod and a teraphim. He hired a Levite to serve in the household tabernacle. Subsequently, the Israelites from the tribe of Dan stole the items of the home tabernacle from him and bought out the priest. The idols, understandably, did not resist the theft. But Mikha, the owner of a "personal temple", chased the robbers. The Word of God convicts Mikha: he is miserable, in despair, his whole world is destroyed, he whines before offenders: "You have taken my gods, which I made and the priest, and they left. Although the Living God, as he was, remained by his side. Then the sons of Dan set up a city nearby, destroying the people who lived on that place. There they served the idols stolen from Micah, although the real tabernacle of God was at that time in Shiloh (see Judges 18:31, Joshua 19:51, 1 Sam. 1:3,24).

According to the text of Scripture, the Jews did not worship either the ark or the temple utensils. In the tabernacle, then in the temple of Solomon, and then in the second temple, built after the Babylonian captivity, in general, none of the ordinary people had the right to enter. In accordance with the law of Moses, only priests from the family of Aaron served in the sanctuary (sacrifices, laying of the showbread, burning incense on the altar of incense in front of the veil, keeping the fire in the candlestick) - each family a certain time in the year (see Numbers 4:16 , 2 Chronicles 13:10,11). And only the High Priest entered the holy of holies and only once a year on the Day of Atonement - Yom Kippur (see Lev. 16:2,34). Auxiliary functions of the Aaronides in serving at the temple were helped by the Israelites from the tribe of Levi:

That is, neither the ark nor the temple utensils have ever been seen by ordinary believers, and even by Levites who are not part of Aaron's family. When the sanctuary was moved, all the objects in it were previously wrapped by representatives of the Aaron clan so that no one could see them, including the Levites from the Kohath clan, who wore the tabernacle and its internal filling:

“When I need to go up, Aaron and his sons will come in and remove the covering veil and cover the ark of the revelation with it; and they shall put on it a covering of blue skins, and over it shall be thrown a covering of all blue wool, and they shall put in its poles; and the table of the showbread will be covered with a garment of blue wool, and they will set on it dishes, plates, cups and mugs for libation ... and they will put a scarlet robe on them ... and cover the lampstand and its lamps ... When ... Aaron and his sons will cover the whole sanctuary and all things sanctuary, then the sons of Kohath will come to carry ... do not destroy the tribe of the tribes of Kohath from among the Levites ... yourselves they should not suit watch the shrine when they cover it, not to die» (Num. 4:5-20).

The above biblical texts prove that in Old Testament times there was not, and could not be, the worship and service of believers to the holy things of the sanctuary (see 2 Chronicles 2:4), because no one, except for the priests of the Aaronids, had ever even seen them. This is explained simply: God forbade believers to contemplate the utensils of the temple in order to exclude the possibility of idolatry - to deify the things of the sanctuary and worship them, because it was not these objects themselves that were important, but their functions in the service of "cleansing" people from sins, which we already reflected on in the chapter "Rites".

Let us conclude: the Bible not only does not encourage the veneration of objects consecrated to God and the service to them, but, on the contrary, forbids such actions for believers.