Avoiding Idolatry of Secular Culture in Christian Theology
The concept of idolatry, particularly avoiding the idolatry of secular culture, is a recurring theme in biblical texts and subsequent theological reflection. Idolatry is fundamentally understood as the worship of anything other than the one true God [3]. This can manifest in various forms, from bowing down to physical images to serving other gods or looking to them for guidance [3].
The Old Testament explicitly forbids idolatry, as seen in the Ten Commandments: "You shall have no other gods before me" and "You shall not bow down to them or worship them" (Exodus 20:3, 5) [3]. This prohibition extends beyond overt worship to include swearing by other gods, walking after them, or even speaking in their name [3]. The New Testament continues this warning, with the apostles instructing believers to "abstain from the pollution of idols" (Acts 15:20) [1].
Early Christian interpreters understood this warning to encompass both literal pagan worship and other forms of misplaced devotion. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, notes that the exhortation in 1 John 5:21 to "keep yourselves from idols" refers not only to Heathen idols and idolatry, which early Christians might be drawn into due to their proximity to idolaters, but also to "all other idols that might be introduced by some who went by the name of Christians" [5]. He specifically mentions the Gnostics who worshipped images of Simon and Helena, viewing the passage as an "antidote against the worshipping of images" [5]. Similarly, Tyndale House's commentary on 1 John 5:21 suggests that "the primary idol would be any false teaching that takes people away from Jesus Christ, who is at once fully man and fully God" [9].
The apostle Paul also addresses the issue of idolatry in the context of Christian liberty, particularly concerning the eating of food sacrificed to idols. In 1 Corinthians, he warns against tampering with idolatry, stating that "the only safety is in wholly shunning whatever borders on idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14) [4]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary interprets this as a warning against eating idol meats on the plea of Christian liberty, and also presciently against the idolatry of transubstantiation in the Lord's Supper [4]. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist/Puritan commentator, emphasizes that Paul urges caution against idolatry, specifically in the case of eating heathen sacrifices "out of any religious respect to the idol to whom they were sacrificed" [8]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist/Wesleyan commentator, further elaborates on this, stating that rather than causing a fellow Christian to stumble and return to idolatry, he would abstain from all meats offered to idols [6].
Beyond explicit worship, the New Testament also warns against secular philosophies and traditions that can draw believers away from Christ. Colossians 2:8 cautions, "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ" [2]. This suggests that any system of thought or cultural practice that supplants Christ's centrality can become a form of idolatry. John Gill, in his commentary on 1 Timothy 4:7, advises believers to "refuse profane and old wives' fables," which he identifies as either Jewish traditions, Gnostic doctrines, or teachings that forbid marriage and certain foods [7]. He characterizes these as "profane, because impious and ungodly, and old wives' fables, because foolish and impertinent," urging believers to exercise themselves "rather unto godliness" [7].
The danger of idolatry, whether overt or subtle, is that it provokes God's jealousy. As John Gill notes on 1 Corinthians 10:22, "nothing is more highly resented by God, or stirs him up more to wrath and fury, and to inflict punishment; he cannot bear, nor will he admit of a rival in religious worship" [10]. To engage in idolatrous practices is seen as entering into a war against God, a foolish endeavor given His strength [10]. Therefore, avoiding the idolatry of secular culture involves a constant vigilance against anything that seeks to take God's place in the heart or divert allegiance from Christ [9].
Sources
- Acts “but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. -- Acts 15:20”
- Colossians “Colossians 2:8 (BSB) — See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Idolatry — Forbidden -- Ex 20:2,3; De 5:7. Consists in Bowing down to images. -- Ex 20:5; De 5:9. Worshipping images. -- Isa 44:17; Da 3:5,10,15. Sacrificing to images. -- Ps 106:38; Ac 7:41. Worshipping other gods. -- De 30:17; Ps 81:9. Swearing by other gods. -- Ex 23:13; Jos 23:7. Walking after other gods. -- De 8:19. Speaking in the name of other gods. -- De 18:20. Looking to other gods. -- Ho 3:1. Serving other gods. -- De 7:4; Jer 5:19. Fearing other gods. -- 2Ki 17:35. Sacrificing to other gods. -- Ex 22:20. Worshipping the true God by an image, & c. -- Ex 32:”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 10:14: Resuming the argument, Co1 10:7; Co1 8:9-10. flee--Do not tamper with it by doubtful acts, such as eating idol meats on the plea of Christian liberty. The only safety is in wholly shunning whatever borders on idolatry (Co2 6:16-17). The Holy Spirit herein also presciently warned the Church against the idolatry, subsequently transferred from the idol feast to the Lord's Supper itself, in the figment of transubstantiation.”
- 1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 5:21: Little children, keep yourselves from idols, Amen. From Heathen idols and idolatry, into which the saints in those times might be liable to be drawn, by reason of their dwelling among Heathen idolaters, and being related to them, and by the too great freedom used in eating things sacrificed to idols in their temples; and from all other idols that might be introduced by some who went by the name of Christians, as the Gnostics, who worshipped the images of Simon and Helena; and the passage may be an antidote against the worshipping of images, afterwards introduced by th”
- 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 8:13: Wherefore, etc. - Rather than give any occasion to a Christian to sin against and so to harden his conscience that he should return to idolatry and perish, I would not only abstain from all meats offered to idols, but I would eat no flesh, should I exist through the whole course of time, but live on the herbs of the field, rather than cause my brother to stumble, and thus fall into idolatry and final ruin. The following words of Origen contain a very solemn lesson and warning: "If we did more diligently attend to these things, we should avoid sinning against ”
- 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 4:7: But refuse profane and old wives' fables,.... Either Jewish ones, the traditions of the elders; or those of the Gnostics, concerning God, angels, and the creation of the world; or those doctrines of demons, and which forbad marriage, and commanded abstinence from meats before mentioned; which are called profane, because impious and ungodly, and old wives' fables, because foolish and impertinent; and which were to be rejected with abhorrence and contempt, in comparison of the words of faith and good doctrine. And exercise thyself rather unto godliness; either to th”
- 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 10:15: In this passage the apostle urges the general caution against idolatry, in the particular case of eating the heathen sacrifices as such, and out of any religious respect to the idol to whom they were sacrificed. I. He prefaces his argument with an appeal to their own reason and judgment: "I speak to wise men, judge you what I say, Co1 10:15. You are great pretenders to wisdom, to close reasoning and argument; I can leave it with your own reason and conscience whether I do not argue justly." Note, It is no dishonour to an inspired teacher, nor disadvantage ”
- 1 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 John 5:21: 5:21 In closing, John exhorts his flock to keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts (literally keep yourselves from idols). In the context of 1 John, the primary idol would be any false teaching that takes people away from Jesus Christ, who is at once fully man and fully God.”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 10:22: Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?.... As they do who are guilty of idolatry in any shape: nothing is more highly resented by God, or stirs him up more to wrath and fury, and to inflict punishment; he cannot bear, nor will he admit of a rival in religious worship; he is a God jealous of his own honour; nor will he give, or suffer to be given by others, his praise and glory to graven images: are we stronger than he? to give into idolatrous practices, is to proclaim and enter into a war against God; and what madness must this be? who can be so sottish and stu”