Coming Events and Present Duties — J. C. Ryle
Idolatry!
“Flee from idolatry!” 1 Corinthians 10:14
The text which heads this page may seem at first sight to be hardly needed in England. In an age of education and intelligence like this, we might almost imagine it is waste of time to tell an Englishman to “flee from idolatry.” I am bold to say that this is a great mistake. I believe that we have come to a time when the subject of idolatry demands a thorough and searching investigation. I believe that idolatry is near us, and about us, and in the midst of us — to a very fearful extent. The Second Commandment, in one word, is in peril. The plague has begun! Without further preface, I propose in this paper to consider the four following points:
I. The definition of idolatry. What is it?
II. The cause of idolatry. Whence comes it?
III. The form idolatry assumes in the visible Church of Christ. Where is it?
IV. The ultimate abolition of idolatry. What will end it?
I feel that the subject is encompassed with many difficulties. Our lot is cast in an age when truth is constantly in danger of being sacrificed to toleration, charity, and false. Nevertheless, I cannot forget, as a clergyman, that the Church of England is a Church which has “given no uncertain sound” on the subject of idolatry; and, unless I am greatly mistaken, truth about idolatry is, in the highest sense — truth for our times!
I. Let me, then, first of all, supply a DEFINITION of idolatry. Let me show what it is.
It is of the utmost importance that we should understand this. Unless I make this clear, I can do nothing with the subject. Vagueness and indistinctness prevail upon this point, as upon almost every other point in religion. The Christian who would not be continually running aground in his spiritual voyage, must have his ship well buoyed, and his mind well stored with clear definitions.
I say, then, that “idolatry is a worship in which the honor due to God, and to Him alone — is given to some of His creatures, or to some invention of His creatures.” It may vary exceedingly. It may assume exceedingly different forms, according to the ignorance or the knowledge, the civilization or the barbarism — of those who offer it. It may be grossly absurd and ludicrous — or it may closely border on truth, and admit of being most speciously defended. But whether in the adoration of the idol of Juggernaut, or in the adoration of the Host in St. Peter’s at Rome, the principle of idolatry is in reality the same. In either case, the honor due to God is turned aside from Him, and bestowed on that which is not God. And whenever this is done, whether in heathen temples or in professedly Christian churches — there is an act of idolatry.
It is not necessary for a man formally to deny God and Christ, in order to be an idolator. Far from it. Professed reverence for the God of the Bible, and actual idolatry, are perfectly compatible! They have often gone side by side — and they still do so!
The children of Israel never thought of renouncing God when they persuaded Aaron to make the golden calf. “These are your gods,” they said (your Elohim), “which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” And the feast in honor of the calf was kept as “a feast unto the Lord” (Jehovah). (Exodus 32:4, 5.)
Jeroboam, again, never pretended to ask the ten tribes to cast off their allegiance to the God of David and Solomon. When he set up the calves of gold in Dan and Bethel, he only said, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold your gods, O Israel (your Elohim), which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” (1 Kings 12:28.)
In both instances, we should observe, the idol was not set up as a rival to God — but under the pretence of being a help — a stepping-stone to His service. But, in both instances, a great sin was committed. The honor due to God — was given to a visible representation of Him. The majesty of Jehovah was offended. The second commandment was broken. There was, in the eyes of God, a flagrant act of idolatry.
Let us mark this well. It is high time to dismiss from our minds those loose ideas about idolatry, which are common in this day. We must not think, as many do, that there are only two kinds of idolatry — the spiritual idolatry of the man who loves his job, or family, or lusts, or money more than God; and the open, gross idolatry of the man who bows down to an image of wood, or metal, or stone, because he knows no better. We may rest assured that idolatry is a sin which occupies a far wider field than this. It is not merely a thing in India, that we may hear of, and pity at missionary meetings; nor yet is it a thing confined to our own hearts, that we may confess before the Mercy-seat upon our knees. It is a pestilence that walks in the Church of Christ to a much greater extent than many suppose. It is an evil that, like the man of sin, “sits in the very temple of God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:4.)