QUESTION 17

Question 17: What is idolatry?

Answer 17: Idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator for our hope and happiness, significance and security. 

In the west, when we think of idolatry we picture a native tribesman in some jungle in South America or Africa bowing down to a wooden statue and worshiping. Of course, that is idolatry. But idolatry is something that happens in our hearts before it works its way out in that way. John Calvin wrote in his Institutes that man’s heart is a perpetual idol factory. Now we might object to this strong language, but I believe it is undeniably true, when we understand what idolatry is, which we will get it in just a few minutes. 

Calvin hits on a couple of profound things. First, we are created to worship and so we will worship something (or someone). And second, until one is born again he/she will always worship something imagined in the heart and created by man rather than worship the uncreated God. Even after we are born again, we need to keep ourselves from idols. The apostle John, writing to Christians said, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). This was important enough for John to conclude his letter with these words. 

Let’s get back to our definition and answer to question 17. Idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator for our hope and happiness, significance and security. The essence of idolatry is trusting in, paying homage to, serving created things in order to get our meaning in life and give us security rather than God. 

Perhaps an important question to ask is, “What (or who) can I not live without?” And be honest. If __________ was taken away, I would lose it. God alone is to occupy that space of trust, because he alone can give us the hope, happiness, significance, and security we truly long for and he does in Christ!

Romans 1:21, 25 - For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened… They exchanged the truth about God for a life and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.