Topical Bible: Idolatry: Consists in Walking After Other Gods

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Topical Encyclopedia

Idolatry, in the biblical context, is the act of revering, worshiping, or following gods other than the one true God of Israel. This practice is consistently condemned throughout Scripture as a grave sin, representing a fundamental breach of the covenant relationship between God and His people. The Bible portrays idolatry not merely as the worship of physical idols but as a broader spiritual infidelity, often described as "walking after other gods."

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament is replete with warnings against idolatry, emphasizing the exclusive worship of Yahweh. In the Ten Commandments, God explicitly commands, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3). This foundational directive underscores the monotheistic essence of Israel's faith and the prohibition against idolatry.

The Israelites' propensity to "walk after other gods" is a recurring theme in the historical and prophetic books. In Deuteronomy 6:14, Moses warns the people, "Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you." This admonition is reiterated throughout the Deuteronomic history, as Israel frequently falls into idolatry, leading to divine judgment and exile.

The prophets consistently call the people back to exclusive devotion to Yahweh. Jeremiah laments, "But they did not listen or incline their ear; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward" (Jeremiah 7:24). This passage highlights the spiritual regression associated with idolatry, portraying it as a turning away from God.

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, idolatry is expanded beyond the worship of physical idols to include any form of allegiance or devotion that supplants God. The Apostle Paul warns the Corinthians, "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14). Here, idolatry is linked to broader moral and spiritual corruption, including greed and immorality, which are seen as forms of idolatry (Colossians 3:5).

The New Testament also emphasizes the spiritual warfare aspect of idolatry. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul writes, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." This passage suggests that idolatry is not merely a physical act but a spiritual battle against forces that seek to draw believers away from God.

Theological Implications

Idolatry, as "walking after other gods," is fundamentally a matter of the heart. It represents a misalignment of worship and devotion, where created things or false deities are given the honor and allegiance due only to the Creator. This misdirection of worship is seen as spiritual adultery, a betrayal of the covenant relationship with God.

The biblical narrative consistently calls for repentance and a return to the exclusive worship of Yahweh. The Shema, a central declaration of Jewish faith, encapsulates this call: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4). This affirmation of monotheism is a call to fidelity, urging believers to love and serve God with all their heart, soul, and strength.

Practical Considerations

For contemporary believers, idolatry may manifest in various forms, including the pursuit of wealth, power, or personal ambition that takes precedence over devotion to God. The biblical injunction against idolatry serves as a timeless reminder to examine one's heart and priorities, ensuring that God remains the central focus of worship and life.

In summary, idolatry as "walking after other gods" is a profound spiritual issue that challenges believers to maintain exclusive devotion to the one true God, resisting the allure of false gods and worldly distractions.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 8:19
And it shall be, if you do at all forget the LORD your God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The City of the "Elegant Gate"[*]
... so much so that the species of idolatry which has ... and the highest happiness after
death consists in having ... After walking through the village we sat down for a ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/fagg/forty years in south china/iii the city of the.htm

Paul and Barnabas in Lystra.
... he tried it in every way, leaping and walking. ... the rejection of the Gentiles, their
idolatry was inexcusable ... are filled with food and gladness," consists of so ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xv paul and barnabas.htm

Christianity Misunderstood by Believers.
... of this teaching consists only in walking in the ... practical work of the Russian Church
consists of nothing ... condition of coarse and savage idolatry, and worse ...
/.../the kingdom of god is within you/chapter iii christianity misunderstood by.htm

The Mystery
... in beasts; not merely the instruments of walking, but also ... fore feet), the chief
strength of the body consists. ... v.20, that idolatry is designated, as well as ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the mystery 2.htm

John Bunyan on the Terms of Communion and Fellowship of Christians ...
... law, is the righteousness, and redemption, that consists in the ... the worship of God,
or thy walking before all ... It is possible to commit idolatry even with God's ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/john bunyan on the terms.htm

"Because the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God, for it is not ...
... then, wherein the enmity of your hearts consists, I shall ... part of them who profess
the truth are walking in the ... and love of the world is idolatry, these things ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xx because the carnal.htm

On the Theophany, or Birthday of Christ.
... in clothing soft and flowing, whose beauty consists in its ... first and last of all
evils, idolatry and the ... with a few loaves; [3889] and walking dryshod upon seas ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxxviii on the theophany.htm

Period iv. The Age of the Consolidation of the Church: 200 to 324 ...
... or hurt in any respect by walking in this ... have been contaminated by the abominable
certificate of idolatry. ... a spiritual man; not the Church which consists of a ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period iv the age of.htm

Authority and the Adventurer
... not to be found, I think, elsewhere; it consists of an ... When your father told you,
walking about the garden ... has flung itself into a generous idolatry of sexual ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/orthodoxy/ix authority and the adventurer.htm

English Version of the Second Helvetic Confession, AD 1566.
... fathers, or tread in their path who, walking in their ... honestly committed their bodies
to the earth after the soul ... two gods, one contrary to the other"a good ...
/.../english version of the second.htm