Idolatry can be cured with right understanding of God, correct worship of God, and accurate understanding of self from God's perspective. As we stay in tune with Father God through the ministry of His Word, His Spirit, and His church, we are less inclined to move towards idols. Yet even with right understanding and worship of God, think of all the temptations towards idolatry. Even our country's Declaration of Independence includes idolatry, defined as “rights.” Who are we to say that we have the “right” to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Certainly, every human has the desire for those gifts and blessings of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That desire in itself is not wrong; however, one definition of an idol is anything that has gone from a desire, to an expectation, to a demand. Whatever we demand has become an idol. Jesus said “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (money, wealth, riches, property, or possessions).” Matt. 6:24. Anything that we serve apart from God places us AGAINST God. Peter tells us that “a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” I Pet. 2:19. Or consider the sober weight of Jesus' words “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.” Luke 11:23.
What temptations towards idolatry or strongholds of idol worship do you face? Is it pride, self-righteousness, sex, possessions, job, friends, entertainment, fear of man, popularity, independence? Is something pulling your heart away from the Heart of God? Dear friend, keep yourself from idols. Read God's Word; bring your heart before God; join in real fellowship with other believers.