David Diga Hernandez - Exposing the Root of Idolatry: Why Some Stray from the One True God?

Hello, this is David Diga Hernandez, and you’re watching Spirit Church here on the Encounter TV Network. You’ve likely heard it said that idolatry is when you put anything before God, but there’s actually much more to it than that. I want to show you what idolatry truly is, and then I want to show you how to keep it from destroying your relationship with God. Let me begin with a very simple point: the Bible makes it very clear that idolatry is sin. 1 Corinthians 10:6-7 and 14 say this: «These things happened as a warning to us so that we would not crave evil things as they did or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, the people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry. So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.»

So, what is idolatry? Is it the worship of a false god? Yes; the Scripture says in Exodus 20:3-6: «You must not have any other God but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected, even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.»

So, those who worship other gods were punished, and those who stood faithful to God were blessed generationally. Leviticus 26:1 says, «Do not make idols or set up carved images or sacred pillars or sculptured stones in your land so you may worship them. I am the Lord your God.» Here, we clearly see that when you worship a false god or set up an idol to worship, you are committing the sin of idolatry. Now, that’s probably the simplest definition of idolatry: the graven image or the worship of a false god. The religions of the world worship false gods; that’s idolatry.

Is it also to prioritize something or someone over God, as is commonly said? Yes, idolatry is also to prioritize anything above God. It’s not just the creation of graven images; it’s not just the worship of false gods; it’s not just following after false religions; it’s also not properly prioritizing God. 1 John 5:21 says, «Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.» So, is idolatry the worship of a false god? Yes. Is idolatry placing anything before God? Yes. Look here in Colossians 3:5, and you will see that idolatry is also to have an obsession, an evil desire, or even greed. «So put to death the sinful earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.»

So, worship isn’t just the singing of songs to something; worship isn’t just the adoration of something. Worship can also be the obsession with something or someone. Worship can also be a craving for something. Worship is that evil desire, that strong longing for something that is a form of worship. This is why sexual sins are a form of idolatry. So, yes, idolatry is the worship of false gods, the creation of graven images. Yes, idolatry also is prioritizing other things before God, and yes, idolatry is an obsession, an evil desire, or even greed.

But I want to show you something: to make an idol is to construct for yourself a version of God that you find preferable. Idolatry is also the false perception of God; it’s the wrong view of who He is, and we create these perceptions to fit our preferences. Idolatry is a false perception of God. Your emotions can construct a God; how you’re feeling in that moment can change what you desire in God. Your intellect can construct a God; you realize that God can sometimes offend your intellect. There are things that you think contradict who God is. «Your ways are not my ways, » that’s what God said. «My ways are higher than your ways, » He says.

Do you realize that there are things about God that will offend you? Now, I know that’s not pleasant to say, but it’s the truth. There are things about God that will offend you, and the greater the level of wickedness and perversion in your life, the greater the offense. People crucified Jesus not because He did anything wrong, but because His very being, His very existence, who He was, offended them. They didn’t like who He was. The world today is offended at God. Why? Because they have a false perception of who He should be. He’s not meeting all of their expectations. He doesn’t say what they want Him to say; He doesn’t always do what they want Him to do. He remains steadfast, unchangeable; He is who He is.

So, your emotions can construct a God; your intellect will attempt to construct a God. Your peers around you, the people who influence you, will attempt to construct your view of God. The culture attempts to construct a view of God. The school systems—I call most of them indoctrination centers—the school systems of this world are trying to construct a view of God. Religion attempts to construct a view of God, and the result is idolatry. Look, there are going to be things about God that will offend you. There will be things about God that you don’t like. Why? Because they contradict what you were taught; they contradict what culture says.