Idolatry

1^st Corinthians 10 begins by saying:

1^st Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

In these first four verses, Paul reminds the believers at Corinth that they ought not forget or be ignorant of the fact that those who came before them (their fathers) experienced the same things together from God as a whole, namely the blessed events of

1. Being under the cloud
2. Passing through the sea
3. All being baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea
4. All ate the same spiritual meat
5. All drank the same spiritual drink, saying
6. They all drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, Christ!

These words are a template and type for the believers in Paul’s day presented through the lives of these Jewish forefathers. Paul says they possessed all the same things back in that day that the believers possessed in his! In these first four passages, Paul likens what the forefathers had to what they had in his day. We could say the same thing today – we have the same things both groups had.

At verse five, however, Paul then speaks of the exceptions to the blessed state present with the forefathers which again were exceptions with the people then, saying:

5 But (nevertheless, however, in spite of all this) with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Did they possess faith? Of course they did. But they were overthrown in the wilderness! This is the purpose of Paul mentioning these things in the first place – being overthrown.

Then Paul adds:

6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

In other words, what happened to them are pictures, types and examples for the believers in that day to look at and not follow. What did the forefathers do?

They lusted after evil things.

At this point Paul gets specific and provides four warnings, saying:

7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

Then he reiterates in verse 11 what he said in verse 6 saying:

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

The word translated to “world” here is age –

11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: (and then Paul adds) and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.

We study the Word in the same way – that all that was written was written for our admonition.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

And then . . .

14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

At verses 7-10, in my estimation, we find examples of idolatry – direct idolatry, and indirect (like fornication and the worshipping of flesh (verse 8) tempting Christ (the worshipping of our reason and minds verses 8-9) while NOT trusting in God.

Idolatry is the sin of the ages – it is the human sin, so to speak – and includes the putting of anything ahead of the living God and His will and ways.

Ours is an idolatrous age – we worship at the altar of altogether beguiling gods that cannot speak, cannot sustain, are not true or living. The number of idols in this world are endless, and include everything we give our thoughts to, our time to, our trust in, and our devotions.

They include giving our time, money, devotion and attention to:

THE SELF

• The self (selfies, self magazine, self-improvement courses, self-image) narcissus, etc.
• Fame and notoriety
• Appearances, physical conditioning
• Our public presence

OTHERS

• People we idolize and immolate
• Arts – Movies, music,
• Sports
• Business icons

MATERIAL

• Things including money, materialism, possessions, clothing
• Actual icons of idolatry
• Art
• Architecture
• Altars

RELIGION

• Creation over the creator
• Education
• Intelligence
• Careers
• Causes
• Empire building
• Pastors, worship leaders
• Family or substitute families
• Business
• Brick and mortar church and its components

CREATION

• Nature
• Space

Anything that takes God as our priority and removes Him from the throne, Paul says Christians are to flee from such things. To not is to be an idolater.