Confronting the Enemy Within Part 5 of 7
PART 5 of 7
An excerpt from Chapter 5 in David Orton's book,
"Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today's Church"
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ”
2 Cor 11:2-3 NIV
The Image of God
So, what exactly was the image that I was forcing on myself; and, was I sinning against the commandment:
“You shall not make for yourself any carved image…” (Ex 20: 4, 5 NKJV)?
God has made us in his own image.86 To make ourselves into another image is, therefore, to reject the “image of God”. It is rebellion and idolatry. We are told not to make an image of anything, either in heaven or on earth. Paul in describing the dynamics of idolatry explains how we exchange
“the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man…” (Rom 1:23 NIV).
But, we might respond, “I’m not bowing down to some idol of wood or stone!” We have already discovered through Ezekiel’s vision that idolatry is a thing of the heart. On another occasion the Lord showed Ezekiel that the leaders, ‘‘…have set up idols in their hearts…” (Ezk 14:3 NIV emphasis mine).
Covetousness and idolatry
Paul described covetousness or greed as idolatry:
“… put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleaness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col 3:5 NKJV emphasis mine).
In another place he describes the covetous person as an idolater:
“… no unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom…” (Eph 5:5 NKJV emphasis mine).
In both references the same Greek word ‘pleonexia’ is used to convey the inordinate and selfish desire to possess more, especially that which belongs to someone else, and is included in the list that Jesus gives of the evils that come from the heart.87
In both these instances, Paul is addressing the church. Unlike some sins, covetousness or idolatry are not always obvious, particularly in a materialistic success-oriented culture. While Paul speaks to the church in general, Peter, more specifically, points to false ministries describing them as having “hearts trained in covetous practices” (2 Pet 2:14 NKJV).
This is heavy duty! God was putting his finger on something in my life, as a man and as a minister, he considered important. It may not have been very visible or obvious to others, but God sees through appearances to the heart. To force an image on myself, other than the image of Christ, was to covet the gifts and attributes of another person. Whether it was their anointing, ministry, or even their style, it was idolatrous to imitate it. Sure, it is healthy to emulate those who are more mature in God, as Paul encouraged the Corinthians, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor11: 1 NIV, see also 1 Cor 4:16; 1 Thess 1:6).
But to imitate another person’s ministry is idolatry. I had made an idol of ‘mortal man’ – not a literal idol – but I coveted what belonged to another and presented to the world a false image.
Once we have created an image for ourselves, we must inevitably ‘serve it’. When we build reputations that are not based on the character of Christ, but on the imitation of a ministry model or style – or an image of success, popularity, or perhaps spirituality, then the lie must be maintained, resulting in a deep spiritual dissonance. We experience a lack of inner harmony with God and with others, making it very difficult to be real or vulnerable.
86 Gen 1:26, 27
87 See Mark 7:22
…. an excerpt from David Orton’s book, "Snakes in the Temple: Unmasking Idolatry in Today’s Church".
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