Present day Idol Equivalents, Part 1

" For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty in God for the pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every HIGH THING (emphasis mine) that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...."  2 Corinthians 10: 3-4a

So how do these ancient false gods appear to us in our lives and culture today?

Molech:  the god of victory, power, and knowledge.  The god who accepted only the most virginal and pure and powerful sacrifices in order to bring prosperity to his worshippers.  A demon from hell sent to promote the pursuit of power and knowledge in order to ultimately kill, steal, and destroy the spirits of men.  Children were sacrificed, the brave were sacrificed, innocence and virginity were sacrificed, purity was sacrificed.  

" Knowledge is Power"  Ring any bells?

Do we really believe that these demon gods were only present in ancient times?  They are more present and more powerful today than at any time in history.  They still seek to convince our children that only through power (celebrity), knowledge (the best education at the best schools), and victory (playing sports or bullying others/hurting others for personal gain, believing that we have to be RIGHT all the time)  that they will be valuable, acceptable, worth the breath that is given to them. 

Conversely, our children (and perhaps ourselves) believe that without popularity, moving in a certain circle of people or society, not having a good education or completed school, or without a cultural measure of "success" that we have very little or no value to the world or our community. 

So, day by day our children (and we, too?) pursue all those things that will help us feel valued, worthy, and important in the world somehow.  Status.  Worth.  Value.  Importance.  Significance. 

We worship at the "high place" of this not-so-ancient god because we still do not believe that we are loved, accepted, worthy, valuable, and significant....just as God makes us to be through Jesus.  And it is only through a deepening relationship with Jesus that the Holy Spirit can reveal these places of barrenness and give us the opportunity to let Him fill us up and heal us and give us identity and purpose that is not of this world....and help us TEAR DOWN the HIGH PLACES in our hearts where we go to worship that false god.  

The false god of power, knowledge, and victory (having to be right all the time) will only kill, steal, and destroy our spirit and our self-worth and cause us to sacrifice our children, our purity, our innocence, our courage, and our destiny because we believe a lie. 

next time:  Ashtoreth

Coram Deo,

Tess