What Agreement Hath the Temple of God With Idols?

By Amy Pavlovik

Throughout the history of the world, there has been a controversy between the worship of the true God on one hand, and the worship of Satan on the other. Satan has used many and various means to lead people to worship and obey him. Idolatry is not limited to bowing down to wooden or metal images. Rather, it encompasses anything that breaks God’s commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3.

            Idolatry is still rampant in our world, in developed as well as undeveloped countries. In every place, Satan is working diligently to lead people to substitute something in the place of the true worship of God. These alternate forms of worship that he inspires cover a wide range of cleverly concealed deceptions. They include not only outright paganism, but also materialism, secularism, and even false forms of Christianity, based on unscriptural teachings, which lead men into deception rather than to salvation.

            From all of this, God is calling His people to be separate. This is why He has called us out of darkness, out of fellowship with sin and deception, and into the marvelous light of His truth and salvation. “All through the history of the Jewish nation we see that the people of God, whether old or young, had to keep themselves distinct and separate from the idolatrous nations around them.  God has a people today; and it is just as necessary now as anciently that His people should keep themselves distinct and separate, pure and unspotted from the world, its spirit, and its influences, because the world sets up a standard opposed to the standard of truth and righteousness.” Review & Herald Jan. 4, 1887.

Through the centuries, God’s Ten Commandments have stood as a mighty bulwark against the inroads of idolatry. When they were obeyed, the Israelites were free from pagan worship. However, when they were cast aside, other gods were set up in place of the true God. Today, the Ten Commandments still call out to us to forsake all idolatry and be wholly commit-ted to the Living God. “The great Head of the church, who has chosen His people out of the world, requires them to be separate from the world. He designs that the spirit of His commandments, by drawing His followers to Him-self, shall separate them from worldly elements. To love God and keep His commandments is far away from loving the world's pleasures and its friendship. There is no concord between Christ and Belial.” E.G. White, Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students 329, 330.

In the articles in this section, we will review some of the history of God’s people through the ages. We will meet individuals and groups who stood firm for God and His truth, who determined not to be corrupted by the infiltrations of the enemy. We will also see times when God’s professed people failed Him, by joining with idolatry and with the world. There are the deepest lessons for today in these histories.