Bible Relevance

This new section of our magazine will be dedicated to making relevant to today, subjects of the Bible that seem to belong only to ancient times.

God First — Idolatry
Out of the Question                                                                                                                       Andrew Kidd

A good part of the Bible tells of the constant temptation of the children of Israel to stray from worshipping the one God to the worshipping of idols, physical representations of gods of all sorts. Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites prospered when they were faithful to the one God, but fell into terrible times when they were not. 
     Growing up in a Christian church, I learned all about this history, and understood that worshipping idols was out of the question, but I rarely saw any around! Not until I found Christian Science did I discover that the need to resist the temptation of idolatry and to turn constantly to the one God is more relevant today than ever!
     Mary Baker Eddy opened to me a whole new world of opportunity to apply the lessons provided in the Old Testament to my everyday life. She wrote, “There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all.” (S&H) Defining life, truth, intelligence and/or substance as material is the same as worshipping idols, for it diverts thought away from God.
     For example, if I think of myself as a matter being, I’ll turn to the many dietetic systems, exercise programs, drugging systems, etc., to maintain my health. I’ll religiously schedule medical examinations to ensure that I am healthy. In an emergency, the first thought will be to call 911. Only as a last resort, when all else has failed, will I turn to God to heal my matter being, and wonder why God does not seem to respond. Then my superficial religion steps in to explain that God works in mysterious ways — we simply can’t understand it. But all the while, I’ve been worshipping idols!
     On the other hand, if I think of myself as a spiritual being, I will turn to God as though my life depended on it, because it does. I’ll know that my primary purpose is to reflect Him, and to “hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true.” (S&H) If I have problems to meet, I’ll take them as opportunities to get closer to God. If I am not meeting the problem through my own prayer, I’ll know that God is not ignoring me, but that I am “asking amiss,” and I need help from someone who is not caught up in my problem, someone whom I can trust to think well on my behalf. It may be that I will be led to use “temporary means,” as Mrs. Eddy describes it, to get help from a physician when needed, but never losing sight of the fact that I am a child of God, and that “He is the only Saviour.”(Isa.)
     The idols of Old Testament times offered the Israelites an alternative to God when they thought He was not listening. So, today, “the idols of civilization,” as Mrs. Eddy refers to them, provide an easy alternative to side-step the demands of God. But “the demands of God appeal to thought only” and “Principle is imperative.”(S&H) We cannot escape our own thoughts. We know that material thought is fundamentally fearful since it is at the mercy of heartless law (so-called). On the other hand, the peace that comes from loving God with all our heart, and mind, and strength is unmistakable. Sure, there are times when it is a struggle; but when the dust settles, we are left with a more certain sense that God is Love, and that the only law we are subject to is His law of Love.