Idolatry by Joseph Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 13, 1872

Idolatry.

By Joseph Clarke

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5: 21.

The old, effete forms of paganism have had their day, and among enlightened nations are mostly extinct; but is idolatry no more? Idolatry, among professedly Christian nations, has assumed a more rational form. You will not see Europeans, or Americans (except papists), bow to idols, the work of the artificer, but in a multitude of ways, you may discover the principle of idolatry, eking out from a garb less objectionable than that of paganism, in some respects, but more dangerous in some of its developments.

The only impregnable defense against idolatry is a proper observance of the principle of love to God, contained in the first table of the decalogue; for he who begins to relapse from this love, begins that moment a life of carnality, which is in its whole nature essentially idolatrous, for the carnal mind is enmity against God.

No matter how small or how useful the object may be which eclipses, the love of God from the soul, that object becomes that moment an idol, whether it is gain, or lust, or pride, or pleasure, or any other object. Even things in themselves innocent (when rightly used), may become the idols which we worship, such as talents of mind, or ability.

But zeal in the prosecution of a laudable and lawful calling, does not prove idolatry. He who would exercise discernment, must look beneath the surface, and unite largeness of heart, intelligence, and sober judgment, all governed and impelled by the Spirit of God. JOSEPH CLARKE.