Idolatry by J. M. McLellan

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 12, 1856

Idolatry.

By J. M. McLellan

Bro. Smith:—Permit me to say a few words through the medium of the Review upon this important subject. I call it important from the very fact that I believe it vitally affects every member of the church of God that indulges in this sin. I call it sin because it is forbidden in the word of God; and anything indulged in that is forbidden in the word of God, is sin.

There are different kinds of idolatry, or idol worshiping; such as making images of gold, silver, wood, and stone, and bowing down and worshiping them. This is one kind of idolatry, and by turning to the New Testament we will find the New Testament definition of another species of idolatry: "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence and covetousness, which is idolatry." Col. iii, 5. Here we have a plain declaration of the apostle Paul that covetousness is idolatry, and any one who is a coveter, is in this sense an idolater, it matters not what he covets. Something which he has not, is what he will generally covet; and I think that tobacco comes under this species of idolatry.

I will here give, briefly, my own experience in the use of tobacco. I once indulged in its use, and got so addicted to it, that whenever I happened to be out of the weed, even for one day, nothing would go right; and if I was working with my hands, or reading, my mind would be off from whatever I was engaged in, and I could think of nothing but tobacco;

and I found that tobacco was then the idol of my heart, and I would be led to covet it most intensely. I would say, If I only had one quid of tobacco I would give anything, and would be willing to sacrifice almost anything for the sake of tobacco. At such times I found it to be the idol of my heart. Webster says, "Idolize, is to love to excess." It was thus that I idolized tobacco. I loved it to excess; and I think that the most of tobacco users will agree with me in this.

Again, says Paul, [Eph. v, 5.] "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man who is an idolater hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." Any person, whether man or woman, who indulges in the use of that filthy weed, must certainly in this sense be "unclean." Tobacco is certainly filthy, and any thing used that is filthy will certainly defile, and any thing that will defile will certainly make a person "unclean," and most especially in the sight of a holy, just and pure God.

God is now "purifying unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works." Titus ii, 14. Is tobacco using a good work? No; then should we not put off the filth of the flesh and walk circumspectly before God, that we may be purified with the remnant before the decree goes forth, "He that is filthy, let him be filthy still." "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." "And all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not once be named among you as becometh saints." Eph. v, 3. "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But [Jas. i, 21, 22] be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people." * 2 Cor. vi, 16.

If then we are the temple of God let us purge ourselves of "all filthiness of the flesh" that we may be fit temples for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, whereby we are to be sealed. Let me here ask, and let every one who reads appeal to his own conscience, if God will dwell in the midst of filth. "Will he take up his abode in a temple that has an idol already erected in it? "Ye cannot serve two masters: ye will love the one and hate the other." "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Cor. iii, 17. "Let no man deceive himself."

Dear brethren, let us see to it that none of us defile the temple of God; for him that does, will God destroy. Let each one of us "possess his vessel in sanctification and honor," "that we may be meet for our Master's use." Let us deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Christ, that we may receive the great reward, even eternal life.

Again, whatever we indulge in to excess is idolatry; so says Paul in 1 Cor. x, 7. "Neither be ye (the disciples of Jesus) idolaters as were some of them, (the Jews,) as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play." Instead of giving God thanks, they pleased their own selves.

Again, as we are our Lord's stewards, let us not squander away the means the Lord has lent us, for things to "consume upon the lusts of the flesh," for we must sooner or later stand in his presence, and render up an account of our stewardship. Then let us lay out the means that God has intrusted to us in such a way that when we are called upon to render up an account of our stewardship here, we can do it with joy and not with grief. Luke xvi, 1-15.

Tobacco not only saps the foundation of the life that we are now in possession of, but it also saps the foundation of eternal life; for "all idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Rev. xxi, 8. They shall have no part in the kingdom of God. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers, or effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Cor. vi, 9, 10; Gal. v, 20, 21.

Seeing then that eternal life, that priceless gift, is at stake, let us be diligent and examine well our own selves; for "if ye judge your own selves, ye shall not be judged." Let us every one purge out the old leaven, and crucify the old man with his deeds and lusts that this heavy guilt of this sin of idol worshiping be not found upon any of us when the Lord shall come. "And behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give every man as the work shall be." Rev. xxii, 12. Let us be prepared for the refreshing that is soon coming from the presence of the Lord. Acts iii, 19; Joel ii, 23, margin. For the Lord knoweth them that are his, and on them will he pour his Spirit.

Let us sum up the testimony already produced. We find,

That idolatry is forbidden in the word of God.
That covetousness is idolatry; [Col. iii, 5; Eph. v, 5;] and this includes tobacco.
That a person is unclean whilst using tobacco. Eph. v, 3, 4; Jas. i, 21, 22.
That we are the temple of God, and that this temple should have no agreement with idols; and if any one defiles this temple with idols him will God destroy. 2 Cor. vi, 16; 1 Cor. iii, 17.
That we are the Lord's stewards, and he that squanders away his Lord's money, will be found wanting. Luke xvi, 1-15.
Those who are idolaters will have no part in the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. vi, 9; Gal. v, 20, 21. Therefore I would say in the language of the apostle Paul, "And now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." Acts xx, 32.

J. M. MCLELLAN.