Idolatry: A Heart Issue

Idolatry Defined

The word “idol” evokes mixed feelings in most people. While some associate it with explicit commands in the scriptures, others have grown indifferent because of how the term has been adopted in mainstream culture.

That being said, many believe idolatry only encompasses the worship of a physical monument in the place of God. Still, anything or person we allow to take the place of God in our hearts, minds or souls is an idol. That is why identifying the voids we’re trying to fill when we replace our Creator with a created thing is the first step to mental freedom.

Modern Day Idolatry in Action

You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them.

 –Exodus 20:4 NIV

As a teenager, I would spend all my free time surfing the web and scrolling down the feeds of popular social networking websites. I can recall my dedication to a Twitter account I had made to support my favorite musical act.

I can’t begin to explain the amount of time, effort and resources I dedicated to promoting this band whose members did not have the slightest clue that I existed.

Not to mention, the group I adored lived half-way across the world, so my chances of ever meeting them was slim to none. Still, that didn’t stop me from waking up every morning and checking my social media feeds to stay updated on the latest news. 

It also did not deter me from getting into heated online arguments with rival fandoms who posted anything negative about my idols. I use that word because although I would not admit it at the time, that was what they were.

While the word idol was used to refer to wooden statues and clay figurines in the Bible, today, the term is used to describe entertainers whose images are marketed to maintain close relationships with fans. Clearly, it is no coincidence popular culture has adopted the word “idol” to define the biggest celebrities of our day. If we’re not careful, we may also become desensitized and end up conforming to customs that will drive us away from the Father.

The truth is, if we are not aware of what holds our devotion, we risk walking down a slippery slope that can end in our own destruction. In my case, it started off innocently. I was a 12-year-old girl who, like millions of other young girls, was enthralled by a group of “teenage heartthrobs” that were strategically marketed to appeal to my age group.

But by accepting idols into my heart at an early age, I passively accepted several worldly doctrines that gave Satan a foothold in my life for years to come.

Idolatry: A Heart Issue

“Temptation comes from our desires, which entice and drag us away.” –James 1:14 NIV

Studies show that most people engage in psychoactive experiences to make themselves “feel good or better.” This is why addiction resides in activities that are closely linked to pleasure seeking and self-medication. The mind disease also revolves around a person’s dedication and devotion to an object, substance or activity. These facts suggest that idolatry lies at the root of addiction.

Addictions do not develop overnight. On the contrary, most destructive habits are formed through constant repetition that gradually alter how a person perceives the substance or practice bolstering their compulsive behavior.  

How Addiction Develops

Over the years, scientists have broken down the pattern of addiction by outlining distinct stages every addict experiences.

This gradual progression typically begins when a person is first exposed to a trigger, and ends by the time the compulsive behavior is fully developed. These six stages are: 

Initiation: This is the period when an individual tries a substance or destructive activity for the first time. 

Experimentation: At this stage, a person has graduated past trying a drug or questionable habit and is now engaging in the behavior to see how it impacts their life in terms of alleviating stress, or giving them a euphoric feeling. At this point, there are very few cravings and the individual is making a conscious choice to engage in the behavior or not.

Regular Usage: As a person continues to use a substance or engage in a damaging practice, their involvement with the trigger becomes normalized and their usage or involvement increases from sporadic to habitual.

Risky Usage: At this point, a person’s regular use of a substance or involvement in a bad practice begins to negatively impact their life. For example, an alcoholic may experience constant hangovers that affect their productivity at work.

Dependence: This stage is defined by a person’s reliance on the substance or destructive habit. Here, a person has abused their trigger to the point where their body has adjusted to its presence and has grown to depend on it to function.

Addiction: After a person has grown to rely on a drug, they reach the stage where they feel as though they cannot live without it. Thus, at this point, the person’s substance use or involvement in a bad habit is no longer a conscious choice but a compulsive urge.

Idolatry Causes Addiction

You may be wondering, what does addiction have to do with idolatry? But even if you're not strung out on drugs or attached to an alcohol bottle, there if God is not the centre of your life, someone or something holds your devotion.

The truth is, most addictions begin with idolatry. Moreover, the majority of the temptations that trigger them are caused by our own desires. Think about it, when a person struggles with addiction, they justify their bad habit by telling themselves it is the only thing that makes them feel better.

Not only that, many addicts who relapse will tell you they understand their habit is destructive, but their hearts won’t allow them to let it go. In the book of James, the apostle reminds us that God does not tempt people, nor can He be tempted. Instead, James explained that each person is lured away when they follow the inclinations and desires of their own selfish hearts. 

Ironically, this theory is based on another mentality that has infiltrated society. In almost everything we listen to or read about, we’re bombarded with content that constantly reminds us to “do what makes us happy.” While the delivery may vary, the message remains the same: “Follow your heart and do whatever it takes to achieve your dreams.”

While on the surface this theory may seem logical, God teaches us another way, because He knows a heart that is not governed by His word is inherently selfish. 

Conclusion

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” –Jeremiah 17:9 NIV

While the world tells us to do whatever feels right, God reminds us as creatures living in a fallen world, we are inclined to sin. If you’re struggling to break free from addiction and negative thinking patterns like I was, accepting this fact is crucial to your deliverance. While continuing to live a life enslaved to destructive habits won’t help you, acknowledging where you went wrong and asking God to free you is the first step in the right direction.