The idols of contemporary society are a bit different from the golden sculptures and images referred to in Biblical times. When these golden images first appeared, life was quite simple for most people when viewed from today's standpoint. Existence was often nomadic, and locating or growing enough food could be a day-to-day adventure. A brilliant, metallic calf would have been an awe-inspiring sight, something that was certainly a contrast to the everyday environment.
Today, life is significantly more complicated in many ways, and the idols we might worship have become diverse and numerous. Belief in causes, gods, intelligences, forces, existing independent of divine Spirit, the one God, is idolatry. Doesn't this Old Testament commandment apply to our time? "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God . . . ." Ex. 20:4,5
The temptation to bow down and serve supposed powers and entities apart from God is both great and subtle. To keep from doing so, we can find that last line of the commandment especially helpful: "I the Lord thy God am a jealous God." Jealousy in this context has nothing to do with a human emotion. It points to God's absolute authority as the only creator. This fact, understood, provides a wonderful protection to everyone. God is Love, and all-encompassing Love possesses its entire creation and allows for no other power to exist. God is infinite good, and what could be a better state of being than the creation, the manifestation, of pure good?
