It is our tendency—our temptation, I think you could say—to fit in with our culture. If we are not consciously opposing the unspoken values of society around us, then we are drifting downstream, unaware of our inexorable movement in a downward current. Instead, the Lord calls us to swim upstream, to fight against culture, to resist the group think of the unbelieving neighbors around us.
For the most part, culture is amoral—neither good nor bad. It is simply the fish tank we live in. We don’t really “see” our surroundings, we simply live in them. And we don’t have (take) the time or energy to consider every little thing and make a determination as to whether that thing is good or not. It doesn’t seem bad, if it is our true culture.
Having said that, there is a very important distinction that God made for Israel with regard to the culture they were entering. They had been affected by Egyptian culture, and they were going to be tempted to join in with Canaanite culture in every way. But there is one thing to watch out and to guard against:
You shall not bow down to their gods nor serve them, nor do as they do, but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their pillars in pieces. Exodus 23:24
There is a time to not make waves. But there is also a time to completely reject, and even destroy, the things that others worship.
If they would do that one thing, God promised them great blessings:
I will take sickness away from among you. None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.
And then God warned them one more time:
You shall make no covenant with them and their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you. Exodus 23:32-33
This begs the question: How do you know for certain whether something is just an innocent part of a culture you live in, and when it is an idol? What things around me have surely become a snare to me?
It is a much harder question than you might think. Not all gods are graven images of a superhuman being. Some can look like an App on an iPhone. Or like a late model car. Or a college diploma. Or a famous celebrity. Or a dream job. Or like meat that was offered to an idol that has been resold in the marketplace.
You get the point. What constitutes a false god? And what constitutes bowing down before that false god?
It is a narrow fence line, and staying on it while walking it is difficult for anyone. We can fall off to the right into Legalism, in which we are being so careful to stay away from idols that we end up rejecting things that are good. Or we can fall off the other side into License, in which we call good something that was to be rejected. They are both dangerous to the soul, and we must be discerning.
Groups that have fallen into Legalism: Pharisees, for one. Sadducees, for another. They were on such a witch hunt to eradicate blasphemy that they ended up not recognizing God Himself when He came to live among them. They called Him a blasphemer and had the Son of God killed. Others through the years have rejected electricity, meat, marriage, alcohol, or music. They have not only decided that such things were wrong for them individually, but collectively wrong for everyone. And the results have been pretty evil, because we are not to judge for another person, except in areas that God has made it clear that it is universal.
Other groups fall off into License, to such a degree that nothing is ever wrong. In the name of tolerance, we eliminate sin (which means we also eliminate holiness, without which no one can see the Lord). And so we allow witchcraft, Hinduism, psychics and pagans, and we say that all religions are roads to the same destination. But clearly, that is not what God says, both here and many times elsewhere. He is, He says, a jealous God, after all.
So, what about them apples?
YOUR ENCOUNTER
Let’s create a couple of short lists. On the first one, list three things that you know for certain are or have been idols to you. Perhaps it is an obvious forbidden graven image kind of thing. But maybe it’s something that became too important to you, so that you discovered yourself building your life around it, instead of the things of God. Maybe it’s not even a sin to other people, but it was to you, and you knew, “Others may. You cannot.” See if you can describe what it was about this thing that made it forbidden for you. When did you first notice? How long before you gave it up? What convinced you?
The second list would be three things that you have seen others reject that you personally have accepted as amoral, and maybe even a spiritual benefit for you. Again, explore what it was that caused you to realize that “Others may not. You can.”? Maybe it was a prohibition you grew up with that you honestly came to terms with a realized it is good, and to be received with thanksgiving. Tell about the conviction process in that direction. Share all this with someone, and write it in your journal.