IDOLATRY IN THE TEMPLE

Stephen McAlpine, teacher and author wrote:

“When it came to idolatry in the Old Testament, the people of God were pretty crass. We read in horror of the vision in Ezekiel 8 in which the syncretism of Israel resulted in the figures of Canaanite gods being placed inside God’s holy house… Now it took a vision in the Spirit for Ezekiel to see this. Why? Because idolatry is easy to hide in the temple. The simplest way to foster idolatry is to smuggle it into the place of worship. The slyest manner in which to promote worldliness is to parasitically attach it to the worship of the one true God.”

I believe this is true for a contemporary temple model of ‘church meeting’ or ‘worship service’ as it was in Ezekiel’s time. But of much more interest to me is the New Covenant exchange where we are taught clearly “we are the temple of God” (1 Corinthians 3:16). And later Paul makes a striking comparison to Ezekiel 8 with this, “And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, as God said: I will dwell and walk among them,
and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:16-18)
Idolatry is easy to hide in the temple.

Makes you want to quit smoking…

“Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” Jesus