1 Corinthians: Not in VainSýnishorn

An idol is ‘anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give’. 

That’s Tim Keller’s definition, and as we read Paul’s warning against idolatry in 10:14 (see also 10:7), it helps us see that worshipping idols is something we’re all in danger of. 

In Corinth it seems the danger was arising in the context of meals where the food had been first sacrificed to idols, as part of pagan worship (10:19). By highlighting other meals eaten in the context of worship, i.e. the Lord’s Supper (10:16–17) and Israel’s special meals set out in Old Testament law (10:18), Paul’s point is to help us understand that participating in a meal can have spiritual significance. 

And so, although idols are not real gods and although food is just food, there is still a spiritual reality that lies behind these meals (10:19–20). We’re being reminded of the existence of real and evil spiritual powers that use idolatry to hold people in their grip. And of course you can’t participate with demons and with Christ; it is dangerous and provokes God to righteous jealousy (10:21–22). 

When it comes to idolatry, we need to both examine our own hearts and consider the spiritual health of others too. Our Christian freedom does not mean we just do whatever we feel like (10:23–24). And such is our ability to deceive ourselves, we’ll often need trusted friends to point out to us those areas in our lives where we’ve become too blinded by self-interest to see clearly.

Reflection

Idols are often good things that have become ‘god’ things. Whatever the activity or relationship may be, are we seeking God’s glory, or something else?