1 Corinthians 8:4-6

1Co 8:4 So, about eating food which has been offered to idols, we know that “an idol in this world is nothing,” and “there no God, except for the one.”

1Co 8:5 Because even though there are those spoken of as gods in the sky or on the land – yes, there are many such gods and many lords —

1Co 8:6 but to us – one God, the Father, from whom came all things, and we are for him, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom came all things, and we live because of him.

imposters

 There are still many throughout the world who cannot make the faith assertions that Paul makes here.  Sadly, idolatry is not relegated to the dark ages of our prehistory.  The belief in, and “worship” of idols and ancestral spirits still holds many parts of this world in its grip. I put the word “worship” in quotes because it is not really worship.  People sacrifice to idols and pray to them as a means of manipulation, because they believe that such practices get them what they selfishly want.  They “exist” because people want them to.  They exist because people created them.

But Paul contrasts the one God and the one Lord Jesus Christ.  It is the other way around.  We exist because of them. We live because of them.  We are for them.  Other people have a god, and an image made of stone or wood or metal — by which they communicate with that god.  We have one God, the Father, and a Son, who is his exact image, and who has brought us into relationship with him.  We have no need for those imposters.

LORD, purge from us the stupidity of idolatry in all its forms.