Making the “god” of
MY Choice (1)
“Why knee-knocking
awe is replaced by a
yawn of familiarity”
The "Spectre of the Brocken"
The sin of idolatry
• This is the "sin of sins"
• Modern idolatry is "advanced" from primitive
ignorance
• Satan's evil scheme—there is a god
DIFFERENT than the biblical God
(2 Corinthians 10:5)
Satan’s evil scheme is successful
• The idolater today has mentally modified the
God of the Scriptures
• A religion of convenience but no conviction
• A god who is personal and up close but not
the sovereign Lord
• Adherents who follow feelings rather than
faith
Pharaoh’s query…WHO is God?
(Exodus 5:2)
Isaiah 40:18-25—"withering sarcasm poured
upon the infatuation of idol framers
and worshipers"
To remake God in our minds is idolatry
(Isaiah 55:8-9)
An uncomfortable query—
Am I guilty of idolatry?
The Supernatural is recognized
The biblical "God" is redesigned
The traits of idolatry
Psalm 81:9; Isaiah 43:12—"strange" comes
from the root which means "to turn aside
from." One has taken the basic idea and has
"turned aside" and fashioned something
totally different! (Hebrews 13:9)
Man is not to “change” what has been
ordered by the Almighty
(Proverbs 24:21; see Proverbs 22:28; 23:10)
The Supernatural is recognized
The biblical "God" is redesigned
It is selfish
The traits of idolatry
Selfish Idolatry
Turning from the biblical Deity they fashion
a "god" which can co-exist with their
selfishness (Amos 7:10-17; 3 John 9).
The Supernatural is recognized
The biblical "God" is redesigned
It is selfish
It is sincere
The traits of idolatry
Sincere Idolatry…
• This "sincerity" is a delusion
(2 Thessalonians 2:10b-11).
• “Each of us will see God differently, and seek
to worship Him differently. It is my belief that
God has given to each of us a personality type
that seeks to worship Him differently from
other personality types…Our God enjoys
spontaneous, loving, heart-felt responses of any
nature as long as they are authentic.”
Sincere Idolatry…
• The God of Scripture does not accept the
governing principle of “sincerity”
(1 Kings 13:21; 18:27-29).
• One may be very sincere but be very wrong
(Romans 10:1-3; Acts 23:1; 26:9).
• One may be very sincere but be damned
eternally (Matthew 7:21-23).
The Supernatural is recognized
The biblical "God" is redesigned
It is selfish
It is sincere
The Truth of God is changed
The traits of idolatry
Redefining Truth
• Altering or ignoring biblical Truth
(Romans 1:25; 2 Timothy 2:17-18; 3:8; 4:3, 4;
Jeremiah 23:16)
• Common in our day
• “Truth" about God is only "individual."
The Supernatural is recognized
The biblical "God" is redesigned
It is selfish
It is sincere
The Truth of God is changed
Perplexity and inconsistency
The traits of idolatry
Idolatry’s Perplexity …
• In our post-modern world “truth” has become
“plastic.” It can be refashioned to fit one’s latest
desires.
• Psalm 97:7— ‫( ּבּוׁש‬BOSH) "confounded"
(KJV) or "ashamed" (NASB) "to be ashamed;
put to shame; disappointed."
The Supernatural is recognized
The biblical "God" is redesigned
It is selfish
It is sincere
The Truth of God is changed
Perplexity and inconsistency
Quick identification
The traits of idolatry
Idolatry Identified …
• Those who reject the biblical concept of God
are quickly identified (2 Timothy 3:8-9)
• A clear difference because of one's belief about
God (1 Kings 22:7)
The Supernatural is recognized
The biblical "God" is redesigned
It is selfish
It is sincere
The Truth of God is changed
Perplexity and inconsistency
Quick identification
Stubbornness restricts their religion
The traits of idolatry
Idolatry’s Stubbornness …
The selfish person looks at the biblical teaching
regarding God but he does not like what he
sees. He then whittles upon the biblical concept
until a more appealing "god" is found. This
stubbornness fuels the individualism that feeds
idolatry. Modern man seeks to find God in "his
own way; by his own experience; with his
personal meaning." (Acts 26:14)!
Leviticus 19:4—
It is tempting to construct a "god" that…
…fits my personal tastes
…is comfortable for my lifestyle choices
…is convenient when needed but at other
times is conveniently tucked away and of no
concern
Concluding Thoughts…
How do you view "God"?
Is it a negotiable portrait?
Is it crafted to personal tastes?
Is it according to the Truth of the
Scriptures?
Concluding Thoughts…
Our next lesson…
Making The God Of MY Choice :
“The Mechanics of making
your own god (2)”