“Little children, keep yourselves from idols,” said John as he ended his first epistle.  What did he mean?

The little children, of course, are believers in Jesus, for John opens his book saying, “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake,” and “I write unto you, little children, because you have known the Father.” (1 John 2:12-13)  Obviously, then, Christians can give themselves to idols.  At the very end of this letter, though, John warns believers not to do it.  “Keep yourselves from idols,” he says.  What idols?

Most Christians do not believe that warnings concerning idols have anything to do with them.  For example, we read 1 Corinthians and don’t have a clue that chapters 8 through 11 all deal with Christian idolatry.  “Now concerning things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if any man thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man loves God, the same is known by him. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.” (1 Corinthians 8:1-4 KJ2000)   Here is a great clue.  Food sacrificed to idols somehow relates to knowledge.

The writer of Hebrews really helps to explain this.  He says, “Be not carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with foods, which have not profited them that have been observing them.”  (Hebrews 13:9 KJ2000)

Have you ever considered how one might be profited by “observing” foods?  Or, have you wondered how food could establish your heart with grace?  Give me some more steak and potatoes!  The Hebrews verse begins by warning us not to be carried about, that is, not to be transported hither and thither, with various and strange doctrines.  Then immediately the writer substituted the word food for doctrine.   We see here that, spiritually, food equals doctrine and doctrine, of course, has to do with knowledge.  Thus, using logic, we understand that “various and strange doctrines” equates to “food sacrificed to idols.”

Do doctrines make us move about from one location to another?  Absolutely.  I personally have moved from one city to another simply to become a member of a particular Christian movement.  I no longer do that, but I did not know better when I did do it.  How many spiritual conferences have you traveled to, just hoping for that spiritual experience that always seemed to elude you?  I coined a term long ago called, “Big Event Theology.”  I know many self-and-otherwise-acclaimed apostles and prophets who regularly planned and “starred” at huge spiritual events in conference centers, stadiums, and large churches.  People went and still go hither and thither to attend and partake of the “anointing” these leaders predict and predicted.

But, the “anointing” came and comes not of the Holy Spirit, and countless thousands were and still are led astray by these great events filled with false doctrine and counterfeit spiritual signs.  The worthless doctrines these apostles and prophets preach and teach are food sacrificed to idols.  Only God knows the name of each idol worshipped, but they have been many, and they have included the lusts of homosexual sin and adultery, self-worship, the love of money, and all the things you can guy with that money.  I will not name the names I personally know, but I once spent time with several who have nationwide and even worldwide name recognition.*

John also teaches in this epistle, “These things have I written unto you concerning them that deceive you. But the anointing which you have received of him abides in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in him.” (1 John 2:26-27 KJ2000)   There are many so-called teachers of God’s Word whose teaching deceives and which keeps us from the truth.  But, John tells us that we, you and me, can seek the LORD for ourselves and that He will make His truth clear to us!  His anointing teaches us all things.  Stop trusting in man; of what account is he?  Keep yourselves from idols!

* When I wrote this article I was not led to name names. Recently, however, I was so led because, I believe, the time of God’s judgment upon “the abomination of desolation” is now near. That series is called “The Church of Thyatira.”

For more information on this important topic you can read the following book: Food Sacrificed to Idols