Molten Gods and Graven Images

Leviticus 19:4 4 Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the Lord your God.

A molton image is made when a metal is heated up to a liquid state and poured into a cast. The cast is formed by someone to generate an image. Idols were also commonly called 'graven images' in the Bible. An graven image is carved on wood or etched on stone or metal. In either case, man supplies the design.

God designed man. Man was designed to live according to his designer. Man was not made to be loved by a dumb, silent sculpted object on a shelf.

Habbukuk 2:18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? 19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

Ideas are casts of mental structures. They too can become idols. Certain ways of thinking can usher the mind in directions that are not what God had in mind for His own. Religion can often fall into this trap by going beyond what God says in His Word.  People pour their whole heart, soul and resources into doing what they have fashioned in their own minds as right instead of enjoying the righteousness God has intended for them.

The world also shapes and molds mental structures continually. The news media, educational systems, arts and culture all contribute to the mold. Ideologies become idolatry and confusion and mayhem abound. It is going on everywhere.

God warned his sojourners in Sinai in Leviticus chapters 17, 18, 19 and 20 to watch out for the pagan ideas that would try to ingrain themselves into their way of life and practice (Leviticus 18:3-6). The same warning is found throughout the New Testament too.

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Ideology Versus Truth

In today's world of social media, the internet and cable TV, it is easy to see how different people think about things. Opinions and ideology run high not only in intellectual circles, but also in religious, political  and cultural circles. It is pretty clear that we don't all think the same way. So what is the right way of thinking? Which is the right denomination, government, or morality standard? What is truth?

I'm thankful I live in the United States of America not because of 'American exceptionalism' (whatever that is). I'm thankful for the the principles upon which it was founded. I'm thankful for the Constitution and the guaranteed rights of an individual; that we can indeed have our opinions and yet we must respect another's right to disagree. Democracy is an ideology.

I am thankful for a God who has given us free-will choice to believe or not believe in Him. It is amazing that that is the way He chose the universe to operate. All men are equal in His sight as He gave His only begotten son for all (John 3:16). God's love is available to all without exception. The choice is ours whether to believe it.

I looked up the first use of truth in the Old Testament:

Genesis 24:27 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren.

Abraham sent a servant out to look for a wife for Isaac and God led him to one of Abraham's brethren. It was non-coincidental and involved breath-taking timing.

In the New Testament, the first use of truth is in Matthew 14:32-33 in the record of after Jesus bid Peter to walk on water:

32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. 

Jesus Christ is the son of God! These two situations don't represent an ideology. They reveal the truth about God. The Creator of the universe is the source of truth. Love and truth go hand in hand.

There is always the opportunity with which an ideology can bring people into bondage when it is not based on truth. We have seen this throughout history. Loving the truth doesn't mean that one cannot develop an ideology, but it is truth that actually sets us free.

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.