Idolatry is the consistent expression of fallen human nature — driven by greed, accompanied by immorality, and still present today in forms like materialism.
Les Feldick teaches that idolatry has no moral code and that wherever pagan idolatry appears, rank immorality follows in the name of religion. The ancient world was steeped in idol worship, and greed fueled the idol-making trade at Ephesus. Today, Les warns, materialism has become an idol on the American scene. Scripture confirms the pattern in Romans 1, where worshipping the creature more than the Creator leads to uncleanness.
Romans 1:24-25 — Paul's clearest statement that idolatry — worshipping and serving the creature — leads God to give people up to uncleanness.
Acts 19:26 — Records the exact claim — gods made with hands are not gods — that threatened the idol-making trade at Ephesus.
Romans 1:24-25 shows the direct progression: because mankind "changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator," God gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts. Scripture does not treat idolatry as an isolated error — it is repeatedly joined to immorality. Paul warns the Corinthians, "Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them" (1 Corinthians 10:7), and adds that some "committed fornication, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand" (1 Corinthians 10:8). Second Kings 17 describes Israel burning incense in all the high places "as did the heathen" and serving idols "whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing" (2 Kings 17:11-12). In Acts 19, the silversmiths themselves testify to Paul's message that "they be no gods, which are made with hands" (Acts 19:26). And 1 Thessalonians 1:9 marks true conversion as turning "to God from idols to serve the living and true God."
Les Feldick teaches that idolatry is the natural bent of fallen humanity. The whole ancient world was steeped in paganism and idol worship, and Paul's converts came out of that darkness — they had no knowledge of the one true God (Clips 3, 4, 5). Idolatry, Les explains, has no moral code; the pagan temples of the old Greek and Roman gods were "glorified houses of prostitution in the name of religion," and whenever people go into abject pagan idolatry, rank immorality is part and parcel of it because it is satanically controlled (Clips 1, 2). Israel proved the same point: it was not just that they bowed the knee to an idol — going into idolatry meant going into abject immorality in the name of religion (Clip 6). Les also shows that greed fuels idolatry. Demetrius the silversmith and his fellow craftsmen opposed Paul's gospel because their wealth came from making silver shrines to Diana — greed was the engine behind their opposition (Clip 0). And he warns this same bent is still with us: we are not one iota different from the Corinthian believers, living in the same old sin that has plagued the world since the beginning (Clips 2, 3). Today that idolatry shows up as materialism — things can become an idol just as fast and just as much as a wooden or stone idol (Clip 7).
Les Feldick teaches that idolatry has no moral code. The pagan temples of the old Greek and Roman gods were glorified houses of prostitution in the name of religion, so the step from idolatry to immorality was inevitable (Clip 1). Wherever abject pagan idolatry appears, rank immorality is part and parcel of it because it is satanically controlled (Clip 2). Israel experienced the same pattern — entering idolatry meant entering abject immorality in the name of religion (Clip 6). Scripture confirms this in Romans 1: after changing the glory of God into an image, God gave people up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts.
Les points to Demetrius the silversmith in Acts 19. When Paul taught that gods made with hands are not gods, the craftsmen who made silver shrines to Diana rose up against him because their wealth depended on that trade. Les calls greed "the engine" of the economy — it constantly wants more, and it is what prompted the silversmiths to oppose Paul's ministry and Christianity (Clip 0).
Les warns that while we often think of idols in other cultures, there is another idol sneaking in on the American scene faster than we can shake a finger at — the idol of materialism. Things can become an idol just as fast and just as much as a wooden or stone idol (Clip 7). He also reminds us that we are not one iota different from the Corinthian believers; we live in the same old sin that has plagued the world since the beginning, and idolatry and paganism promoted it (Clips 2, 3).
The ancient world was steeped in idolatry and paganism, having no knowledge of the one true God. Les notes that even the Parthenon — commonly mistaken for a seat of government — was simply a temple to a female goddess, built with enormous labor (Clip 4). Paul's converts came out of this darkness; the whole world around Paul was steeped in paganism, mythology, and idol worship, and they had recently stepped out of it into the light of the gospel (Clips 5, 3).
Greed as the Engine of Idolatry
Les shows that Demetrius and the silversmiths opposed Paul because their wealth came from making silver shrines to Diana — greed was the engine fueling their opposition to the gospel.
Idolatry Has No Moral Code
Les teaches that idolatry has no moral code, which is why the pagan temples of the Greek and Roman gods were glorified houses of prostitution in the name of religion.
Pagan Idolatry Brings Immorality
Les explains that wherever abject pagan idolatry appears, rank immorality is part and parcel of it because such religion is satanically controlled.
Same Old Sin Today
Les reminds us that the idolatrous pagan practices of the ancient world are not a thing of the past — we are living in the same old sin that idolatry and paganism promoted.
Ancient World Steeped in Idolatry
Les points out that the Parthenon was a temple to a female goddess, demonstrating how the ancient world was steeped in idolatry with no knowledge of the one true God.
Converts Came Out of Paganism
Les notes that Paul's converts came out of paganism — the whole world around Paul was steeped in mythology and idol worship before they turned to the gospel.
Israel's Idolatry Led to Immorality
Les stresses that Israel's idolatry was never merely bowing the knee to an idol — going into idolatry meant going into abject immorality in the name of religion.
Materialism as a Modern Idol
Les warns that materialism is an idol sneaking into American culture — things can become an idol just as fast and as much as a wooden or stone idol.
Romans 1:24: Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Shows the direct moral consequence of idolatry — God giving people up to the lusts of their own hearts.
Romans 1:25: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Gives the root of idolatry: worshipping and serving the creature rather than the Creator.
Acts 19:26: Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
Records the truth — gods made with hands are not gods — that Paul's opponents feared would destroy their idol trade.
1 Corinthians 10:7: Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
Paul's warning against idolatry, citing Israel's golden calf.
1 Corinthians 10:8: Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
Connects idolatry with sexual immorality and the 23,000 who fell in one day.
2 Kings 17:11: And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:
Describes Israel adopting heathen idolatry in the high places.
2 Kings 17:12: For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.
God's explicit command against serving idols.
Galatians 4:8: Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Reminds believers that before knowing God they served false gods.
1 Thessalonians 1:9: For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
Marks true conversion as turning to God from idols.
Yes. Les Feldick teaches that materialism is an idol sneaking into American culture faster than we can shake a finger at. Things can become an idol just as fast and just as much as a wooden or stone idol (Clip 7).
Les explains that idolatry has no moral code, and the pagan temples of the old Greek and Roman gods were glorified houses of prostitution in the name of religion. Wherever you enter abject pagan idolatry, rank immorality is part and parcel of it because it is satanically controlled (Clips 1, 2).
Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen made their wealth from manufacturing silver shrines to Diana. Paul's teaching that gods made with hands are not gods threatened their trade, and greed was the engine behind their opposition to his ministry (Clip 0).
The ancient world was steeped in idolatry with no knowledge of the one true God, while Paul's converts came out of that darkness into the light of the gospel. True conversion is turning from idols to serve the living and true God (Clips 4, 5; 1 Thessalonians 1:9).
Watch the Teaching: Revelation 17 Explained: The Rise of the Antichrist's World Religion