【双语灵修】偶像崇拜的亵渎THE OFFENSE OF IDOLATRY

以赛亚书 40:19；罗马书 1:20-26

19 偶像是匠人铸造，银匠用金包裹，为它铸造银链。 20 自从造天地以来，神的永能和神性是明明可知的，虽是眼不能见，但藉着所造之物就可以晓得，叫人无可推诿。 21 因为他们虽然知道神，却不当做神荣耀他，也不感谢他，他们的思念变为虚妄，无知的心就昏暗了。 22 自称为聪明，反成了愚拙， 23 将不能朽坏之神的荣耀变为偶像，仿佛必朽坏的人和飞禽、走兽、昆虫的样式。 24 所以，神任凭他们逞着心里的情欲行污秽的事，以致彼此玷辱自己的身体。 25 他们将神的真实变为虚谎，去敬拜侍奉受造之物，不敬奉那造物的主——主乃是可称颂的，直到永远！阿们。 26 因此，神任凭他们放纵可羞耻的情欲。他们的女人把顺性的用处变为逆性的用处。

6月19日

偶像崇拜的亵渎

“偶像是匠人铸造，银匠用金包裹，为它铸造银链。” - 以赛亚书 40:19

神的子民总是被那些敬拜偶像的人所环绕，这些偶像代表着各种假神，而除了主以外，所有其他的神都是虚假的。

令人遗憾的是，我们总是被吸引去拜那位真神以外的事物。在过去，大多数偶像是用木头、石头或金银等贵重金属制成的。其实“偶像”可以是任何我们向其俯伏的事物：可以是物质财富、一个人、一段关系、一种理想、一套哲学、某种地位或成就等等。偶像对神而言是一种怪诞的替代，是对祂粗鄙的呈现。它们是人的作品，而非神的作为；它们是由人的想像力所锻造出的产物或观点，而非源于神的启示。

偶像是无能的。像可能有口，却不能言；不能看，不能听，也不能走；它们没有知觉。偶像是死气沉沉且毫无能力的，它们会摔倒，也会破碎。敬拜偶像的人终将变得像偶像一样，失去所有的悟性。

偶像崇拜扭曲了我们受召“用心灵和诚实”应献给主的敬拜。偶像崇拜对主而言是可憎的。敬拜神以外之物的想法，是对主的一种冒犯，是一种极大的侮辱。神不能被任何形象、事物或观点所代表。让我们警惕偶像崇拜的欺骗性，唯独事奉主。

祷告

主啊，求你使我们的心从各种偶像或假神中得释放。教导我们以心灵和诚实，带着专一的爱与忠诚——单单敬拜你。阿们。

Isaiah 40:19; Romans 1:20-26

FRIDAY, JUNE 19

THE OFFENSE OF IDOLATRY

As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. —Isaiah 40:19

God's people have always been surrounded by worshipers of idols that represent other gods—and all other gods besides the Lord are false.

Sadly, we have always been drawn to worship things other than the one true God. In the past, most idols were made of wood, stone, or precious metals such as silver and gold. But an idol can be anything to which we bow down. An idol can be a material thing, a person, a relationship, an ideal, a philosophy, a status or accomplishment, and more. Idols are a grotesque substitute for God and a crude representation of him. They are human works, not divine works. They are works or ideas forged by human imagination, not by divine guidance.

Idols are powerless. An image may have a mouth, but it cannot speak. It cannot see or hear or walk. It cannot feel. Idols are inert and powerless. They can fall and break. To worship an idol is to become like it, without any understanding.

Idolatry is a distortion of the worship we are called to offer the Lord in spirit and in truth. Idolatry is an abomination to the Lord. The idea of worshiping something other than God is an offense—a great insult—to the Lord. God cannot be represented by any figure or thing or idea. Let’s be aware of the deception of idolatry. Let’s serve the Lord alone.

Lord, free our hearts from every kind of idol or false god. Teach us to worship you alone—in spirit and in truth, with undivided love and loyalty. Amen.