The context in Corinth

In 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, Paul calls Christians to move away from idolatry and pursue holiness.  /How do we recognize and break free from idols? One command is stated in 3 different forms:

• “Don’t not be unequally yoked…” (6:14)
• “Therefore go out from their midst…” (6:17)
• “Let us cleanse ourselves…” (7:1)

One method of applying this passage is for a Christian to identify all the harmful non-Christian influences in his or her life and work to eradicate or them.  There are many Bible verses which warn Christians to stay away from evil influences, and one could apply this passage in that way to any pagan or non-Christian influence which is harmful to a believer’s faith.

Who were Paul’s opponents?

But a call for Christians to separate from any aspect of life which is non-Christian is not Paul’s primary focus here.  6:14-7:1 is the conclusion of Paul’s long argument beginning in the second half of chapter two.  His argument is that the true gospel- God reconciling people to himself in Christ- is being displayed by what the Holy Spirit is doing in the new covenant, and specifically through believers in the Corinthian church. (2 Corinthians 3:3-6, 17-18, 2 Corinthians 4:5-6, 2 Corinthians 5:14-19) Paul argues that this straightforward message is his commission from Christ. So by rejecting Paul, some Corinthians are in danger of rejecting Christ

Paul’s opponents in this case are not unbelievers, or non-Christians in general.  His opponents are those in the Corinthian church who have rejected Paul’s authority, and by extension have rejected the gospel message of Christ, even though they are professing to be part of the church.  He hints at these opponents several times, referring obliquely to them as “peddlers of God’s word” (2:17), and those who practice “underhanded ways” (4:2).  He is warning against “those who boast about outward appearance” (5:12).  Later in chapter eleven Paul specifically calls these opponents false apostles.  This identification makes sense with the backdrop of the Sophists in Corinth.  Sophists were teachers who dazzled people with their philosophy, rhetoric and clever ideas.  People in Corinth paid handsomely to hear the Sophists and Those who gathered to hear them were viewed higher, socially.

Idols operate below the surface

Idolatry is a danger which can infiltrate the church and our own individual lives.  We need to examine our hearts and look for idols that are below the surface.  In one sense an idol is “the sin beneath the sin.”  Consider the example of lying. If the sin outwardly manifested is lying, the underlying sin, or idol, is the person’s heart motivation for lying.

Did I lie because I want to take revenge on someone who wronged me? (idols of anger, self-righteousness). Did I lie because I don’t want others to have a negative opinion or me? (idol of approval). Did I lie because I want to stir up a conversation and become the center of attention myself? (idol of pride, love of self).

Common Idols

Here are some examples of idols which are common in Christians’ lives.  They don’t fit the description of a small statue or a miniature shrine, but they are idols nonetheless.

Idol of Approval- I must seek a person or other people’s approval for my secure identity.  When I feel that I do not measure up, my heart sinks.  I am always trying to gain a greater sense of approval from people around me. 

Idol of Control- I trust Jesus for salvation, but I cannot stand when life presents events which are beyond my control. I react to the unexpected by trying to grasp control of certain aspects of my life, or I have a severe negative reaction to unexpected events or circumstances.  When things don’t work out like I want them to, instead of praying, stepping back, and trusting God, I try to do as much as I can to help me maintain a sense of control over the situation.

Idol of Knowledge- My sense of confidence and wellbeing comes from knowing more than other people. I often let them know that I know more than they do.  I get competitive, defensive or agitated when confronted by someone who knows more than I do.

Idols of Materialism

Idol of Wealth as Security– I say I trust God, but I functionally trust money or financial resources.  My sense of security comes from having a certain amount of money. I get anxious when my resources decrease. To make sure I have enough resources to feel secure, I work harder and harder.

Idol of Wealth as Enjoyment- Money is a way I enjoy life, and I want to maximize my enjoyment.  I see people and opportunities through the lens of finances so that I can enjoy life more.  I judge people based on how much financial resources they have or do not have.

Idol of Wealth as Covetousness- My identity comes from being able to say that I earn more than other people. When I see people with better things, I think about how I am going to get those things. I spend a lot of time thinking about how satisfying it is going to be when I get something. See also “What Shall it Profit a Man?”

Other Idols

Idol of Relationships- What is most important to me is my family…my spouse…my boyfriend or girlfriend… or my friends.  I trust in these people more than I trust in God.  When things go wrong in my relationships, I have a really hard time handling it.  I wander from God and become fixated on people important to me. I obsess over how people relate to me or how they view me.

Idol of Appearance- I am afraid of what people would think if they knew the “real me.” I portray a different version of myself online.  I feel much better when people like my posts or pictures.  When I go to church, or I am around other Christians, I need to portray a certain image. I don’t want people to think I lack faith.  However, underneath I do have doubts and questions about myself or about God.

Idol of Pride/Self Righteousness- My confidence comes from what I have achieved and being able to do more than others. I do the right things, and I don’t mess up in big ways like other people do. I am thankful that my life is better than a lot of other people’s lives.

Idol of Self Pity- When I sin or do wrong things,I get very upset with myself.  I think quite a bit about how I have hurt myself or others. I do not often think about how my mistakes displeased my Heavenly Father. The mess of my sin makes me very upset. I have less sorrow over the sin itself and how it has grieved God.  I have trouble forgiving myself, or I don’t think I can be forgiven.

Idol of Unforgiveness- I know I need to forgive someone, yet my heart does not want to. I may be unwilling to forgive because it gives me a sense of power over the other person. I may harbor unforgiveness because I still have malice in my heart toward the other person. If I forgive, I am afraid of being hurt, and I don’t know if I can trust this person again.

The reality is, idols of the heart will never satisfy us and will not give our minds a moment’s peace. They are hollow thrones, looking as if they can hold us up, but they crumble to dust under pressure.  But if the idol is deep in our hearts, we keep returning to it to try and satisfy our souls.  As a result, we become hollow shells ourselves (like the Grinch whose heart was three sizes too small)! This shallowness is the fulfillment of the scripture which says that those who make idols will become like them. (Psalm 115:4-8) The idol needs to be dismantled and destroyed, or it will destroy us.

We have a relationship with the living God, and yet our hearts pursue lifeless idols! Jesus will not stand side by side in our hearts next to an idol.  He must have first place.  Jesus Christ is the answer to all our idols.  His love can break the hold which idols have on our hearts. He alone gives us peace, satisfaction, acceptance, forgiveness, love, righteousness, security, humility, emotional wholeness, not to mention a promised future! 

The Way Forward

It is painful to identify idols in our lives, because we realize how much our hearts have strayed from God. When we turn to God in repentance and faith, we confess how much of a mess we have made. More than just confessing our mess, we recognize how much it displeases God when we pursue our idols.  But the assurance we seek to gain from idols we have already been given in Jesus Christ!  We confess that we gave our heart’s affection to something other than Christ Jesus- God’s Son who loves us and bled and died for us!  We ask Christ to break the idols in our heart, forgive us, and redirect our desires towards Him.   

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 ESV