October 2: Flee from idolatry

Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. I am speaking as to wise people. Judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we give thanks for, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for all of us share that one bread. Look at the people of Israel. Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in what is offered on the altar? What am I saying then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but I do say that what they sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to participate with demons! You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table and the table of demons. (1 Corinthians 10:14-21 — Holman Christian Standard Bible)

“Flee from idolatry” is solid advice from the Holy Spirit. Though we don’t like the idea of running away from anything, fleeing from idolatry and sin is advice that God gives a number of times in His word. Flee in this context is not a sign of fear, but rather a sign that we’re determined to remove ourselves from any person or situation that is evil and filthy, and stay close to what is good and godly.

The city of Corinth at the time this passage was written was wealthy and prosperous and had a thriving culture of idol worship, in particular the temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, fertility, and sexual love — along with its many temple prostitutes. Because of this, most of the food in the marketplace had been offered to idols, and therefore Paul felt compelled to explain to Christians that they should not eat and drink the Lord’s Supper and at the same time eat meat that has been offered to demons — the real object behind idol worship. Idols and food offered to them are in themselves no threat to us or to God — they have no real power — the true danger is the objects of idol worship: demons. In no uncertain terms Paul reminds us that there are two choices in life: God and the devil, the Lord’s table and the table of demons. If we fail to take this advice seriously — and treat demons as a real, modern-day reality — we will find ourselves fighting a losing battle with invisible forces that are much stronger and more experienced than we are.

Isn’t it interesting how Paul uses the Lord’s Supper as an example in this passage? He contrasts the Supper and sacrifices made to idols. The sacrifices made to idols — though false — were seen by those people to be the highest form of worship to their gods, and Paul is teaching the same thing about the Lord’s Supper. It is a high form of worship to God. It celebrates the greatest, most complete, most powerful sacrifice of all time — it honors the Lord Jesus Christ — it encourages self-examination — it invites the Lord Jesus into our lives, and it commemorates the defeat of Satan and his demons.

Whenever the church is having the Lord’s Supper, do all you can to be there. It will please God, it will bring health to your soul, and it will enrage the devil.