Romans 1:25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served created things rather than the CreatorÑwho is forever praised. Amen.
Do you think idol worship is a primitive cultural phenomenon and is not an issue in our country today? Think again. What is one of the most-watched television programs of all time? Answer: American Idol. Don't think for one minute the latest American Idol, sports figure, or music and movie celebrity is anything other than created. Sure there is a natural talent, however, it is enhanced, refined, and developed -- frequently with surgical or chemical assistance. I saw a snippet on the news recently of the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant -- I was struck by the similarity of each contestant's smile. It seemed every young lady's teeth were large, white, and perfectly formed. (Their dentists must have been so proud.) I read an interview with Hugh Jackman, the star of X-Men Origins, in which the interviewer asked, "You look so amazing, how did you do it (his physique)?" Jackman answered, "I trained as I've never trained in my life before. If you wake up for 13 months at 3:45 and eat egg whites with no salt and one piece of wheat toast, you'll be Wolverine too. Trust me." Whether it is with the help of a dentist, surgeon, or dietician, and expert trainer, Hollywood, and the media have created idols -- for us to worship. And worship we do. Go to a football or baseball game and listen as the crowd chants for its favorite player; watch the entertainment news and see how riots break out as fans rush to get an autograph from the hottest movie or music star. In our passage today Paul writes, "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie." That is so true. The vast majority of Americans believe the lie of what they see represented on television or theater screens. Did God intend people to be physically perfect in every way? I don't think so. Yet so many of us worship these created images.
I am only commenting on "idol worship". In other words, when we give praise and honor to the created thing rather than the Creator of all things. In our society, it seems to be more acceptable to be a fanatic for a sports figure than it does for Jesus Christ. I'll bet on any fall Sunday morning, there is more applause and cheering for your local professional football team than there is for our Lord and Savior.
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