3/15/25

Paganism: the worship of any false deity. There is only one true deity. He is the God of the Bible.

Paganism is happening today. It is no trouble to find pagan worship centers in any part of our country. They are plentiful even in the "Bible Belt." It breaks my heart to know that in my own county there is a Pagan festival happening. From wiccan to goddesses of herbs. (Marijuana is a herb). These pagans worship any and everything but God!

This is not a new sin.

Paul dealt with this type of thing in Corinth. He gave a very strong warning in our text today. 1 Corinthians 10:19-20 NASB95 What do I mean then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons.

Things that are sacrificed (a form of worship) to anything other than God are done in the practice of worship of demons.

We, because of Christ, no longer have blood sacrifices. However, worship has not stopped. Paul explains that worship of anything other than Yahweh God through the Lord Jesus in the power and Guidance of God the Spirit is done to demons.

We have many idols that are worshipped today. We even praise them by giving shows the name as they seek to create the next American Idol.

Merriam-Webster defines an idol as an object of extreme devotion.

Or

a representation or symbol of an object of worship.

Paul says, "An idol is anything? No."

I will define it this way: An idol is nothing that is given the importance of something greater than God.

Often times it is something used in this world for physical pleasure or excitement. Other times, it is something that, according to this world, gives you importance. In any circumstance, an idol has no eternal value, but whether in words or deeds, is given a value by you that is greater and of more importance than God.

Then Paul explains what is behind the idol worship. He says, "They sacrifice to demons and not to God." He is not saying that the object of your worship is demons, but the cause of your worship is, and therefore, you are worshipping demons. Let me give you an example, Christian music is an awesome way to worship God. However, when you worship the artist who sings the song, you have worshipped an idol. They may very well be singing simply to lead you in the worship of God, but demons have led you to worship the artist instead; therefore, you are serving (a form of worship) demons. This happened to Paul and Barnabas as people attempted to worship them, and we can see his response in Acts 14:14-15 NASB95. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM.

Turn from these vain things. The word translated vain literally means idols.

Listen, Satan doesn't care if you verbally and publicly worship him or idols because worship of idols is the spiritual worship of demons.

It is a sad day when paganism is celebrated in our own area, but it is even sadder when Christians without realizing it are worshipping demons by taking part in paganism.

Don't give the demons reason to celebrate. Have no idols, and worship openly the only real God. His Son sacrificed Himself so you could freely worship Him eternally!

Love Bro. Scott