In our series Introduction, Article One, I promised: "This series, "Modern Day Apostles," will focus on who and what Apostles are and what they are called to do." One of the things that Apostle's do is maintain contact ~ through correspondence ~ with other believers. This was done in the past primarily by letters. Many writings of the Apostles have been called letters to the churches and epistles, baring the name of the writer or the "Church" to which the "Letter" was to be delivered.

Many Apostles, whose letters have been saved, made their way into what is now generally called "The Holy Bible." The majority of our Bible is made up mostly of those letters. Only the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are not.

The Apostles letters frequently addressed problems that were apparent to the authors, whether by report or The Holy Spirit's revelation. Some of the authors are loving and tactful in their presentations while others are quite blunt. I often enjoy the CEV ( Contemporary English Version) translation for its clarity.

For example, (CEV) 1 John 1: 4 We are writing to tell you these things, because this makes us truly happy. 5 Jesus told us that God is light and doesn't have any darkness in him. Now we are telling you. 6 If we say that we share in life with God and keep on living in the dark, we are lying and are not living by the truth. 7 But if we live in the light, as God does, we share in life with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus washes all our sins away. 8 If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in our hearts. 9 But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and his message isn't in our hearts.

(CEV) James 1:1 From James, a servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Greetings to the twelve tribes scattered all over the world. 2 My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. 3 You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. 4 But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything. 5 If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for asking. 6 But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. 7 If you are that kind of person, you can't make up your mind, and you surely can't be trusted. So don't expect the Lord to give you anything at all.

Today, some letters are written to believers and delivered via ezine articles. For those who can receive them, present day observations and problems are addressed.

I'd like to examine the worship of idols in light of many of today's problems that believers have. According to a respected on-line dictionary: 1. idol

a. An image used as an object of worship.

b. A false god.

2. One that is adored, often blindly or excessively. Something visible but without substance.

Most believers would say that they do not practice idolatry. Yet, from what both the Old and the New Testaments say, many do. The scriptures also say:

(NKJV) Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

(NASB) 2 Kings 17:15 They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers and His warnings with which He warned them. And they followed vanity and became vain, and went after the nations which surrounded them, concerning which the LORD had commanded them not to do like them.

I suggest that in our land we have become like them too. Many have their garden buddha, wooden totem, their "Harmless" statue (a three-dimensional image of a human being or animal that is sculpted, modeled, cast, or carved), sacred shrine, patron saints, cement monuments, ceramic frogs, antique dolls, unicorns, dragonflies, and little angels. Little do most know that such are not "Harmless."

Do you think God is impressed, or is He in some way glorified, by our naked little cherubs who are supposed to be cute? Are not the little playful angelic representations really making a mockery of and deeming His mighty angels? Think about it

(CEV) 1 Timothy 4:1 God's Spirit clearly says that in the last days many people will turn from their faith. They will be fooled by evil spirits and by teachings that come from demons.

(CEV) Revelation 9:20 The people who lived through these terrible troubles did not turn away from the idols they had made, and they did not stop worshiping demons. They kept on worshiping idols that were made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood. Not one of these idols could see, hear, or walk. 21 No one stopped murdering or practicing witchcraft or being immoral or stealing.

"Okay," some will say, "I can accept that." I wonder how many of those who do not have these problems can say that they would not have a problem parting with their humanized sporting trophies, TVs, their computer chat groups, or their video games?

When someone jumps to defend such idols, I can't help but question why. Is this normal? Or does something that they don't recognize have power over them?

The 1st commandment: (CEV) Exodus 20:1 God said to the people of Israel: 2 I am the LORD your God, the one who brought you out of Egypt where you were slaves. 3 Do not worship any god except me. 4 Do not make idols that look like anything in the sky or on earth or in the ocean under the earth. 5 Don't bow down and worship idols. I am the LORD your God, and I demand all your love. If you reject me, I will punish your families for three or four generations.

(CEV) Joshua 24:23 Joshua said, "But you still have some idols, like those the other nations worship. Get rid of your idols! You must decide once and for all that you really want to obey the LORD God of Israel."

(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner -- not even to eat with such a person.

(CEV) Revelation 21:8 But I will tell you what will happen to cowards and to everyone who is unfaithful or dirty-minded or who murders or is sexually immoral or uses witchcraft or worships idols or tells lies. They will be thrown into that lake of fire and burning sulphur. This is the second death.

Perhaps it is appropriate that I end Modern Day Idolatry Modern Day Apostles Series Article Two with a scripture from our brother the Apostle, Paul?

(CEV) Galatians 4:16 Am I now your enemy, just because I told you the truth?

~Rubit Modern Day Idolatry Appears~

Rascal :))