I know that might seem like an odd question to ask, but think about what God says in the Ten Commandments.
"You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments."
(Exodus 20:4-6, NASU)
In these verses God equates hatred towards Him as loving anything or anyone more than Him.
An idol is anything or anyone "in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth" that you value more than Christ. An idol is not simply a image carved out of stone or wood. An idol is far more reaching than that. Consider the following verses:
"For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
He has also rejected you from being king."
(1 Samuel 15:23, NASU)
"Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, "the people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play. Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did. "
(1 Corinthians 10:6-8, NASU)
"Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry."
(Colossians 3:5, NASU)
A rejection of the Word of God is insubordination and idolatry. Craving evil things, things that are not according to godliness, is idolatry. Immorality, impurity, passion (not directed toward God), evil desire, and greed are all forms of idolatry. These are not images carved out of stone or wood, these are images carved out in our hearts.
A.W. Tozar said, "The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him."
God commands us not to long for and go after those things that we think will make us happy, but we must find our happiness in Him.
"In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever."
(Psalm 16:11, NASU)
So according to Exodus and the testimony of Scripture, to love anything or anyone more than to love Christ is idolatry which is hatred toward God. Even indifference towards Him and His Word is a form of hatred towards Him because we are commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). Therefore, someone that has been transformed by His grace and indwelt by His Spirit cannot remain indifferent towards God. To be indifferent towards God is to love something or someone more than Him and to do that is hatred toward God.
Are you loving God or are you hating God? One way you know what you love is by what you say. Your words, your conversations give evidence as to what is in your heart.
"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart."
(Luke 6:45, NASU)
Father, we are a people who are easily entangled by the desires of our own sinful nature and we are in constant need of Your forgiveness. Strengthen us so that we might stand firm in Your might against all forms of idolatry. Grant us faith to see Christ as more valuable than the thousands of daily pleasures. Give to us the desire to obey your Word, that it might be to us more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. Stir in us affections for You, that we might love you above everything else and that our worship will be the overflow of our enjoyment in Christ. Awaken us from our stupor to see Your greatness and goodness that we might enjoy Your grace and extend Your glory. In Jesus name, Amen.
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