Idol Worship
The Ten Commandments, as presented in Exodus chapter 20, are foundational to Judeo-Christian ethics. However, the representation and teaching of these commandments, particularly the second one concerning idolatry, has been a subject of debate and scrutiny, especially in the context of Catholic education. Catholic-led schools often neglect to teach or show the second commandment of Exodus chapter 20 when teaching the ten commandments.
Exodus 20:4-6 (NKJV)
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Within some Catholic educational settings, there is a tendency to underemphasize or reinterpret this commandment. Many students are told that because they are young, they cannot decipher the scriptures, and therefore cannot fully understand the commandment which specifically forbids idol worship. As a result, many follower’s of the Catholic faith simply ignore the second commandment.
It is also possible that some Roman Catholics will never come across the verse on idolatry in all their churchgoing.
This is attributed, in part, to the structuring of the TenCommandments, where the prohibition against idolatry (the second commandment) is sometimes combined with the first commandment, and the tenth commandment is divided in two to maintain or complete the count of ten.
This is in direct contradiction to the Lord’s command in Deuteronomy 4:2, which states:
Deuteronomy 4:2 (NKJV)
You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
However, the question remains?
Why is the second commandment ignored? Why is the commandment against idol worship removed from the ten commandments in Roman Catholic teachings?
The answer is simple, they are deliberate doctrinal adjustments to authenticate their traditions. But this is simply not within our authority to remove a command from the Bible. Idolatry is strictly forbidden by the sacred scriptures.
Here are a few scriptures from the Old and New Testament where idolatry is forbidden;
Old Testament: Exodus 20:3-5 | Leviticus 26:1 | Deuteronomy 4:15-19 | Deuteronomy 5:7-9 | Deuteronomy 27:15 | 2 Kings 17:35-38 | Isaiah 44:9-20 | Jeremiah 25:6 | Ezekiel 14:6 | Ezekiel 20:7-8
New Testament: Acts 17:29 | Romans 1:22-25 | 1 Corinthians 10:14 | 1 Corinthians 10:19-22 | Galatians 5:19-21 | 1 John 5:21 | Revelation 21:8 | Revelation 22:15