Do you have a golden calf sitting in your backyard that you worship? Yeah, me neither. Yet idolatry is rampant in America.

While most of us don’t have a golden calf in our backyard, many of us have a television in our living room which can reflect what we worship. Idols have been made from sports and athletes, and Hollywood stars. Other idols could be our homes or a new car (financial standing) —or perhaps our children. There’s nothing wrong with watching sports or clean movies, etc. It’s about what position these things hold in our hearts. And that can be seen in our actions.

View Comments (28)

A few years ago, well-known evangelical author, Jen Hatmaker and her husband came out with a public announcement which stunned many in the Christian community. In a Facebook post, the bestselling author of “7” and “For the Love” announced that she was opening her arms wide to the homosexuality community—as we all should. They need God’s grace as do all who are wrapped in sin. It’s what happened next which becomes the issue.

When asked if she supported gay marriage she responded,

“From a civil rights and civil liberties side and from just a human being side, any two adults have the right to choose who they want to love. And they should be afforded the same legal protections as any of us. I would never wish anything less for my gay friends.”

And that reveals the issue of the heart. Rather than speaking from the Bible as her foundation, Hatmaker elevated civil rights and civil liberties to the reason for her position. The issue about homosexuality isn’t about rights, it’s about holiness.

Hatmaker announced to people engaged in homosexuality and LGBTism (there was no “Q” added at that time) “There is nothing wrong with you.” She received immediate praise and backlash for her announcement. Praise from those trapped in that spiritual stronghold who felt they had just been given permission to continue with no guilt or consequences. They were grateful for her acceptance of them—and of the sin that held them in bondage.

Hatmaker responded by saying she and her husband had been studying the issue for a year and came to the determination that the Bible did not state homosexuality was a sin.

Her new stand was to offer the LGBT community complete acceptance into the Christian community without renouncing sin. That is unsanctified grace—offering grace without repentance.

This article ultimately is not about the Bible’s stand on homosexuality, it’s about idolatry, but I will share just one scripture that makes the biblical stand clear as there is no grey area.

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. 

Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them (Romans 1:20-28 & 32).

The Hatmaker’s chose to approve those who practice sin. Their stand is not biblical, but worse it wasn’t truthful.

What Jen and her husband didn’t disclose for another four years was the true root of the issue. Their daughter had chosen a life of homosexuality. Their shift of theology was a decision in which it was more important to accept their daughter than to accept God’s Word. That’s called idolatry.

Let me be clear, I’m not saying that homosexuals should be cast out of the church or cast out of families. Not at all. The Church needs to do better at showing them love, reaching out to them, and helping them. It is no different than a heterosexual couple living together outside of marriage. Both are sin. One is not worse than the other.

As with anyone involved in sin, we should offer our arms wide so they can be healed and know the truth. We have all been sinners, saved by grace. But we must also remember that Jesus always made it clear that as He accepted the sinner, in the same breath he told them, “Go and sin no more.”

That’s not what Hatmaker has said. Instead she condoned the sin and said, “It’s ok! You don’t have to change!” But to walk with God, we do have to change. We have to lay down sin.

So what do we do when something or someone important to us goes against what the Word of God states? Hatmaker’s choice to go back to the Word of God was absolutely right. But the problem develops when we refuse to accept what the Bible says and rewrite scripture to be inclusive of the sin.

Many Christian parents today find themselves in this difficult quandary. Perhaps it’s not regarding homosexuality. Perhaps your child has chosen a heterosexual relationship of sex outside of marriage. Or adultery. Or perhaps an unsavory vocation that puts you in an awkward position. Do we just “accept them with arms wide open” and say nothing? Do we stand firm on the foundation of the Bible and risk potentially alienating our child? Or do we shift our theology to be inclusive of their choices?

When we do the latter, we elevate our children to a place of idolatry as we exalt the child over God’s Word.

Hatmaker was not transparent in her announcement. This brought confusion to her fans who trusted her. Had she said from the beginning her daughter had chosen that lifestyle and asked for prayer, we could have understood. Instead she hid it for four years. It was the true reason for her shift.

We’ve all watched numerous Christian leaders and parents shift their theology over this particular issue. But it’s happening in other areas as well such as when our children choose progressive ideologies that sound “righteous” but in fact their root goes against the Word of God. It’s often the right heart; but wrong information. Across the nation we see parents who have shifted their theology and values to follow their child’s passionate embrace instead of standing committed to the Word.

It is called idolatry of children.

Sadly, many parents aren’t doing the research regarding what their children support. They accept their child—and so blindly accept their new values. However, we are living in a deceptive and dangerous time. The Bible is clear that we will be held accountable for what we say and do. When we openly endorse sinful lifestyles as “okay,” we align with and give approval to it. Yet the Word tells us, “If anyone causes one of these little ones–those who believe in me–to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” That’s exactly what Hatmaker has done.

Make no mistake we are to love our neighbor, but we do it as Jesus did. He held out His hand and said, “Follow me.” We can’t follow Him and retain a lifestyle of sin. God calls us to be holy as He is holy. The Word is clear, “You shall have no idols before Me.” And that includes our children.

 Lord, give us courage to stand up for Your Truth no matter what. Lord we lay down all idols before you. Forgive us for when we have elevated our children, our entertainment, our wealth, our race, etc over our relationship with You. We repent. Heal us Lord. Heal our land. Lord draw our children back to You. We pray for those who have walked away from the God of their youth to embrace lifestyles and ideologies that celebrate “civil rights” over Your Word. Lord open their eyes and their hearts so that they will return to You. We pray for revival Lord. We lay down every area of sin. Help us to be holy as You are holy.

Karen Hardin is a literary agent, author, and intercessor. Her work has appeared in USA Today, World Net Daily, Intercessors For America, Charisma, CBN.com, The Elijah List, etc. To join the city-by-city prayer movement to save our nation go to: www.city-by-city.org.

For additional information on her ministry, business or to sign up for her prophetic blog go to: www.karenhardin.com or you can contact her at www.prioritypr.org or www.destinybuilders.world. (Photo Credit: Flickr.)

Share your comments of encouragement and conviction on the possibility of our children becoming idols in our lives. . .