"You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or 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 on 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. (Exodus 20:1-6, NKJV)

It’s a long way (both in time and distance) from the foot of Mt. Sinai to the sound stages of modern Hollywood.

Though times, places and nations may change, one thing remains constant: Almighty God does not tolerate competition in the hearts of His people. That is the first commandment: no other gods. No other gods before, after or around Him. No other gods!

The second commandment applies the first commandment to the religious beliefs of the contemporary nations of ancient Israel (i.e. no carved images). Ancient civilizations (particularly the Egyptian nation where Israel was coming from and the Canaanite peoples where they were headed) were pagan. They had a variety of gods that they honored, worshipped and served. They fashioned representations of these mythological "deities" from wood, stone and fine metal. These served as the focal points of their worship. The idols were gods!

Throughout the Old Testament we read of the difficulties the children of Israel had with idolatry. Again and again they were swept away from their devotion to God and into the craze and influence of the surrounding culture’s gods.

Baal and Asherah were the favored deities of the Canaanite peoples. It is no coincidence that these were also the idols that the Israelites would choose to fool around with from generation to generation. All their non-Jewish neighbors served these agrarian/fertility gods with seeming impunity. Why couldn’t the Israelites? Exodus 20:5 tells us: idolatry is God-hating.

Judges serves as convicting evidence of the detrimental influence pagan cultures had on God’s people.

We need reminding about this, for just as there were Canaanite idols then so there are American Idols today.

Contemporary worship of American Idols may not be as blatant as bowing before stone or wood. But they are fashioned from fame, pride, wealth and celebrity. The culture surrounding the people of God pays faithful homage to them and we can be influenced by that culture, forsaking God!

I don’t believe that the television program, "American Idol" is wrong in and of itself. Though it is painful to watch this nation-wide, "talent" show/ popularity contest, I would not say that another is sinning in viewing it.

But its name typifies the very evil and danger this article addresses: The idolatry of celebrity! Modern American Idols!

We must beware of the Idols: Fame, Celebrity, Stardom. For these are the false gods that the peoples around us pay homage.

Consider how people hunger for the word about these idols. The number of tabloids, gossip columns, celebrity news. Even nightly news programming and supposed news magazines have large segments devoted to "entertainment."

Consider how people hunger for the words of these idols. Celebrity spokes persons sell all kinds of products, the idea is if they say it’s good then you and I will believe it. "Celebs" often speak out for political and social protest. They are considered credible for no greater credential than fame.

Consider how people seek to imitate these idols. Fashion trends, hair styles, exercise regimens are dictated by the famous. Some people even undergo dangerous and painful plastic surgery to look like their favorite celebrities. MTV airs a program about it.

If such does not constitute idolatry, then what does?

Yet, do we hunger for the word about God? What is our attitude toward preaching, worship, Bible classes, etc.?

Do we hunger for the word of God? Do we read the Bible and devour study-aides the way we do gossip magazines?

Do we seek to imitate almighty God? Do we try to clothe ourselves in Christ and allow His character to fashion our own?

We must live holy devoted to God. He admits of no equals. He admits of no graven images. Let us stand fast in full devotion to Him and be holy among the American Idolaters of our day.