THE EFFECT OF IDOLS ON CHRISTIANS WORSHIP (A CASE STUDY OF UYO L.G.A OF AKWA IBOM STATE)

Abstract

This study was on the effect of idols on Christians worship. Three objectives were raised which included:  To find out how happy is God with idolater, to find out the effect of idols on Christian worshippers and to find out whether God is happy with the unfaithful Christian. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from selected Christians in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).

Chapter one

Introduction

1.1Background of the study

The religious contexts in which early Christian communities grew were important factors in the first-century development of Christianity, affecting what it meant to become a Christian either as a convert from a background in Judaism or as a convert from a background in Greek, Roman, or Egyptian cults. Surrounding religions and cultural norms strongly influenced the first Christian communities in urban environments throughout the Roman Empire because the first generation of Christian converts came directly from other religious constructs. As the early Christians distinguished themselves from the Diaspora Jewish communities in which they originated and actively pursued Gentile converts, the fusion of believers with differing religious backgrounds caused uncertainty and conflict over acceptable beliefs and practices within Christian communities.

In the Bible there is no more serious charge than that of idolatry. Idolatry called for the strictest punishment, elicited the most disdainful polemic, prompted the most extreme measures of avoidance and was regarded as the chief identifying characteristic of those who were the very antithesis of the people of God, namely the gentiles. Fundamental to Israel’s life and faith were the first commandment and its exposition in the Shema (Dt. 6:4-5), which were from early on regarded as touching every aspect of life. The early church likewise treated idol worship with the utmost seriousness (Budin, Stephanie, 2008)

Idolatry is the ultimate expression of unfaithfulness to God and for that reason is the occasion for severe divine punishment. The portrayal of the kings in 1 and 2 Kings is especially revealing. Kings are assessed as either good or bad purely on religious grounds, that is, on the question of whether they destroyed or introduced idols. Omri, one of the greatest kings of Israel, is a case in point. In spite of his political achievements and the ‘might that he showed’ (1 Ki. 16:27), he is only mentioned briefly, for ‘he led Israel to provoke the anger of the Loan their God with their worthless idols’ (1 Ki. 16:26). The theme of judgment on idolatry is also widespread in the NT. The theological grounds for the judgment of idolatry is the jealousy of God. The belief that idolatry arouses God’s jealousy is a sturdy OT theme with a long history. It is introduced in the second commandment (Ex. 20:5; Dt. 5:8-10) and in Exodus 34:14 (‘Do not worship any other god, for the Lord whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God’) it is the explanation of the divine name, ‘Jealous’. In fact all the Pentateuchal references to God’s jealousy have to do with idol-worship

Statement of the problem

The conviction that God’s jealousy inevitably leads him to stern action is also deeply rooted in the OT. God’s jealousy, based upon his love for those he has redeemed at great cost, motivates him to judge his people; Nahum 1:2, ‘The Lord is a jealous God and avenges’. The OT is replete with texts in which God’s jealousy leads him to destroy the faithless among his people. The warning of 1 Corinthians 10:22 echo this teaching. God always angry with those who worship idol. Is the act of betrayal before god to have another god before him. Its important for Christian faithful to worship God alone and not involving in idolatry

Objective of the study

The objectives of the study are;

1. To find out how happy is God with idolater
2. To find out the effect of idols on Christian worshippers
3. To find out whether God is happy with the unfaithful Christian

Research hypotheses

The study formulated the following hypotheses

H1: there is no effect of idols on Christian worshippers

H2: God is happy with the unfaithful Christian

Significance of the study

The study will be significant to students and the Christian. The study will give a clear insight on the effect of idols on Christians worship. The study will enlighten Christian worshipper the sin in worshipping idol. The study will also serve as reference to other researcher that will embark on the related topic

Scope and limitation of the study

The scope of the study covers the effect of idols on Christian worship. The study will be limited to Christians worshipers in Uyo local government of Akwa ibom state.

Limitations/constraints are inevitable in carrying out a research work of this nature. However, in the course of this research, the following constraints were encountered thus:

1. Non-availability of enough resources (finance): A work of this nature is very tasking financially, money had to be spent at various stages of the research such resources which may aid proper carrying out of the study were not adequately available.

Time factor: The time used in carrying out the research work is relatively not enough to bring the best information out of it. However, I hope that the little that is contained in this study will go a long way in solving many greater problems.

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