Devotional: Strange God's

Strange Gods

By Marsha Iddings

Deuteronomy 32:16-17 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.

Last time we looked at the slow decline of America into forsaking God and esteeming Him lightly. We also looked at some of the abominations that are taking place in our nation. Our verse for today says that these things provoke God to anger.

It talks about provoking God to jealously with stange gods and sacrificing to devils and not to God. How have we as a nation done this? What strange gods do Americans worship?

Self has become a god to many Americans. Consider the following:

From the book: "Faith,Hope,and Love:An Inspirational Treasury": "God lies ahead. I convince myself and constantly repeat to myself that: He depends on us. It is through us that God is achieved"

"In December 2006, a NEWSWEEK magazine poll named Marianne Williamson one of the most influential baby boomers. According to Time Magazine, "Yoga, the Cabala and Marianne Willimanson have been taken up by those seeking a relationship with God that is not strictly tethered to Christianity."

"In this course...Marianne will guide you in the realization of your career as a spiritual journey, viewing your path to success as an initiation into your higher Self. She will teach you how to tap into the law of "divine compensation" -- the power of love to compensate for any limitations in the material world. Through devotion, prayer, forgiveness and compassion for self and others, we will activate our miraculous power to turn limited probabilities into unlimited possibilities." Cost for the Seminar: $249 early reg. And $299 standard.

Consider this, taken from a discussion forum at http://www.ttonline.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4639 :

"1. "I AM GOD" statement has come from the mouths of many so called realized mystics around the world. Jesus Christ is one of those great mystics.

2. "I AM GOD" statement is not supposed to be used for ego gratification , instead a person who states that is humbler than a blade of grass.

3 Anyone who is in search of "truth" will finally come to the realization that I AM GOD, whether that person is a Hindu or a Christian or a Moslem or a Jew or an atheist or an agnostic.

I am fascinated by the statement I AM GOD. It is often repeated by the right wing Christian preachers in their sermons to condemn eastern religions as well as New Age. Unluckily, they have no idea the truth behind the I AM GOD concept. I AM GOD concept does not originate from the limited ego of a person but from the mind of a person who has attained self-realization. " (Emphasis mine)

I asked my Facebook friends what they thought were gods to many people. Here is a sampling of their responses:

Money, celebrities, friends, family, religion, computer and internet, video games, TV programs, possessions and the list goes on.

It might surprise you that even service to God can become a god to you. There have been times in my life when this has happened. I was involved doing so many church duties that I didn't have any time left for God. It had become my god.

Basically, any thing or person that is more important to you than your time spent with God is your god. If your goal is self realization and tapping into "the Divine within", then you have become your own god.

These gods provoke the one true God to anger.

So, what is your passion? What person or thing consumes you and your time? What distracts you from spending regular time reading the Bible and communing with God? What ever it is, it is your god.