The The Bible clearly warns that idols are ultimately worthless false gods.

So why did the Apostle Paul also warn Christians about the dangers of making pagan sacrifices

even though Christians don't believe in pagan gods?

Today on Truth for Life, Alistairbegg investigates the dangerous force behind idolatry.

Now to 1st Corinthians chapter 10 and when you get your Bible open on your lap let's pause for a moment

and bow in prayer once again.

Lord, we have spoken to you in prayer, we have praised you in our song,

and now we come to these moments when we believe that you will speak to us in a way that is beyond simply the voice of a man.

And so we pray for alertness that our minds may be engaged, that our hearts may be stirred,

that our wills may be challenged, and that our lives may be renewed for Jesus sake. Amen.

We're returning to the portion of scripture that we were looking at last time in 1st

Corinthians 10. We said then that we're dealing with one of the dangers of freedom of

which he addresses three in this chapter, having dealt with the danger

of presumptuousness and about to deal with the danger of legalism to which we will come again,

he now in verses 14 to 22 is dealing with the danger of compromise.

The context is such that some of the Corinthians were apparently taking their freedom in questionable matters just a bit too far.

And as a result of that, they were flirting with idolatry.

Paul consequently warns them in no uncertain terms that and you'll see this in

verse 21 they just can't have things both ways you cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too. We saw last time that the

approach that he takes is warm. Verse 14, he calls them his dear friends. The approach that he takes is directive. He is

urging them not to any kind of leisurely contemplation of sin, but rather to run from it and to run from it quickly. His approach is also an

encouraging one in that he seeks from them, not their blind submission, but rather that they would use their

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