When I was a missionary in Taiwan, I was all too familiar with the smell of burning incense offered to Buddhist and Daoist idols. But after retiring from the mission field and returning to the United States, I was surprised to detect that familiar smell in the most unexpected place: a UPS Store. It appeared an employee had set up an altar space in the back room and was praying to Buddha.

The worship of physical idols is widely practiced around the world today. Yet many evangelicals think of idol worship as something that happens only in the unseen places of the heart—the things in life we prioritize over God, such as wealth, prestige, or pleasure (Col. 3:5).

Though acknowledging the hidden idols of our heart is hermeneutically sound and important for our sanctification, we shouldn’t neglect the application of biblical texts about idolatry to physical objects of worship.

Idol Worship in the World and the Word

Western Christians tend to think less about literal idolatry because we don’t often see physical idol worship practiced openly around us. This leads us to believe it’s an outdated practice that lacks relevance in modern Christianity.

But a study of world religions by the Pew Research Center showed that about 28 percent of the world’s population adheres to religions that predominantly practice idol worship. This is only a little less than the 31.5 percent of the world that identifies as Christian.

In places like Taiwan, hundreds of gods are worshiped. Hindus worship an estimated 330 million gods. Many people from traditions like these continue their practices after moving to Western countries such as the United States. Perhaps you’ve been in the presence of idol worship without even realizing it. For example, many Chinese or Vietnamese restaurants are adorned with small, red altars to Buddha.

We shouldn’t neglect the literal application of biblical texts about idolatry.

Physical idol worship isn’t only prevalent around the world; it’s also repeatedly addressed in Scripture. By some accounts, the Bible condemns it around 200 times. It most notably speaks against idol worship in the second commandment (Ex. 20:4).

When Jacob headed toward Bethel to dedicate himself to the Lord, he told those in his household, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves” (Gen. 35:2, NIV). In Deuteronomy 4, Moses warned the Israelites, “Watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol” (vv. 15–16, NIV) and “Do not be enticed into bowing down to [God’s creation]” (v. 19, NIV). In 13:6–9, Moses even told the Israelites that family members or friends who tried to entice them to worship other gods should be put to death.

Teaching against idol worship pervades the Old Testament and continues in the New, where Paul says, “Gods made by human hands are no gods at all” (Acts 19:26, NIV). Christians cannot ignore what the Bible says about physical idolatry.

How Can We Fight Physical Idolatry?

As we seek to honor God’s second commandment in our everyday lives, we’re right to examine our hearts and repent of idols we find there. But we also need to consider how we can work against physical idol worship.

Support Missionaries

The Old Testament reminds us of the extreme difficulty in pulling people away from idol-worshiping traditions. More often than not, the Israelites incorporated neighboring idols into their religious practice rather than propagating monotheism.

Missionaries and evangelistic ministries working in polytheistic cultures need us to support them financially and pray for them fervently. And we should consistently pray against the idol worship that prevents many people around the world from acknowledging Christ.

Seek Out Polytheists

But missionaries aren’t the only Christians with a role to play. We can proactively seek out opportunities to connect with people of polytheistic faiths in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and schools. This may sound daunting. It’ll probably require you to reach beyond your normal social circles to meet people different than you, and it might expose idolatry in your own heart. But with the Lord’s help, we can pursue our polytheistic neighbors.

When befriending a polytheist, seek to earnestly understand the person’s underlying beliefs. People who worship other gods have a wide array of ways they relate to their gods. These are helpful starter questions:

• Why did you start worshiping this god (or these gods)?
• What do you think your relationship to them is like?
• What happens when you don’t have time for or forget to worship?

One goal of these questions is to figure out if your friend worships out of cultural custom or a deeply felt religious belief. Consider asking your friend to show you the idols and describe how they worship or pray to them.

We should consistently pray against the idol worship that prevents many people around the world from acknowledging Christ.

Once you have a trusting relationship with the person, consider asking more challenging questions. You might ask him or her to read and discuss Isaiah 44 with you. This passage offers a plethora of potential entry points for conversation by depicting a carpenter who takes wood “used as fuel used for burning” and then “fashions a god and worships it” (v. 15, NIV). Isaiah continues, “No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, ‘Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals. . . . Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?’” (v. 19, NIV).

As you discuss this passage, you might ask questions like these:

• How did you acquire your idol? Did you buy it?
• Who made it? Do you think that the god entered it before or after it was made?
• What distinguishes this idol from other similar objects?
• What would happen if you couldn’t keep it anymore, or if it broke?

In most cases, polytheists have an impersonal relationship with their gods. Sharing stories with them about how God is working in your life and how your relationship with him is loving, personal, and intimate can help them begin to see the difference between their gods and the Living God. When the opportunity arises, talk about God’s eternal nature, omnipotence, and omnipresence. Share about how you can pray to God anywhere, at any time. Explain that he knows and cares for us personally.

Share patiently, knowing that walking away from idol worship and turning toward Christ is a lengthy, often difficult process. But also know this: In obeying God’s commands about idol worship, we glorify God by showing his love to all people created in the image of our one, true God.