You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3) When most people hear the word idolatry, they think of ancient civilizations bowing to golden calves, wooden statues, or carved images of foreign gods. It feels like a concept trapped in the pages of history, something long gone and irrelevant to our modern lives. Yet the truth is that idolatry is more alive today than ever before. Its form may have changed, but its grip is just as dangerous. Instead of stone idols and pagan temples, the gods of the 21st century are hidden in plain sight, cloaked in ambition, entertainment, possessions, relationships, and even within religious practices themselves. We may not kneel before physical statues, but every day, many of us bow in our hearts to things that have taken the place of God. In Woe: The Reflection, Redirection, and Reassurance of God, author Manervia Washington pulls the veil off this modern deception. She reminds us that idolatry is not limited to bowing before objects; it is allowing anything to take priority over the Lord in our hearts and minds. It is trusting more in the provision than in the Provider, depending more on human approval than on God’s approval, and seeking fulfillment in material possessions rather than in His presence. Idolatry can be subtle and deceptive, creeping into our daily lives without us realizing it. A job, a relationship, wealth, status, or even church traditions can become idols if they begin to occupy the place that belongs only to God.

This is why idolatry today is far more dangerous than in the past. It does not always look evil or threatening. In fact, it often appears normal, respectable, and even admirable. Success, self-care, cultural pride, and personal freedom may seem harmless on the surface, but when they displace devotion to Christ, they become altars where we worship at the expense of holiness. Washington explains that the most dangerous idols are not the ones we easily recognize, but the ones we excuse. They are the habits, attachments, and beliefs we defend while our spiritual lives wither. The consequences of such misplaced devotion are no different from those seen in biblical times. When Israel turned to idols, their families collapsed, their nation was divided, and their fellowship with God was destroyed. Judgment followed swiftly. The same pattern exists in our world today. Broken homes, spiritual emptiness, moral decay, and widespread corruption are all fruits of a society steeped in idolatry. The Lord declared Himself to be a jealous God, unwilling to share His glory with anything or anyone else, and His nature has not changed.

Washington also points to the way modern idolatry thrives within the church itself. Many pastors preach prosperity and comfort but neglect to preach repentance and holy living. Congregations often chase blessings without obedience, seeking the promises of God while ignoring His commands. Even religious images — portraits of Jesus, statues of saints, and shrines created in households — have become substitutes for genuine worship. When the church becomes more concerned with numbers, popularity, or traditions than with truth, it has surrendered to the very idolatry God warns against. The challenge for Christians in the 21st century is to examine their own hearts honestly. Idolatry does not always look like bowing to another god; it often looks like prioritizing family, career, wealth, or even ministry above intimacy with Christ. Abraham was tested when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac, and though God never intended for the child’s death, He wanted to see if Abraham’s devotion to Him outweighed even his love for his son. That story stands as a reminder that nothing in our lives should be placed above obedience to God.

Yet even in the face of judgment, the mercy of God remains. Just as He called Israel back to Himself when they repented, He is still calling His children to turn away from their idols and return to Him. Washington emphasizes the need for true repentance — not just lip service or emotional guilt, but a genuine turning away from sin and a redirection of trust back to God. Repentance tears down the idols we build in our hearts and clears the way for a stronger, more authentic relationship with the Father. The invitation is simple but powerful. We must recognize where our loyalties have shifted, confess our misplaced devotion, and surrender again to God’s lordship. In doing so, we exchange emptiness for fulfillment, deception for truth, and destruction for restoration. Idolatry promises satisfaction but always leaves us hungry. Christ promises life and gives it abundantly to those who seek Him first.

The question we must ask ourselves is not whether idols still exist, but which idols we may already be serving. Are we worshipping wealth, possessions, people, or images more than the Creator Himself? Have we allowed the pursuit of worldly success to overshadow the pursuit of holiness? Do we fear losing material comfort more than losing the presence of God? These are difficult questions, but they are essential if we want to live free from the hidden chains of idolatry. Washington’s words carry both warning and hope. The warning is that idolatry, if left unaddressed, will always invite the wrath of God. But the hope is that He is willing and eager to forgive when we repent. His love is relentless, and His mercy is greater than any idol we could ever build.