After the death of King Solomon, the kingdom of Israel was split because of Solomon's sin of idolatry and worshipping false gods. The prophet Ahijah found Jeroboam and prophesied to him that ten of the twelve tribes of Israel would be given to him because of Solomon's idolatrous practices. And just as the prophesies of true prophets always come to pass, this became reality as well. But the ironic takes place. Even though he knew the kingdom was split because of idolatry, Jeroboam started his own brand of idolatry and set up two golden calves -- one in Dan and one in Bethel. He did this because he thought that if his ten tribes go up to Jerusalem and worship how God's will says they should, that they would return to Rehoboam, Solomon's son, who was king over the tribes Judah and Benjamin. Jeroboam feared that if they returned that they would kill him. He feared for his own life. He feared death and not God. The house of Jeroboam was eventually judged for this and destroyed. 

As you would read through 1st and 2nd Kings you would find that this golden calf idolatry was a snare for generation after generation after generation. You will find sayings like these:

Referring to king Baasha, 1Kings 15:34 says, "And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin."

2Kings 3, speaking of Jehoram, says, “Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom."

Of King Jehoahaz, 2Kings 13:2 says, "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom."

Regarding King Menahem, 2Kings 15:18 says, “And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.”

This idolatry continued for about 210 years until God had Israel carried away by the Assyrians. 
2Kings 17:22-23: For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.

But the most shocking of all these kings is Jehu, the one that destroyed Baal out of Israel, destroyed the house of Ahab, trode over Jezebel, and said come see my zeal for the Lord. Even Jehu was snared by Jeroboam’s sins!

2Kings 10:32: "But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin."

Man-made worship that is mixed with true worship has such a strong lasting, deceiving effect on mankind that is almost impossible to come out of. Today good intentioned, well meaning, even zealous people that are Lutherans, Catholics, Methodist, Pentecostals, Amish, Baptists, Mennonites, Apostolics, Presbyterians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, etc. have been snared in man-made worship mixed with true worship. They might not be bowing to calves but they are believing and teaching false doctrines. (The things you believe and teach are your worship. Acts 24:14 says, "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.").

A lot of false doctrines came through the idolatrous Roman Catholic Church, and even though many have tried to come out of that, they still held onto trinity teachings, pagan holidays, and false salvation doctrines. Many other man-made teachings have been introduced as well into church gatherings along the way from well-meaning pastors and teachers. Jesus said in Luke 22, "Take heed that ye be not deceived." To take heed you are going to have to know what the bible teaches, read it and search the scriptures. 

2Timothy 2:15-16: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness."

God doesn't accept just any worship. John 4:24 says, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." 

Let's cleave to pure Christianity!

- Jason Orndorff