I am totally convinced that the rash and ever increasing violation of the Second Commandment in our day is due primarily to two serious issues:

1. The doctrine of the majesty of God has been woefully diminished to the point that what the majority of people understand of "god" is far removed from the GOD of Scripture. They don't even have a true understanding of "God is love". What is being preached and taught is as Hoeksema rightly described as an image derived from the creature. In other words, professing Christians and preachers have "anthropomatized" God; fabricating a deity after their own liking. This is the core element of IDOLATRY.

2. Due to #1 and even when the biblical doctrine of GOD is rightly preached and taught, the heart is either moved with an earthly infatuation with this false idol or when GOD is correctly displayed in all His glory as best as we as humans are capable of doing through true preaching and teaching, it is embraced only intellectually. For myself, the most vivid example of how a true Christian responds when he/she comes to realize who GOD truly is can be seen in the following passage:

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Luke 5:6-11 (ASV) And when they had done this, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their nets were breaking; and they beckoned unto their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was amazed, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken; and so were also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their boats to land, they left all, and followed him.
To come face-to-face with the living God drives one to your knees in shame, humility and submission. And, let us not forget the record we have of Moses on Mount Sinai who was given but a tiny glimpse of GOD's "backside" which was so overwhelming that Moses glowed having been exposed to GOD's inexorable glory. (Ex 33:15-23; 34:28-35)

An "all too familiarity" in speaking of GOD is a terrifying indication that one's heart has probably not been exposed to the one true Living GOD.

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simul iustus et peccator

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