1 John 5:21 21Children, keep yourselves from idols.
We come to the last verse of this book, which serves as a strong warning. It seems to stand out and is a rather abrupt change of topic. Yet it fits with the previous verses, which remind readers of one of the most challenging issues we face as humans: replacing the worship of God with the worship of something else. Idolatry is the manifestation of the core problem of sin. Sin, in its simplest form, is a lack of worship of God. One of Satan’s temptations for Jesus was to fall down and worship him. Jesus refused because he had total confidence and faith in the Father.
Temptation seeks to replace the worship of God with something else. Minimally, temptation seeks to replace God’s will with our own desires. Idols do not need to be physical objects, but they often take that form. Idols can be actions or activities that keep us from worshipping God. At the critical point, it comes down to priorities. What or who is most important in our lives? Whom do we seek to please? Who is the master? If we put Jesus as Lord, then there will be no room for anything else. We must watch for distractions from this core principle for spiritual growth.
Two issues could stand behind this verse. For Jewish followers of Jesus, other Jews may have accused them of being idolaters for believing in a man. John has made clear in the letter that it is no idolatry to worship Jesus because he represents God. The two are connected in purpose and being, though they are distinct in personhood. For Gentile followers, this verse is a strong warning to come out of their pagan context and its darkness and to live a new life of righteousness. Some readers may have lived in Ephesus, which was full of idols, with the temple of the great Artemis standing at its center (Acts 19:35). Idolatry was a strong temptation in the city. Magic, incantations, and various superstitions were common practices. The earliest believers may have been tempted to blur the Christian faith with the myths around them, leading them to syncretism. The readers of this letter could not help but come in contact with idolatry and pagan worship. They needed a clear understanding of Jesus and the key statements of faith about him.
If this letter were successful, as is assumed by its canonization, it would have led the first readers to a deeper, more committed faith in Jesus. They would have been convicted of the sin in their lives, confessed it, and become transformed in their thinking and behavior. They would have learned what it means to love one another, especially those in need. These same goals of love and holiness call us to a higher lifestyle in the model of Jesus, so that when he appears again, we will be like him (3:2).