Are dream catchers an idol?

Are dream-catchers an idol?

  • Yes

    Votes: 14 35.0%
  • No

    Votes: 19 47.5%
  • Unsure

    Votes: 7 17.5%

  • Total voters
    40

Kersh

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You just don't get it, what else can I say.

This is the type of response that makes me shy away from CF and really turns non-believers off of the gospel. Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (1 Cor. 13:35) But, I see nothing loving or kind in such a dismissive response. If you disagree with me, explain why. If I'm wrong, I should be corrected with Scripture, which is "inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." (2 Tim 3:16) But, if it's simply a matter of personal conscience, then please show a modicum of respect for my own personal convictions on the issue, as we are admonished in Romans 14.
 
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Kersh

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Our JW friends tell us that certain traditions we have adopted for Christmas, are pagan. They are right. Are we wrong to have treeś, hang mistletoe, and have yule logs ?

I don't believe so, but I would respect the conscience of Christians who disagree with me. For example, I wouldn't invite a Christian who doesn't celebrate Christmas to my Christmas party, offer them a Christmas gift, or belittle them for not wanting one.
 
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dqhall

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No. An idol is only and idol if you believe it deserves worship.
It is vanity and waste. The dream catcher has no power or charm.

I don't know why people buy emeralds and rubies. They can not help a person. Colored glass is much cheaper and is also a vanity, unless it is shaped into something useful like a bowl or a cup.

An ex-girlfriend had piles and piles of clothes, shoes and accessories. About all it was good for was nearly bankrupting her. She collected perfume and spent time and money getting pedicures. It was a nightmare. Her checking account was overdrawn.

"Buy what thou hast no need of and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessities." - Benjamin Franklin (1757)
 
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JIMINZ

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This is the type of response that makes me shy away from CF and really turns non-believers off of the gospel. Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (1 Cor. 13:35) But, I see nothing loving or kind in such a dismissive response. If you disagree with me, explain why. If I'm wrong, I should be corrected with Scripture, which is "inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." (2 Tim 3:16) But, if it's simply a matter of personal conscience, then please show a modicum of respect for my own personal convictions on the issue, as we are admonished in Romans 14.

Have you read every post in this thread, or have you selected only those posts you want to respond to?

I and others have given everything a Christian would need to know in order for them to believe the possession of such items are not in the best interest of the Christian, but you have not allowed yourself to understand that reasoning.

I personally refuse to argue with you when you mind is so clearly made up.

The understanding we are expressing doesn't come in just one convenient verse that people would like to have, it comes from a more complete understanding of what has been said in the Old as well as the New Testaments, regarding the Spiritual matters concerning the Christian and the Spirit world, which you I gather do not take very seriously.
Therefore what else can I say that would convince you of you error in belief on this matter?

Go in Peace
 
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Clint Edwards

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What about if one is to consider that such an object holds mystical power?
If you believe a piece of wood, or rock arranged a certain way contains mystical power, then you best leave it alone. The Wiccans and other pagans believer everything as inherent mystical power.
 
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Kersh

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What about if one is to consider that such an object holds mystical power?

That could be problematic, but it's not idolatry unless there is some sense of worship involved. If one is relying on the thing to keep away evil spirits in a way that displaces God from His role as our protector or in a way that openly disobeys God's call on a person, that could idolatry. But simply believing that it might help, I don't think so.
 
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JIMINZ

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No. An idol is only and idol if you believe it deserves worship.

.
Don't be so dogmatic about the word Idol, it goes deeper than just that.

Eph 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Do you get it now?
 
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friend of

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but it's not idolatry unless there is some sense of worship involved.

Ah, idolatry is actually quite a robust definition. I used to drink alcohol for example. I didn't worship it but drunkenness is idolatry because the definition also includes "excessive devotion" to something. But I believe this could include mere observation of a thing. In this case, it would be the observation of a talisman holding an occultic property.
 
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JIMINZ

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That could be problematic, but it's not idolatry unless there is some sense of worship involved. If one is relying on the thing to keep away evil spirits in a way that displaces God from His role as our protector or in a way that openly disobeys God's call on a person, that could idolatry. But simply believing that it might help, I don't think so.

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The dream catcher is and was designed to catch the bad dreams one has and destroy them when the sun arises.

Isn't that displacing God, it isn't worshiping the item, but it is putting faith into an inanimate object, rather than God.

This is in effect a Religious Item, it is not a piece of art, it will do what it has been produced to do, regardless of if you believe it or not, and therein lies the danger for the Christian.
 
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Kersh

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Have you read every post in this thread, or have you selected only those posts you want to respond to?

I and others have given everything a Christian would need to know in order for them to believe the possession of such items are not in the best interest of the Christian, but you have not allowed yourself to understand that reasoning.

I personally refuse to argue with you when you mind is so clearly made up.

The understanding we are expressing doesn't come in just one convenient verse that people would like to have, it comes from a more complete understanding of what has been said in the Old as well as the New Testaments, regarding the Spiritual matters concerning the Christian and the Spirit world, which you I gather do not take very seriously.
Therefore what else can I say that would convince you of you error in belief on this matter?

Go in Peace

Actually, I have read every post in this thread, and I have not encountered a single biblical reason to believe that DCs are off limits to all Christians in all circumstances. I certainly respect your right to avoid them, but I will not shame any Christian who has one or more of them. There is no clear biblical command on the issue that I can find; if you know of one, I really would like you to share it with me. But, in the absence of clear biblical guidance, I will lean on the side of liberty and grace, rather than law and condemnation. Meanwhile, I'd encourage you that, if DCs offend your conscience, abstain.

But, please don't belittle or dismiss me for following my own conscience on the issue.
 
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Clint Edwards

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Have you read every post in this thread, or have you selected only those posts you want to respond to?

I and others have given everything a Christian would need to know in order for them to believe the possession of such items are not in the best interest of the Christian, but you have not allowed yourself to understand that reasoning.

I personally refuse to argue with you when you mind is so clearly made up.

The understanding we are expressing doesn't come in just one convenient verse that people would like to have, it comes from a more complete understanding of what has been said in the Old as well as the New Testaments, regarding the Spiritual matters concerning the Christian and the Spirit world, which you I gather do not take very seriously.
Therefore what else can I say that would convince you of you error in belief on this matter?

Go in Peace
Amazing response. The Catholic Church gave Galileo everything he needed to know so he would believe the sun orbited the earth. He didn´t believe it. You are saying that you and others just know best and if this isn´t conceded, one is not serious about knowing the truth. I don´t believe it.
 
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Kersh

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The dream catcher is and was designed to catch the bad dreams one has and destroy them when the sun arises.

Isn't that displacing God, it isn't worshiping the item, but it is putting faith into an inanimate object, rather than God.

This is in effect a Religious Item, it is not a piece of art, it will do what it has been produced to do, regardless of if you believe it or not, and therein lies the danger for the Christian.

Like I said, if you're relying on the DC to perform some miraculous power rather than seeking the Holy Spirit, that may be worshipful. If you believe that it is a cool looking thing to hang on your wall, and heck if it helps you have good dreams, that's a bonus, I don't see an attitude of worship there. I'd analogize it to money: if you have money and you spend money on things you want and need, it's not necessarily an idol. If you live your life for the pursuit of money, believing that it, not God, will be your provider, then it is an idol.
 
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JIMINZ

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Amazing response. The Catholic Church gave Galileo everything he needed to know so he would believe the sun orbited the earth. He didn´t believe it. You are saying that you and others just know best and if this isn´t conceded, one is not serious about knowing the truth. I don´t believe it.

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You can read my post any way you like, and I can see you have done so, but what I said before that you took such umbrage to you yourself have just made my comments valid.

What Else Can I Say, you have closed your ears to the matter.

Go in Peace.
 
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Clint Edwards

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Don't be so dogmatic about the word Idol, it goes deeper than just that.

Eph 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Do you get it now?
So an arrangement of sticks and feathers and yarn are evil beings from the unseen world ? These sticks and feathers and yarn will harm you if you have one ? Truly ? Christ won´t allow sticks and feathers and yarn to harm me. I can choose to give them power over me if I believe they have this power, then they can harm me. Do you get it now ?
 
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Kersh

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Clint Edwards

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Like I said, if you're relying on the DC to perform some miraculous power rather than seeking the Holy Spirit, that may be worshipful. If you believe that it is a cool looking thing to hang on your wall, and heck if it helps you have good dreams, that's a bonus, I don't see an attitude of worship there. I'd analogize it to money: if you have money and you spend money on things you want and need, it's not necessarily an idol. If you live your life for the pursuit of money, believing that it, not God, will be your provider, then it is an idol.
Money has a pagan religious symbol on it, the all seeing eye adopted by the masons. Does that give a dollar bill inherent evil powers in the paper and ink ?
 
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Angeldove97

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Idolatry is defined as the worship of idols or extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone. If the dream catcher is something you worship, that is a problem. If it is a cute decoration that you hang up while knowing what some cultures believe they are, then that's fine.

Don't sweat the small stuff.
 
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