What Constitutes Idolatry?

Hopefully it is ok if I comment here, but I would say that idolatry is giving something (or someone) the praise that is due to God alone. If you're putting up a nativity scene, or have pictures of holy scenes in a book, or an angel on top of your tree, or things like this and the intent is to direct your attention to God, not to worship whatever the object is, I think it is fine. You're putting out the nativity scene because you're celebrating the birth of Christ, not because you're worshiping the plastic statues.

If an image of some sort is made, then there is the risk that someone may treat it as an idol. An example of an image specifically authorized by God is the snake on a pole. It was used as an aid to people's faith at the time, but later on it was worshiped and had to be eliminated.

If we use any representation of the things of God, we should think about the possibility that someone may see it as an object of worship later. I wear a cross, which I see as a way to proclaim my faith in Jesus, yet some might see my cross as having power in itself. Sprinkling holy water and waving the cross, as seen in some exorcism movies, is clearly making the cross an idol.

I think picture books are not normally a problem. I personally would strongly object to most statues of Jesus, yet a portrayal of the manger scene is ok if not focusing on any object in a way that could become worship.

In general, if we are careful to think about the possibility that someone may erroneously treat something as an object of worship and not display it if in doubt, we should be ok. I have even seen a Torah scroll treated in a manner I was uncomfortable with, yet clearly we shouldn't avoid Torah scrolls because of the possibility.

I would like to ask whether the people on this subforum consider than an idea can be an idol.

archer75 said:

I would like to ask whether the people on this subforum consider than an idea can be an idol.

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Of course it can. Anything, be it idea, picture, money, or whatever, has become an idol if it leads you away from God.

1. It is an image, object, substance, practice/routine[?], person, etc. that one worships, instead of the God of the Bible.
2. It is an image, object, substance, practice/routine[?], person, etc. that one elevates above of Godly priorities, even if it doesn't displace God, Himself.*
   
3. It is an image or object deliberately created to receive such worship (even if the object's owner does not engage in such).

*Suppose you see an [unclaimed] fifty-dollar bill on the ground.

• If you reach down and pick it up; no harm, no foul.
• If you violently push your neighbor out of the way to get to it, you have elevated its worth above that which God wants you to hold for your neighbor. It has become idolatry even if you still hold God in high esteem.

archer75 said:

I would like to ask whether the people on this subforum consider than an idea can be an idol.

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The most common form of such an idea would be a pet "philosophy." It must pass the 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 test.

What constitutes idolatry is in the object, the practice, and the heart of worship.

As to the object of our worship, it doesn't have to be a wood, stone, or molten image, but can be whatever we imagine, revere, and/or obey in equal standing with or above or treat as God himself. Even having a false view of God could constitute a false object of worship, such as that found in Islam, Judaism, and other monotheistic religions. This falls under the first commandment of the Decalogue.

As to the practice of our worship, it doesn't have to be bowing prostrate to a wood, stone, or molten image as representing God or anything created in this world, but can be whatever we add/subtract/distort from whatever God clearly commands in worship. This includes certain rites, observances, mode, or anything that strays from the proper way to worship God. This falls under the second commandment of the Decalogue.

As to the heart of our worship, it can be an emotional, affectionate, intellectual or personal attachment to a false object or practice of worship, or it can be a false/lack of truth and spirit in the proper object and/or practice of worship (cold-orthodoxy). It matters how you approach God and his holiness. This falls under the third commandment of the Decalogue.

As Calvin once said, "...man's nature is a perpetual factory of idols," but praise God for Jesus Christ and his redemptive work!

Hammster said:

Taking a good thing and making it an ultimate thing. That could be money, kids, spouse, job, church, etc.

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Yes ...
The nt denotes coveteousness as Idolatry.
Anything that you hold important above the truth of JESUS.
Anything that usurps authority over the truth of Jesus
Anything that seeks to share his glory or that one places beside ..
Yes that means mary, saints, pastors, people. Angels or any depictions thereof.
If one is uncertain as to whether one is in the sin of idolatry then test whether you are in bondage to it...
Break it
Burn it
Give it up
Give it away ...
If you find in your heart that one cannot do so.. One is in bondage to idolatry in regard to that thing

Chris V++ said:

I'm wondering what constitutes idolatry. Is it our reaction to, or belief about an engraved, sculpted, or painted image that turns it into an idol, or is the image itself? Is iconography, sculpture, and Western religious art automatically considered idolatry? If so, where do we draw the line? If Western art or icons or sculptures are idols, why aren't
illustrated children's Bibles or religious pamphlets or the plastic nativity scenes put up in the town centers or Christmas tree angel toppers considered idols? Or do objects have to worshiped or venerated in such a way , or believed to have supernatural properties, to become idols?

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Anything in your life that means more to you than the love, and worship of God, I can be anything.

Yes, it's tied in with coveteousness...
Colossians 3:5 (KJV) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

crossnote said:

Yes, it's tied in with coveteousness...
Colossians 3:5 (KJV) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

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that then includes the passionate desire for ones favoured sports team ... Under" inordinate affection"
Time to forsake superbowl folks. .........

Idolatry is often broadly defined to include just about everything. I don't really ascribe to this way of thinking. I think there's something distinctive about bowing to an image and praying to it, burning incense to it, or otherwise placing it in a role that only God deserves.