What Constitutes Idolatry?

Chris V++ said:

So do you think it's possible that idols can draw demons or generate demonic activity by their own power or is it in the intention or attention of a worshiper that gives them power?

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I don't attribute any power to inanimate objects, except the energy of God by which all things exist. What I would say is that the person whom bestows worship on the idol is using the powers which God has placed in his soul in order that he might have communion with God, to instead commune with other things...some of which may be demonic, some of which may in fact be simply good objects which are being used in an improper way. So the power involved here in attracting someone to the idol, would stem from the person themself, not as an external thing from the idol. That is not to say that I don't think actual demonic powers can present themself to people and try to tempt them, but even in this scenario I believe the demonic does not have power over the soul of one who believes on Christ unless that soul consents to it.

Chris V++ said:

If have dollar in my wallet and refuse to give it to a beggar since I earmarked it for an ice cream cone, I've committed idolatry?

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Only if you are certain that God wanted you to do otherwise. Was there any such ambiguity in my example?

Chris V++ said:

The Methodist church I currently attend has decorative stained glass windows depicting Christ's baptism and also when He was in the boat with the apostles during the storm.

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They're just illustrations. You've heard that a picture is worth a thousand words, and it's true. Instead of a paragraph of text, the idea is conveyed with an image, but both use symbols and both are illustrative.

Chris V++ said:

So do you think it's possible that idols can draw demons or generate demonic activity by their own power or is it in the intention or attention of a worshiper that gives them power?

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You know, I was actually in a sanctuary where I sensed the presence of a demon that retreated into a statue (idol). I don't think that a statue has any tendency to draw a demon by itself, but clearly an idol can. The difference between the two is in how they're treated. I do think that the demonic activity really does reside in the physical inanimate object, for whatever reason, but if it does, then it's a product of the human approach to that object (I would also consider the possibility that the human treatment of the object results from the demonic activity, also). That being the case, I would always strongly recommend against bringing someone else's idol into your own home, even if you do not regard it as anything more than folk art. It's a lot like bringing someone's disease-infested bedding into your own home, even if you don't intend to sleep in it.

Chris V++ said:

So what does God clearly command and conversely forbid in worship? I attended a Church of Christ for a time that forbade the use of any musical instruments in worship since the Bible didn't authorize instruments. The Bible doesn't expressly forbid them, and Jews clearly were allowed to use them, but the NT never came out and stated they are ok for worship. The pastor put it this way, the only instrument authorized in the NT for worship was 'the mouth" for singing.

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Did he mention that the only means of travel is by donkey, or only means of communication is by letter? Better get rid of that microwave they didn’t use those to cook in the New Testament. I bet those papyrus bibles get really heavy to lug around.

Chris V++ said:

I was just adding another example to show I understood what you were saying.

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Whether or not to tackle an unsuspecting bystander is (mostly) a no-brainer.

Whether or not to give to a nearby poor person varies from case-to-case.

Hammster said:

Not really. I think it would depend on how winning or losing affects you.

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If one has alloted time effort and cares at all about the pointless persuit of a ball crossing a line and who does it the most.. One must question motive...
I always say
If you want to test whether a thing is a idol in ones life -shake the shelf its sitting on and see if they run to protect it.

Hammster said:

As long as it’s not a sin.

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Meh.. It misses the mark ....
Not what you'd call " a sin unto death"

Hammster said:

Some could say posting on forums misses the mark. So, opinions vary.

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Tuoche ....

Chris V++ said:

This pastor bought radio time for a call in forum to preach and ultimately debate the Bible. I remember one of his critics calling in and saying something like "I attended your church, and you let some of your women wear braided hair. God never authorized braided hair. " 1 Timothy 2:9

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Wow perhaps they should reevaluate Acts 15. Personally I see more than just circumcision being discussed here. I see freedom in Christ not bondage. That kind of thinking is boarderlining legalizm.

I had an interesting experience in Bangkok some years ago. A friend and I wandered into a Buddhist temple and were gazing around when a man came in and told us nicely we must kneel because our head must not be higher than the Buddha's. I left the building but my friend knelt down. He said later he was just being respectful to the local customs. Later we joined a guided tour and were taken to a beautiful Buddhist temple with a very high statue of Buddha so tourists did not have to kneel. What would you (all) have done?

creslaw said:

What would you (all) have done?

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I think "leaving" was the better choice.

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,..." Exodus 20:4-5 NKJV

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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The New Testament seems to recognize certain elements that add up to idolatry:

Chris V++ said:

It seems like they staged the temple so visitors would have no choice but to kneel, considering they might have elevated the statue instead. Is that a widespread practice I wonder?

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The temple where we were asked to kneel was a bit out of the way and not on the usual tourist route - it was open to adherents of the faith to visit and we just wandered in because no one was around - a bit rude I suppose but we didn't mean any disrespect.