How do you know when something is idolatory?

[Believer-in-Christ]

This could depend on how you look at things. Is there a clear cut way to tell? And is it just worshipping false Gods? I have been confused about this subject and not knowing whether or not I am doing the right thing. I love sports and I love rugby. But I've heard people say that even that is idolatory which doesn't make much sence to me because I don't see it as a form of worship.

Your thoughts?

 

[morningstar2651]

i·dol·a·try (noun)

1. Worship of idols.
2. Blind or excessive devotion to something.

Synonyms (Theasaurus.com)
admiration, adoration, love, worship.

 

[Clem is Me]

Life is idolotry

 

[repentandbelieve]

This could depend on how you look at things. Is there a clear cut way to tell? And is it just worshipping false Gods? I have been confused about this subject and not knowing whether or not I am doing the right thing. I love sports and I love rugby. But I've heard people say that even that is idolatory which doesn't make much sence to me because I don't see it as a form of worship.

Your thoughts?

Like your signature says, "Love the lord your God with all your heart." That is the first commandment.

Love for God must be supreme. Idolatory is loving something else more than God. It's ok for someone to have passion or love for other things, but that love must never exceed the love they have for God. When love for something else exceeds the love that you have for God then it becomes idolatory.

Love or passon for rugby is fine, but if you find yourself becoming so absorbed in it that there is no longer time for God then you need to check yourself.

 

[Madcoil]

The love you have for and give to others is love for and given to god. Money in the bank, as it were.

 

[meebs]

This could depend on how you look at things. Is there a clear cut way to tell? And is it just worshipping false Gods? I have been confused about this subject and not knowing whether or not I am doing the right thing. I love sports and I love rugby. But I've heard people say that even that is idolatory which doesn't make much sence to me because I don't see it as a form of worship.

Your thoughts?

I think it becomes idolatry when somebody is obsessed by a particular sport/object/t.v show or whatever, to the point of it becoming the main thing in their life. They think of nothing or very little else. They may think or worship a particular tv/sport star, and follow their lives.

I think its ok when you do stuff or watch stuff in moderation, but if you become too obsessed best to leave it alone, or just relax away from it for a while.

Just a non/ex-christian perspective - i still think this idea applies to people in the secular world.

(Hi beleiver )

 

[GreenDragon]

I see idolatry as worshipping something as if it were a God. Do you pray to a sport (is that even possible? )? Although, Catholics pray to statues of Mary and other saints, and that seems like idolatry to me. I never understood that...

 

[meebs]

I see idolatry as worshipping something as if it were a God. Do you pray to a sport (is that even possible? )? ...

nope - but they could wear a sport icon to give them luck or something or gaze at a picture of their favorite stars....

but this is sounding crazy now (from me) but you never know - there could be people like that

 

[Gizmo_likes_Rambo]

I test if somethings an idol by deciding whether or not i would willingly give up something if God asked me.

 

[Norea]

Just don't forget Billy Idol is well an old fart Idol....

-- Bridget

 

[repentandbelieve]

nope - but they could wear a sport icon to give them luck or something or gaze at a picture of their favorite stars....

but this is sounding crazy now (from me) but you never know - there could be people like that

That's right. When people "idolize" their favorite sports heros by definition that's a form idolatry.

 

[repentandbelieve]

I test if somethings an idol by deciding whether or not i would willingly give up something if God asked me.

That's actually a good rule of thumb and simple way of doing it.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Believer in Christ,you had good replies to your question,I can only repeat.God comes first,as soon as something else takes your time,your money,your love away from God,then it becomes idolatory.I love my family very much,but I never forget that God made us and everything around us,so I gladly give them to God.If you do the same with sport,God will help to enjoy it even more.Sincere greetings from Emmy,a sister in Christ.

 

[simplynix]

My question is whether the Bible itself can be considered an idol. And please don't come back with "it's the word of God so it can't be an idol" because we have no way of knowing whether it is the word of God or not. To me, it is exactly like an idol, ie trying to understand God through a man made thing. Consider the two following commandments:

-Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.
-Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Are these not redundant, or are they two different commandments? If they are seperate, then God is forbiding man to make any attempt at his image (God is like this.).