On idols, icons, and idolatry

[HTacianas]

I was watching a Roman Mass on EWTN and it brought up a question for me.

All around the church there were crucifixes, icons of Mary, Jesus, etc. But up behind the altar there was a replica of the Ark of the Covenant, complete with cherubim.

Question is, if you believe icons to be idolatry, is the replica of the Ark as idolatrous as the icons themselves?

 

[Neogaia777]

I was watching a Roman Mass on EWTN and it brought up a question for me.

All around the church there were crucifixes, icons of Mary, Jesus, etc. But up behind the altar there was a replica of the Ark of the Covenant, complete with cherubim.

Question is, if you believe icons to be idolatry, is the replica of the Ark as idolatrous as the icons themselves?

Really I don't think we should need any, but the Ark of the Covenant, along with the temple and it's systems, were the only "approved idols", I guess you could say, but in the OT, don't know about the New, or making replicas of the Ark either...

God Bless!

 

[Barney2.0]

Really I don't think we should need any, but the Ark of the Covenant, along with the temple and it's systems, were the only "approved idols", I guess you could say, but in the OT, don't know about the New, or making replicas of the Ark either...

God Bless!

God wouldn’t have approved idols, the Ark of the covenant wasn’t an idol as no worship was given to it, just as icons or statues in Churches aren’t idols.

 

[Neogaia777]

God would have approved idols, the Ark of the covenant wasn’t an idol as no worship was given to it, just as icons or statues in Churches aren’t idols.

In the context of the OP, which is why I put it in "quotes" and said, "I guess you could say"...

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

God would have approved idols, the Ark of the covenant wasn’t an idol as no worship was given to it, just as icons or statues in Churches aren’t idols.

What God gave us was in a way like the Kingdom of God, while, and if you want to get technical about it, they were not idols, cause they were not false, whereas others were or are false...

God Bless!

 

[seeking.IAM]

An idol is an inanimate object ascribed powers of a god and worshipped as a God. Icons, images, statues are not idols unless you mistakenly believe they are gods. If you like to play golf more than you like to go to church, golf is not an idol...unless of course you worship your 9-iron. I hold little regard for pastors and teachers that promote a false understanding about idols.

 

[John Bowen]

An idol is an inanimate object ascribed powers of a god and worshipped as a God. Icons, images, statues are not idols unless you mistakenly believe they are gods. If you like to play golf more than you like to go to church, golf is not an idol...unless of course you worship your 9-iron. I hold little regard for pastors and teachers that promote a false understanding about idols.

I was watching a Roman Mass on EWTN and it brought up a question for me.

All around the church there were crucifixes, icons of Mary, Jesus, etc. But up behind the altar there was a replica of the Ark of the Covenant, complete with cherubim.

Question is, if you believe icons to be idolatry, is the replica of the Ark as idolatrous as the icons themselves?

 

[Neogaia777]

An idol is an inanimate object ascribed powers of a god and worshipped as a God. Icons, images, statues are not idols unless you mistakenly believe they are gods.

Or if they are god's in your heart and/or spirit... But that can go too far sometimes...

And not just inanimate objects but also, people, places, things, some may even go so far as to say concepts or thoughts or ideas, or states of mind, can be idols...

But we really shouldn't need anything, or any of them (other Idols, physical ones)... To me it shows a weakness of faith, or an immature faith...

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

Or if they are god's in your heart and/or spirit... But that can go too far sometimes...

And not just inanimate objects but also, people, places, things, some may even go so far as to say concepts or thoughts or ideas, or states of mind, can be idols...

But we really shouldn't need anything, or any of them (other Idols, physical ones)... To me it shows a weakness of faith, or an immature faith...

God Bless!

I define an Idol as anything (that can be) (or is) lifted up or exalted in your heart above or before God...

 

[John Bowen]

A idol is also a closed mental box .Where you think there is nothing more like people have turned the Bible into a idol . When Jesus said there are many more things I have to say , but you cannot bare it now.That all the books of all the world could not contain my teachings. Also people have turned Jesus into a idol with the image of him still hanging on the cross suffering .Instead of the living Christ what Jesus is today our direct teacher in Heaven who is with us always and wants us to only experience his joy .

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

An idol is an inanimate object ascribed powers of a god and worshipped as a God. Icons, images, statues are not idols unless you mistakenly believe they are gods. If you like to play golf more than you like to go to church, golf is not an idol...unless of course you worship your 9-iron. I hold little regard for pastors and teachers that promote a false understanding about idols.

I understand what you are saying; but, do you think God doesn't care if you put things above Him? For instance, if someone has more regard for their golf game, their money, their favorite sports team, than they show by their actions they have for God--do you think God doesn't care?

 

[Barney2.0]

I define an Idol as anything (that can be) (or is) lifted up or exalted in your heart above or before God...

Those aren’t what icons are to us.

 

[Neogaia777]

Those aren’t what icons are to us.

What are they then...?

 

[Barney2.0]

What are they then...?

Representations, nothing more.

 

[Neogaia777]

I understand what you are saying; but, do you think God doesn't care if you put things above Him? For instance, if someone has more regard for their golf game, their money, their favorite sports team, than they show by their actions they have for God--do you think God doesn't care?

Except we cannot and should not feel like we can or should judge another man by his actions (that we can see) at a certain point and/in time, ect... We're not God, I leave that to him, or at least try to...

God can we can't in that case...

God Bless!

 

[seeking.IAM]

I understand what you are saying; but, do you think God doesn't care if you put things above Him? For instance, if someone has more regard for their golf game, their money, their favorite sports team, than they show by their actions they have for God--do you think God doesn't care?

Oh, yes, I think God does care if you put things above him, but that doesn't make those things idols. It makes them screwed up priorities.

 

[Neogaia777]

Representations, nothing more.

In short, Idols perhaps...? If you have to have the idol or thing idolized, or put it before God, but I think it would not be easy to not do that, if the problem is in your heart....

Is there a problem with the representation of a thing, causing any kind of problems in your heart...? Or what might be (causing) problems with God maybe...? Is it, or can it be like, a medium to you...?

God Bless!

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

Oh, yes, I think God does care if you put things above him, but that doesn't make those things idols. It makes them screwed up priorities.

I disagree. Anything that you value more than God is an idol. It isn't just inanimate objects that you call a god. Jesus said "If you love father or mother...."

 

[Johnny4ChristJesus]

Except we cannot and should not feel like we can or should judge another man by his actions (that we can see) at a certain point and/in time, ect... We're not God, I leave that to him, or at least try to...

God can we can't in that case...

God Bless!

I believe we should challenge each other. That isn't judging the person. Too many run in fear of challenging inappropriate actions, because we are afraid our own inappropriate actions will come out. I would rather find out now, so I could have a choice to correct myself, than find out later when it is too late.

 

[seeking.IAM]

I disagree. Anything that you value more than God is an idol. It isn't just inanimate objects that you call a god. Jesus said "If you love father or mother...."

The rest of your quote is "...you aren't worthy of me." It's not, "...you're practicing idolatry." We really shouldn't redefine words to mean anything we want them to mean.