When does something become an idol?

[Migdala]

For instance...I enjoy playing a certain video game. Sometimes I play it for 30 minutes, sometimes for an hour. Does that mean that this is an idol to me?

I feel so GUILTY when I'm doing ANYTHING other than praying, reading my Bible, or worshiping. I know this is unrealistic, and it could be some freaky religious spirit I need to have cast out, but this question seriously bothers me.

It's not like I don't stop if I heard the Holy Spirit calling me to spend time with God....but I still feel like it's "wordly" or something.

At what point does something become an idol?

 

[Italianguy]

Great question. Let me give it a shot. An Idol is anything you may put above God, or spend more time with than God. For instance, if you notice your self spending more time on games than in prayer, or if those games are influencing you in ways that arent normal in retrospect to your daily life style.

People take this to far sometimes ( as far as aquising others of being Idol worshipers), for example, my wife is from India, so we collect cool loooking artifacts from India and other asian and Arab parts of the world, in which some of these items would be considered "Not Christian". I have many Muslim friends and one of them gave me a custom made prayer rug, one gave me prayer beads, both as gifts. I do not use them, they are strictly decoration and not idol worship.

Basically Idol worship is anything you devote more time to than God, or anything you have purposfully and or subconciesnly have replaced God with.

If one to believe that simple things in life you enjoy are all idol worship, one probably has bigger problems to deal with than that. I mean, even stuff such as good luck charms are considered idol worship, or any charm for that matter. There is NO luck, only Gods grace, Compassion, Love and devine will for you. Stear away from any belief tied into mysticism, magic, or any of the other hooplah crud that people feed into others heads.

Hope tha helps at least a little? God be with you!

 

[Morphane]

I think the image of God as a touchy oriental despot, who gets upset if you don't spend time with him (reading the Bible, prayer, and other perceived unfun tasks), as opposed to going outside and enjoying the beauty of nature, playing your favourite video game, or whatever else brings you harmless pleasure - I think this God is an idol.

The God I believe in is everywhere at all time, so there is nothing I can do that does not involve Him. He is there with me when I'm playing video games. He is there with me when I'm out walking. He is with me all the time. If I read the Bible, it is because I want to do it. It isn't some chore that is performed to be 'spiritual' or to impress God, or to create this artificial human idea of spending time with a Being who exists outside of time.

 

[E.C.]

When you wake up on Sundays and decide to play video games instead of going to church. Something along those lines.

Human beings need time for praying and time for recreation. Finding a good and healthy balance between the two is key.

 

[salida]

When it starts contrrolling your life and becomes an obsession.

 

[Migdala]

I think the image of God as a touchy oriental despot, who gets upset if you don't spend time with him (reading the Bible, prayer, and other perceived unfun tasks), as opposed to going outside and enjoying the beauty of nature, playing your favourite video game, or whatever else brings you harmless pleasure - I think this God is an idol.

The God I believe in is everywhere at all time, so there is nothing I can do that does not involve Him. He is there with me when I'm playing video games. He is there with me when I'm out walking. He is with me all the time. If I read the Bible, it is because I want to do it. It isn't some chore that is performed to be 'spiritual' or to impress God, or to create this artificial human idea of spending time with a Being who exists outside of time.

That's a nice way to look at it-and God IS everywhere, at all times!

 

[Migdala]

Great question. Let me give it a shot. An Idol is anything you may put above God, or spend more time with than God. For instance, if you notice your self spending more time on games than in prayer, or if those games are influencing you in ways that arent normal in retrospect to your daily life style.

People take this to far sometimes ( as far as aquising others of being Idol worshipers), for example, my wife is from India, so we collect cool loooking artifacts from India and other asian and Arab parts of the world, in which some of these items would be considered "Not Christian". I have many Muslim friends and one of them gave me a custom made prayer rug, one gave me prayer beads, both as gifts. I do not use them, they are strictly decoration and not idol worship.

Basically Idol worship is anything you devote more time to than God, or anything you have purposfully and or subconciesnly have replaced God with.

If one to believe that simple things in life you enjoy are all idol worship, one probably has bigger problems to deal with than that. I mean, even stuff such as good luck charms are considered idol worship, or any charm for that matter. There is NO luck, only Gods grace, Compassion, Love and devine will for you. Stear away from any belief tied into mysticism, magic, or any of the other hooplah crud that people feed into others heads.

Hope tha helps at least a little? God be with you!

Yes, that makes perfect sense. I do take things to extremes myself....I have thrown out so many things that could be considered "dark" in any way....lots and lots of figurines, paintings, etc.

 

[forGod1]

For instance...I enjoy playing a certain video game. Sometimes I play it for 30 minutes, sometimes for an hour. Does that mean that this is an idol to me?

I feel so GUILTY when I'm doing ANYTHING other than praying, reading my Bible, or worshiping. I know this is unrealistic, and it could be some freaky religious spirit I need to have cast out, but this question seriously bothers me.

It's not like I don't stop if I heard the Holy Spirit calling me to spend time with God....but I still feel like it's "wordly" or something.

At what point does something become an idol?

Maybe you really want to be praying and reading, and you are having a hard time detaching from your old behaviors. That happens, Friend. We're all just learning to walk with the Grace of the Lord. I do the same thing.. wish I was reading the bible.. it could be God and probably is. We just have to know what we really want to be doing.

 

[LauraThomas]

What is it called when you use a symbol of God to make fun of God? I saw this video recently and it made me very uncomfortable. A demon was hugging a statue of jesus and a priest was drinking and doing drugs.

 

[CFDavid]

For instance...I enjoy playing a certain video game. Sometimes I play it for 30 minutes, sometimes for an hour. Does that mean that this is an idol to me?

I feel so GUILTY when I'm doing ANYTHING other than praying, reading my Bible, or worshiping. I know this is unrealistic, and it could be some freaky religious spirit I need to have cast out, but this question seriously bothers me.

It's not like I don't stop if I heard the Holy Spirit calling me to spend time with God....but I still feel like it's "wordly" or something.

At what point does something become an idol?

What happens when you pray about this?

 

[Migdala]

What happens when you pray about this?

Nothing. I have not heard God speak to me in SO long. I really miss Him.

 

[CFDavid]

I'm sorry to hear that. That's hard.

 

[ezeric]

Hey Migdala

Great question.

The first thing I would like to share, is that you are already hearing
HIS voice, as HE is constantly talking to you in love.

Sometimes, we miss it because the enemy tells us that is our own thinking,
or we are so into the world, we haven't stopped and be still enough to hear
HIS voice. HIS tender, quiet, leading, encouraging, full of voice of GRACE.
Psalm 46:10

Secondly, there are potential idols everywhere not just in video games.

Ok, here is how it works, mankind simply obeys what it loves.
JESUS put it this way, saying "If you love me, you will keep my commandments".
John 14:15

Paul said, (by JESUS) that we are slaves to what we obey.
Romans 6:16

We serve what we love.

That could mean things that are sinful and wrong or
what is pure and loving.

If its video games, or sports for some of us guys, or 'shoe shopping', or
even this forum!

You can tell if any of them are an idol by the following...

1) You only talk about what you love.
If a guy is always talking about his car, or his money(things) and never his
wife and children - then you know what he loves and thus serves.

JESUS said its out of the overflow of the heart (where we love) that the heart
speaks! Luke 6:45

2) If you can't come off, or talk to someone because 'your playing a game' or
busy at work, or whatever - when the person (who is in GOD'S image) is less
than what you are loving/ lusting after, that it holds you and you can't let go,
then chances are its starting to hold you.

3) When we get angry, if someone or something takes it away. (it being our thing).
In other words, if you had to go without it (whatever 'it' is) for a time, would
you go crazy, or rest in a deeper more complete love of JESUS? Or does that
voice 'call you' and you must respond.

How does one know when they've reached the other side?

They can play the video game or not.
They can 'take it or leave it' for shoe shopping.
They enjoy it when they do it, but can walk away (if need be) and
do something else.

Because they all have voices, they are all calling for your attention and time.
We are free in JESUS.
All things are permissible but not all things beneficial. 1 Corinthians 10:23
In HIM we can enjoy anything or walk away from it - still having our greater
joy in HIM (or loving others - not the things of others).


-eric

 

[Peripatetic]

I can't speak for the cause, but it is a problem that you feel guilt when you do something other than prayer and worship. What you need is some balance. Recreation and relaxation is an important part of your day, and video games can be a part of that. Work is important of course, and so is spending time with friends and family. I also think it's important to get some exercise and keep learning things.

Eating broccoli is good for you, but you shouldn't eat it for every meal. Exercise is good for you, but you shouldn't do it all day long either. Prayer, worship, and bible time is our most important daily activity, but it works best when it's part of a balanced schedule.

 

[NikitaMaria]

I like how Eric explained it. I found this thread through a google search btw. I think when something has a hold on our lives to the point that we feel like we can't live without it, or it becomes an obsession, then we have an issue with idolatry. I think my thing is that I feel guilty that I sometimes enjoy other things more than I enjoy doing my devotional time. However, our choices matter more than our feelings.