Page 3 of 3
Re: The Faces and Activities of Idolatry
Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 10:37 am
by Wayne in Maine
Many people have posted very modern popular ideas about what constitutes idolatry, but how does God and His prophets and apostles define idolatry?
Here's a quote from Paul the Apostle on the matter:
The Apostle Paul wrote:For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Re: The Faces and Activities of Idolatry
Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 11:23 am
by MaxPC
Wayne in Maine wrote:Many people have posted very modern popular ideas about what constitutes idolatry, but how does God and His prophets and apostles define idolatry?
Here's a quote from Paul the Apostle on the matter:
The Apostle Paul wrote:For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
This is an excellent quote: it reminds me of those who idolize the internet with its porn; news sources with their agendas; and politics with their flags & symbols of eagles, jackasses, elephants, and "Don't tread on me" snakes.
Re: The Faces and Activities of Idolatry
Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 12:19 pm
by Valerie
Wayne in Maine wrote:Many people have posted very modern popular ideas about what constitutes idolatry, but how does God and His prophets and apostles define idolatry?
Here's a quote from Paul the Apostle on the matter:
The Apostle Paul wrote:For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Exactly, they exchanged worship of the One True God for idols they made, and dressed up as if they were gods and worshipped them, thats what i was thinking of in the OT as they would fool the people to believing they really were gods
Re: The Faces and Activities of Idolatry
Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 10:27 am
by Joy
Php 3:18,19 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Re: The Faces and Activities of Idolatry
Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 4:36 pm
by Bootstrap
Do you think saying the Pledge of Allegiance is idolatry? It always felt that way to me ...
Re: The Faces and Activities of Idolatry
Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 4:49 pm
by Wayne in Maine
Bootstrap wrote:Do you think saying the Pledge of Allegiance is idolatry? It always felt that way to me ...
Yes. Pledging allegiance to a piece of cloth that symbolizes a nation seems like a religious act and therefor idolatry.
Re: The Faces and Activities of Idolatry
Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 9:58 pm
by JimFoxvog
Bootstrap wrote:Do you think saying the Pledge of Allegiance is idolatry? It always felt that way to me ...
I didn't always feel that way. I did it though high school. In college, in the '70s, when I made a deeper commitment to Jesus and became a pacifist, it was an act I repented of.
Re: The Faces and Activities of Idolatry
Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 11:51 pm
by KingdomBuilder
Bootstrap wrote:Do you think saying the Pledge of Allegiance is idolatry? It always felt that way to me ...
Yes, atop being an oath. By no means was I taught this growing up, though. It's a conviction that became evident as I searched the Scriptures.
It bothered me enough to look into JW-ism, which then opened the way to Anabaptism.