Idolatry is multi-faceted.  Here are four principles to expose idolatry.

1) There is one true God, the God of the Bible- the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the Father of Jesus Christ.  Any and all other gods are idols.  

Jeremiah 10:10-11: “But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.  Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.”

1 John 5:19-21: “And we (John is talking to authentic Christians here) know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.  And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ.  This is the true God, and eternal life.  Little children, keep yourselves from idols.  Amen.”

2) To not regard the only true God as supreme and foremost in one’s heart is idolatry.

Romans 1:18-21: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

3) To attempt to represent God with a graven image or any created thing qualifies as idolatry.

Isaiah 40:17-19: “All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.  To whom then will ye liken God?  or what likeness will ye compare unto him?  The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.”

It is also clear from the 2nd commandment in Exodus 20:4-6 that to bow down before images or statues qualifies as idolatry even if it is claimed that the statue or image is only an aid to worship.  It should not be considered a strange thing that the Catholic Church, with its statues and images, has eliminated the 2nd commandment and tried to compensate for that by dividing the 10th commandment into two.

4) There was never a God before Him nor will there ever be another God.  Aspirations of man to become deified are thus idolatry along with worship of ancestors and/or other deceased people.

Isaiah 43:10-11: “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.  I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior.”

Aaron’s email is: [email protected]

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