Of course we don't have golden calves anymore. But besides the obvious ones -- money, sex, power, ego -- what are some other kinds of idols that call us away from the true God who was Jesus' father?
2007-10-06 15:32:43 · 25 answers · asked by Nathan 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The internet, tv, relationships....anything that comes before God in your daily life
2007-10-06 15:41:40 · answer #1 · answered by rae c 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Great question, man. I hope people read it before they just answer it, and say "satanism".
I think one of the worst idols we face as Christians has to do with ego, but it's not ego exactly: it's more like hubris.
It's when people allow themselves to think that they are so holy, or so wise, or so... special or something, that they have God all figured out. They have the entire answer and will not even entertain the slightest notion that their viewpoint could use a does of God's truth.
When that happens, those people end up worshiping their idea of God instead of God Himself. That is maybe the worse kind of idolatry.
How to avoid it? Always remember that God is infinite and I'm not. Whatever concept I have in my head of God, it's too small, too limited and basically wrong, even though it might contain elements of the truth.
It's this kind of idolatry that makes some fundamentalists so smug and heartless.
2007-10-06 15:36:45 · answer #2 · answered by Acorn 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Idolatry is anything that we put before God. I have been guilty myself. I bought a Camaro that I started pouring all my time into it, where I started missing fellowship with God. When I realized what I was not hard, it got stolen. I could have gotten angry about it but I thought about how I had turned from God to work on a totally worthless object. I sold it after it was recovered and have been much happier for it.
2007-10-06 15:48:07 · answer #3 · answered by salamander492 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You got the major players but any thing in a persons life that takes him or her away from God's will for them would be an idol. Any person including their spouse or a star in sports music TV , or a car or a house etc. If it keeps you from God it can be an idol.
2007-10-06 15:40:55 · answer #4 · answered by Curtis 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is actually something I struggle with sometimes. I get "busy" with work, school, etc. so when I go home I spend time on the computer and TV for entertainment. Sometimes this takes up more time than it should and then I claim I simply "didn't have time" for God. So...to answer your question definitely, TV and computers. Oh...P.S.-I saw a movie the other day and the speaker said that BUSY stands for "Being Under Satan's Yoke"...something to think about.
2007-10-06 15:38:23 · answer #5 · answered by followmyleader1 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An idol is something you worship, almost in place of God. For some religions I think their idols detract from true worship to God. Like when people worship saints, Mary, the cross. For other people idolatry can be idolizing famous people or even idolizing themself.
2007-10-06 15:44:02 · answer #6 · answered by joyofjoys 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Basically you name it is a possibility....what are you consumed with? Anything in this world that takes you from the main focus on God is a form or idolatry. Hard one, huh....oh kinda like all the rest. Oops there goes another sin, I've been on Yahoo too long.
2007-10-06 15:43:20 · answer #7 · answered by Sage 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great question. There are many...
One of the biggies is self or self control. Humans have a strong tendency to want to be in control of their own lives, rather than give God complete control. When we do this we make our self our own god. It is also the same sin satan committed and it got him out of heaven.
Another common idol for a person is another person, weather a child, spouse, or other loved one.
People also sometimes say things like "My god wouldn't allow anyone to go to hell or punish sin." or something along those lines. But when they say that, they are creating for themselves a god that suits them, and that is not God. That's an idol. God never contradicts His word, so if you want to believe in a god that is anything contrary to the word, that is also idolatry.
There are plenty of others. It could be things like an education, job, profession, or even a certain lifestyle, to name just a few more.
One that I struggled with is the desire to do good things. I want to do all of these good works and please God, but that comes with the risk of becoming self-righteous or putting works before just God Himself.
2007-10-06 15:40:30 · answer #8 · answered by Consuming Fire 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
1.)Crosses,
2.)Rosemarie's,
3.)Jesus even...(Jesus was not his father was he? And if he was...then damn that's very much Deep South Redneck...)
4.)Churches (the bigger the better they say, idolatry...)
5.)Pastors/Fathers/etc. (I see that some Christians look up to them more than they do their God)
6.) the Bible (same as the Pastor problem...)
7.) Crocoducks (gotta throw in some humor there...)
8.) Saints (Praying to saints is like praying to idols..no?)
That's all I can come up with...people might not like it but...Hell, seems to be the truth, from an outsiders point of view anyway....Hope this helps! ^_^
2007-10-06 15:42:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Worship of their leaders
Worship of money and the cares of the world
Worship of family more than God
Worship of the traditions of men over the teachings of God
2007-10-06 16:34:03 · answer #10 · answered by Technoman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋