Idolatry is a sin that covers a lot of ground, and manifests in various forms— from the physical realm to the attitudes of the heart. So what are some of the different ways we can fall into committing this sin?
A chart will be provided below, and beneath the chart, individual replies elaborating more on each topic with bible verses and real life examples.
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:48 am
All of these overlap, but in essence:
Verses illustrating the above: ...↕
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:49 am
ways of the nations:
2 Kings 17:15 (NIV)
15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”
Leviticus 26:1 (NIV)
“‘Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 20:26 (NIV)
26 You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.
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The nations would make images of their gods or images of aspects of their gods; some thought the spirits of their gods would come inhabit the object (image, painting, sculpture, what have you; and the bible agrees that spirits are being worshiped via these statues, but I'll get to that in the relevant section), others simply used/use the illustration of their god for concentration's sake and to honor the deity it represents. In either case, they would bow before it to show their respect.
Real life example:
in Hinduism:
Quote:
Hindu sacred sculptures are used to help devotees understand the incomprehensible divinity. These images may be anthropomorphic-that is, having a human likeness-or they may be abstract. Whether made of clay or of gold, all these sculptures are considered equally sacred. Hindu images serve as visual metaphors to express the invisible divine reality.
Although many images of Hindu gods, goddesses, and saints are believed to be always filled with the spirit of the deity they represent, others are bathed and dressed to invite the deity or saint to enter the image temporarily.
(note: in the following, this practitioner denies that they're idol worshipping because they don't submit to biblical definitions)
Quote:
Myth No. 2: Hindus are idol worshippers.
Reality: Hindus worship a reminder of God.
No Hindu will say he or she is worshipping an idol. Instead, Hindus believe a physical representation of God – in the form of an idol - helps them focus on an aspect of prayer or meditation. For instance, a person who has just opened up a new business may worship Ganesh, the elephant god who represents success.
In Hinduism, whether the image is mere metaphor to the worshiper or there is a real spirit in the object, depending on what they want, they may pray through a different image that corresponds with what they're asking for. So, if they want love and passion, they pray to Kama Deva [source], if they want to find a job, they pray to a combination of gods: the god Ganesha (lord of new beginnings), Goddess Lakshmi (baroness of wealth and harbinger of good fortune), and Goddess Saraswati (patroness of knowledge and arts) [source], so on and so forth.
In Buddhism:
(again, in the following, they're denying allegations of idol-worship, but the word of God will be the judge)
Quote:
Although it is customary amongst Buddhists to keep Buddha images and to pay their respects to the Buddha, Buddhists are not idol worshippers. Idolatry generally means erecting images of unknown gods and goddesses in various shapes and sizes and to pray directly to these images. The prayers are a request to the gods for guidance and protection. The gods and goddesses are asked to bestow health, wealth, property and to provide for various needs; they are asked to forgive transgressions.
The 'worshipping' at the Buddha image is quite a different matter. Buddhists revere the image of the Buddha as a gesture to the greatest, wisest, most benevolent, compassionate and holy man who has ever lived in this world. It is a historical fact that this great man actually lived in this world and has done a great service to mankind. The worship of the Buddha really means paying homage, veneration and devotion to Him and what He represents, and not to the stone or metal figure.
The image is a visual aid that helps one to recall the Buddha in the mind and to remember His great qualities which inspired millions of people from generation to generation throughout the civilized world. Buddhists use the statue as a symbol and as an object of concentration to gain a peace of mind. When Buddhists look upon the image of the Buddha, they put aside thoughts of strife and think only of peace, serenity, calmness and tranquillity. The statue enables the mind to recall this great man and inspires devotees to follow His example and instructions. In their mind, the devout Buddhists feel the living presence of the Master. This feeling makes their act of worship become vivid and significant. The serenity of the Buddha image influences and inspires them to observe the right path of conduct and thought.
So, regardless of whether the religion is atheistic (like Buddhism) or theistic (like Hinduism)—whether the religion is devoid of gods or full of gods—we cannot adopt their practices of making images of God or bowing down before images—let alone the practice of kissing images. The bible condemns the latter as well.
Kissing the Baal Statue
1 Kings 19:18 (NIV)
18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
Kissing the Calf-statues
Hosea 13:2 (NIV)
2 Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves from their silver, cleverly fashioned images, all of them the work of craftsmen. It is said of these people, “They offer human sacrifices! They kiss[a] calf-idols!”
Footnotes:
a. Hosea 13:2 Or “Men who sacrifice / kiss
Kissing one's hand to worship a deified object
Job 31:26-28 (NIV)
26 if I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, 27 so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage, 28 then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.
Whatever the reason (for why they make images in the first place or why they bow down to an image or why they kiss the image), we're not to be like them. The commands prohibit both the making of an image in representation of the Creator and bowing down in front of any image or stone.
Ultimately, our God doesn't want us making images of Him (He already gave us one in the flesh—His Son, and nothing we make with our hands can illustrate that. If we want to put Jesus on display, then we let God mold us into Him).
Colossians 1:15 (NIV)
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Romans 8:29 (NIV)
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:51 am
not conforming to God's image:
Deuteronomy 4:15-18 (NIV)
15 You saw no form of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, 16 so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, 17 or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, 18 or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below.
Romans 1:22-23 (NIV)
22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
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In the previous reply, it was explained that Jesus—in the flesh—and not a picture of Jesus (but His actual body), is the image of the invisible God. Nothing we make with our hands can depict Him. But people still try. They make paintings of Jesus—in various skin shades, with varying facial features—they're not being true to His form. How can they? They've never seen Him.
Even if a person were to see a vision of God—awake or in a dream—it is still illegal to depict Him visually. He prohibited this act in order for us to be unlike the nations and guard His own reputation; we're to have no images of God so that no one ever mistakenly thinks that He is like the useless idols of the nations—who cannot speak, breathe, listen, nor work for good nor to destroy. Our God is not a deaf, mute, or blind object (be it 3D or 2D). So, we should have no images of God to show.
Psalm 115:2-7 (NIV)
2 Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. 4 But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
Real life example:
Aside from paintings, dolls, and statues of Jesus, this would apply to film as well. It is an image of God. What is film? On average, 36 images (frames) per second, lots of still images capturing slight deviations of movement on each frame and the equipment displaying the image moves the images rapidly to give the illusion of movement. We can't use this medium and think we're escaping a violation of the command if used to depict God Himself.
In addition, concerning the attitudes of the heart, any time we think, speak, or act in ways contrary to Jesus, we fail to conform to God's image, and thus give off a false image of God to the world.
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:52 am
deviations from the truth:
Habakkuk 2:18 (NIV)
18 “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.
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And this encompasses more than one thing: obviously, if we didn't see God, then we won't be representing an accurate view of what He looks like; thus, teaching a lie about what He looks like. And even if we did see Him, and could replicate His image with computer-like precision, anything we do carve with our hands will be a mindless, inanimate mass, not the reality/truth of God's being. We haven't even mentioned movies that twist bible details: those moving pictures lie too.
On a less physical level, the moment we deviate from God's commanded truth, in mere thought, is the moment we commit idolatry.
Psalm 119:43 (NIV)
43 Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.
John 17:17 (NIV)
17 Sanctify them by[a] the truth; your word is truth.
Footnotes:
a. John 17:17 Or them to live in accordance with
If we start submitting to ideas that nullify the commands of God—that nullify the truth of His word, every word that comes out of the mouth of God—then we're no longer worshiping Him, but an image of what we would like Him to be, a false notion of God—whether that idea came from our own mind or someone else's who is also deviating from the truth.
If the false notion of God, which nullifies His commands, came through another person, and you submit to that person, that person becomes your idol. Be they a celebrity endorsing sex before marriage (and they conquer your mind and you agree), you agreeing with a political figure redefining marriage contrary to God's Word, or agreeing with a "prophet" like Muhammad who denies the crucifixion ever happened—those people become your idols if you submit to them, their ideas, not because you formed them with your hands, but because the idea they formed in their mind lies about YHWH, nullifies something He spoke through His prophets and Son. By your agreeing with that false notion, instead of the truth YHWH revealed via His word, His commands, you have accepted an idol in His place.
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:54 am
false practices:
Jeremiah 16:19 (NIV)
19 Lord, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress, to you the nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, “Our ancestors possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good.
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The ways of the nations are full of false gods, thus full of false practices in honor of those false gods / false notions of God.
Real life example:
In Buddhism, Hinduism and Sihkism:
Japa Mala:
A Japa mala or mala (Sanskrit:माला; mālā, meaning garland[1]) is a string of prayer beads commonly used by Hindus, Buddhists and some Sikhs for the spiritual practice known in Sanskrit as japa. It is usually made from 108 beads, though other numbers are also used. Malas are used for keeping count while reciting, chanting, or mentally repeating a mantra or the name or names of a deity.
[...]
Mantras are typically repeated hundreds or even thousands of times. The mala is used so that one can focus on the meaning or sound of the mantra rather than counting its repetitions. One repetition is usually said for each bead while turning the thumb clockwise around each bead, though some traditions or practices may call for counterclockwise motion or specific finger usage. When arriving at the head bead, one turns the mala around and then goes back in the opposing direction. There are typically knots between each bead. This makes using the mala easier as the beads will not be so tight on the string when you use them.
If more than 108 repetitions are to be done, then sometimes in Tibetan traditions grains of rice are counted out before the chanting begins and one grain is placed in a bowl for each 108 repetitions. Each time a full mala of repetitions has been completed, one grain of rice is removed from the bowl. Often, practitioners add extra counters to their malas, usually in strings of ten. These may be positioned differently depending on the tradition; for example some traditions place these strings after every 10th bead. This is an alternative way to keep track of large numbers, sometimes going into the hundreds of thousands, and even millions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_prayer_beads
Jesus says:
Matthew 6:7-8 (NIV)
7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
And those false practices have even been passed on in Jesus' name, despite the practice belonging to the idolatrous belief system (a practice that originated in response to a false notion of God and how He interacts with us).
This is a false and worthless practice according to Jesus. We do not need to chant a script 100 times, and chant the script in groups of 10, in order for our prayers to be heard. And we should not adopt such a practice—neither for prayer or meditation: not only does it show disbelief and disobedience to the Son's words, but to the Father's as well:
Deuteronomy 12:30-31 (NIV)
30 and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.” 31 You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.
Jesus said we shouldn't be like the pagans. The Father said we shouldn't be like the pagans, nor adopt their practices and try to excuse it by putting the true God as the focus. We have zero business adopting these practices. It shows unbelief and disobedience concerning what Jesus said about prayer, and what the Father said about adopting useless, if not detrimental, pagan practices. It's worthless. And our God does not command worthlessness.
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:55 am
lust of the eyes / lust of the flesh:
Colossians 3:5 (NIV)
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV)
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Luke 12:15 (NIV)
15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
1 John 2:16 (NIV)
16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
Ezekiel 6:9 (NIV)
9 Then in the nations where they have been carried captive, those who escape will remember me—how I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from me, and by their eyes, which have lusted after their idols. They will loathe themselves for the evil they have done and for all their detestable practices.
Jeremiah 6:13 (NIV)
13 “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.
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Greed is a lust of the flesh. How is "greed" idolatry? Simple: you want more "stuff", hungry for material wealth, money can be your idol, or collections of "stuff" can be what you value most on earth and in heaven (instead of it being God);
Psalm 73:25(NIV)
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
...the desire for more wealth can be what determines how you spend your time, how you spend money (and on what), how you use your words, and skills (instead of God's commands determining your use). Money can be what you trust in to save you, instead of God.
Proverbs 11:28 (NIV)
28 Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
Psalm 62:10 (NIV)
10 Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
Money can become your moral compass (do "anything for money", kill for it, overwork yourself [and others] for it, lie for it, have illicit sex for it, instead of doing "anything for God", submitting your use to what He says is the appropriate way to kill, have sex, use your words, spend time, treat others, or the appropriate way to earn money/spend money and when not to).
Sometimes the greed for cute things (which is a lust of the eyes) is what determines what you buy, if you buy, and how much you buy instead of God's commands determining those choices—the commands to think about function over form, think about what will this thing do, does it have a purpose? will I actually use it? what kind of thoughts will it induce in another person? will it protect or lead into sin and detriment? is it the appropriate time to buy? When cuteness is the determining factor, you're literally worshiping the image of a thing, in place of worshiping God and how He would decide the matter based on His commands, e.g. "that's a cute, avant-garde top, I want it; let me read the tag: oh wait, it mixes wool and linen (Deut 22:11), no, I can't because it will NOT keep me warm in cold weather NOR keep me cool in hot weather. Neither hot or cold. Because of this abominable mix, it does neither one or the other. This fails to protect me from the elements in the way I need. It is not reliable. So, I won't buy this nor will I support the making of this garment." But if you decided to buy it anyway, despite the garment violating a command, you worshiped the cute image instead of your God.
And taking it back to the "images that lie" and reading it in light of the verse above, where "all prophets and priests are greedy for gain", and "all practice deceit": not only do they feed you false notions of God, and ask you to pay them for it, they make a whole industry out of making "images of god(s)", like in the temple of Artemis:
Acts 19:23-27 (NIV)
23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”
They don't care about the truth of the universe, nor the truth of YHWH's commands; they just care about their idol-business not going out. stare The same could be said of the "idol industry" in the entertainment / music world at large: none more clearly demonstrated than in South Korea, where a whole genre of music is called, "idol music"—a bunch of people, many of which (not all, but many) have gone through plastic surgery to appease your lust of the eyes, so that you can purchase images of them, and their CD's, all for your money. Their lyrics entice you into sexual immorality, feelings of pride, or get you repeating/chanting idle words that you later repeat.
Matthew 12:36 (NIV)
36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.
Fans even give donations in the name of their idol (whole bags of rice, food trucks, etc [Exhibit A][Exhibit B][Exhibit C]). That is idolatry. We should only be giving in the name of the Most High, and lifting up His Name not anyone else's.
On a related note, the type of idolatry demonstrated by the adherents going to the temple of Artemis ("confiding in objects to save you and give you things, or attract good fortune")—be they an image of Artemis, a lucky shirt, a little charm for protection (not confiding in God for this, but a created piece of wood, metal, paper, stone or fabric)—is another manifestation of the lust of the flesh. The flesh desires to see something pretty or physical in place of God's invisibleness to grant them what they're wishing for. And instead of confiding in their prayer to the invisibleness that is the Most High, they'd rather confide in a pretty stone, a coin, a ring, a piece of wood, a birthday candle they wished on, a shooting star blazing across the sky, as the one that will give them what they ask for.
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:56 am
demon-honoring practices:
Leviticus 17:7 (NIV)
7 They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols[a] to whom they prostitute themselves. This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to come.’
Footnotes:
a. Leviticus 17:7 Or the demons
1 Corinthians 10:18-20 (NIV)
18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.
1 Timothy 4:1 (NIV)
4 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
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Like I mentioned earlier, some Hindus fully acknowledge that their idols are inhabited by spirits. The bible does too. They are demons, not the Most High God. Not obedient angels (whom we cannot worship anyway i.e. Colossians 2:18; Revelation 22:8-9. That is prohibited). Not the spirits of the departed. But demons. Jesus dwells in us, not in statues that we make of Him.
1 Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
John 14:17 (NIV)
17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you.
Footnotes:
John 14:17 Some early manuscripts and is
John 14:23 (NIV)
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
We cannot offer sacrifices (be it food, drink, or prayer) to a statue. You don't know what spirit can be inhabiting it and who you're giving honor to. It won't be to God, but it won't be human either.
And yes, prayers are considered sacrifices in scripture:
Psalm 141:2 (NIV)
2 May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:57 am
rebellion against the commands of the Father:
1 Samuel 15:23 (NIV)
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”
Nehemiah 9:29 (NIV)
29 “You warned them in order to turn them back to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, of which you said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them.’ Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen.
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This is self-explanatory if you've made it to this part of the topic :P God's Law is what prohibits idolatry in the first place. Turn away from His commands, and you become arrogant (not humbly submitted to Him), like a stiff-necked, stubborn animal, who won't walk in the way He designed you to walk in, in relation to the Creator and to created things. Thus, instead of worshiping YHWH, you're worshiping an idol in His place, walking in your own ways or some other path that a created being seduced you into walking in.
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:58 am
heeding myths:
2 Timothy 4:4 (NIV)
4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Titus 1:13-14 (NIV)
13 This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth.
Psalm 119:43 (NIV)
43 Never take your word of truth from my mouth, for I have put my hope in your laws.
John 17:17 (NIV)
17 Sanctify them by[a] the truth; your word is truth.
Footnotes:
a. John 17:17 Or them to live in accordance with
1 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)
7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
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Myths are lies. God's Word and commandments, on the other hand, are the truth. People, even religious people, make up myths that contradict the Creator's decrees for how to interact with creation. To believe / trust the information presented by these myths and old wives' tales is to follow after idols, false notions of God, lies, not the Way, the Truth, and the Life, but concepts that are contrary to the bible, and thus contrary to the commandments of God and the documented history contained therein.
Real life examples:
"Old wives tales" are superstitious beliefs, such as,
"wearing a purple bracelet invites intelligence", (confiding in an object instead of asking wisdom from God, James 1:5) "wearing pink underwear invites love", (instead of asking God, you confide in a piece of cloth) "if a black cat walks under a ladder in front of you, you'll have bad luck", "pick up a penny and you'll have good luck" "knock on wood to ward off evil", (instead of living by God's commands to ward off evil) "wear a red string after you menstruate and chant this script X number of times to become more fertile" avoid the 13th floor random chain letters [religious or secular] asking you to spam a message in order to receive something good back or avoid getting killed
...et cetera.
If we want to be protected and to be prosperous, God already told us what to do:
Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Exodus 23:24-26 (NIV)
24 Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces. 25 Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, 26 and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.
Deuteronomy 30:15-18 (NIV)
15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.
17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
Ezekiel 18:27 (NIV)
27 But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.
Acts 3:26 (NIV)
26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
Nehemiah 1:7 (NIV)
7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.
John 5:14 (NIV)
14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”
1 John 3:4 (NIV)
4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.
Matthew 19:16-17 (NIV)
16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
Stop living in sin / what transgresses the commands of God. Stop heeding superstitions / myths / old wive's tales and urban legends. Stop emulating fictitious people. Get grounded in the reality that is YHWH / Jesus, based on what is actually written. Otherwise, you'll be following useless, idolatrous, false notions of God that will not be of blessing to you. If not detrimental, then they will be useless / worthless practices.
End.
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 10:02 am
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Topic originaly posted in the Jesus' Lilies Guild (used with permission): http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=24901775
Movie Reel clipart: http://amulet.wikia.com/wiki/File:Movie_Reel_2.jpg
People gloss over various details in the New Testament when they read; thus, they are worshiping Jesus in a skewed / deviated (idolatrous) manner. The linked-to thread above sheds light on what those details are. I recommend reading it if you haven't done so already (and thus avoid reaping judgment upon yourself [by avoiding the idolatry/deviance the topic exposes]).
