Hey Andy, in the Bible, it’s stated numerous times to be weary of idolatry, and to idolize anything besides God is a sin (for lack of better words currently). My question though, is this, is it possible (in a negative or sinful way) to idolize God/Jesus?
Hi, that’s an interesting question. Well, in the Bible, whenever God gets on somebody about worshiping an idol or whatever, it’s always in regards to something that they’ve put into His place. We’re created to worship God, none other. To worship or idolize anything else is idolatry, and sinful.
Old/New Testament
In the Old Testament, whenever God pleaded for His people to return to Him, it required that they repent, turn from their wicked ways, return to Him, and follow His commands and decrees. In the New Testament, we learn that doing so is not only a means of keeping from sinning, but also of becoming like God. The Apostle Paul also invites his readers to imitate him as he imitates Christ. So if Christ wasn’t God, then doing so would be idolatry in a sinful way, right? But because Christ IS God, imitating Jesus is not sinful — I believe also it’s insisted on that we do such, for as Peter mentioned (and recited from Exodus 20), ‘we are to be holy, just as God is holy.’ So if we’re to be holy in that aspect, then to do so, we need to idolize God/Jesus.
Is It Possible for Our Idolizing Jesus/God
Now, is it POSSIBLE for our idolizing Jesus/God to become sinful? I believe so, for example, if we make idols of what we think He looks like. For instance, the Catholics have statues of the apostles, Mary, and a Swedish-looking Jesus in several poses. Each time I’ve pointed at that, though, Catholic priests have called them “icons”, not “idols”, and explained that since we don’t know what God looks like, or since people need something to relate to or see, these icons take that place. My argument, though, is how that’s any different from the golden calf that Aaron made in Exodus, or the shrine/icon that the Israelites made when Gideon died, for God said that doing so was sinful.
In fact, I believe that the reason we don’t have pictures of Jesus from those days (statues, paintings, even verbal descriptions, other than what’s in Isaiah 53) is because God knew people would create idols of Him, then bow down, idolize, and worship them, instead of Him.
God that They’ve Accepted to Idolize and Worship
There’s also the type of idolizing Jesus/God where you create an image of Him in your mind that’s contrary to how the Bible describes Him. For instance, many people today will say that God is a loving God who won’t allow anybody to go to Hell. Well, that’s contrary to what the Bible says. So that’s a different God that they’ve accepted to idolize and worship. You also have Muslims who believe Allah is God. But if you’ll look at their characteristics and expectations of their followers, it’s clear that Allah is certainly NOT Yahweh. So by idolizing Allah, Muslims (blindly) do so in a negative and sinful way, because they’re not worshiping Yahweh, but the god that their prophet worshiped, whoever that really is. And as in any pseudo-Christian faith, idolizing the god you think is God, but who clearly isn’t, is sin. Jesus actually addressed this in reference to those who follow the ways of the Pharisees, saying that the blind lead the blind, and they both fall into a pit.
Is it Possible to Idolize God/Jesus In A Negative or Sinful Way?
So, is it possible to idolize God/Jesus in a negative or sinful way? It is if you’ve made up your image of Him (whether in your mind or by your hands – or someone else’s hands) and begin modeling your life and behaviors after that incorrect image/idea of Him. This is why it’s crucial that we read God’s Word daily, take notes, meditate on God’s Word daily and throughout the week (memorize stuff if it helps), pick up a trustworthy and godly mentor, discipleship, pray for understanding, join other believers in worship and fellowship, participate in communion, serve, and examine ourselves/our faith often, to be sure we haven’t strayed somehow, or begun to worship God for who we think He is, versus who He really is.
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