This is not aimed at anyone — just my ramblings and thoughts.
Old Testament Foundation
- Hebrew
word most often used: ’elil = “worthless, of no value.”
- Basic
idea: Anything set up as a god besides the LORD — whether a physical
image or a rival loyalty.
Key Verses:
- Exodus
20:3–5 – “Thou shalt have no other gods before me… Thou shalt not make
unto thee any graven image.”
- Deuteronomy
27:15 – “Cursed is the man who makes a carved or cast idol — an
abomination to the LORD.”
- Psalm
115:4–8 – Idols are described as silver and gold, with mouths but cannot
speak, eyes but cannot see — lifeless things.
- Isaiah
44:9–20 – Powerful satire: a man cuts down a tree, burns half for
firewood, and makes the other half into a god.
In the Old Testament, an idol is any man-made object or
false god that replaces worship of the true God.
New Testament Expansion
- Greek
word: eidolon = “image, phantom, false god.”
- The
New Testament expands the definition: idolatry isn’t just bowing to
statues — it’s giving worship, trust, or allegiance to anything above God.
Key Verses:
- 1
Corinthians 10:14 – “Flee from idolatry.”
- Colossians
3:5 – “…covetousness, which is idolatry.”
- Philippians
3:19 – Those whose “god is their belly” (serving appetites as
idols).
- 1 John
5:21 – “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”
In the New Testament, an idol is any desire, possession,
appetite, or loyalty that takes the place of God in our lives.
Working Definition (Biblical)
An idol is anything — visible or invisible, physical
or spiritual, external or internal — that we trust, serve, or love more than
God.
It can be:
- A
carved statue or religious symbol (classic pagan idolatry).
- Wealth,
greed, or possessions (Col. 3:5).
- Human
appetites or pleasure (Phil. 3:19).
- Even
good things (family, ministry, traditions, success) if they displace God
as the ultimate object of devotion.
A Warning for Ourselves
We need to be careful that we don’t fall into this
ourselves. Sometimes we may not even realize that’s what we’re doing. We think
we have the right motivations and that what we’re doing is for God — but in
reality, we’re putting our own desires ahead of what God is calling us to do.
I say this often, but it’s true: we must die to self and put
the old man down. We must leave our selfish desires buried in the grave and
listen to God. Everything we do must be done to truly honor Him and bring Him
glory.
A Personal Note
The church I recently started attending is small. Not long
ago, we merged with another small church only a couple of blocks away. It was a
good thing — both churches needed it, or they were going to die out or just
stay weak, lingering without much impact.
But with any merger comes change. And in times of change, we
need to check ourselves and make sure we’re not holding on to some idol —
something we want, or something we look back on and say, “Oh, God was in
that.”
We must remember:
- In the
Old Testamen
t, an idol is any man-made object or false god that replaces worship of the true God. - In the
New Testament, an idol is any desire, possession, appetite, or loyalty
that takes the place of God in our lives.
I truly believe we sometimes do this without even realizing
it. That’s why we must die to self daily — laying down any personal desire —
and live with only one true desire: to be like Christ, and to do all things for
His glory and honor.
An idol is anything:
- A
carved statue or religious symbol (classic pagan idolatry)
- Or
anything else we put in God’s place — even our own desires.
