Is Incorrect Doctrine an Idol?
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Yes. It can be an idol. But the verse you have quoted has nothing to do with incorrect doctrine. It is talking about offering sacrifices to idols.
Getting back to your question, those who come here with false doctrines never give them up. Even after they have been shown the truth, they persist in promoting their false beliefs. That is essentially idolatry.
Getting back to your question, those who come here with false doctrines never give them up. Even after they have been shown the truth, they persist in promoting their false beliefs. That is essentially idolatry.
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This is a two-layered question which depending who you are asking can apply to Christians or non-Christians.
Who are you asking? Christians? Or the world in general and all the different beliefs?
And i'm pretty sure this will go directly into a Salvation discussion.
But if you're asking a Christian audience i would say that incorrect doctrine is not an idol and yes this would again turn into another Salvation discussion which means that you may never get an answer.
Who are you asking? Christians? Or the world in general and all the different beliefs?
And i'm pretty sure this will go directly into a Salvation discussion.
But if you're asking a Christian audience i would say that incorrect doctrine is not an idol and yes this would again turn into another Salvation discussion which means that you may never get an answer.
Well this is going to be subjective not objective so you might as well have your own answers.
As Nehemiah pointed out, the verse that you have quoted does not really represent your title question closely but if you are simply asking (without quoting anything): Is incorrect doctrine an idol?
Well then this is where 'Personal' applies. What do you consider idol worship?
Something as clear as Satan or false gods or like the man in the pool waiting to be healed by the water in the pool instead of Jesus?
Or will it be more confusing and include things like Bible interpretations, or anything else about our day-to-day life including the Internet itself?
This would be an endless debate then if you don't define some borders yourself.
As Nehemiah pointed out, the verse that you have quoted does not really represent your title question closely but if you are simply asking (without quoting anything): Is incorrect doctrine an idol?
Well then this is where 'Personal' applies. What do you consider idol worship?
Something as clear as Satan or false gods or like the man in the pool waiting to be healed by the water in the pool instead of Jesus?
Or will it be more confusing and include things like Bible interpretations, or anything else about our day-to-day life including the Internet itself?
This would be an endless debate then if you don't define some borders yourself.
The Bible calls idolatry idolatry, and it calls greed idolatry.
If someone is bowing down to idols, participating in rituals to worship spirits through idols, etc. you can call that idolatry.
If someone likes football too much, you shouldn't just assume it is idolatry and accuse him of one of the worst sins. If someone is has some wrong doctrine, that doesn't make him or her an idolater.
If your mom stole a pen from the bank, wouldn't it be wrong for someone to call your mother a whore... for stealing a pen? If they shouldn't call your mother a whore for that, then you shouldn't call people idolaters for things that aren't idolatry.
I think the broad definition of idolatry is derived from preaching that the 10 commandments say 'Thou shalt not have any other god before Me.' But think of 'before Me' as in his presence or something along that line. God wasn't saying it's okay to have a second god as long as it is second in rank.
A lot of westerners, not familiar with actual literal idolatry are more concerned with their various metaphorical idolatries than with the literal thing. These weren't westerners, but was in the home of some church going folks and they thought nothing of having a Buddha statue on the wall. Some people think of that as art, but what if you have a Buddhist guest. And art or no, we shouldn't have such things sitting on our shelves. Another guy thought it was no big deal to burn incense to Buddha but seemed concerned over metaphorical idolatry.
If someone is bowing down to idols, participating in rituals to worship spirits through idols, etc. you can call that idolatry.
If someone likes football too much, you shouldn't just assume it is idolatry and accuse him of one of the worst sins. If someone is has some wrong doctrine, that doesn't make him or her an idolater.
If your mom stole a pen from the bank, wouldn't it be wrong for someone to call your mother a whore... for stealing a pen? If they shouldn't call your mother a whore for that, then you shouldn't call people idolaters for things that aren't idolatry.
I think the broad definition of idolatry is derived from preaching that the 10 commandments say 'Thou shalt not have any other god before Me.' But think of 'before Me' as in his presence or something along that line. God wasn't saying it's okay to have a second god as long as it is second in rank.
A lot of westerners, not familiar with actual literal idolatry are more concerned with their various metaphorical idolatries than with the literal thing. These weren't westerners, but was in the home of some church going folks and they thought nothing of having a Buddha statue on the wall. Some people think of that as art, but what if you have a Buddhist guest. And art or no, we shouldn't have such things sitting on our shelves. Another guy thought it was no big deal to burn incense to Buddha but seemed concerned over metaphorical idolatry.
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Even believing Christians (I'd say probably all of us, but at least the vast majority) are bound to have some false beliefs about God. This seems to be the necessary consequence of the fact that even true Christians tend to disagree to an extent on many topics that involve beliefs about God. Even if there's a "sincere" attempt to believe what's true.
On the other hand, one could have clearer sinful motives to let oneself stray from the truth (though perhaps without any clear "all right, now I'm going to believe a falsehood" type of moment). This also gets into the broader question of what's our status in this fallen world where the old flesh or sinful nature still exists alongside our "new man" as we are redeemed in Christ. In the old, sinful nature, we are all idolaters (as well as sinners of every other kind). As long as that has any influence at all in our Christian walk (and it does, sadly), one could say that the sinful nature's tendency toward idolatry may influence and corrupt aspects of even the good things (such as proper worship of God) that we strive to do.
On the other hand, one could have clearer sinful motives to let oneself stray from the truth (though perhaps without any clear "all right, now I'm going to believe a falsehood" type of moment). This also gets into the broader question of what's our status in this fallen world where the old flesh or sinful nature still exists alongside our "new man" as we are redeemed in Christ. In the old, sinful nature, we are all idolaters (as well as sinners of every other kind). As long as that has any influence at all in our Christian walk (and it does, sadly), one could say that the sinful nature's tendency toward idolatry may influence and corrupt aspects of even the good things (such as proper worship of God) that we strive to do.
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What I have posted excludes true believers who are ignorant of passing on doctrine that is false. As is recommended, these brethren are innocents of sin until made aware of their error. Just telling them is not the same as their understanding so, so we should never judge them as apostates
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