Idolatry is pervasive from the Mainline churches all the way thru the rightwing evangelicals

[Jon777]

Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 6:17 “"'Come out from among them and separate yourselves,' says the Lord,” and in his day that was largely actual pagan temples with idols. In our day we still have the danger of idolatry and from that we must separate. Our land is full of idolatry parading itself as the truth of God. There is a good article on this online that I’ll present:

An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God, while idolatry is giving worship or devotion to that thing that replaces God. Significantly, this is the first commandment by God to Israel in the famous Ten Commandments.

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God....(Exodus 20:3–5)

This command seems clear enough, but there are many people hearing these words who wonder how this commandment applies to them. After all, they aren’t bowing down to carved images.

Consider the warning from A.W. Tozer, “Let us beware lest we in our pride accept the erroneous notion that idolatry consists only in kneeling before visible objects of adoration, and that civilized peoples are therefore free from it.”

Idolatry isn’t limited to pagans bowing down to idols. That’s just one manifestation of idolatry. It often looks much more subtle than that. In fact, there are all kinds of modern-day idols that attempt to displace God from His rightful place. Sports. School. Jobs. Family. Kids. A boyfriend. A girlfriend. Personal pleasure. A hobby. Our reputation. Our stuff. The list goes on and on.

So, we know what idolatry is. But how does idolatry start? What is the root cause? Fortunately, we are not left guessing. Paul tells us in his letter to the Christians in Rome.

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Rom. 1:21–25)

Long before anyone bows down and worships an idol, Paul tells us that something happens in their mind. Paul says an exchange takes place. People will “exchange the truth about God for a lie.” They begin to accept a lie about God—a false idea.

Let me summarize Paul’s words as best as I can: Behind every act of false worship, there is a false idea about God.

Tozer states, “The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It begins in the mind and may be present where no overt act of worship has taken place.” That’s it exactly. Wrong ideas about God don’t just lead to idolatry; they are idolatry. And what begins as idolatrous thoughts leads to idolatrous actions. This is demonstrable from both Scripture and our own lives.

Idolatry Begins When Truth about God Is Exchanged for a Lie

There are all kinds of modern-day idols that attempt to displace God from His rightful place. But how does idolatry start? Fortunately, we are not left guessing.

www.str.org

 

[Dino246]

You title is provocative. Your post is irrelevant.

 

[memberofthebride]

then there are pictures of ""jesus" a long haired hippy looking fellow, kind of gay looking.
then crosses. there is no physical proof it was a cross, a stake for sure, could be either.

Steeples, stain glass windows with the saints on and on

but for those that claim the 10 are obsolete, does it matter?

 

[ThroughTheStorm]

Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 6:17 “"'Come out from among them and separate yourselves,' says the Lord,” and in his day that was largely actual pagan temples with idols. In our day we still have the danger of idolatry and from that we must separate. Our land is full of idolatry parading itself as the truth of God. There is a good article on this online that I’ll present:

An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God, while idolatry is giving worship or devotion to that thing that replaces God. Significantly, this is the first commandment by God to Israel in the famous Ten Commandments.

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God....(Exodus 20:3–5)

This command seems clear enough, but there are many people hearing these words who wonder how this commandment applies to them. After all, they aren’t bowing down to carved images.

Consider the warning from A.W. Tozer, “Let us beware lest we in our pride accept the erroneous notion that idolatry consists only in kneeling before visible objects of adoration, and that civilized peoples are therefore free from it.”

Idolatry isn’t limited to pagans bowing down to idols. That’s just one manifestation of idolatry. It often looks much more subtle than that. In fact, there are all kinds of modern-day idols that attempt to displace God from His rightful place. Sports. School. Jobs. Family. Kids. A boyfriend. A girlfriend. Personal pleasure. A hobby. Our reputation. Our stuff. The list goes on and on.

So, we know what idolatry is. But how does idolatry start? What is the root cause? Fortunately, we are not left guessing. Paul tells us in his letter to the Christians in Rome.

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Rom. 1:21–25)

Long before anyone bows down and worships an idol, Paul tells us that something happens in their mind. Paul says an exchange takes place. People will “exchange the truth about God for a lie.” They begin to accept a lie about God—a false idea.

Let me summarize Paul’s words as best as I can: Behind every act of false worship, there is a false idea about God.

Tozer states, “The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It begins in the mind and may be present where no overt act of worship has taken place.” That’s it exactly. Wrong ideas about God don’t just lead to idolatry; they are idolatry. And what begins as idolatrous thoughts leads to idolatrous actions. This is demonstrable from both Scripture and our own lives.

Idolatry Begins When Truth about God Is Exchanged for a Lie

There are all kinds of modern-day idols that attempt to displace God from His rightful place. But how does idolatry start? Fortunately, we are not left guessing.

www.str.org

This is very powerful stuff! It is so true that the wrong idea of who God is is what begins idolatry. I believe this is why God stated to the Israelites in Exodus 20:1,

'“I (YHWH) am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of
slavery.'

Essentially, He is calling His people to know Him. To remember it was He and no other who delivered them from Egypt; to know it is He who is the only God, to know that these statutes and commands belong to Him and no other god, thus by obeying these words, we are honoring and serving Him. Without that first verse to clarify who these statutes belong to, it would be so easy for the Israelites to get away with ascribing a foreign god to their freedom from Egypt...which unfortunately they tried to do. I believe this is why some Bible translations make verse 1 the first command. We must know who our God is and understand His character.

 

[lrs68]

Doctrines slowly separate believers from God.

They begin using the Doctrine as a legal Claim to pick and choose how they want to live in Christ. Some Doctrines have you demanding God to do this or that, some let you sin unconditionally, some have you working for deliverance, some have you investing in get rich quick schemes, some have you thinking you are little gods, some have you thinking im saved so no need to fulfill the Great Commission of telling others about Yeshua and making Disciples.

Ultimately, these Doctrines take the idea of reading Scripture for yourself and letting the Holy Spirit guide you to obeying the man made Tenants of the man made Doctrine. Therefore one is committing Idolatry by following man rather than God.

The First Commandment proves they were never done away with because no matter the Covenant one must obey it without excuse.

 

[Jon777]

Paul wrote in 2 Cor. 6:17 “"'Come out from among them and separate yourselves,' says the Lord,” and in his day that was largely actual pagan temples with idols. In our day we still have the danger of idolatry and from that we must separate. Our land is full of idolatry parading itself as the truth of God. There is a good article on this online that I’ll present:

An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God, while idolatry is giving worship or devotion to that thing that replaces God. Significantly, this is the first commandment by God to Israel in the famous Ten Commandments.

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God....(Exodus 20:3–5)

This command seems clear enough, but there are many people hearing these words who wonder how this commandment applies to them. After all, they aren’t bowing down to carved images.

Consider the warning from A.W. Tozer, “Let us beware lest we in our pride accept the erroneous notion that idolatry consists only in kneeling before visible objects of adoration, and that civilized peoples are therefore free from it.”

Idolatry isn’t limited to pagans bowing down to idols. That’s just one manifestation of idolatry. It often looks much more subtle than that. In fact, there are all kinds of modern-day idols that attempt to displace God from His rightful place. Sports. School. Jobs. Family. Kids. A boyfriend. A girlfriend. Personal pleasure. A hobby. Our reputation. Our stuff. The list goes on and on.

So, we know what idolatry is. But how does idolatry start? What is the root cause? Fortunately, we are not left guessing. Paul tells us in his letter to the Christians in Rome.

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Rom. 1:21–25)

Long before anyone bows down and worships an idol, Paul tells us that something happens in their mind. Paul says an exchange takes place. People will “exchange the truth about God for a lie.” They begin to accept a lie about God—a false idea.

Let me summarize Paul’s words as best as I can: Behind every act of false worship, there is a false idea about God.

Tozer states, “The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. It begins in the mind and may be present where no overt act of worship has taken place.” That’s it exactly. Wrong ideas about God don’t just lead to idolatry; they are idolatry. And what begins as idolatrous thoughts leads to idolatrous actions. This is demonstrable from both Scripture and our own lives.

Idolatry Begins When Truth about God Is Exchanged for a Lie

There are all kinds of modern-day idols that attempt to displace God from His rightful place. But how does idolatry start? Fortunately, we are not left guessing.

www.str.org

My OP was initially prompted by my observing the comments and photos of the Rededicate 250 prayer event on the National Mall. What I saw did not bring to my mind the Christian faith in early America. I know different individuals will have their particular idea of idolatry today, but the following is what comes to my mind as to the state of the church in 1776.

In 18th-century America, the dominant Christian groups included Puritans, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Quakers, among others. Their theological perspective was generally Reformed/Calvinism or Evangelical, emphasizing the authority of Scripture, personal piety, and moral conduct.

Regarding spiritual gifts like healing, speaking in tongues, and prophecy:

1. Healing – There were occasional reports of miraculous healings, but these were often interpreted as extraordinary acts of God rather than routine or expected gifts in the church. Clergy might pray for the sick, and some believed God could heal, but systematic claims to have healing gifts as a normal part of church life were rare.
2. Speaking in tongues (glossolalia) – This was essentially absent. 18th-century Protestant theology largely held that the miraculous gifts described in 1 Corinthians 12–14 ceased with the apostolic age (a view called cessationism). Speaking in tongues would have been seen as unusual, suspect, or even heretical.
3. Prophecy – Some groups, notably the Quakers, claimed direct guidance from the Spirit, which could resemble prophecy. Quakers emphasized that the Spirit could speak through any believer, often in spontaneous exhortation or “vocal ministry,” but it was framed carefully as confirmation of God’s will rather than the same kind of predictive or authoritative prophecy described in the New Testament.

Key takeaway: While 18th-century American Christians believed in God’s active work in the world and occasional miracles, most did not claim the full suite of charismatic gifts as normal or ongoing in their congregations. The modern Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, which explicitly embrace healing, tongues, and prophecy as ongoing gifts, would not emerge until the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

One name is often left out when discussing important contributors to America’s founding. Although he lived centuries before the war, his ideas were foundational to the philosophy of resistance and the demand for a constitutionally limited government. That man is John Calvin.

Calvin presents a bleak view of human nature. He views man as fallen and corrupted, incapable of good apart from the grace of God. Whether we agree with his perspective or not, Calvin’s heirs applied this view to many areas, including political philosophy. In their view, because civil officers are also inherently sinful, God has ordained lesser magistrates who can intervene when a ruler becomes despotic. This teaching, commonly known as the “doctrine of the lesser magistrate,” gave the American colonists a theological basis for resistance to Great Britain. When the American Revolution ended, the leaders of the new states established a new national government with strictly limited powers. Those leaders, knowing the nature of man to grab power, created a system of checks and balances, division of government among branches, and a federal system of government that would restrict the centralization of power.

 

[Jon777]

My OP was initially prompted by my observing the comments and photos of the Rededicate 250 prayer event on the National Mall. What I saw did not bring to my mind the Christian faith in early America. I know different individuals will have their particular idea of idolatry today, but the following is what comes to my mind as to the state of the church in 1776.

In 18th-century America, the dominant Christian groups included Puritans, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Baptists, and Quakers, among others. Their theological perspective was generally Reformed/Calvinism or Evangelical, emphasizing the authority of Scripture, personal piety, and moral conduct.

Regarding spiritual gifts like healing, speaking in tongues, and prophecy:

1. Healing – There were occasional reports of miraculous healings, but these were often interpreted as extraordinary acts of God rather than routine or expected gifts in the church. Clergy might pray for the sick, and some believed God could heal, but systematic claims to have healing gifts as a normal part of church life were rare.
2. Speaking in tongues (glossolalia) – This was essentially absent. 18th-century Protestant theology largely held that the miraculous gifts described in 1 Corinthians 12–14 ceased with the apostolic age (a view called cessationism). Speaking in tongues would have been seen as unusual, suspect, or even heretical.
3. Prophecy – Some groups, notably the Quakers, claimed direct guidance from the Spirit, which could resemble prophecy. Quakers emphasized that the Spirit could speak through any believer, often in spontaneous exhortation or “vocal ministry,” but it was framed carefully as confirmation of God’s will rather than the same kind of predictive or authoritative prophecy described in the New Testament.

Key takeaway: While 18th-century American Christians believed in God’s active work in the world and occasional miracles, most did not claim the full suite of charismatic gifts as normal or ongoing in their congregations. The modern Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, which explicitly embrace healing, tongues, and prophecy as ongoing gifts, would not emerge until the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

One name is often left out when discussing important contributors to America’s founding. Although he lived centuries before the war, his ideas were foundational to the philosophy of resistance and the demand for a constitutionally limited government. That man is John Calvin.

Calvin presents a bleak view of human nature. He views man as fallen and corrupted, incapable of good apart from the grace of God. Whether we agree with his perspective or not, Calvin’s heirs applied this view to many areas, including political philosophy. In their view, because civil officers are also inherently sinful, God has ordained lesser magistrates who can intervene when a ruler becomes despotic. This teaching, commonly known as the “doctrine of the lesser magistrate,” gave the American colonists a theological basis for resistance to Great Britain. When the American Revolution ended, the leaders of the new states established a new national government with strictly limited powers. Those leaders, knowing the nature of man to grab power, created a system of checks and balances, division of government among branches, and a federal system of government that would restrict the centralization of power.

For those unaware, the word Evangelical in 1776 still stood for Lutherans, not the modern concept of evangelicals.

 

[GWH]

I-dolatry includes all who reject God/Messiah as Lord.

 

[Omegatime]

I-dolatry includes all who reject God/Messiah as Lord.

Not really-the correct term is unrighteous, sinful, wicked

Idolatry or idol worship is the worship of an idol as though it were a deity

 

[Jon777]

Not really-the correct term is unrighteous, sinful, wicked

Idolatry or idol worship is the worship of an idol as though it were a deity

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). (Col 3:5, NRSV)

So put to death those parts of you which belong to the earth—fornication, indecency, lust, evil desires, and the ruthless greed which is nothing less than idolatry; (Col 3:5, REB)

You must put to death, then, the earthly desires at work in you, such as sexual immorality, indecency, lust, evil passions, and greed (for greed is a form of idolatry). (Col 3:5, GNB92)

 

[Suze]

Idolatry is literally everywhere . All of us really need to examine ourselves very carefully . Me included . I've been busy the last few weeks , my mum has been very poorly with a collapsed lung and I've been a bit stressed . For a while I've been trying to identify what is causing my stress and I think I've found it and sorted it .
There have been a lot of conflicts going on inside my head , both consciously and subconsciously . I won't bore u all with the details but I will tell u my solution . I've asked my mum to write me out of her will , which she has done and , I cannot even find the words to describe how at peace I feel about this . What a weight has been lifted from me , I feel sooooo much more relaxed and calm and safe . I wish I could articulate what a wonderful effect this has had on me . No stress , at all , any more . I feel truly free and content .
I'm not saying others should do the same but , if u r feeling stressed or unsettled , it really is worth while talking to God about it and waiting for an answer . No words will ever describe how happy I am now I don't have that burden weighing me down . If u r unhappy , take the time and make the effort to find out why and then , do the right thing to sort it out . With God's help of course .

 

[HealthAndHappiness]

Idolatry is literally everywhere . All of us really need to examine ourselves very carefully . Me included . I've been busy the last few weeks , my mum has been very poorly with a collapsed lung and I've been a bit stressed . For a while I've been trying to identify what is causing my stress and I think I've found it and sorted it .
There have been a lot of conflicts going on inside my head , both consciously and subconsciously . I won't bore u all with the details but I will tell u my solution . I've asked my mum to write me out of her will , which she has done and , I cannot even find the words to describe how at peace I feel about this . What a weight has been lifted from me , I feel sooooo much more relaxed and calm and safe . I wish I could articulate what a wonderful effect this has had on me . No stress , at all , any more . I feel truly free and content .
I'm not saying others should do the same but , if u r feeling stressed or unsettled , it really is worth while talking to God about it and waiting for an answer . No words will ever describe how happy I am now I don't have that burden weighing me down . If u r unhappy , take the time and make the effort to find out why and then , do the right thing to sort it out . With God's help of course .

My heart goes out to you and your Mum.
Do you know for sure if she is Saved?
Most important, does she know for sure? I would ask today and if not, you know I'm more than willing to help. I have more videos and can chat one on one with you both on the app once I try it out first.

 

[GWH]

Not really-the correct term is unrighteous, sinful, wicked

Idolatry or idol worship is the worship of an idol as though it were a deity

Yes, and I-dolatry is the worship of self instead of God (2Tim. 3:2).
(Do you know the meaning of coining a term?)

 

[Suze]

Thank you for your concern it is appreciated , I have posted previously about my relationship with my mum so I won't go over it all again , unless u really want me to . Will just say that my mum is a diagnosed narcissistic psychopath and she is who she is and unable to change . We have had a terrible toxic relationship since I was a child , she is unable to hide her dislike of me . She also likes to influence others to dislike me , it's not been much fun having her as a mum . She is not religious .
I've been reading Galatians , Ephesians , Philippians and this morning Colossians and the things that have been jumping out at me r these kinds of verses ; Colossians Ch 3 verses 1-7 , especially v 5 , Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth ; fornication , uncleanness , inordinate affection , evil concupiscence , and COVETOUSNESS WHICH IS IDOLATRY .
My mum hardly ever looked after me , I went hungry but she always had cigarettes and whisky and make up . As much as she could she dumped me on relatives and never gave them any money for my good etc . God had looked after me , provided for me and preserved my life , He has taken care of my every need all my life . He will continue to do so . I don't want anything from my mum . When I was a child I needed her desperately , I wasn't aware then that God was looking after me . Now I know that it has always been God looking after me and providing for me , so , I definitely don't want anything from her now , I feel as if I am insulting my Heavenly Father by accepting anything from her when , it has always been Him providing for me throughout all my life in the past and I trust that He will continue to do so in the future . She didn't really want me to have anything anyway , she just didn't want to look bad , as soon as I asked her to give it to someone else she agreed and straight away said she would give it to her carer Mel . So , I'm happy , mum is happy and Mel is turning cartwheels in the street .

My heart goes out to you and your Mum.
Do you know for sure if she is Saved?
Most important, does she know for sure? I would ask today and if not, you know I'm more than willing to help. I have more videos and can chat one on one with you both on the app once I try it out first.

 

[HealthAndHappiness]

Thank you for your concern it is appreciated , I have posted previously about my relationship with my mum so I won't go over it all again , unless u really want me to . Will just say that my mum is a diagnosed narcissistic psychopath and she is who she is and unable to change . We have had a terrible toxic relationship since I was a child , she is unable to hide her dislike of me . She also likes to influence others to dislike me , it's not been much fun having her as a mum . She is not religious .
I've been reading Galatians , Ephesians , Philippians and this morning Colossians and the things that have been jumping out at me r these kinds of verses ; Colossians Ch 3 verses 1-7 , especially v 5 , Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth ; fornication , uncleanness , inordinate affection , evil concupiscence , and COVETOUSNESS WHICH IS IDOLATRY .
My mum hardly ever looked after me , I went hungry but she always had cigarettes and whisky and make up . As much as she could she dumped me on relatives and never gave them any money for my good etc . God had looked after me , provided for me and preserved my life , He has taken care of my every need all my life . He will continue to do so . I don't want anything from my mum . When I was a child I needed her desperately , I wasn't aware then that God was looking after me . Now I know that it has always been God looking after me and providing for me , so , I definitely don't want anything from her now , I feel as if I am insulting my Heavenly Father by accepting anything from her when , it has always been Him providing for me throughout all my life in the past and I trust that He will continue to do so in the future . She didn't really want me to have anything anyway , she just didn't want to look bad , as soon as I asked her to give it to someone else she agreed and straight away said she would give it to her carer Mel . So , I'm happy , mum is happy and Mel is turning cartwheels in the street .

I do recall you talking about that a long time ago. I had forgotten. Thanks for the reminder and bringing that up again.
Yesterday's devotion I also kept seeing an emphasis in a couple epistles....."without natural affection.".
I had a family member who also has the condition you described, so I can empathize. My half brother spent his life poisoning my Mom's mind against me.
His sorry excuse for a dad used to abuse and try to murder me. The son he abandoned took after him in the worst ways.
He is a pathological liar and malevolent psychopath.
I'm sorry what you've gone through throughout life.

You are truly a woman of strong faith. May our Father show you much kindness and reward you abundantly with everlasting blessings.

 

[Suze]

I do recall you talking about that a long time ago. I had forgotten. Thanks for the reminder and bringing that up again.
Yesterday's devotion I also kept seeing an emphasis in a couple epistles....."without natural affection.".
I had a family member who also has the condition you described, so I can empathize. My half brother spent his life poisoning my Mom's mind against me.
His sorry excuse for a dad used to abuse and try to murder me. The son he abandoned took after him in the worst ways.
He is a pathological liar and malevolent psychopath.
I'm sorry what you've gone through throughout life.

You are truly a woman of strong faith. May our Father show you much kindness and reward you abundantly with everlasting blessings.

Thank you so much for sharing that . I think unless u have experienced being around such a person , it's hard to imagine the havoc and pain they cause , just for their own amusement . It is helpful though to have met them , my mum and dad both , have given me some insight into malevolent people so I'm usually quite good at spoting them early on and keeping away . God teaches us many things in many ways , everything we go through is a lesson . May God bless you always .

 

[TrustandObey]

Are there any examples in the Bible of anything other than a physical object being labeled as a idol worthy of worship as a deity?

IOW, if we are saying that money can be an idol does this mean that the person is worshipping money as a deity?

 

[GWH]

Are there any examples in the Bible of anything other than a physical object being labeled as a idol worthy of worship as a deity?

IOW, if we are saying that money can be an idol does this mean that the person is worshipping money as a deity?

Every mention in GW of worshipping physical objects or persons instead of God is idolatry (Rom. 1:25).

 

[Suze]

Are there any examples in the Bible of anything other than a physical object being labeled as a idol worthy of worship as a deity?

IOW, if we are saying that money can be an idol does this mean that the person is worshipping money as a deity?

Colossians chapter 3 verse 5 , verses 1-7 for context . Anything that we love , more than we love God and Jesus is in effect , idolatry . If we are motivated by , or if we allow something or someone to distract us , from our relationship with God and that something may lead us down a wrong path , away from our God , it is potentially idolatry .
Take me for example . For just over 5 years now I have been visiting my mum ( and my step dad but he died in Nov 2024 ) for three days when he was alive and now two since he died .
During those years I have been used and abused very regularly by my mum , she has no excuse for her behaviour and she has even influenced and encouraged others to abuse and even assault me . I have been stressed out by this for all those years . I had to ask myself two questions , why am I so stressed and , why am I putting up with this ? I had to dig deep and face an unpleasant truth , about myself . I concluded that I put up with all this because my mum was going to leave me approx £30 grand in her will . I did not like this about me so , I got my mam to remove me from her will and I have felt as if a ten ton weight has been lifted from me , I've not felt so at peace for literally years and I know I've done the right thing . The subconscious thought of that money was making me debase myself and , allow others to debase me . It was an idol to me . It's not any more and I shall continue to visit and help my mum out for as long as she wants me to , without any earthly reward . I feel free , more than I have done for many years , thanks to God for teaching me the truth about myself .

 

[Suze]

Are there any examples in the Bible of anything other than a physical object being labeled as a idol worthy of worship as a deity?

IOW, if we are saying that money can be an idol does this mean that the person is worshipping money as a deity?

It's not about the thing that is worshipped , it comes from us , our attitude to that thing , how we allow it to affect and influence us and our behaviour and thoughts and attitudes etc . We are capable of turning anything into an idol .