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

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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 ❤️ .
Good point.

So what sin is not idoltry?
 
Good point.

So what sin is not idoltry?
I guess murder isn't idolatry , that's about destroying someone rather than covetousness . Unless of course u murder someone so u can steal something of theirs . Covetousness seems to b at the root of a lot of sin doesn't it ? The love of money is the root of all evil , it says that somewhere in the Bible . I didn't used to believe that but , I'm starting to c it around me a lot , especially where my mum's will is concerned , I'm so very relieved to b out of it , it truly was a big weight on me .
 
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Good point.

So what sin is not idoltry?
Acts of vengeance ! They r usually about pride aren't they ? God says ; vengeance is Mine , I shall repay . So , we r not to take vengeance on someone , so if we do that , it would b a sin after God has said vengeance belongs to Him and we r not to do it .
 
There's anger of course but that is very often linked to pride o think .
 
The question is "whom do you serve?"
As for me, I serve (trust and obey) the Lord (Josh. 24:15).
No.

This was the question.

"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?"

Suze did a great job answering the question in post# 19.
 
No.

This was the question.

"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?"

Suze did a great job answering the question in post# 19.

Like most biblical issues, the choice is binary: worship God or not = idolatry.

IOW, I agree with Suze saying "Anything that we love , more than we love God and Jesus is in effect , idolatry ...".
Not sure why you did not understand our agreement.
 
A man can make an idol out of anything. All idolatry is sin. Sin enslaves. There may be no greater tyranny than that of ones own opinion.
 
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A man can make an idol out of anything. All idolatry is sin. Sin enslaves. There may be no greater tyranny than that of ones own opinion.

Yes, in Rom. 6:16-19 Paul teaches that slavery to sin is voluntary or due to one's own opinion/will (MFW).
 
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
And this is pretty much the whole of Asia and East Asia, and in many parts of the world.

However, I do agree with some of the comments above about idol worship being anything that becomes #1 in our lives, above worshipping God.
 
Like most biblical issues, the choice is binary: worship God or not = idolatry.

IOW, I agree with Suze saying "Anything that we love , more than we love God and Jesus is in effect , idolatry ...".
Not sure why you did not understand our agreement.
For some reason you changed the question.

Suze simply answered the question.

Nothing personal.