What is idolatry?

[~Shalhevet~]

...and are we all guilty of it?

Is idolatry being a football fan? Is idolatry being an overeater? Is idolatry loving to go on shopping sprees? What is "uncleanness"?

Sorry for so many questions.

Please help me understand. Thank you.

Colossians 3

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,

7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Ephesians 5

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.

[mizzdy]

Idolatry is putting anything, a person, a place, a doctrine, anything in place of God or anything that gets in the way of your worship of God or "idolatry is to do an act of worship toward any created thing, to believe that a particular created thing is an independent power, or to make something a mediator between ourselves and the Almighty". Being a football fan is not idolatry unless it keeps you from reading the bible, from praying or even fellowshipping, I personally don't think staying home from congregation for superbowl idolatry, some do. But if by putting football above God by continuly staying at home to watch it, putting up a player as something great above Gods place in your heart and life I would say the person is danger of idolatry.

If something such as shopping or even being online too much takes away from your worship, your study, your personaly relationship with God then it is idolatry. Some I have heard say that over spending or spending above ones needs and means is a form of idolatry.

Unclean means when someone is morally or physically unclean, in order to be unclean to God is our thougths, deeds and actions, the word is translated as lewdness, impure and other words that show the state of the mind and body.

If we walk in the ways the Messiah said to walk, when we accept Him we are grafted into the promises of the covenant but more than that the Spirit is writing God's instructions on our hearts giving us His strength to carry them out and most importantly His ways will eventually become second nature to us so we will be found righteous and holy in His sight. Sometimes that takes a life time and even then we will still fail as we are human but each and everyday that we put on His armor He strengthens us for the battle.

[Hunterpoet]

It is the covetous man that is the idolater.

[~Shalhevet~]

I am a coveter. I pray that God change me. If I can't change before death am I going to hell?

[nebula]

Shalhevet - We all struggle with sin. Why would Jesus say to take up your cross daily if that were not so? "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves...."

Do not think the wood, hay, and stubble that remain are what define you. The Lord sees the gold, silver, and precious jewels.

Philippians 1:6 - being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. (1 Timothy 6:20)

[georgedrw81]

Shalhevet - We all struggle with sin. Why would Jesus say to take up your cross daily if that were not so? "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves...."

Do not think the wood, hay, and stubble that remain are what define you. The Lord sees the gold, silver, and precious jewels.

Philippians 1:6 - being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. (1 Timothy 6:20)

Right

[~Shalhevet~]

Bless you nebula. I know I've said this before but I really can learn a lot from you.

[nebula]

You are welcome!

I am glad to know what I've gone through is being used to help others.

[2Joyful]

Shalhevet - We all struggle with sin. Why would Jesus say to take up your cross daily if that were not so? "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves...."

Do not think the wood, hay, and stubble that remain are what define you. The Lord sees the gold, silver, and precious jewels.

Philippians 1:6 - being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. (1 Timothy 6:20)

Amen