Idolatry in the Church

idolatry:
1. the Pastor
2. Position
3. a feeling (chasing after a feeling)
andy

What about our need to be right - to be seen as right?

Diane

I'm usually my own idol.

Greatest Idolatry in any Church is Money. Remember the rich man who kept all the commandments from Childhood. But when Jesus told him to give up his money he could not which means he Idolized money.
I am 28, personally I struggle with Fame, even when I prophesy in Church if I do it to glorify myself instead of Glorifying God, it is a Sin of Idolatry. Am I expecting people to say Amen when I pray, when I prophesy etc? I win this battle by not entertaining the thought, I will not share or prophesy until my thoughts of fame leave me and I am able to cast the crown on his feet.
When someone praises me for any word I shared, I respond saying praise God and then submit it to his feet. All I deserve is hell fire but by his mercy he gave me the word.

Others have mentioned good examples of inward spiritual idolatry. However, there is a good example of outward idolatry in many of our American churches, especially in the South.

The U.S. Flag is a very real idol in such churches, usually fringed in beautiful gold tassles, and topped by the Golden Eagle that dates all the way back to the Roman Empire.

In Churches I have been to, it is invariable set to its own right, in "the place of honor", (according to the United States Flag Code), when it is displayed next to the less honorable and therefore lower-in-rank "Christian Flag" on its left.

One flag represent merely one of the kingdoms of this world. The other supposedly represents the Kingdom of God and of His Christ.

Which is supreme?

Doug

the television (or Hollywood) and all these reality shows has captivated more than our time, they captivated our souls.

when we treat our vehicles better than our spouse, that can be idolatry.

when we constantly seek other's opinions over hitting our knees before the Lord and waiting on Him, is that idolatry?

Someone mentioned the church, working for the church endless hours, is that idolatry?

God bless,
Lisa

Idolizing the church herself.
Idolizing your ministry.

Calvinism - as observed and practiced in the South.

The preacher - every thing has to be run by him for his approval or disapproval.

Cease Fire! Cease Fire!

Now... Play nice!

Ok, Steve, here is another one:

Contemporary music! Gotcha back!

Ignoring the scriptures in favor of CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT (doesn't apply to US clearly).

Idolatry is in the heart of man not something he does.

We must give God our hearts everyday.

When we do not trust,love and obey Him from our heart that is the measure our hearts have departed from the Lord.

We are His children and He bought us for a dear price that He would be known in our hearts.

God loves us soooo much !!!

Do we love Him ???

We can break Gods heart.....that is idolatry.

A Hymn by A. B. Simpson about surrendered idols:

Once it was the blessing
\t \t

Once it was the blessing,
Now it is the Lord;
Once it was the feeling,
Now it is His Word;

Once His gift I wanted,
Now, the Giver own;
Once I sought for healing,
Now Himself alone.

All in all forever,
Only Christ I'll sing;
Everything is in Christ,
And Christ is everything.

Once 'twas painful trying,
Now 'tis perfect trust;
Once a half salvation,
Now the uttermost;

Once 'twas ceaseless holding,
Now He holds me fast;
Once 'twas constant drifting,
Now my anchor's cast.

Once 'twas busy planning,
Now 'tis trustful prayer;
Once 'twas anxious caring,
Now He has the care;

Once 'twas what I wanted,
Now what Jesus says;
Once 'twas constant asking,
Now 'tis ceaseless praise.

Once it was my working,
His it hence shall be;
Once I tried to use Him,
Now He uses me;

Once the pow'r I wanted,
Now the Mighty One;
Once for self I labored,
Now for Him alone.

Once I hoped in Jesus,
Now I know He's mine;
Once my lamps were dying,
Now they brightly shine;

Once for death I waited,
Now His coming hail;
And my hopes are anchored
Safe within the veil.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/513#ixzz1dAWKVf17

You wrote:
"Ginny and I go way back... dont worry about us.

Krispy"

I know Bro. I was was smiling when I wrote what I did...

Be well you two!

Doug

i think we as human beings (especially in the church) have a tendency to worship God's "gifts" and "blessings" in whatever shape or form more than God Himself turning our "seeking" of God into a means for our own personal end, thus robbing God of the glory that He deserves

"...examples of "idolatry in the Church"..."

1)Free-willism
2)Christmas
3)Family
4)Education
5)"Christian" counseling

I like Mike's answer.
"I'm usually my own idol."

If this one is overcome, then what else matters?

Jas 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
Jas 3:3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Jas 3:4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
Jas 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
Jas 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
Jas 3:7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
Jas 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Jas 3:9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Jas 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
Jas 3:11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

Here in my nation I could think of two:

1.Nationalism-too much involvement of the Church on Politics.

2.Christmas-Boy, It's a huge one.

Colossians 3 v 5 ESV Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:* sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Footnote:
* Greek therefore your members that are on the earth

In a word: Bibliolatry, or what Tozer called "textualism" - worshipping the road map instead of following the Road. Bible-worship is by far the most widespread form of idolatry in the evangelical church.

I agree Wayne, what I found helps is remembering that the Bible is a tool for pointing us to something greater ie Christ Jesus. If you are on a road trip to Mount Rushmore and you saw a sign that said Mount Rushmore 5 miles you wouldn't stop and stare at the sign and end your journey. No you would keep going until you got there.

This is what many Christians have done they are aware that Christ wants a relationship with them and that Christ wants to heal them they KNOW it BUT they have yet to enter it by personally meeting Christ Himself. Christianity MUST be more than headknowledge!

Tozer put it this way:

The error of textualism is not doctrinal. It is far more subtle than that and much more difficult to discover, but its effects are just as deadly. Not its theological beliefs are at fault, but its assumptions.

It assumes, for instance, that if we have the word for a thing we have the thing itself. If it is in the Bible, it is in us. If we have the doctrine, we have the experience. If something was true of Paul it is of necessity true of us because we accept Paul's epistles as divinely inspired. The Bible tells us how to be saved, but textualism goes on to make it tell us that we are saved, something which in the very nature of things it cannot do. Assurance of individual salvation is thus no more than a logical conclusion drawn from doctrinal premises, and the resultant experience wholly mental.

Idolatry (to me) is outwardly serving one while inwardly seeking another. Example: Going to church every Sunday but everyday reading the horoscope to see how what they say about my day and how it’s going to be affected. Another example: sex. We go to church on Sunday, sing a few songs, and then return home to the Internet, the magazines, or however the fix is gotten.

In the O.T. the people would gather to hear the reading of God’s word but then go to the high places to offer their sacrifices. Very few King’s feared God more than they did the people and actually tore down all the high places. Isn’t that reminiscent of today, how few people fear God enough to tear down all the high places in their heart?

We ALL have hidden idols in our heart and it can only take walking in the Spirit with the Lord on a daily basis to uncover them and then we have the free will choice of tearing them down. Lord help us all.

God bless you, Krispy, on your teaching!
Lisa

PS (edit): Just read wayneman's post... double amen on bible-worship.

Re: "Bible-worship is by far the most widespread form of idolatry in the evangelical church."

Though it is the quintessence of enthusiasm to pretend to be guided by the Spirit without the written Word, yet it is every Christian’s bounden duty to be guided by the Spirit in conjunction with the written Word of God. Watch, therefore, I pray you, O believers, the motions of God’s blessed Spirit in your souls, and always try the suggestions or impressions that you may at any time feel, by the unerring rule of God’s most Holy Word. And if they are not found to be agreeable to that, reject them as diabolical and delusive! - GEORGE WHITEFIELD

Three of satan's tools are - sentimentalism, sensationalism, and enthusiasm.

The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. And we are kept by that same power of God through faith unto salvation.

Jesus is the living Word made flesh.

Mysticism will flourish when the Word of God is not magnified.

Psalms 138:2 I will worship toward Your holy temple, and give thanks to Your name for Your mercy, and for Your truth; for You have magnified Your Word above all Your name.

Heb. 4:12 For the Word of God is living, and powerfully working, and sharper than every two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of both soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge of the thoughts and intentions of the heart

Apple Pie

God's Greatest Adversaries are His Gifts

by John Piper in "A Hunger for God"

The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison
but apple pie.

It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven,
but endless nibbling at the table of the world.

It is not the X-rated video,
but the prime-time dribble of triviality we drink in every night.

For all the ills that Satan can do,
when God describes what keeps us from the banquet table of his love,
it is a piece of land,
a yoke o oxen,
and a wife. (Lk 14:18-20).

The greatest adversary of love to God is not his enemies
but his gifts.

And the most deadly appetites are not for the poison of evil,
but for the simple pleasures of earth.

For when these replace an appetite for God himself,
the idolatry is scarcely recognizable,
and almost incurable.

John Piper, A Hunger for God (Crossway Books, Wheaton, Ill. 60187) Pg 14

Brother for what it's worth I think you already brought one of them up in a recent posting---if you are willing to pledge your head to heaven then you should hit it straight between the eyes---the idolatry of sports and entertainment...

1. What it has become in our homes on TV
2. How it has become more of an identifier for us than Christ himself
3. How it has been thrusted on our children preverting the priorities of our precious children from an early age
4. Such precious time has been squandered...we ought to be redeeming the time, there are no "time-outs" in the kingdom of God...it's real time and the sand is rapidly slipping into the bottom of the hourglass...

Entertainment is the devil's substitute for joy...

the idolatry of technology...yes we ought to take advantage of technology...but our culture is beginning to allow it to take advantage of us...it is creating passive, non-confrontational people in this day who would rather text than talk face to face...it is undoing the community of family and isolating us from what God has intended us to be...in many ways.

...also the lust of comfort and ease...woe to those who are "at ease" in Zion.

Lord be with you brother...