The Definition of Idolatry?

Idolatry is a very serious sin that is sending billions of people to hell! Therefore, it is necessary for us to have a correct definition of idolatry according to the Bible. Everyone knows about the idolatry of paganism in its various forms, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, but professing Catholics and Christians can commit idolatry even while trying to worship Jesus Christ. This brings us to the 10 Commandments.

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”
Ex. 20:4-6 (Deut. 5:8-9)

In a scene that should never be forgotten, the congregation of Israel was given a correct definition of idolatry. We do not need to debate about this definition because it came directly from God as the people heard the voice of the LORD thundering from mount Sinai. Now, everyone should know about these outlawed forms of worship! Firstly, making images for the purpose of worshipping them is strictly prohibited, especially when it comes to making images of God or Jesus Christ. Secondarily, idolatrous worshippers can be easily identified as people who “bow down” to these images. Both the making and the worshipping of these images is forbidden in this commandment! Naturally, this is because doing the one will lead to the other. Therefore, people should not even attempt to make an image that depicts the similitude or likeness of Jesus Christ or God.

“Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female...” — Deut. 4:15-19

Have you ever seen Catholics bowing down to images of Jesus and Mary? Somehow, Catholics have been deceived to do the exact thing that is explicitly outlawed by God. Do your Catholic friends know about how the sin of idolatry is definitively revealed in the 2nd Commandment? Probably not. Coincidentally, the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church numbers the 10 Commandments differently, and this directs attention away from this clear prohibition in In their reckoning of the 10 commandments, the 2nd commandment in is combined with the 1st commandment in but the same clear prohibitions are still present in Scripture.

Catholics will defend themselves by saying that they are honoring and venerating the images of Jesus and Mary, but they are not worshipping or adoring these images, even as they religiously bow down to them. Does that sound right to you? Actions speak louder than words. If Catholics are doing what is explicitly forbidden in by making and bowing down to images, then this is idolatry according to the Bible. Practicing this outlawed form of worship is especially concerning because even professing Christian idolaters are condemned to hell in the New Testament

“Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.” — Isa. 2:8-9

Let the authority of Scripture speak for itself! It is the word of God. To “bow” or “fall down” before an image is an act of “worship” in the eyes of God Now, true to the word of the Prophet Isaiah, the land of Peru is full of idols in the name of Roman Catholicism! The scenery is eerily similar to the pagan civilizations of history. Images are on the high places of the hills and mountains Images are under the green trees of our gardens and groves in the plazas of our cities All this is done in the name of Jesus Christ, even despite the fact that we are commanded not to worship God in this way.

“Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.” — Deu 12:2-4

We should not try to worship God by Christianizing the idolatry of paganism The “customs of the heathen” are vain “Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.” We should not bring images into the House of God Neither should we bring images into our own houses Otherwise, we will be condemned in the sight of God. Sadly, the people of Peru think that they are being blessed by the presence of these images, but the Word of God boldly states that we are being cursed

“To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?” — Isa. 40:18

“To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?” — Isa. 46:5

Idolatry is wrong because these images of Jesus Christ are created by men as the work of our hands These images are insulting to God and misleading to men because none of them can correctly depict the likeness or appearance of Jesus Christ. Was Jesus Christ dark or light skinned? Did He have black or brown hair? Was he tall or short? The Son of God is not pleased to see Catholics bowing before the likeness of an imposter.

The whole situation is an embarrassment. The images are adorned with gold and silver, but God’s beauty is incomparable and indescribable The images have mouths, but they cannot speak They have eyes but they cannot see They have ears but they cannot hear Neither is there any life in these images Literally, they cannot move Therefore, the images are exalted on platforms, pillars, and high places in a vain show of worship that contradicts reality, as people forget about the invisible and highly exalted God of the universe who is sitting upon the circle of the earth

“To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved. Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.” — Isa. 40:18-23

Evidently, these practices do not help men worship the LORD by humbling them before God. These practices inflate the pride of men as they suppose they can make, carry, transport, and portray the image of God, and hereby invoke divine blessings upon people. These idols are carried and transported with great difficulty because of the heavy load Men are wearied under the burden in the processions throughout our cities. This is a deceptive show of worship because, in reality, all men are borne and carried by God

“Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.” — Isa. 41:24

“Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.” — Isa. 41:29

It’s time for Peru to wake up from this nightmare of confusion! The bewitching influence of idolatry is destroying our people. Employing images for worship is “profitable for nothing” The images of Senior de los Milagros (Cristo Moreno) are detestable abominations in the sight of God. The more we abhor them as cursed things, the better off we will be in Peru Therefore, the next time you see a procession of pilgrims going to the high place of a mountain to worship God, lovingly direct their attention to the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in

“Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” — John 4:20-24

The Definition of Idolatry?

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