1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
CEV 1Jn 5:21 Children, you must stay away from idols.
YLT 1Jn 5:21 Little children, guard yourselves from the idols! Amen.
Idols-
G1497
- Definition:
1. an image, likeness
a. i.e. whatever represents the form of an object, either real or imaginary
b. used of the shades of the departed, apparitions, spectres, phantoms of the mind, etc.
2. the image of an heathen God
3. a false God
- Origin: from G1491; an image (i.e. for worship)
- TDNT entry: 08:15,2
- Part(s) of speech: Noun Neuter
- Strong's: From G1491; an image (that is for worship); by implication a heathen god or (plural) the worship of such: - idol.
Idols. What's an idol to you? Do you have a bunch of clay, stone, wood, glass, or plastic images of weird shaped people, animals, or objects laying about your house? Do you revere any of those objects. Many will agree that people IDOLIZE objects that aren't necessarily those of the gods revered by the pagans, the heathens, the idol worshippers of old. Most people will agree that people do not pray or worship a lot of things they do really seem to idolize. We can say that a person idolizes their computer, or television, or their books, or even food. We can say that idolizing things doesn't really mean worshipping them in such a way as they bow down to them and pray to them, but does it? This is a slippery slope really.
Putting anything in front of our God, our Father in heaven, in front of our Savior Jesus Christ, is a possible idol-right?
Do you attach yourself to things other than God?
An idol is --
--an image
--a likeness
And that likeness and image can be of an object real or imagined.
--an image of a heathen god
--a false god
So by definition an idol could be just about anything but it's what you do with that idol that tells the tale, and we are distinctly told NOT to go near idols. So if an idol could be just about anything what does this really mean? We have to KEEP ourselves from idols.
Reading the Strong's definition we learn that their definition is- 'an image (that is FOR worship), by implication a heathen god or (plural) the worship of such.
The image is FOR worship.
Worship is honoring, praying, giving glory and praise to God- yes?
'To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration.'
Do we do this to objects?
Is there a form of worship that isn't outright adoration, that isn't giving reverence, respect, or veneration?
Do we worship when we adore something, when we have great affection for something even though we do not call it our God?
Is there a way to reverence something without it being your God?
Have we shunned forms of worship yet held fast to the objects that supersede the One and Only True God, is this a new form of worship? Because so many choose NOT to worship any God at all, are they in no danger of idol worship?
More on this tomorrow, all by the grace of God. I really think this needs a lot more study.
All in His love!
CEV 1Jn 5:21 Children, you must stay away from idols.
YLT 1Jn 5:21 Little children, guard yourselves from the idols! Amen.
Idols-
G1497
- Definition:
1. an image, likeness
a. i.e. whatever represents the form of an object, either real or imaginary
b. used of the shades of the departed, apparitions, spectres, phantoms of the mind, etc.
2. the image of an heathen God
3. a false God
- Origin: from G1491; an image (i.e. for worship)
- TDNT entry: 08:15,2
- Part(s) of speech: Noun Neuter
- Strong's: From G1491; an image (that is for worship); by implication a heathen god or (plural) the worship of such: - idol.
Idols. What's an idol to you? Do you have a bunch of clay, stone, wood, glass, or plastic images of weird shaped people, animals, or objects laying about your house? Do you revere any of those objects. Many will agree that people IDOLIZE objects that aren't necessarily those of the gods revered by the pagans, the heathens, the idol worshippers of old. Most people will agree that people do not pray or worship a lot of things they do really seem to idolize. We can say that a person idolizes their computer, or television, or their books, or even food. We can say that idolizing things doesn't really mean worshipping them in such a way as they bow down to them and pray to them, but does it? This is a slippery slope really.
Putting anything in front of our God, our Father in heaven, in front of our Savior Jesus Christ, is a possible idol-right?
Do you attach yourself to things other than God?
An idol is --
--an image
--a likeness
And that likeness and image can be of an object real or imagined.
--an image of a heathen god
--a false god
So by definition an idol could be just about anything but it's what you do with that idol that tells the tale, and we are distinctly told NOT to go near idols. So if an idol could be just about anything what does this really mean? We have to KEEP ourselves from idols.
Reading the Strong's definition we learn that their definition is- 'an image (that is FOR worship), by implication a heathen god or (plural) the worship of such.
The image is FOR worship.
Worship is honoring, praying, giving glory and praise to God- yes?
'To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration.'
Do we do this to objects?
Is there a form of worship that isn't outright adoration, that isn't giving reverence, respect, or veneration?
Do we worship when we adore something, when we have great affection for something even though we do not call it our God?
Is there a way to reverence something without it being your God?
Have we shunned forms of worship yet held fast to the objects that supersede the One and Only True God, is this a new form of worship? Because so many choose NOT to worship any God at all, are they in no danger of idol worship?
More on this tomorrow, all by the grace of God. I really think this needs a lot more study.
All in His love!
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