IMAGE OR IDOLS?
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image… You shall not bow down to them or serve them.” (Exodus 20:4-5)
The Bible teaches very clearly: God forbids making and worshiping idols – any image, carved image, or likeness of anything in heaven, on earth, or in water. But what is more serious is: when people begin to worship idols, demons will possess them, turning them into idols.
- Distinguishing between “images” and “idols”
Idol (Hebrew: pesel, tselem): Is a tangible image, carved image.
Idol (Hebrew: atsab, Greek: eidolon, eidōlolatreia): Is an image that has become sacred because demons are behind it (1 Corinthians 10:20). When people pay homage to images, evil forces operate through them to bind the soul.
“Covetousness is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5)
“They did not repent of their worship of demons and of idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood.” (Revelation 9:20)
- Why did the Catholic Church abandon the second commandment?
Compared to Exodus 20, Catholic doctrine has removed the commandment against idolatry, and divided the tenth commandment into two parts. This helps them to legitimately place and worship statues of Mary, Jesus, and saints in the church. But this cannot be justified before God – because His commandments never change.
- The state of disguised idolatry in the Church today
Some Protestant believers, although not worshiping statues, hang pictures of Jesus in a “reverent” way in their homes – this action can also become disguised idolatry if the person’s heart is directed towards that object instead of the real One.
Some sects even replace the Word of God with the words of the leader, quoting that person as absolute. At that time, the person is exalted above the Bible, and the leader becomes an idol that is blindly praised.
Greed, money – the god Mammon – is ruling the hearts of many believers. The rich use money to control the church, despise the poor, live lavishly, and show off their wealth. The Bible affirms: greed is idolatry (Colossians 3:5).
- Warning for everyone
You may not kneel before a stone statue, but:
Do you worship the image of God on the wall with a heart that deifies that object?
Do you blindly worship a spiritual leader, even quoting his words over the Bible?
Are you dominated by Mammon – living for money, thinking about money, loving money more than God?
If so – you are worshiping an idol, even if it is invisible.
Conclusion: Get rid of all idols!
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21)
God does not accept any sharing in His glory. He is a living God, not a dead idol. He does not need images, statues, representative priests, or dependence on wealth to be worshiped.
Get rid of idols in your home, and get rid of idols in your heart! Worship the Father in spirit and truth (John 4:24). God alone is worthy of worship, through Christ, not through anything tangible!