What is Idolatry?

© 06-08 Born-Again-Christian.info

More than meets the eye

Q: What is an idol? Charles

A: Anything that usurps the place of the Living God: The LORD Jesus Christ. That includes all religions (De. 5:7), philosophy and false beliefs (1 Co. 19-25), physical idols (1 Co. 10:14-22), and the sins of greed, immorality, witchcraft, and such like (Gal. 5:5, Rev. 2:14). Those who worship idols forfeit the grace of God. Jon. 2:8. The Catholic Mass is a blatant idol, and it should be no surprise that God detests Cross idols.

Millions of 'gods': or One God?

Q: How is Hinduism different from Christianity?

A: Hinduism is just another idolatrous religion: Christianity is God's Truth made Flesh, first by The LORD Jesus Christ, and now by faith, in born again believers. Christians don't follow a religion, they follow the LORD Jesus Christ.

Pleading the Blood

Q: How do I know God has forgiven my sins if I still feel guilty? Anita

A: Once you have repented, forsaken, and confessed your sin to God, embrace the truth of 1 Jn. 1:9 and declare it gone forever. You are cleansed by the Blood of Christ and faith in the Word of God: 'Feelings' change moment to moment: Jesus Christ is the same all the time. Heb. 13:8. These articles on Forgiveness and Assurance of Salvation will help you.

Alcoholism

Q: Do you have any advice on how I can help my alcoholic, non-Christian, friend to give up his addiction and turn to Jesus? Jess

A: Tell him The Truth in love. When he understands the Gospel, particularly how much God has paid to set him free, he will receive Christ as Lord, and then Jesus will release him from all addictions.

Nightmares

Q: I have nightmares that are very annoying and throw my daily schedule off. What should I do? Bojangles

A: Simply make sure you are saved, walk in the Light, and claim the promises of Scripture such as, Ps. 91:5, 4:8, 127:2, Ecc. 5:12. See: How to Stop Nightmares.

Smith Wigglesworth's grave

Q: Where is Smith Wigglesworth buried? Ken

A: First, please understand that Smith Wigglesworth would not have you running to his grave to seek anything, he would point you to the Living Word and His Spirit, for all you need.

Wigglesworth was caught up in life, eternal life. Looking at his dead wife laid out in front of his grieving children, he challenged them, Well, where is she? To drive home the point that she'd left her body, and gone to Heaven.

His body is buried in the family grave with his wife Mary Jane 'Polly', son George, and daughter Alice, in Shipley, Yorkshire.

Acts of God?

Q: Is Satan behind all natural disasters? Marlon

A: Marvellous question! You need to define carefully what you mean Marlon, otherwise you will inadvertently exalt Satan, and discredit the LORD.

Satan is completely subject to the LORD, he cannot do anything unless God permits it. (Job 1:10-12, Col. 1:13-14. 1 Jn. 2:14)

God is good, and perfectly just. He wants to redeem and bless everyone, but can only bless those who repent and trust in The LORD Jesus Christ. Those who refuse, He permits evil to befall them as a consequence of their choices.

Remember that when you read OT statements appearing to make God the author of evil, such as Is. 45:7, I bring prosperity and create disaster. (KJV. create evil).

There are clear cases of direct divine Judgment resulting in disasters such as The Flood (Gen. 6-8), the earthquake that swallowed up all who rebelled with Korah. (Nu.16), and God's judgments on Pharaoh's Egypt. And there's more on their way. (Rev. 6-9)

Calvinists, call them 'Acts of God', assuming all disasters are God's judgment on a sinful world, but that is very wide of the mark, and makes God out to be harsh rather than redemptive. My village felt the earthquake shock of the Indian Ocean Tsunami in December 2004, but don't tell me that was God's work. Satan killed those 300,000 souls, not God. The Lord permitted it because all sinners live under condemnation (Jn. 3:18), and this fallen world is soon to come to an end.

Keep in mind there were no plagues, hurricanes, forest fires, floods, or earthquakes in Eden before the Fall. That is why we all need The Redeemer. Let's tell the world!