What Is Idolatry?

"The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths." Psalm 135:15-17 Idols are anything that a person wears or reveres for blessing, protection, or for "good luck." This is expressly forbidden by God throughout the Bible. Does this mean one should not wear any jewelry of a religious nature? No, if it only means a statement of what you believe - maybe a cross that remembers the Lord's crucifixion, or a star of David to show your love for Israel. If your intent though, is to place any kind of trust in them for blessing, protection, or "good luck," you have clearly defiled the commandment of God. Also, the Lord is speaking of anything one would bow down before, such as statues in churches or in bowing before statues of Mary or wearing medals, scapulars, or rosaries dedicated to her. It is the sin of idolatry to bow down or kneel before ANY statue. It is idolatry to wear medals created as a result of the several "apparitions" purported to be of Mary. The mother of Jesus did NOT appear in any of these sites. The mother of Jesus would never have told people to defy the commandment of God and build shrines to her, or to wear medals of her, such as the "miraculous medal," and others like it. "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; YOU SHALL NOT BOW DOWN TO THEM nor serve them." Exodus 20:4-5 This is the second of the ten commandments. Most people are not aware that the Catholic church actually changed the 10 commandments. The Catholic church actually altered the Word of God! The Catholic church REMOVED the second commandment which says: You shall not make for yourself any graven image to bow before. And to keep people from realizing that, they took the tenth commandment and made it into two commandments so they'll still arrive at ten. This is abject heresy. If you doubt that, look it up. Read the ten commandments, NOT from a Catholic source, but as it was actually written in the Bible. Then compare it with the Catholic church's heretical version. The mother of Jesus would never have promised blessings to those who recite the "rosary." It is idolatry. "And when you pray, do not use VAIN REPETITIONS as the heathen do." Matthew 6:7 "Those who make them ARE LIKE THEM; so is everyone who trusts in them." Psalm 135:18 How are those who use these things "LIKE THEM?" The answer is found in the first verse above. Those who use them have eyes to see but don't see, having ears to hear they cannot hear. Wearing or bowing before medals or statues brings upon the person a spiritual blindness and deafness, a religious spirit, and that becomes very evident when one tries to tell them this is idolatry - they just can't see it. They cannot hear it. They are like what they revere, blind and deaf, just as the Word of God says. To the extent that one obeys the principles the Lord has established in his Word, to that extent the person will grow spiritually and be blessed. To the extent that one disobeys the principles God has established in his Word, it is to that extent that the person will be spiritually blind and deaf. You're wasting your time trying to tell them this, they just can't see it. To the extent that one's church teaches things in opposition to the Word of God, to that extent the church is a cult. If anyone reading this can "hear" what is being said here, if you belong to any church that teaches these things, you have to leave it. Otherwise you will not grow in the Lord, you CANNOT grow in the Lord, you will remain blind and deaf. "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and TRUTH, for the Father is seeking such to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and TRUTH.” John 4:23-24 What is truth? The Word of God is the source, the fountain of truth. How can one worship God with idols? God forbid! No, rid yourself first of your idols, and then come and worship God, and God ALONE ...in spirit and IN TRUTH. More on this