en_tw_old/bible/other/idol.md

idol, idolatrous

Definition:

An idol is an object that people make so they can worship it. Something is described as "idolatrous" if it involves giving honor to something other than the one true God.

• People make idols to represent the false gods that they worship.
• These false gods do not exist; there is no God besides Yahweh.
• Sometimes demons work through an idol to make it seem like it has power, even though it does not.
• Idols are often made of valuable materials like gold, silver, bronze, or expensive wood.
• An "idolatrous kingdom" means a "kingdom of people who worship idols" or a "kingdom of people who worship earthly things."
• The term "idolatrous figure" is another word for a "carved image" or an "idol."

(See also: ../kt/falsegod.md, ../other/image.md, ../other/kingdom.md, ../kt/worship.md)

Bible References:

• 1 Thessalonians 01:8-10
• Acts 07:41-42
• Acts 15:19-21
• Colossians 03:5-8
• Exodus 32:1-2
• Galatians 05:19-21
• Psalm 031:5-7
• Romans 02:21-22

Examples from the Bible stories:

*13:05 "Do not make idols or worship them, because I, Yahweh, am a jealous God." *13:12 Aaron made a golden idol in the shape of a calf. The people began to wildly worship the idol and make sacrifices to it! *14:03 "You must completely destroy all of their idols. If you do not obey me, you will worship their idols instead of me." *18:12 All of the kings and most of the people of the kingdom of Israel worshiped idols. This kind of worship often included sexual immorality and sometimes even child sacrifice. *19:16 They (the prophets) all told the people to stop worshiping idols and to start showing justice and mercy to others.