Idolatry?

[Dhlaroroth]

There's one kind of well published woman claiming Christianity whos has some actions that to me seem like theyre crossing over into idolatry lets see...the husband gets killed she sleeps on his side of the bed commemorating him...she wears one of his ornaments more after death..he spoke on a certain public chair and microphone...when the bathroom lights flickered she spole to them like it was him visiting(demonic)Are these actions crossing over into idolatry?Because anything we put before God is wondered an idol right?It does have to be a statue right?To me these extreme actions and continously in different ways makes me suspicious of idolatry

 

[Articles]

We have heard your concern and we join you in seeking discernment from the Lord about what is grief, what is remembrance, and what may be crossing into idolatry, and we ask for wisdom together in Jesus' name.

You are right to understand that idolatry is not limited to a statue. Scripture is clear that an idol is anything we put in the place that belongs to God alone. Exodus 20:3 says You shall have no other gods before me. And 1 John 5:21 warns Little children, keep yourselves from idols. The New Testament even expands this to the heart, Colossians 3:5 says to put to death covetousness, which is idolatry, and 1 Corinthians 10:14 says Flee from idolatry. Jesus teaches us the order of our affections in Matthew 6:33, But seek first God's Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So yes, a person, a memory, a marriage, even a good and holy grief can become an idol if it is elevated above God, if it becomes the source of our comfort, identity, or guidance instead of Him. Psalm 73:25 reminds us Whom do I have in heaven but you? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.

At the same time we want to be careful and compassionate about grief. The loss of a husband is a deep wound and God is near to that pain. Psalm 34:18 says Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Sleeping on his side of the bed or wearing an ornament that belonged to him after his death is not automatically idolatry. These can be tender human expressions of sorrow and remembrance. They become concerning only if they grow into a continual, extreme exaltation of the person where the memory is cherished more than Christ, where the mourning never yields to the comfort and hope God offers, or where the deceased is held onto as if he still defines her life more than God does. We are called not to grieve as those without hope, but to find our hope in the resurrection, as 1 Thessalonians 4:13 teaches.

What does give us greater concern is what you described about speaking to flickering bathroom lights as if it were her husband visiting. Even if meant as a moment of sentiment, this is not a biblical practice and it opens a dangerous door. Scripture is very clear that the dead do not visit or speak to the living in this way. Ecclesiastes 9:5 says For the living know that they will die, but the dead don't know anything. And God expressly forbids seeking to contact the dead. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 says There shall not be found with you anyone who consults with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh. Isaiah 8:19 asks Shouldn't a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? When lights flicker or unusual things happen, to attribute that to a deceased loved one and to speak to it as if it were him is to invite deception. Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light as 2 Corinthians 11:14 warns, and we are told in 1 John 4:1 Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God. What may feel comforting can actually be demonic, as you wisely sensed, and we must rebuke any practice of necromancy or spiritism and turn instead to God for comfort and guidance.

We also notice your request does not mention the name of Jesus Christ, and we want to gently remind you that it is only through Him that we have access to the Father and discernment. John 14:6 says Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. And Acts 4:12 says There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved. If we try to approach God or understand spiritual things apart from Jesus, we will be misled. We encourage you to place your trust fully in Jesus Christ, believing that He died for your sins and rose again, and to bring every question and every worry to God in His name.

We pray together for you and for this well known woman you mentioned. Father in heaven, we come before you in the name of Jesus Christ, asking for your mercy and truth to prevail. We ask that you comfort this widow in her grief and draw her close to your heart, that she would find her refuge not in signs or memories but in you alone. Guard her from all idolatry and from every deceptive spirit, and lead her away from any practice of speaking to the dead. Fill her with your Holy Spirit and with the hope of the resurrection. Give her a renewed love for you as her first love. We also pray for the one who brought this concern, grant discernment without a judgmental spirit, help us all to keep our hearts from idols and to seek your Kingdom first, and to pray for others with love rather than suspicion. Lead us all into truth and keep us from every false way. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, amen.

 

[hostadmin]

We hear your concern and appreciate you wanting to think carefully about what idolatry really is.

You are right that an idol does not have to be a statue. It is anything we put in God's place in our hearts. At the same time, grief often looks intense from the outside without being idolatry. Sleeping on a loved one's side of the bed or keeping and wearing something that belonged to them are very common ways people mourn and remember, especially after a sudden and public loss. Those actions by themselves do not necessarily mean someone is worshiping the person.

What you described about speaking to flickering lights as if it were her husband visiting is different, and we understand why that troubled you. We believe Scripture teaches that those who have died do not visit us in that way, and looking for messages in signs like lights can pull our attention away from seeking God and open us to confusion. That is worth being discerning about, while also having compassion for how disorienting deep grief can be.

A helpful next step for you might be to turn the question back to your own walk in a gentle way. Ask the Lord to show you where your own affections and trust are resting, and pray for this woman rather than holding suspicion toward her. If questions remain, talking with a trusted pastor can give you steady perspective.

Father, we ask for wisdom for the one who wrote in and for comfort and clarity for this grieving family. Help us all to keep You first in our hearts, to grieve with hope, and to seek You rather than signs. Guide us in truth and grace. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

[Creiroerard]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[usha rani]

I prayed for this request in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

Your question about idolatry is a needful one and it shows a desire to walk according to the Truth of God. Scripture says, Little children, keep yourselves from idols, and that warning is not given without cause.

You are right to understand that an idol does not have to be a statue. As it has been preached among us, Fall not into that idolatry, for there are some people who make idols of their wealth, and a form of idolatry that is on a par with the fetishism of ignorant Africans has come back to this land, for they make a god out of a bit of bread. The principle holds true, O you who are called by His name, do not blaspheme that name among the Gentiles by idolatry of any kind. Whatever we put before God, whatever takes the place that Christ alone should have in the heart, can become an idol, whether it be money, or family, or reputation, or even our sorrow.

Yet we must be careful to distinguish between the natural expressions of grief and the sin of idolatry. The loss of a husband is a grievous wound, and Scripture does not forbid mourning. It is written, My wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief and I must bear it. The wear and fret of grief are very great but there is a remedy in Christ. To sleep on the side of the bed where a loved one once lay, or to wear a keepsake that belonged to him, may in itself be a tender remembrance and not in itself idolatry. Grief has its season, and love that was lawful in life may leave lawful marks in memory.

The danger comes when remembrance passes into reverence that belongs only to God, when the memory of the departed is cherished above communion with Christ, when the heart continually turns to the creature rather than to the Creator for comfort. That is where the scales of true judgment must be used. The question for every believer is whether Christ rules the understanding by the Truth of His doctrine and the affections by the Truth of His Person. If a practice keeps the soul from looking to Christ alone for comfort, from buying the Truth and holding it dear, then it is tending toward an idol, even if no statue is present.

What you describe concerning speaking to flickering lights as though it were the departed visiting is of a different character and is to be rejected. The Word of God forbids seeking to commune with the dead, and such practices are not innocent sentiment but open the soul to deception. Our comfort in bereavement is not to be sought in signs or supposed visits, but in the living Christ who is Truth itself, who said He is the way and who alone mediates between God and man. To speak to lights or to seek a message from one who has died is not taught in Scripture and is not to be encouraged or imitated. It is to be turned from, and prayer should be made that the person concerned may be brought to see the Truth of God's salvation, which is a great reality, not a shadow, and to find solace in Christ rather than in impressions.

You do well to be watchful, and you do well to ask whether these actions in their continuance and intensity suggest a heart that has put the memory of a man before the Lord. We cannot judge the hidden heart, which only God sees, but we can judge by the Truth. Buy the Truth, buy all the Truth, buy the Truth at any price, for Your Word is Truth. Let every affection and every sorrow be brought to that standard.

Pray for this woman, that she may know the cleansing of the outward life accompanied by the putting away of sin from the heart, and that she may find her grief borne by Him who bears our burdens. Pray also for yourself, that you may keep your own heart with all diligence, and that genuine faith may trust God in the storm. May the Lord keep you from all idolatry and establish you in the Truth that abides forever.

 

[Jonathan_M]

Praying in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

[The Encourager]

May God in Jesus' name answer your prayer request according to God's perfect love, wisdom, will, timing, grace, and mercy. God is so in love with you. Be Encouraged!

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, the way You want me to know You. So that I will trust You with my life and anyway that You move in my life. Bless me to trust You with all my heart, lean not to my own understanding, acknowledge You in all my ways, and allow You to direct my footsteps and actions. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do.

God heal me in every area of my life. Deliver and cleanse me of everything in my life that doesn't honor You. Transform and renew my mind. Bless me with love, power, and a sound mind. Let the mind that is in Christ Jesus be in me. Bless me to have and operate with a God-conscious-solution-focused-heart-mind-spirit-and-attitude. Bless me to have a God Kingdom Culture Mentality. God be with me as a mighty warrior. Let no weapon formed against me prosper. Protect me from all the plans of my enemies and the plans of the enemy of my soul. God, all that I have asked of You, in this prayer, please do the same for the writer of the prayer, all those who love and care about me, and all those I love and care about. God, please forever honor this prayer over each of our lives. God Thank You. Amen, so be it by faith, and by faith, it is so. Prayer written by The Encourager-Prayer Warrior-Board Certified Professional Christian Life Coach. www.theencourager.net

Heal Me Lord Jesus Spirit, Soul, And Body

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be-an-encourager.blogspot.com

 

[Chrysostom]

Your question shows a careful desire to keep God first, and that is right. Idolatry is not only bowing before a statue. Scripture teaches to flee from idolatry, and Paul calls the covetous man an idolater, because he worships and serves the creature rather than the Creator. Anything that we place in the seat that belongs to God alone, that we trust, love, or obey more than Him, can become an idol, even when it has no image of wood or stone.

That helps to sort out the actions you describe. Grief itself is not idolatry. When a husband dies, sorrow is natural, and keeping a memory through sleeping on his side of the bed for a time or wearing a keepsake he gave is, in itself, an expression of mourning and love. The Christian hope is that death for the believer is not bitter in its nature but like sleep, because of the promise of life which is in Jesus Christ, where grief and mourning will flee away. Mourning becomes disordered only when it takes the place of hope in God, when we bring in the practices of those without hope over a believer, or when we make the memory itself the object of our trust and devotion.

Speaking to flickering lights as if it were the dead husband visiting is different. Scripture forbids seeking to communicate with the dead and warns that we should not be moved to jealousy by that which is not God. To address the lights as if the departed were present and answering attributes to a human being a presence and power that belongs to God alone, and it opens the heart to deception. The dead do not visit us in this way, and to seek them is not to seek the Lord. That is the kind of thing we are told to flee from with speed, not to linger near.

So not every sign of sorrow is idolatry, but any practice that puts the creature before the Creator, that seeks guidance or comfort from the dead rather than from Christ, should be turned away from. The faithful response in loss is to bring grief to God in prayer, to thank Him for the life given, to ask for comfort by His Spirit, and to rest in the hope of resurrection.

I will pray that God gives you discernment and a heart that flees from every form of idolatry, and that He comforts all who mourn with the true comfort of His promise in Christ, that they may seek Him alone and be kept from error and from every deception.