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Distinguishing Between Healthy Admiration and Idolatry in Christianity

Idolatry, in its strictest sense, refers to the worship of deity in a visible form, whether these images symbolize the true God or false divinities [3]. The Bible consistently forbids idolatry, emphasizing that worship and homage are due to God alone, and it is sinful to render them to any created being [2, 4]. Paul describes the origin of idolatry as stemming from humanity forsaking God, leading to ignorance and moral corruption [1].

Biblical Foundations of Idolatry

The prohibition against idolatry is a cornerstone of biblical law, articulated clearly in the Ten Commandments: "You shall have no other gods before me" and "You shall not make for yourself a carved image... You shall not bow down to them or serve them" (Exodus 20:3-5; Deuteronomy 5:7-9) [2]. This prohibition extends beyond merely bowing to images to include worshipping other gods, swearing by them, walking after them, speaking in their name, looking to them, serving them, fearing them, and sacrificing to them [2]. Even worshipping the true God through an image is considered idolatry [2].

The history of the Israelites frequently illustrates the struggle against idolatry. The first clear biblical reference to idolatrous customs among the Jews is Rachel's theft of her father's teraphim (Genesis 31:19) [3]. During their time in Egypt, the Israelites "defiled themselves with the idols of the land," a practice that persisted and required long-term correction [3]. The golden calf incident (Exodus 32) is a prominent example of the Israelites engaging in idolatry, even attempting to worship the true God through a created image [2].

The New Testament expands the understanding of idolatry. Paul identifies covetousness as a form of idolatry (Colossians 3:5), and John Gill, in his commentary on Galatians, suggests that while some interpret idolatry as covetousness, it more broadly refers to "the worshipping of other gods, or of graven images" [9]. Tyndale House notes that idolatry, the worship of false gods, was prevalent in Galatia and often associated with sorcery and sexual immorality [10]. The apostle John issues a parting caution to Christians to "keep yourselves from idols," recognizing that they were surrounded by idolaters and needed to guard against any compromise with idolatry [13].

Distinguishing Idolatry from Healthy Admiration

The core distinction between idolatry and healthy admiration lies in the object and nature of the homage. Worship, in the biblical sense, is exclusively reserved for God [4]. Healthy admiration, conversely, involves recognizing and appreciating positive qualities or achievements in others without elevating them to a divine status or allowing them to displace God in one's life.

The Bible encourages imitation of good examples. For instance, 3 John 1:11 states, "Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God" [7]. Matthew Henry, commenting on Ephesians 5:1, interprets the exhortation to "be followers of God" as an instruction to "be imitators of him," suggesting that pious individuals should imitate God as far as He has revealed Himself as imitable [11]. This principle can be extended to imitating godly individuals who reflect God's character.

However, this imitation must not cross into worship. Peter refused worship from Cornelius, stating, "Stand up; I too am a man" (Acts 10:25-26) [4]. Similarly, an angel refused worship from John, instructing him to "Worship God" (Revelation 22:8-9) [4]. These instances highlight that even exemplary spiritual beings or leaders are not to be worshipped.

Forms of Idolatry

Easton's Bible Dictionary categorizes forms of idolatry:

  1. Fetishism: The worship of natural objects like trees, rivers, hills, or stones [1].
  2. Nature worship: The worship of celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, and stars, seen as powers of nature [1].
  3. Hero worship: The worship of deceased ancestors or heroes [1].

Beyond these explicit forms, the concept of idolatry can extend to anything that takes the place of God in one's affections, priorities, or trust. John Gill includes "witchcraft" as a form of idolatry, defining it as "any real or pretended league and association with the devil, seeking to converse with familiar spirits, to gain unlawful knowledge, or to do hurt to fellow creatures; which, as it is doing honour to Satan, detracts from the glory of God" [9].

Calvin, in his commentary on Isaiah, notes that Hezekiah "had taken away false gods and superstitious worship, which God abhors" [14]. This underscores that idolatry encompasses not only the worship of other deities but also any form of worship that deviates from God's revealed will. The prophet Isaiah, as interpreted by Calvin, also suggests that prosperity can make people "insolent and harden them more and more," leading them away from God, implying that even blessings can become objects of misplaced devotion if not properly stewarded [16].

The Danger of Idolatry

Idolatry is consistently presented in Scripture as a grave sin. It is seen as defiling God's people, much like adultery (Leviticus 18:24; Hosea 5:3; Psalm 106:39) [12]. Abraham Ibn Ezra, a Jewish rationalist, describes idolatry as a "disease that is infectious," capable of injuring even a "spiritually healthy person" and causing the afflicted to "infect others" [15]. This highlights the corrupting and spreading nature of idolatry within a community.

The consequences of idolatry are severe. Deuteronomy 8:19 warns that if one "walks after other gods and serves them and worships them," they will "surely perish" [2]. The prophet Jeremiah laments the people's idolatry, which led to their suffering (Jeremiah 5:19) [2].

Cultivating Healthy Admiration

Healthy admiration, in contrast to idolatry, involves recognizing and valuing the good in others while maintaining God as the ultimate object of worship and devotion. This aligns with biblical calls for diligence in cultivating Christian graces and following every good work [5]. Christian conduct involves believing God, fearing God, loving God, following God, obeying God, and rejoicing in God [6]. It also includes believing in Christ, loving Christ, following Christ's example, obeying Christ, and living for Christ [6].

When admiration for a person or an idea begins to displace God, His commands, or His rightful place in one's life, it transitions into idolatry. The key is the heart's ultimate allegiance and the direction of one's worship. As Ecclesiastes 6:2 suggests, even earthly blessings like "riches, wealth, and honor" can become a source of "vanity" and an "evil disease" if one lacks the power to truly enjoy them as gifts from God, implying a potential for misplaced focus [8].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Idolatry — Image-worship or divine honour paid to any created object. Paul describes the origin of idolatry in Rom. 1:21-25: men forsook God, and sank into ignorance and moral corruption (1:28). The forms of idolatry are, (1.) Fetishism, or the worship of trees, rivers, hills, stones, etc. (2.) Nature worship, the worship of the sun, moon, and stars, as the supposed powers of nature. (3.) Hero worship, the worship of deceased ancestors, or of heroes. In Scripture, idolatry is regarded as of heathen origin, and as being imported among the Hebrews through contact with ”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Idolatry — Forbidden -- Ex 20:2,3; De 5:7. Consists in Bowing down to images. -- Ex 20:5; De 5:9. Worshipping images. -- Isa 44:17; Da 3:5,10,15. Sacrificing to images. -- Ps 106:38; Ac 7:41. Worshipping other gods. -- De 30:17; Ps 81:9. Swearing by other gods. -- Ex 23:13; Jos 23:7. Walking after other gods. -- De 8:19. Speaking in the name of other gods. -- De 18:20. Looking to other gods. -- Ho 3:1. Serving other gods. -- De 7:4; Jer 5:19. Fearing other gods. -- 2Ki 17:35. Sacrificing to other gods. -- Ex 22:20. Worshipping the true God by an image, & c. -- Ex 32:”
  3. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Idolatry — strictly speaking denotes the worship of deity in a visible form, whether the images to which homage is paid are symbolical representations of the true God or of the false divinities which have been made the objects of worship in his stead. I. History of idolatry among the Jews.--The first undoubted allusion to idolatry or idolatrous customs in the Bible is in the account of Rachel's stealing her father's teraphim. (Genesis 31:19) During their long residence in Egypt the Israelites defiled themselves with the idols of the land, and it was long before the ta”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Worship — Homage rendered to God which it is sinful (idolatry) to render to any created being (Ex. 34:14; Isa. 2:8). Such worship was refused by Peter (Acts 10:25, 26) and by an angel (Rev. 22:8, 9).”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
  7. 3 John “3 John 1:11 (NASB) — Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.”
  8. Ecclesiastes “a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease. -- Ecclesiastes 6:2”
  9. Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 5:19: Idolatry,.... Which some understand of covetousness, which is so called; but rather it means the worshipping of other gods, or of graven images: witchcraft; any real or pretended league and association with the devil, seeking to converse with familiar spirits, to gain unlawful knowledge, or to do hurt to fellow creatures; which, as it is doing honour to Satan, detracts from the glory of God, and rightly follows idolatry; conjuration, soothsaying, necromancy, and all kind of magic are included and condemned hereby: hatred: internal hatred of any man's person, ev”
  10. Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 5:20: 5:20 Idolatry, the worship of false gods, was common in Galatia and was often accompanied by sorcery (see Acts 19:19; cp. 1 Sam 15:23; Rev 9:21; 18:23; 21:8; 22:15) and sexual immorality (cp. 1 Cor 6:9, 15-20). • Hostility arises from angry pride rather than the Spirit’s humility and love (Gal 5:22-23). • Quarreling refers not to standing up for what is right, but to stirring up discord and looking for a fight (1 Cor 3:3; 2 Cor 12:20; 1 Tim 6:4; Titus 3:9). Those who are guided by the Holy Spirit seek to speak the truth in love with a peacemaking attitude (Gal ”
  11. Ephesians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ephesians 5:1: Here we have the exhortation to mutual love, or to Christian charity. The apostle had been insisting on this in the former chapter, and particularly in the last verses of it, to which the particle therefore refers, and connects what he had said there with what is contained in these verses, thus: "Because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you, therefore be you followers of God, or imitators of him;" for so the word signifies. Pious persons should imitate the God whom they worship, as far as he has revealed himself as imitable by them. They must conform themsel”
  12. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 106:39: 106:39 Idolatry, like adultery, defiles God’s people (see Lev 18:24; Hos 5:3).”
  13. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 5:21: Affectionate parting caution. from idols--Christians were then everywhere surrounded by idolaters, with whom it was impossible to avoid intercourse. Hence the need of being on their guard against any even indirect compromise or act of communion with idolatry. Some at Pergamos, in the region whence John wrote, fell into the snare of eating things sacrificed to idols. The moment we cease to abide "in Him that is true (by abiding) in Jesus Christ," we become part of "the world that lieth in the wicked one," given up to spiritual, if not in all places li”
  14. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 3, section 4.14: to us, that, imitating the example of Hezekiah, we may stand unshaken against such accusations and slanders. So far as relates to the last clause, in which Rabshakeh reproaches him with having overturned the worship of God, 36 36 Our author refers to the charges contained in the 7 th verse of this chapter. — Ed. every person must plainly see how slanderous is that charge; for Hezekiah had taken away false gods and superstitious 37 37 “ Les idols et l’idolatrie .” “Idols and idolatry.” worship, which God abhors. ( 2 Kings 18:4 .) But we need n”
  15. Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 29:17: [A ROOT THAT BEARETH GALL AND WORMWOOD.] For gall injures the healthy. 31 Hence it symbolizes idolatry. Even a spiritually healthy person is injured by idolatry. It is a disease that is infectious. 32 The person afflicted by idolatry will infect others.”
  16. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 15.21: for it is natural to men that prosperity should make them insolent and harden them more and more. He therefore shews how, in chastising his people, God also takes away their sin, because, having formerly indulged in wickedness and proceeded to greater lengths in sinning in consequence of his goodness and forbearance, they shall now know that they were justly punished, and shall change their life and conduct. When he shall have made all the stones of the altar. Here Isaiah, by a figure of speech, exhibits a single class, so as to explain the ”
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