[marbren]

Hi Alamo-Girl I had a new thought about idol worship. You and I have discussed these speculations of mine in the past.

My understanding of it had grown to the point where I said idol worship is anything we put our trust in other than Our Lord Jesus Christ.

How about this new thought: anything we put our trust in or FEAR other than Our Lord Jesus Christ.

[marbren]

The only thing we who are IN Christ fear is losing our relationship with Him.

[Alamo-Girl]

Indeed, when it comes to idol worship I would agree that any thing or any one we value equal to or more than God is an idol to us for as long as we value it excessively - regardless of the motive.

For instance, if a person is obsessed with a particular thing to the exclusion of all else then it is an idol to him. He might deplore the thing or love it. He might trust it or fear it. But if "it" has captured his undivided attention then he is not loving God with all his heart, mind and soul - the One and Only Great Commandment (Matt 22:38)