Topical Bible: Idolatry: Consists in Worshipping Dead Men

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Idolatry, in its various forms, is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, consistently condemned as a grievous sin against the one true God. One specific manifestation of idolatry is the worship of dead men, which is explicitly prohibited in Scripture. This practice involves venerating deceased individuals, often attributing to them divine qualities or seeking their intercession, which detracts from the exclusive worship due to God alone.

The Bible provides numerous examples and warnings against this form of idolatry. In the Old Testament, the Israelites are repeatedly cautioned against adopting the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations, which often included the deification of ancestors or revered leaders. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 warns, "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD."

The prophet Isaiah also speaks against the futility of idol worship, including the veneration of men. Isaiah 8:19 states, "When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, should not a people consult their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?" This rhetorical question underscores the absurdity and spiritual danger of seeking guidance or worship from the deceased rather than from God.

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul addresses the issue of idolatry in his letters to the early Christian churches. In Romans 1:22-23 , he writes, "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles." Here, Paul highlights the folly of exchanging the worship of the immortal God for that of mortal beings, emphasizing the degradation that occurs when humans are elevated to divine status.

The early church fathers also spoke against the practice of worshipping dead men. They emphasized that such acts were a distortion of true worship and a violation of the first commandment, which calls for exclusive devotion to God. The veneration of saints, while distinct from outright worship, was carefully delineated to avoid any semblance of idolatry.

Throughout biblical history, the worship of dead men is consistently portrayed as a deviation from true faith. It reflects a misunderstanding of the nature of God and the proper relationship between the Creator and His creation. The Bible calls believers to direct their worship and reverence solely to God, who alone is worthy of such honor and devotion.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 106:28
They joined themselves also to Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Axe at the Root --A Testimony against Puseyite Idolatry
... is always dashing itself, and in one shape or another idolatry is the ... persons might
honestly declare, "I do not mind worshipping God if it consists in doing ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/the axe at the roota.htm

A Sermon on Isaiah xxvi. By John Knox.
... worshipping of God, and corrupted with idolatry, as this ... power as his wisdom, and
true worshipping, by those ... fed, while their whole delight consists in pride ...
/.../knox/the pulpit of the reformation nos 1 2 and 3 /a sermon on isaiah xxvi.htm

City of God
... Pagans Attempt to Defend Their Worshipping Among the ... is Neither Fortuitous Nor Consists
in the ... What Hermes Trismegistus Thought Concerning Idolatry, and from ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/

Though in Almost Every Age There have Indeed Been in the Heathen ...
... spirits, and dared not to condemn the worshipping even of ... produced, allowed men to
continue the idolatry of their ... of which the whole scheme consists: But this ...
/.../vi proposition vi though in.htm

Of the Power of Making Laws. The Cruelty of the Pope and his ...
... the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry" (1:Sam ... we infer
that part of the reverence due to him consists in worshipping him simply ...
/.../calvin/the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 10 of the power.htm

Impiety of Attributing a visible Form to God. --The Setting up of ...
... who are most desirous to clear themselves of idolatry. ... that they worship their images
without worshipping them. ... that the source of the whole evil consists in a ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 11 impiety of attributing.htm

The First Commandment
... Adoration consists in bowing to him, or worshipping him. ... Therefore, when Israel
committed idolatry with the golden calf, God disclaimed his interest in them ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 1 the first commandment.htm

Mongrel Religion
... allow them to go the whole length of idolatry in his ... How many there are whose religion
consists in a fear ... Jehovah cannot be sincere it be is worshipping Moloch ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 27 1881/mongrel religion.htm

The Scripture Way of Salvation
... And this consists of two general parts, justification ... in all His ordinances blameless,
therein worshipping Him in ... self-will, to Atheism, or idolatry; and above ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 43 the scripture way.htm

The Leaven.
... teach them by type that in worshipping God through ... the world beside had sunk into
idolatry, were, through ... Leaven consists in, or at least causes, fermentation. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/iv the leaven.htm