The doctrine of idolatry

1. Idolatry is forbidden by the Word of God — Exodus 20:3,23; 23:24; Deuteronomy 4:28; 5:7; 6:14; 7:16; 8:19. In the ten commandments the first commandment prohibits mental or soulish idolatry, the second commandment prohibits overt idolatry.

2. Idolatry is spiritual adultery, an attack upon category #1 love — Jeremiah 3:8-10; Ezekiel 16:23-43; 23:24-30; Revelation 17:1-5.

3. Idolatry of mind precedes idolatry of practice. In other words, mental idolatry occurs before overt idolatry — Judges 2:10-13; Ezekiel 14:7.

4. Idolatry is caused by rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ or negative volition toward doctrine in the believer. The principle with the unbeliever is found in Romans 1:18-25.

5. Demons function through idols and the practice of idolatry — Zechariah 10:2.

6. Idolatry is called the devil’s communion table — 1 Corinthians 10:19-21.

7. Since idolatry is related to the emotional revolt of the soul it often produces psychotic conditions like the phobias, the fear psychoses of Jeremiah 50:38.

8. Idolatry is related to sexual sins under the phallic cult — Ezekiel 22:3-18; 23:37-49. Consequently, idolatry has an adverse effect on both soul and body — 1 Corinthian 6:9.

9. Idolatry causes national judgement of the fifth cycle of discipline to a nation — Isaiah 2:8, 18-20; 21:9; 36:18-20; 37:12-19; Jeremiah 3:6-11; 2:27-30; 7:17-20; 17:1-4; Ezekiel 6:4-6.