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If you’re just beginning to follow Yeshua and seek to be obedient to YHVH’s commands as given in the Torah, the thought of rooting out all idolatry in your life and home is likely very overwhelming.
First of all, as I mentioned before, we don’t even recognize that we are surrounded by idolatry each day.
Modern culture, even the Church itself, is filled with the deceiving spirits who have gone out into the entire world.
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).
Let’s review what idolatry looks like:
- Serpents, dragons, and other mythical creatures, recalling the serpent in the Garden of Eden
- Trees, recalling the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, or even the Tree of Life
- Images like humans, recalling the fact that mankind was made in the image of God
- Sun, moon, and stars, recalling the creation of YHVH
- Days of worship, recalling the first calendar created by YHVH
- Sacrifices, recalling the way YHVH prescribed a blood sacrifice for Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, and all who “called on the name of YHVH”
- Towers and high places, first mentioned in the city of Babylon, where a tower was built that could be used to center worship around the heavenly beings (sun, moon, and stars)
- A thirst for pleasure that gratifies the flesh, beauty that gratifies the eyes, and wisdom that makes mankind feel like a god.
Let’s also review what Deuteronomy tells us about graven images:
“Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when YHVH spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth. And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which YHVH your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage” (Deuteronomy 4:15-19).
I will give you some suggestions of things to watch for in your home, but I suggest gathering your family together for a time of prayer and dedication. Spend time confessing any sin or idolatry that the Spirit of God reveals to you, then commit to destroying all wickedness in your midst. Ask Him to guide you and give you wisdom and discernment through this process, plus a willing heart to obey.
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21).
Take some time to go through your home and carefully check your possessions.
- Books – Do you have books that include magic, wizards, spells, or sorcery? Be especially careful of fairy tales and mythology.
- Music – Do you listen to music that exalts mankind or is filled with pagan references? Be careful of folk music as well as more modern choices.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O YHVH, my strength and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
“Let the word of Messiah dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to YHVH” (Colossians 3:16).
- Movies – As in our reading choices, we need to be especially careful about what we watch. Be especially careful of children’s movies, such as Disney.
“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like” (Galatians 5:19-20).
“Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
- Games – From board games such as Ouija boards, to some role-playing games, to some video games, our children are targets for pagan idolatry. You may want to research the games you allow your children to play and carefully check the websites and social media they participate in.
- Decorations – The most obvious things to watch for are statues and images. Many look harmless, but the Torah is clear what YHVH thinks of them! Check also for religious symbols, jewelry, candles intended for religious or meditative purposes, and souvenirs from world travel.
- Holidays – One of the hardest things for new believers to learn is that the family holidays and traditions they have celebrated throughout their lives are filled with idolatry. Christmas and Easter are notoriously pagan, yet we associate them with warm memories and even the gospel message itself. Research these holidays, as well as various New Year’s celebrations, holidays for church saints (Valentine’s, St. Patrick’s, etc.), equinox and solstice observances, Halloween, and so on.
- Honor for the Dead – Ancestor worship is on the rise, so be careful about giving inappropriate honor to loved ones who have died. From shrines to candles and memorabilia, it is easy to slip from that to next step of praying to the dead. As we will soon learn in the Torah, even tattoos in remembrance of people should not be part of our bodies.
“You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am YHVH” (Leviticus 19:28).
- Words – Since our language comes from Babylon, the very words we speak can be filled with references to idolatry. We make careless remarks such as “Good luck” (Luck was a pagan deity) or saying “Bless you” when someone sneezes (so that they would not inhale evil spirits). Words constantly reveal the superstitions that have been passed down through the centuries. Even the names of the days of the week and the months of the year reveal deep-rooted idolatry in our culture. You will still need to communicate with unbelievers, but you should prayerfully consider beginning to learn new ways of saying things, and at the very least, discuss these things with your children!
“And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth” (Exodus 23:13).
“And you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and burn their wooden images with fire; you shall cut down the carved images of their gods and destroy their names from that place” (Deuteronomy 12:3).
- World Religions – Check your sources of information, from websites you consult to even the education you received as a child and young adult. Consider the education your own children are receiving. Have you learned the ways of secular atheism, evolution, and humanism, which is the denial of God’s existence and that He is Creator and Ruler of the Universe? How have you been influenced by Classical Greek and Roman philosophy (Neopaganism)? How has your life been affected by Roman Catholicism, Islam, Kabbalah, Buddhism, Hinduism, alternative health, new-age philosophy, yoga, transcendental meditation, and more?
“This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Master Yeshua was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of YHVH grew mightily and prevailed” (Acts 19:17-20).
In an upcoming post, we’ll begin to learn proactive (and even fun!) ways to replace the old ways of the world around us with the beautiful ways of the Torah. It’s never wise to clean out our houses without filling them with good things to replace them.
“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Matthew 12:43-45).
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law [Torah] of YHVH, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2).
I listed several resources at the end of last week’s blog post, to help you learn more about idolatry in our culture. Next week we’ll continue with how to purify our lips from idolatry.
All Scripture in this blog post taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Thank you for sharing. I have some idols that need to be removed from my life. It wont be done overnight but with His help, it will be done!
Shalom Anne,
Great post! It is amazing to see how YHVH’s Spirit is leading His children to purity and holiness. We have to get rid of all that is standing between us and Him.
Shalom to you all!
Elsa
Hey Anne, we’ve been “practicing” Torah for several years now and for the most part my husband and I agree on Torah issues. However, when it cones to graven images, there is a sore spot. He thinks stuffed animals and toys like Lego men, figurines, etc. are graven images. My heart says he’s probably right, because of the grief i feel when one of my little ones wants to play with something like that and i say no. Would be interested in your thoughts on the subject.
Anything that is used to worship instead of worshipping YHVH. Putting that first in your life. That is an idol.
Anything that is creative and provokes creativity and learning is a YHVH given gift to stimulate and develop parts of the brain. We are sensory beings.
We can become deceived by our senses too yet we are instructed to test the spirits, whether they are of YHVH.
Do not deprive your children of tools that enable development of the brain.
Imagination is important and is clearly throughout scripture.
YHVH, the prophets and Yeshua use imagery constantly.
The graven images used in worship of YHVH.
The difference is…do they seperate us from Him or are they a part of being a child and loving Him and His life? What do they teach us? What is the memorial? Reminders are not idols.
Memorials are prolific through scripture.
The bronze serpent on the pole that Moses used, later became an idol.
Did YHVH not know that this would happen?
Of course He did.
YHVH tests our hearts. The Ruach ha chodesh exposes sin so that we can repent and rid our hearts of anything that keeps us bound to idolatry.
The bowls cups and pitchers used by pharisees could be seen as being idolatry.
The temple was full of symbols, images, memorials. All acceptable.
The Hebrew language are images.
Guard your hearts brethren.
Read your scriptures, be equipped.
Don’t make a person an idol in your heart.
Don’t make a thought an idol in your heart.
Go to Him.
We walked out of idolatry and preacher worship. Do not be led back in to another bondage.
We were made creative by a creative Father.
Exhibiting His traits is VERY beautiful to Him.
Our YHVH given imaginations that memorialize Him.
It is how we learn.
I’m confused..so a manican used for sewing is an idol? Manican head for cosmetology idols? Children toys action figures idols? Puppets idols? Propthat look like to hinges on earth and in heaven are idols?. I don’t even know where or how to post a question is why I’m putting it here?
Hi Katy, I’m not Anne, of course, but I thought I would share what happened with our family. The first year we decided to stop participating in the Christmas festivities, I was composing a letter to my family (some believers and some not) to try my best to explain why we wouldn’t be joining them. As I was writing about the tree and idolatry, I looked up and began writing out the commandments about idolatry. As I read the 2nd commandment in Deut. 4:15-18, I had to stop in my tracks. These words stood out like I had never noticed before “…the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, …beast that is on the earth, …winged foul that flieth in the air, …anything that creepeth on the ground, …any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:” I was thinking about the Christmas tree and thought, wow, the tree was like an idol for idols as some of the decorations we used to use fit the description of graven images. Then I glanced around my home, though sparsely decorated, (as I don’t like clutter or dusting, lol) and I saw an owl, a mother-child statue, and many many toys that fell under one of these categories. I gasped. How had I never seen or considered this before? Before I became a believer I was brought up Roman Catholic and could clearly see the statues and figures they had as a violation of the 2nd commandment, but never saw my own! Possibly because I did not see my graven images in the context of worship and also because I thought of idolatry in the context of ‘idols of the heart’. However, the commandment does not appear to be don’t worship them or bow down to them only, but do not make them at all! Which would mean, don’t have them either! I braced myself as I knew my children had many toys that were made in the image and likeness of creatures YHWH had made , and many were mine that I cherished when I was a child that my mother so lovingly stored away for me. But if it was in the Word, I resolved to follow it. I read it to my children and asked them if they thought we had any graven images (as defined in the Scripture) in our house and they said, “Yes!” And started naming off toys and pointing out decorations. The oldest grabbed a trash bag and they started cleaning house! Now, it was easy and not. The hardest was for the younger ones and their favorite stuffed animals. I promised each a non-graven image toy of their choice to replace what they struggled to let go of. That made it easier. But the hardest part was actually telling my mom that we didn’t do dolls and stuffed animals or lego mini-figurines anymore. But, we experienced a freedom. A side blessing was that our children’s rooms were much less cluttered and it has been easier for them to keep their rooms clean without so much stuff! (Though they still have many things to play with and enough to make a mess with! lol.) The hardest part now is going to other people’s houses, especially family, and not knowing what to say when others bring out their stuffed toys and dolls and my littles start playing with them. I would prefer they didn’t , but I really don’t want to have to explain our position, cowardly of me, I suppose, that I haven’t said or done anything about that. And my heart sinks also when I see my youngest go straight for grandma’s stuffed animals or dolls at her house. I don’t know many Torah observant peeps, but the few that I do know, do not feel that it is a sin to have dolls or decorations so long as they are not bowing down to them. They usually point out the scriptures where YHWH told them on certain occasions to make cherubim or the snake on the pole. So I feel I am probably in a minority of the minority! But I chose not to confer with flesh and blood and just obey. I still question whether I am out of bounds here, but it is mostly because I don’t know anyone else that has come to the same conclusion. If every or even most Torah believers believed and practiced the same, I probably would not doubt our conviction as often. Besides my personal experience, I just want to encourage you to follow your husband’s lead. Better to err on the side of caution. If we cannot do something with a fully clear conscious, it is better not to. Perhaps I will learn something more of the Hebrew language and discover I misunderstood His Words and over-reacted, but until then, I have to conclude it is a sin for us to have or make these things. Would love to hear if anyone else has come to a similar conclusion and what brought it about. Blessings and Peace:)
Hi! You are not alone. My children and I just got rid of their toys that were going against the commandment as well. They still have plenty to play with and I’m thankful for that. I feel many people don’t agree with this, but we must teach our children the right way. If they start having these things as children they can also start idolizing these toys as adults. And also when the Most High tells us to do something we should do it. He told them specifically to make the cherubim and brasen serpent. He never told us to do this for everyday life. We must also remember to teach our children to store our treasures in heaven so they won’t grow attached to these things as well.
Your Not alone on this belief. As stated scripture clearly says not to even make graven images. So after prayerful considerations we purged our house of all graven images. While that may be to extreme to many, we would rather error on the side of caution than be living in sin… James 4:17 To him, then, who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. So if this is a matter of personal convictions then if you don’t follow the conviction that you feel the Father has placed on you..to you it may truly be a sin! So first we prayed about what a graven image was…our conclusion was it doesn’t have to be just a big statue such as the statue of lady liberty (which oddly enough looks like A certain ancient god). But a statue could likewise be very small Gen 31:34 says….Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel’s furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent…… so obviously the imageS that she took were not very big if she was able to hide more than one. So how big or how small the graven image is doesn’t matter.
Deu 27:15 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image,
Psa 115:4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
So graven images/idols can be made of pretty much everything including plastic after all plastic is put into molds, can they can be plain as a craved wooden horse, or completely made of gold.
So what is a idol/graven image? Deuteronomy 4:16 ESV
Beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female. &
Psa 115:5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:
Psa 115:6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
Psa 115:7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.
The conclusion that we came to is if the thing Can NOT function as the real thing does that it’s engraved like …it is a graven image/idol. If the thing is not living yet patterned after something that is. If the image is 3 dimensional. So for example a nativity scene with all the little figures, or a hot wheels toy car, a model plane, pink plastic flamingo in the yard….we would consider all graven images/ idols. None of them breath nor can do Anything as those in real life. You can not drive the car nor fly in the plane. However if you have a go cart or drone neither of those would be graven images.
But you say we DONT worship them! …..scripture says NOT to EVEN MAKE THEM! Plus it says NOT to Worship them….just in case you did not make your own idols (which very few of us make anything that we can buy so cheaply today.) what if things weren’t so cheap? Would you really spend Thousands of dollar for a pink flamingo? If not why have it even if it’s free?
Heb 12:1…..let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, while some things may not be sin…many things simply are just weights. Can you run, or easy move about the country as Paul and many others did/do? Especially with all your Nic Nacks? Are we being the best stewards of our time when we carefully dust those precious pieces of junk that we scold the kids about if they break one? Maybe dusting and carefully wrapping and saving in storage those graven images…IS A FORM of WORSHIP? For this reason we don’t have those items nor other collectibles. While a baby spoon from every state or a dinner plate may technically NOT be a graven image because they can be used as the regular ones, we feel it’s poor stewardship of our money and time to have them. Collections are often Worshipped far more than just graven images. If you don’t think so…or don’t think that that childhood graven image toy don’t have some sort of spiritual hold on you….THEN PROVE IT…THROW IT IN The TRASH! See how much your heart/flesh yearns for it. Should our lives really be traumatized if our house accidentally burned down? It’s only a building with only stuff…stuff we can’t take with us in death. Ohhh how we treasure this world full of worldly junk and idolatry. While we are not really minimalist we do have a simple life clutter free as can be. My kids still have legos, (and many OTHER toys) they just don’t have the mini figures, and any graven images, rather than a nativity scene maybe we dress up and play the part as a family. Rather than a figure horse, or sea animal figurines why not take your kids to the zoo where they care truly admire the creator creation? Go ride a real horse! Make memories, not graven images! My kids do not lack for fun things to do or imagination to grow, and develop…maybe because we don’t spend so much time, and money wasting of graven images.
100 years ago we did not have stores full of graven images, that entrapped kids & ADULTS alike. So if the toy is not a graven image…but just a toy why then do so many ADULTS have to keep toys for themselves and continue to buy them? 1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. Are we really to be a “fan” of anyone of this world and collect all their memorabilia? Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
While I may like certain people over others…they are still just people and I am not going to have a bobble head, or shirt with anyone’s name, or company logo in my possession. None of them or anything of this world died on a cross in my place…so why would I give anyone or anything of this Babylon any advertisement or praise which is a form of worship?
Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Who are we lifting up when wear clothing advertising others or buy their 3D model images?
Everything can become a talking point, a ice breaker should. So should we be right away known as a fan of something or a FOLLOWER of SOMEONE?
So in conclusion life is short, let’s not waste our time worrying about junk. If you have come here..maybe the Father is simply wanting more time with you…so come out of Babylon… go through your house just as we do each Passover and search for leavening, bread etc.we also search our house and our hearts for anything of this worlds and remove it! By doing so every Passover we catch those little things that might have slipped in from some gift or something.
If this conviction is in your heart..you should already be cleaning your house. If not…you certainly will have “things” to dust and worship..errr I mean clean and polish.
Jos 24:15 “And if it seems evil in your eyes to serve יהוה, choose for yourselves this day whom you are going to serve, whether the mighty ones which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the mighty ones of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But I and my house, we serve יהוה.”
I looked it up and asked the same questions bc I tend to take things literally and unless it was teasletated incorrectly or I’m misunderstanding it says graven images are anything made in the likeness Wich I felt like wasn’t in the past as I’d read about people making images of flowers in the bible to decorate ..I don’t remember exactly and I’m so messed up from straying from my beliefs so long ago..I wish I had a husband especially who loves God and the truth and Jesus Christ I try on the level I’ve been alone and celebrate for so many years having a child and broken past from the start and I’m sorry for rambling..my son has no interest in giving up his toys and I had just purchased a manican used for sewing such as I used a manican head in cosmetology school and at the least it wouyve easier to get rid of things if you can sell them verses throwing out hundreds and hundreds of$$of toys..I can return the manican I suppose.what about painting a what’s the huge difference between a painting of trees and forest and the ocean and Moon and they’re ok but if you put clouds on the ceiling to matched..bc they are in the image of clouds in the sky.well so are the pictures tho..it’s really hard giving up everything you put your time and money into.. what about the fake leaves..that decor? But the painting are ok? I’m frustrated bc I’ve put so many years into artistry and wanted to finish the surounding appearance.. and it was never meant as idolatry..I was hoping to make money as I’m a single mom and disabled and now I’m questioning myself like I gotta throw everything away.. again like..now what? I can’t do anything right or good or be anyone or anything or? I might as well lay down and die..it feels like..I don’t have the problems of going to people house or family bc my family is so broken and my past since early childhood the same and my family is all like gay or witches and ect and I was the outcast..as a child and adult abandoned as a child and adult by my husband and mom and sisters and ect.. basically everyone but I’m disabled so go figure..birds of a feather..I’m hoping to overcome but what does that look like if Evan my work is bad and I just seen to lose and lose and lose and lose..my child is autistic and difficult and he won’t give up his games and shows and toys and..I don’t know what or how to get everything right..I wish I could finish and sell ..like everything..I allso read everything is toxic from this modern culture..pesticides and chemicals in everything our clothing furniture carpet everything and we absorb it breath it..it really disorienting..I wish I could just sell everything and have a new start.. would smashing it and throwing it all away be any better? Besides getting deemed insane?
Hey, everyone,
My blog’s notifications aren’t working right, so I didn’t realize what a great discussion was going on in the comments until now. I wrote the blog post — and I’m convicted. This is the wonderful thing the author talks about as “spurring one another on to good works.” You’re all doing that for me, too! Love you all! These questions aren’t easy to answer, and if you come to my house, you will find my imperfections, too. But I think that we need to read the Scriptures literally. They say not to do it. Let’s keep encouraging each other to do what’s right!