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“Idolatry image-worship or divine honor paid to any created object.” (Easton’s Biblical Dictionary www.acrodesigntech.com)  M. G. Easton: Illustrated Bible Dictionary

 

 

 

 

 

 

In other words, when Israel attributed God-like abilities to statuettes, they gave these objects a type of devotion which is a form of idolatry.

21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.
22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.
23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.
25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. (Rom 1:21-25 NLT)

Definitions of idolatry:

(1.) Fetishism, or the worship of trees, rivers, hills, stones, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

23 For they also built for themselves pagan shrines and set up sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.
24 There were even male and female shrine prostitutes throughout the land. The people imitated the detestable practices of the pagan nations the LORD had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.
(1Ki 14:23-24 NLT)

(2.)  Nature worship, the worship of the sun, moon, and stars, as the supposed powers of nature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

9 Well, both these things will come upon you in a moment: widowhood and the loss of your children. Yes, these calamities will come upon you, despite all your witchcraft and magic.
10 “You felt secure in your wickedness. ‘No one sees me,’ you said. But your ‘wisdom’ and ‘knowledge’ have led you astray, and you said, ‘I am the only one, and there is no other.’
11 So disaster will overtake you, and you won’t be able to charm it away. Calamity will fall upon you, and you won’t be able to buy your way out. A catastrophe will strike you suddenly, one for which you are not prepared.
12 “Now use your magical charms! Use the spells you have worked at all these years! Maybe they will do you some good. Maybe they can make someone afraid of you. (Isa 47:9-12 NLT)

(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 heathen nations.  The first allusion to idolatry is in the account of Rachel stealing her father’s teraphim (Gen. 31:19), which were the relics of the worship of other gods by Laban’s progenitors (first generation of race) “on the other side of the river in old time” (Josh. 24:2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teraphim: A small object that a person carries in belief that it gives him prosperity.  Idols in human shape, large or small, analogous to the image of ancestors which were revered by the Romans.

As a result of the Israelites’ association with heathen cultures, they began to pick up the practices of those nations.  It is possible that the mixing of Hebrew worship and pagan idolatry may have been the result of their forty years wanderings.  This mixing led to the pollution of their faith in God.

As idolatry continued to move across the globe, folklore merged with other religions.  For example, the story of  a Catholic Bishop named Saint Nicholas who gave gifts to children was intertwined with a pagan’s folklore of Krampus who was a mystic evil character that punished misbehaving children.   Krampus was supposed to have been the evil contrast of Saint Nicholas.

An important note to remember:  Saint Nicholas has never came down a chimney.  Neither was he omniscient (all knowing), or omnipresent (everywhere at the same time).  We have given our modern-day Santa Claus the ability to know who has been good or bad and the ability to appear in every living room all over the world on Christmas Eve.  By giving Santa Claus these attributes, he has been made equal with our Lord and Savior.  These attributes belong to Jesus Christ, and to Him, only.

Today, in parts of Europe, Krampus Day is celebrated on December 6th with parties in remembrance of this superstition.  In America, Krampus is not celebrated on our Christmas holiday, but as you can see in the above explanation of Santa Claus, the mixing of pagan worship is clearly a part of our festivities.  For example, let’s examine the origin of the Yule log and mistletoe:

 

Yule Log:  

Dating from early Nordic traditions, the burning of a Yule log is a treasured part of the Christmas celebration in many countries. While the symbolism was adapted somewhat in the fourth century, folklore held that the home was safe from evil magic and witchcraft as long as the log burned and the tradition brought good fortune and good health to the residents. The Yule log also supposedly has the power to predict tragedy.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/about_6667453_meaning-yule-log_.html?ref=Track2&utm_source=ask

Mistletoe:  Mistletoe’s associations with fertility and vitality continued through the Middle Ages, and by the 18th century it had become widely incorporated into Christmas celebrations. Just how it made the jump from sacred herb to holiday decoration remains up for debate, but the kissing tradition appears to have first caught on among servants in England before spreading to the middle classes. As part of the early custom, men were allowed to steal a kiss from any woman caught standing under the mistletoe, and refusing was viewed as bad luck. Yet another tradition instructed the merrymakers to pluck a single berry from the mistletoe with each kiss, and to stop smooching once they were all gone.

http://www.history.com/news/ask-history/why-do-we-kiss-under-the-mistletoe

During this season, an overwhelming stimulation of sights and smells can trigger heightened feelings of joy.  Christmas has been commercialized with the intoxication of pleasure-producing hormones. Why is that everybody feels this way around Christmas, but not so much in the prior months?  Perhaps, we should monitor these emotions and examine the source of these “happy” feelings.  Is it the anointing or is it a commercial fixation?

In summary, what we have learned from the mistakes of the Israelites is that mixing pagan practices with the holy things of God makes Him displeased.  The first and second commandments of God are directed against idolatry of every form.   So, what is the underlying reason for our celebrations? Have we attached a pagan practice to our Holy worship in order to satisfy an unconscious fleshly need to serve something that we can see rather than being faithful to Him Who we cannot see?