The BIG Picture (Q&A)

This is a detailed answer to a deep topic, but here goes… Idolatry in Scripture is more than the bowing down to carved images or the rituals of pagan worship. It begins the very moment the heart, the mind, or the will turns from the true and living God to another object of trust, devotion, or authority. The Lord set the boundary clearly: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exod.20:3). He added further clarity: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image… thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them” (Exod.20:4–5). These commands remind us that idolatry is not only external—it is the inward shift of allegiance away from God Himself. The Psalms describe idolatry as misplaced trust: “They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them” (Ps.115:8). Paul explains that it is rooted in an exchange of truth for a lie: “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator” (Rom.1:25). Thus, idolatry...

Emotions are part of our humanity. God created us with the capacity to feel joy, sorrow, fear, compassion, and even disappointment. These are not sinful in themselves, for they belong to the soul—the realm of mind, will, and emotions. Yet Scripture warns us that the motions of sins, which are by the law, work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death (Romans 7:5). This shows that emotions, though natural, can be stirred by the flesh and lead to sinful outcomes when not governed by the Spirit. Faith, however, is of another order. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). It is not emotion, nor is it feeling—it is trust in what God has spoken. Faith rests on the certainty of His Word, while emotions fluctuate with circumstance. Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6), which means that God is not pleased with our emotions in themselves, but with our trust in His truth. Yet emotions, when submitted to the Spirit, can reflect His own hea...