What is an idol? One Merriam-Webster definition for idol says, "a representation or symbol of an object of worship; broadly :
a false god." I have heard people say the golden calf in Exodus 32 is
an idol, but are there other more subtle idols in our lives?
If we believe that something has power greater than God, is that an idol? If God is All Powerful, Omnipotent, Omniscient, and the only God of an Infinite Universe, where does any other power fit in? Do we lose the high significance of Omnipotence and All Power if we believe there is ANY other power greater than God? And if we do believe that there is something with more power than God, is that as deadly to faith as pagan idolatry?
Do we have fear or faith? If we fear something, does that something become an idol? A sort of reverse faith, so to speak. Can we demonstrate our faith by using our little white stone, faith? Or do we believe that the thing we fear has a power greater than God? Do we trust God completely? Fear is the opposite of faith.
I used to think that wanting or having lots of money, or designer clothing, or expensive cars, or other trappings of success were today's idols, and they are for some people. Now I know that my fear in ANYTHING deemed more powerful than God Almighty is probably as great an idol as any kind of idol money can buy. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. (Psalm 118:6) If God is for me, who can be against me? (Romans 8:31)
What are our idols? Can we be real with ourselves? Do we put things before God? Have we become attached to our things? Do we spend money we don't have or say yes to things we should be saying no to out of fear of what other people will think? Do we agree to things we know we shouldn't? Are we really any different than the people of Israel in Exodus 32?
If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Terrie
© Copyright 2014 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Relying on God only
I went to visit an American Sufi Community and met Murshid. Murshid is the name everyone in The Community calls their Spiritual Teacher/Leader of The Community. I visited for 10 days and stayed in the Community's Tekke. During my visit, including me, there were 8 residents. I joined with them each morning in Salaat in the Masjid, which is located in the basement of the Tekke. Going to worship God, pray, and meditate with everyone each morning was my favorite part of my visit.
I didn't get a whole lot of time to speak with Murshid privately, but feel extremely blessed with the time I did receive. Murshid said that it was the student who was in control of the student/teacher relationship, which didn't make a whole lot of sense to me at the time. This morning I had my first inclination of what Murshid meant.
My hubby and I are reading the Quran together, talking about it and comparing it with the Bible. We're reading a large print English translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali. What I didn't realize previously is how much Biblical information, with which I am already familiar, is actually included in the Quran. But that will be another blog post at another time.
Today I want to comment on Quran Surah 2. Are we like the Israelites? Do we say we believe in God as our Everything, and then do we worship a golden calf that we ourselves have created? What is our golden calf? What have we worshiped and relied on instead of God? The Bible says, "I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have strange gods before me."
Do we say we have faith in God, rely on other things, then complain that we are not receiving God's Grace? Are we without faith when we rely on ANYTHING other than God? Are we as the Pagans when we do? Do we miss God's special mercy and His Grace abounding when we rely on ANYTHING other than God? Sura 2:105 "It is never the wish of those without Faith, nor the Pagans, that anything good should come down to you from God. But God will choose for His special mercy whom He will for God is The Lord of Grace abounding."
I found Surah 2:111-113 very powerful. We must look to God and surrender to God. There is only One God. Why do people waste their time quarreling about which religion is the true religion? Satan gets people quarreling about which is the true religion, skillfully taking their eyes off God. "Whoever submits his whole self to God and is a doer of good, he will get his reward with his Lord . . ."
The book, "The Daughter of Fire" on page 229 says, (my paraphrase) Lord Mohammed (PBUH) was once asked which religion he belonged to. It is said that Christ was asked the same thing. The fact is that all Saints and all Prophets belong to the same Religion, The Religion of The Lovers of God.
Almost my entire adult life has been spent in search of God. I love God, want to merge into God's very essence and disappear completely. How does one do this? Can a Sufi Spiritual Teacher who is Self Realized show the way? This morning I had the first inclination of what Murshid meant when he said it was the student who was in control.
Bismillah hir-rahman nir-rahim
In the name of God, most Merciful, most Compassionate
Alhamdulillahi rabil 'aalamin
All praise is due God the Lord of the worlds
If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Terrie
© Copyright 2014 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/
I didn't get a whole lot of time to speak with Murshid privately, but feel extremely blessed with the time I did receive. Murshid said that it was the student who was in control of the student/teacher relationship, which didn't make a whole lot of sense to me at the time. This morning I had my first inclination of what Murshid meant.
My hubby and I are reading the Quran together, talking about it and comparing it with the Bible. We're reading a large print English translation by Abdullah Yusuf Ali. What I didn't realize previously is how much Biblical information, with which I am already familiar, is actually included in the Quran. But that will be another blog post at another time.
Today I want to comment on Quran Surah 2. Are we like the Israelites? Do we say we believe in God as our Everything, and then do we worship a golden calf that we ourselves have created? What is our golden calf? What have we worshiped and relied on instead of God? The Bible says, "I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have strange gods before me."
Do we say we have faith in God, rely on other things, then complain that we are not receiving God's Grace? Are we without faith when we rely on ANYTHING other than God? Are we as the Pagans when we do? Do we miss God's special mercy and His Grace abounding when we rely on ANYTHING other than God? Sura 2:105 "It is never the wish of those without Faith, nor the Pagans, that anything good should come down to you from God. But God will choose for His special mercy whom He will for God is The Lord of Grace abounding."
I found Surah 2:111-113 very powerful. We must look to God and surrender to God. There is only One God. Why do people waste their time quarreling about which religion is the true religion? Satan gets people quarreling about which is the true religion, skillfully taking their eyes off God. "Whoever submits his whole self to God and is a doer of good, he will get his reward with his Lord . . ."
The book, "The Daughter of Fire" on page 229 says, (my paraphrase) Lord Mohammed (PBUH) was once asked which religion he belonged to. It is said that Christ was asked the same thing. The fact is that all Saints and all Prophets belong to the same Religion, The Religion of The Lovers of God.
Almost my entire adult life has been spent in search of God. I love God, want to merge into God's very essence and disappear completely. How does one do this? Can a Sufi Spiritual Teacher who is Self Realized show the way? This morning I had the first inclination of what Murshid meant when he said it was the student who was in control.
Bismillah hir-rahman nir-rahim
In the name of God, most Merciful, most Compassionate
Alhamdulillahi rabil 'aalamin
All praise is due God the Lord of the worlds
If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Terrie
© Copyright 2014 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/
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