Why do so many Christians hold Jesus up as an Idol?

because, the modern concept of a "personal jesus" is a very psychologically powerful and compelling concept. Think about it. The modern concept of Christ is basically an entity that can fulfill every unmet emotional need you have. Feeling lonely? He knows every single thing about you! and cares! Feeling overwhelmed? He'll take your burdens on himself for you! Feeling unloved? He loves you perfectly, unconditionally! Feeling flawed, down on yourself? He accepts you as you are, and offers you hope of perfection! Feeling scared? He will take care of everything if you just have enough faith!

think about it - in your moment of need, when you are most desperate for something to hold onto to get through a rough moment, somehow you come across this concept of the Personal Jesus. And it offers you all the hope and comfort you need, right when you need it!

You have a very emotional reaction to this - which emotions you interpret as a spiritual experience teaching you that it is TRUE!!! Jesus DOES love you!!! You really DO have a personal relationship with him!

reality has nothing to do with it. It's pure psychology and emotion.

Thank you for asking this question!!!

The first person who answered, people who worship idols don't worship the actual idol. They worship what they idol represents. And how is that any different from the cross you have on your neck and worship and the pictures of jesus/Mary every church hangs high?

No, idols are not "false man made gods," to the person above. An idol is a visualization of a deity that makes the deity easier to worship instead of praying to thin air.

Placing a garland around an idol is to appreciate and praise what the idol represents. Open your closed minds and you will see that your religion is the most hypocritical of all.

You're absolutely right! Thank you so much for bringing this to the forefront.

The reason many worship clay and ceramic idols and worship Jesus is because they change doctrine and then say this is truth; do it this way. They do so because they are blinded and their hearts not in the right condition. Many want to stay blinded because it means less work for them, not conforming to what is true, or many just don't care to learn the truth because of their blasted egos.

Any any event, it mostly has to do with false religious dogma and leaders who mislead the masses. Many know what they do and many do not care to know because of greed or self indulgence. Jesus plainly states "Do not worship me, but my Father". He also said you can pray in my name but only to my father.

Many believe in the false doctrine called the Trinity which nowhere exists in the Bible, but remember when Jesus and Paul warned of wolves who appear as sheep tainting the congregations; we see what this outrageousness has done over time. Sadly 90% of the world's population will lose their lives at Armageddon, and false religious practices have a huge role in this destruction.

The world is lying in the hands of the wicked one right now; satan is the ruler of this world presently, but as we can see, many startling things are happening in the world today; faster than we've ever seen them happen in history. Something very big is about to happen.

Great question and great explanation with justification.

OK, you say that Jesus plainly taught that He was not to be worshipped.

You say, read the Bible. Jesus clearly said not to worship Him. Well, let's read the Bible and learn. In the Book of Luke, in Chapter 4, verse 6, it is talking about the time that Satan took Jesus up onto a high mountain, and showed Jesus all the kingdoms of this world. I verse 6 Satan says to Jesus : " And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I will give it.( Vs. 7) If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.(vs.8) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me , Satan: for it is written, Thou SHALT WORSHIP THE LORD THY GOD, AND HIM ONLY SHALT THOU SERVE . "

So, here we have Jesus saying we are to WORSHIP THE LORD (HIMSELF) THY GOD. You said we don't really know the lessons He taught. Why don't we understand ? These words of Jesus make us understand.

To hold someone as an idol means to have a statue or just an object that you look at and pray or put garlands and such. To worship is to sing praises, shout out his name etc. We do believe that God should be worshipped.The psalms is full of such instances.

Edit: Idol = religion something such as a statue or carved image that is worshiped as a god (sources, dictionary)

This is different from the "idol" as in something like american idol, atleast in the biblical context. The OT will attest to the fact that idols indeed means man made figures.

You just do not understand who sits in the seat of the scornful and stands in the way of sinners and holds the truth of God in unrighteousness.

In plain truth and in plain English;

Jesus is not an Idol. An idol is a false man-made God.

Jesus plainly taught he was the Son of God, thought it not robbery to be equal to God, accepted worship as only God can accept worship, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus is worthy to recieve honor and glory and praise.

We are not equal to Christ in and of ourselves. We are nothing without Christ. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sins and His blood and His power and His Holy Spirit enables us to inherit all things one day and to have the privilege of being joint heirs with Christ. Man is not to be worshiped and neither are angels. Only God. I know the lessons he taught and this spirit behind these words you spoke is not the spirit of truth. I know because it doesn't match up with the Word of God and there are three in heaven and three in earth that agree as to the Truth.

People have a tendency towards worshiping something that's in a human form. Just like when Catholics eat the wafer and drink the wine and say that its Jesus. Its NUTS!!

just like all the other religions, same worship idea

lol! it was the angel that said not to worship him, not Jesus!

what are you talking about?

Another "question" written by a known troll.

Jesus accepted and demanded worship.