Avodah Zarah is the Hebrew term that is translated as, ‘idolatry’ in the English; it literal translation is. ‘Strange worship’ or ‘strange service’

Most people associate idol worship with ancient pagans bowing down before a wood or stone object. Today many in this modern world especially in Christian America would not consider pagan idolatry to be a thriving lifestyle. But for most they do not do their research to understand what, Strange worship’ is today. Most could care less where their traditions come from because their ancient origins has no meaning to them because they believe that their belief or faith are enough and nullifies any ancient meanings to their beliefs and practices.

When it comes to pagan holidays for the most part Christians ignore their idolatrous history, sweeping it under the rug. Oh, it’s just a beautiful time of the year – we do it for the family or kids. Many excuses are made to avoid the real reason behind the seasons on the Christian calendar.

I have talked with some who just believe and have told me that they do not read or research the matters and with others they are fine with the Christianizing of pagan traditions and that make it better, all cleaned up now for consumption. Such as an example of a Baptist preacher told me about praying over impure food cleans it up and makes it ok – I asked him then with that in mind, that woman who is not my wife then all I have to do is pray before sex then it’s not adultery no more and because I believe and prayed, God will accept it?

But is this how the G-d of Abraham, the G-d of Isaac and the G-d of Jacob sees it?

Does modern day belief or faith make void yesterday’s pagan idolatry?  

“According to Torah, idolatry entails a much wider definition than simply bowing down to a man created image. Idolatry consists not only of one’s actions, but also of one’s thoughts. This does not limit idolatry to one believing that a physical object is to be worshipped. Idolatry is a much wider category that includes an individual’s spiritual outlook. Idolatry can best be defined as the deification of any created thing, be it an object, concept, philosophy or individual. The object of deification, therefore, becomes the focal point of one’s life and life style.” Rabbi Ariel Bar Tzadok

 

Today, the religious world is full of talk about what one believes or has faith in; the problem with belief is that belief or faith denotes the opposite as well and that is, ‘doubt’. If one can believe he can also doubt. For this reason in the Hebrew Scriptures G-d brings to us the importance of knowledge.

Hosea 6:6

For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of G-d rather than burnt-offerings.  

Proverbs 2: 1-5, 10

1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and lay up my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou make thine ear attend unto wisdom, and thy heart incline to discernment; 3 Yea, if thou call for understanding, and lift up thy voice for discernment; 4 If thou seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures;5 Then shalt thou understand the  fear of HaShem, and find the knowledge of G-d.

10 For wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul;

Hosea 4:6

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge

The passage in Hosea 4:6 is directed to Israel buts its principles apply to all peoples.

When sharing the pagan idolatrous issues of Christianity with Christians they reject even the cold stone evidences and make excuses to hang on to the lies they have been told. This rejection of truth will bring about their destruction in the end.

Look at this photo – it is and many like it are very popular in the Christian south.

Not only does it violate the laws of G-d pertaining to avodah zarah in that it teaches one not to bow down before anyone or thing but HASHEM GOD – it teaches the concepts of a religion and those concepts are idolatrous as well.

The first commandment given to B’nei Noach & Jews is that there is ONE GOD, we are not to bring any other god before Him – He is a jealous G-d and will not share Himself with no other being, object or thought process.

And this brings me to the most idolatrous passage in the Christian Scripture

John 1:1-2

In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God

What makes the above passage an idolatrous statement?

It is the word, WITH

The passage makes the point that there was someone else or thing with G-d in the beginning. The passage was written by someone who did not know Torah or any other part of the word of G-d found in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Take a look at what G-d had to say in relation to John 1

Deut. 4:35

Unto thee it was shown, that thou mightiest know that HaShem, He is G-d; there is none else beside Him.

Isaiah 45:5-7

5 I am HaShem, and there is none else, beside Me there is no G-d; I have girded thee, though thou hast not known Me; 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me; I am HaShem; and there is none else; 7 I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I am HaShem, that doeth all these things.

For those of you who are Christian in any form believing in Jesus or Yeshua as G-d or part of G-d in any format the plain language given to us it that there is NO WITH when it comes to HASHEM GOD.

He is alone in His Being – there are no parts or god head or trinity of any kind, He tells us that He is alone and there is no other.

He alone is G-d, period – no additions, no subtractions

He did not become flesh and dwell among us – it is idolatrous and blasphemes to reduce the Creator to mere flesh.

G-d does not have to become flesh to forgive sin – He does that alone by His will – we ask and He grants – He does not have to stoop down to our level of finiteness to forgive.

A god that is explainable and reducible to the finite is not the G-d of Abraham, the G-d of Isaac or the G-d of Jacob.

As Rabbi Ariel Bar Tzadok says, “The object of deification, therefore, becomes the focal point of one’s life and life style”

If you have deified Jesus or Yeshua in any way, if he is your focal point in life; then he is a god to you and that is idolatry for you have replaced the One True G-d with another in which was not shown us as told in Deut. 4.

It is AVODAH ZARA.

Strange worship of something else and strange service as you serve someone or thing other than HASHEM G-D.

The words of the writers of the New Testament was written in a way to hold you captive and a slave to idolatry – they are spiritual terrorism – they tell you that to deny your god is to send you to a Christian hell.

These are not the words of the G-d of Abraham

The G-d of Abraham in His words to Israel his decedents, tell us that, He is close to anyone who calls out to Him. He also tells us that if a wicked person turns and does what is right and Just that he will be forgiven, his sins not remembered and in doing that his soul will live and not die. His mercy is on all His works and His mercy is new every day. – No sacrifice needed to call on Him or to return to Him.

Get out of AVODAH ZARAH, reject any and all foreign and strange worship and return to the real One G-d who created you.

All that is required of you as a non-Jew is:

1. To KNOW that there is but One G-d (He is not divided into any part of any kind)
2. Do not blaspheme or curse him in any way.
3. Be pure in your morality pertaining marriage between man & women. No sexual perversions of any kind.
4. Do not steal – be careful of your neighbor’s possessions.
5. Do not murder – respect the sanctity of life
6. Do not eat meat from a limb torn from a living animal. Have respect and care for all of G-d’s creation.
7. Courts of justice.

 

Terry W. Hayes

11/2012

Any questions, email me at: wayoftheking@yahoo’com

Join us for discussion on this topic at EOM – Ein Od Milvado  facebook group

References:

The term HASHEM is Hebrew meaning, The Name. It is a term that is used in referring to the Holy 4 letter Name of G-d Yod, – Hey, – Vav, – Hey or in English Y,-H,- V,- H

We do not say or write His name outside of Prayer or teachings so that we will not miss use His Name in any vain way. That includes erasing, deleting or throwing it away.

http://www.koshertorah.com/

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Bible/jpstoc.html

New King James