Have you ever found yourself deeply attached to a religious symbol or artifact that began as a helpful reminder of God’s grace but slowly evolved into something more? This journey from healthy reverence or veneration to potential idolatry is one that believers throughout history have navigated, often with difficulty. The bronze serpent of Moses—a powerful symbol of God’s healing provision—eventually became “Nehushtan,” an idol that required destruction under King Hezekiah’s reforms.
This same tension exists today when we find ourselves drawn to religious icons, statues, or even theological traditions that may subtly compete with our direct relationship with Jesus. The line between honoring something as a pointer to God and venerating it as if it contained power itself is perilously thin.
Biblical Insight
Veneration in Scripture carries a nuanced meaning that differs significantly from worship. The Hebrew word for veneration often translates as “to honor” or “to show respect,” while worship (שָׁחָה – shachah) specifically denotes prostration or bowing down in total submission that belongs to יהוה (Yahweh) alone. We see this distinction in Exodus 20:3-5, where God commands, “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol…You shall not bow down to them or worship them.” The issue isn’t acknowledging something as sacred or meaningful, but rather elevating it to a position that competes with God’s rightful place.
The bronze serpent account provides a profound case study in how veneration can cross into idolatry. In Numbers 21:8-9, God instructed Moses: “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” This object was designed as a channel of God’s healing power—a physical reminder of His mercy and salvation. Yet by King Hezekiah’s time in 2 Kings 18:4, we read that “he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it; it was called Nehushtan.” What began as a God-ordained symbol became an object of misplaced devotion.
The New Testament continues this theme with careful distinctions about honoring faithful leaders while reserving worship for God alone. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord,” yet the apostles consistently rejected worship directed toward themselves. When Cornelius fell at Peter’s feet in Acts 10:25-26, Peter immediately raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I am only a mortal.” This pattern continues in Revelation 19:10 when John falls to worship an angel who quickly redirects him: “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you… Worship God!” The biblical principle emerges clearly: respect and honor may be appropriate for people and symbols of God’s work, but worship belongs to God alone.
Practical Wisdom
The challenge for every believer, regardless of denomination, is maintaining this crucial distinction in daily spiritual practice. All Christians must honestly examine whether their religious items, traditions, or even theological systems have become barriers rather than bridges to authentic relationship with Jesus. Ask yourself: “Does this object, practice, or tradition enhance my worship and trust of the living God, or has it become something I depend on independently of Him?” The answer reveals whether you’re practicing appropriate veneration or slipping into idolatry.
The heart issue isn’t about outward forms but inward attachments. Jesus addressed this when He taught that “true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” (John 4:23). When we fix our eyes on Jesus as “the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2), we’re less likely to be distracted by secondary elements. Remember that the Holy Spirit dwells within believers, not within objects. Our direct access to the Father through the sacrificial work of Jesus means we need no intermediary objects or persons to approach God’s throne with confidence.
If you discover that certain religious items or practices have gained too strong a hold on your devotional life, the biblical response isn’t necessarily immediate destruction (as with Nehushtan) but rather realignment. Repentance—the changing of one’s mind about the proper place of created things—restores proper order. As you repent, the blood of Jesus cleanses you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9), removing any spiritual compromise that may have occurred through misplaced devotion. Then you can move forward with clearer vision, honoring what deserves honor while reserving worship exclusively for the One who sits on the throne.
Clearing up misunderstandings
A common misunderstanding is equating all forms of religious respect or veneration with idolatry. This overlooks important biblical distinctions. Scripture clearly approves honoring faithful leaders (1 Timothy 5:17), respecting sacred spaces (Exodus 3:5), and using physical elements in worship (the Ark of the Covenant, communion elements). The issue isn’t the existence of sacred objects or honoring faithful saints—it’s whether these things become ends in themselves rather than pointers to God. Idolatry occurs when the created thing receives trust, dependence, or devotion that belongs to the Creator alone.
Another misconception is thinking that only certain denominations struggle with idolatry. The biblical witness suggests that idolatry is a universal human tendency that manifests differently across traditions. Protestant Christians might not venerate statues but can idolize their Bible knowledge, worship styles, cherished traditions, or even their commitment to “correct doctrine.” Evangelicals might idolize certain preachers, political alignments, or cultural expressions of faith. The human heart, as Jeremiah reminds us, is “deceitful above all things” (Jeremiah 17:9), and can transform even good gifts from God into inappropriate objects of trust and devotion.
Perhaps most critically misunderstood is that salvation through faith in Jesus and the problem of potential idolatry are not mutually exclusive concerns. A person can genuinely trust in Jesus for salvation while simultaneously having areas of spiritual life compromised by misplaced devotion (mental strongholds). Paul addressed believers in Corinth who were genuinely saved but still participating in practices that dishonored God (1 Corinthians 10:14-22). This is why Scripture speaks of believers being “saved as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:15)—salvation remains while rewards may be diminished by unaddressed sin or compromise.
Conclusion
The journey of faith requires continual vigilance against the subtle drift from appropriate honor to inappropriate worship. Whether Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, or any other Christian tradition, we share the fundamental calling to “love יהוה (Yahweh) your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength” (Mark 12:30). When our love remains properly directed toward the Triune God, everything else naturally assumes its rightful place. Let us encourage one another toward that singular devotion, remembering that Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
In this lifelong process of spiritual alignment, we can rest in God’s patience with our growth. His grace doesn’t merely save us initially but continues transforming us daily as we learn to fix our eyes more completely on Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal and correct any divided loyalties in our hearts. Our heavenly Father desires not perfect performance but honest hearts that genuinely seek to honor Him above all else.
Did you know?
The Hebrew term “Nehushtan” used for the bronze serpent in 2 Kings 18:4 carries a fascinating double meaning. It combines “nehoshet” (bronze/copper) with “nahash” (serpent), but it also sounds deliberately similar to the Hebrew word for “worthless thing” or “piece of brass.”
This wordplay shows Hezekiah’s deliberate reframing of what had become an idolatrous object—linguistically reducing it from a powerful religious symbol to a mere piece of metal. This demonstrates how biblical authors often used wordplay to convey theological messages about the true worth of idols.
