[Linux4christians] Ex-Muslim's college speech disrupted by arson.

[Preston Boyington]

David Kuntadi wrote:
> On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 5:54 AM, Preston Boyington
> <preston.lists at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I think the biggest difference is that God directed Moses to create the
>> brazen serpent as a tool.  The people didn't worship the brazen serpent,
>> they looked upon it.  It was an emblem not an idol.
> 
> But when people continue to "looked upon" it and worship it, it is
> considered as idolatry and they need to destroy the serpent brass.
> Where as we are supposed to treat Jesus as  we treat the serpent
> brass? Still, I could not reconcile those two behaviors. Do you
> understand my point now?

but they started doing more than just "looking upon" the brazen serpent.
 they started worshiping it rather than God.  it moved from being an
emblem to being the center of attention.  rites were performed to it
instead of to God.

> 
>> Tying back a little to the Muslim theme, take a good look at the battle
>> of Jericho sometime.  The Levites were exempt from the military yet they
>> go into battle here.  The Ark of the Covenant wasn't supposed to be
>> taken to battle, but it led the way.  the people were not supposed to
>> work on the Sabbath day.  they did SEVEN TIMES the work of any previous
>> day.  normally this would have been an awful breach of the Sabbath, but
>> in this case the Lord of the Sabbath (God) was with them.
> 
> Yes, the Ark of the Covenant is another idol. It would be considered
> idolatry to worship the Ark of the Covenant now.
> 

the Ark is another tool.  it was not an idol.

per Merriam-Webster:
Main Entry: idol
Pronunciation: \ˈī-dəl\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French idle, from Late Latin
idolum, from Greek eidōlon image, idol; akin to Greek eidos form
Date: 13th century

1 : a representation or symbol of an object of worship; broadly : a
false god
2 a : a likeness of something b obsolete : pretender, impostor
3 : a form or appearance visible but without substance <an enchanted
phantom, a lifeless idol — P. B. Shelley>
4 : an object of extreme devotion <a movie idol>; also : ideal 2
5 : a false conception : fallacy


the Ark and the Brazen Serpent were NEVER meant to be used as idols.
they were tools given to us by God.  Once people crossed the line from
using the tool to worshiping the tool itself, that's when they
transformed it into an idol and God had it removed.