[Greek] εἰδωλολάτρης (eidōlolatrēs), [Latin] paganus, [Latin] idolum, [Latin] serverus idola (server of idols)

[Greek] εἰδωλολάτρης (eidōlolatrēs), [Latin] paganus, [Latin] idolum, [Latin] serverus idola (server of idols): idolater, pagan, idol worshiper, servant; 1Cor5:10-11, Cor6:9, Eph5:5, Rev21:8, Rev22:15

A local villager (paganus)

Background Information:

Ancient World:

1. A pagus denotes a specific demarcation of rural land. If you were a rural villager, rustic, peasant, or “country bumpkin”, you were a paganus.
2. A paganus (pagan) was a person who had not adopted the customs of the Roman cities, nor the official state religion. This was an uncivilized and primitive person.
3. A paganus (pagan) was not originally considered as a religious person.
4. Eidololatres (idolator) is not found in secular Greek. Idolatry was not considered sinful at this time before Christianity.
5. The term eidololatres (idolator) started in the New Testament and Christian literature in the first Christian centuries. Idolatry begins to take on a sinful sense.
6. When the Roman Empire converted to Christianity, the pagans were still viewed as outsiders and enemies.
7. With the introduction of Christianity, the term paganus (pagan) becomes later identified with the polytheistic religions.

Spiritual harlotry: This is an intercourse of the mixing of Old Testament values with worldly values, idolatry, paganism, and sin. Abandoning the Lord for a foreign god was called prostitution or adultery. Against God, the harlot prostitutes oneself with idolatry, paganism, and sin. Interestingly, the related Greek word is porneia ===> pornography, porn!  Not a good look! The Old Testament idol Moloch was associated with child sacrifice (abortion).

New Testament: This term means idolater. Paul warns his Christian communities not to associate or eat with idolaters. No idolaters will inherit (gain entrance) the kingdom of God.

Scripture:

1Cor.10:7: “And do not become idolaters, as some of them did, as it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel’” (Pagans participated in their idol worship by eating (consuming meat), drinking, and dancing before their idols. This notion harkens back to the Israelites worshipping the golden calf in the wilderness.)

1Cor.6:9: “Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, nor sodomites.” (Immoral people will have difficulty entering into heaven. Sodomites refer to adult males who indulged in homosexual practice with such boys.)

Eph.5:5: “Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

Idolaters and other immoral people:

1Cor.5:9: “I [Paul] wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people.” (Paul calls other to avoid those who disgrace the Christian name. Although they say that they are Christians, they really are heathens engaged in sin and immoral behavior.)

1Cor.5:10: “I am not at all referring to the immoral of this world, the greedy, the robbers, or idolaters; for you would then have to leave the world.” (Although you should not associate with sinners, you must not abandon the world. You must engage the world and be a light to the world.)

1Cor.5:11: “But I now write to you not to associate with anyone named a brother, if he is immoral, a drunkard, or a robber.” (Paul urges the Corinthians to maintain the inner purity of their own community.)

Modern-day syncretism (spiritual harlotry) of Christianity with worldly values, paganism, and sin in the Church:

1. Remaking Jesus’ Church into a synodal Church: (remaking Jesus’ Church into the image of man)
2. A Panchamama idol at Mass at the Vatican and other pagan rituals in Mass: (inserting pagan rituals in the Mass)
3. Allowing Anglican services in Vatican cathedrals: (questionable ecumenism)
4. Dialog with Freemasons: (questionable ecumenism)
5. Appointing a Vatican doctrinal chief with a questionable past: (works of hard-core theological porn, accusations of heresy) 
6. Overlooking, ignoring, and normalizing sin: (a Church that looks more like a NGO rather than an institution that saves souls).
7. Clergy sharing decision-making authority with the laity:(bringing worldly values, poorly catechized laity decision-making, “lived experiences”, and sin into the Church)
8. Allowing sacrilegious gatherings in Church: (resulting in a transgender sacrilege in St. Patrick’s Cathedral)
9. Cardinals supporting Fiducia Supplicans: (offering non-liturgical “blessings” for same-sex couples [blessing evil])
10. Some clergy are silent or even OK in allowing abortion-supporting “Catholics” to receive the Eucharist:(scandalous Modernist clergy) 
11. Reducing Church doctrine, faith, and morals to social work: (Jesus is only given “lip service.” This becomes a form of “practical atheism.”)
12. Vatican considering woman deacons: (Vatican capitulating to women’s political pressure [rights] and lack of understanding of vocations)

Conclusion:

Idolatry, idolater, pagan, paganism, server, service

Historically, paganism held either a positive or neutral reputation. It was only after the introduction of Christianity, that paganism later attains a negative reputation. The traditional understanding of  paganism has generally passed.

Update: In our current secular society, many of us have engaged in some form of paganism. We have almost become like ‘little pagans’ “worshipping ” technology, money, power, status, politics, etc.

“Tech neck”: This is in fact a medical condition, consisting of neck strain, shoulder problem, pain from bowing down to our electronic devices.

In this secular and evil culture, many have elevated abortion to the level of morbid “sacrament”. Abortion supporters continue to celebrate the “Moloch ritual” (abortion).

The Democratic National Convention political platform includes the right of abortion. They are “celebrating” womens’ reproductive “rights”! They are even offering free abortions and vasectomies! 

Cardinal Cupic, part of Pope Francis’ inner circle, gave the invocation for abortion supporters at the Democratic National Convention. Cardinal Cupic is a typical Modernist who is engaging in SPIRITUAL HARLOTRY to the world’s values and evil. 

Cardinal Cupic had been a proponent of removing the St. Michael’s Prayer and the Hail Mary at the end of Mass.

Cardinal Cupic stated that the Church sexual abuse scandal was a distraction!

Cardinal Cupic stated that the Tradition Latin Mass impoverishes the Church! He says this while traditional parishes are thriving with the TLM. He says this while Novus Order churches are closing and Mass attendance is declining.

Salve Regina University Sisters of Mercy defended a fundraising event for the Democratic party because they support “freedom of speech”. Evidently, allowing a political party supporting abortion rights is no big deal! Are you surprised that they also support LGBTQ rights? Are you surprised that they are older sisters (and nuns) not wearing the religious habit? These Modernist sisters of mercy are kowtowing to the world’s values, not the Church’s teachings!

In this culture of relativism, one’s right to do “whatever I want” often becomes idolized at the expense of faith and morals.

We should not be surprised in saying that “one’s rights”, paganism, fame, wealth, sin, abortion, and porn are idols that we often “worship.”

Some of the organizers of the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremonies claimed that this was a depiction of honoring Bacchus, the god of wine. Do you remember the  blue man? The Olympics organizers engaged in idolatry, paganism, humanism, sacrilege, and blasphemy.

“The Lord God has no one else but you. You’d better get off your lead bottoms and go out there and change this pagan world.”  Mother Angelica

“Modernism leads to atheism and the annihilation of all religion.” Pope Pius X

Next post: being “tolerant”