[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.
2. A paganus (pagan): who had not adopted the customs of the Roman cities, nor the official state religion. This person is rural villager, rustic, peasant, or “country bumpkin.”
3. A paganus (pagan) was not originally considered as a religious person.
4. Eidololatres (idolator): this term 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 after Christianity.
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.

New Testament: This term means idolater.

Scripture:

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. Corinth was known for its moral depravity. Paul warns of self-deception and false teachings that one’s actions do not affect their spiritual standing.)

1Cor.5:9: “I [Paul] wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people.” (Paul makes reference to the sexually immoral who are engaging in practices contrary to biblical teachings on sexuality. In the Greco-Roman world, sexual immorality was often linked to pagan worship and societal norms. Paul stated it was essential for the Church to maintain moral standards without isolating itself from the world.)

Sexual immorality:

1. Immoral people will have difficulty entering into heaven.
2. Corinth was known for its moral depravity.
3. Paul warns of self-deception and false teachings that one’s action do not affect their spiritual welfare.
4. One reaps what he sows. God will not be mocked.
5. In Corinth, temple prostitution and other sexual practices were common.
6. The worship of false gods were rampant in Corinth, a city filled with temples of various deities. This warning extends beyond physical idols to anything that takes the place of God in one’s life.
7. This command reinforces the sanctity of marriage.
8. Homosexual acts were not uncommon in Greco-Roman society.
9. “Food for the stomach and stomach for food.” Sexual activity was as commonplace as food. Physical appetites should not dictate moral behavior.

[Greek] εἰδωλολατρία (eidōlolatria), [Latin] idolum:idolatry

Col.3:5: “Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil, desire, and the greed that is idolatry.” (Earthly desires pertain to sinful human tendencies. The greed of idolatry places material possessions or wealth above God. Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions. Paul equates greed with idolatry, underscoring the spiritual danger for material things to take precedence over devotion to God.)

[Greek] εἴδωλον (eidōlon), [Latin] simulcro, [Latin] idola: ghost, phantom, shadow, spectre, spirit, image, god, heathen, apparition, vision, statue, figure, form, idol

1 Jn.5:21: “Children, be on your guard against idols.” (Believers have the responsibility to guard themselves from idols (spiritual dangers). This is a warning against both literal and metaphorical idols. Metaphorically, this extends to anything that takes the place of God in one’s heart, such as wealth, power, and ideologies. Ideology can become a form of spiritual adultery [harlotry])

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).

The Synodal Church’s syncretism (spiritual harlotry) of Christianity with worldly values, paganism, and sin in the Church:

1. Remaking the Catholic Church (in Jesus’ image) into a synodal Church (made in the image of man and his lived experiences
2. Permitting a pagan idols and pagan cultural rituals in the Mass 
3. Allowing Anglican services in Vatican cathedrals 
4. Having questionable ecumenism with Freemasons and appointing a Freemason to a pontifical committee
5. Appointing scandalous and questionable clergy with questionable teachings, backgrounds, and beliefs (porn, sodomy, abortion) 
6. Overlooking, ignoring, minimizing, normalizing individual sin
7. Clergy sharing decision-making authority with the laity and blurring clergy/laity vocations/roles in the Church
8. Allowing sacrilegious gatherings in Church: LGBT Pride mass and LGBTQ Vatican Jubilee
9. Cardinals supporting Fiducia Supplicans: (offering and normalizing non-liturgical “blessings” for same-sex couples [blessing evil])
10. Synodal study groups normalizing homosexuality and keeping open the possibility of women priests and women deacons 
11. Reducing Church doctrine, faith, and morals to social work: (Jesus is only given “lip service.” This becomes a form of “practical atheism.”)
12. Listening takes precedence over the Catholic Church primary mission (making disciples and bringing souls) into heaven. Synodality becomes and idol

Bowing down to idols:

1. The Panchamama idol was brought into St. Ignatius Church Mass in San Juan.
2. The Panchamama idol was placed on the Vatican grounds. Pope Francis was present.
3. In 1995 then Fr. Prevost (Pope Leo) was was seen kneeling down at Panchama rite.
4. The Vatican Doctrine of Faith official makes an offering of cocoa leaves as a Panchamama ceremony
5. Pope Leo blesses a piece of an iceberg at the Vatican.

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, pornagraphy, 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.

Accommodating the culture: Pope Leo stated that social sins must take precedence over individual sexual sins. This “perfectly” correlates to the the Synodal Church’s LGBTQ outreach.

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).

Massachusetts Gov. Healy sign a bill allowing for abortions up to birth. She claims she is a “proud Catholic.” The question remains: “Will or will not the Church (and the bishops) excommunicate this governor?”

LGBTQ outreach (destigmatizing and normalizing homosexuality) becomes an idol when it takes precedence over Church teachings

Homosexuality has unfortunately become commonplace within the clergy lifestyles in the Church. The German bishops have become a strong advocate for normalizing homosexuality.

More warnings of deceptions and false teachings: The Synodal Church continues to seek to destigmatizing, minimize, ignore, and undermine Church teachings against homosexuality. Some clergy even support or celebrate homosexuality (sodomy).

The Synodal ideology of listening and lived experiences have become an IDOL taking precedence over the Church’s original mission to make disciples of all nations and to bring souls into heaven.

Heretical downplaying of Catholic dogma: a Spanish priest stated that we do not have to literally believe in the Assumption of Mary 

Gaslighting 101: Cardinal Cupic stated that the Tradition Latin Mass impoverishes the Church! He says this while traditional parishes are thriving with the TLM and churches are closing and NOM attendance is declining.

A sobering conclusion about the Vatican/Synodal Church: scandals, liturgical sacrileges, heresies, and undermining of Church teachings continually occur.

“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