Or can a Christian be idolater by worshiping money and still be a Christian at the same time?

The word Idolatry is defined as the worship of a physical object as a god.

The practice was very common in bible days especially among non Jewish tribes also known as the gentiles in the old testament. Even the Israelites at some point inspite the covenant they had with God through their forefather Abraham, were allured into idolatry.

But why did God hate idolatry among the Israelites so much such that he was a jealous God?

Deuteronomy 14:2 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

Why will God choose the Isrealites to be a peculiar people amongst the nations of the earth?
Because, there was a religion(Faith) attached to that old covenant and that religion is Judaism, hence Abraham was justified by faith.

So, God hates idolatry among the Israelites and was jealous because idolatry(whatever where it is from) was another faith entirely, another religion totally different from Judaism and has no bearing to the old covenant.

So, the bone of contention here is from faith to faith and not from faith to money.

Romans 1:17 says... The righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.

Without faith it is impossible to please God

In Christianity today, we have the new covenant(the Christian faith) through Jesus Christ. Can one say today that a Christian can practice idolatry, say worshipping an object, example money, at the same time the person is a Christian?
Or can one be a Muslim and at the same time he is a Christian?

The answer is no, it is not possible.
You cannot serve two masters at a time. Either you go for one and leave the other, and that is a function of what is in your heart.

So, when i hear people say a Christian is practicing idolatry by loving money so much therefore he is worshipping money, technically that is not correct in the real sense.
A Christian is a Christian and not an idolater and an idolater is never a Christian just like a Christian is not a Muslim and a Muslim is not a Christian.

However, if any Christian acquires wealth illegitimately as a result of him loving money so much, then he is said to be sinful and not an idolater and should face the consequences of his sins.

Yes

I

Yo

What Jesus said!

"And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust, the true riches?
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot, serve God and Mammon"
Luke 16:9-13 KJV

"Also, I say to you: Make friends for yourselves by means of the unrighteous riches, so that when such fail, they may receive you into the everlasting dwelling places. 10 The person faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and the person unrighteous in what is least is unrighteous also in much. 11 Therefore, if you have not proved yourselves faithful in connection with the unrighteous riches, who will entrust you with what is true? 12 And if you have not proved yourselves faithful in connection with what belongs to another, who will give you something for yourselves? 13 No servant can be a slave to two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stick to the one and despise the other. You cannot be slaves to God and for riches"
Luke 16:9-13 NWT

According to Jesus many will claim they are Christians but in reality they're worshipers of Mammon (the god of Riches) so when the time comes for true believers to get their reward for standing firm in the faith, worshipers of Mammon will be disappointed! Matthew 7:21-23

MaxInDHouse:

According to Jesus many will claim they are Christians but in reality they're worshipers of Mammon (the god of Riches)

Are you sure?

Please read the scripture again.

It says

"... Make to yourselves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness;..

Meaning, make yourselves friends of the unrighteous money so that they will remember you when you fail..

Jesus never mentioned Christians being worshippers of mammon there

paxonel:

Are you sure?
Please read the scripture again.
It says
"... Make to yourselves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness;..
Meaning, make yourselves friends of the unrighteous money so that they will remember you when you fail..

What the bolded means:

Whatever you've accumulated while you were unknowingly worshiping Mammon, use it to make friends with those who will remember you when money becomes useless!

Most of us have accumulated riches before we become Christians and no riches is 100% clean so Jesus now urges us that when we become Christians we shouldn't think of keeping those riches to ourselves rather we should be ready to spend it for the kingdom good news so that by the time we are dead (when money can't help us) Jehovah God and Jesus Christ will remember us in our graves and call us out as those who have used the unrighteous riches to make friends with them!
That's the practical application!

Jesus never mentioned Christians being worshippers of mammon there

Jesus is issuing a warning to his followers who later were called Christians in Antioch {Act 11:26} so he was actually talking to Christians!

MaxInDHouse:


What the bolded means:

Whatever you've accumulated while you were unknowingly worshiping Mammon, use it to make friends with those who will remember you when money becomes useless!

Most of us have accumulated riches before we become Christians and no riches is 100% clean so Jesus now urges us that when we become Christians we shouldn't think of keeping those riches to ourselves rather we should be ready to spend it for the kingdom good news so that by the time we are dead (when money can't help us) Jehovah God and Jesus Christ will remember us in our graves and call us out as those who have used the unrighteous riches to make friends with them!
That's the practical application!



Jesus is issuing a warning to his followers who later were called Christians in Antioch {Act 11:26} so he was actually talking to Christians!

OK o