Where Is There Idolatry in Modern Culture?

The first chapter of Ezekiel presents readers with a question: Why is the Temple Presence of Yahweh appearing to a guy by a river in Babylon?
This class session explores how the answer to that question begins to unfold in chapter 8. Ezekiel's "nightmare tour" presents an inversion of Eden imagery resulting from the idolatry of the people.
This chapter challenges readers to consider how we give our allegiance to things of our own creation. Start this session and explore what the vision of an ancient prophet can say to our modern world.
Check out the full class on our website or app! bibleproject.c...

[@googlecritic2773]

Your channel helped bring my husband back to Christ Now we’re praying for marriage restoration Can you please pray for us? Names are Osmin and Nora God Bless

[@CourtneyShumpert]

Praying for you ❤️🙏

[@gabrielaprofetaphillips1740]

Praying right now

[@NM-kl9ws]

I want to watch this later when I have time. I hate that this was not recommended to me. I rebuke the enemy and his petty attempts to keep me ignorant. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

[@crowing2113]

Dang son! You tell him! He can go kick rocks hahaha you awesome

[@tifarabrownpoet]

“Idolatry comes with a price. The idols will eventually request that price.” Wow. This was a profound perspective.

[@vinnybaggins]

Being ruled by nature instead of ruling it: that's idolatry. Being swayed by your circumstances, your physical impulses, your personality, etc, instead of ruling them with the help of God. Great lesson by Tim, as always!

[@ChristianPreacher-777]

Pray while you can, praise while you still have a voice, seek God while He can still be found. 🙏

[@kellacanb]

An idol is anything which supercedes your obedience to God. So, if you would disobey God for it, it's an idol to you.

[@isaacaustin864]

I like that... and the way of the exile goes well with it too.

[@shadow3porthos2]

I've had so many ah-ha moments since finding the Bible Project! You guys do an amazing job translating and bringing to life the topics. I'm learning to read my Bible with so much more attention to details and topics and themes and I, in turn, am able to articulate my beliefs to others soo much better. I've been able to see others having their own ah-ha moments. God bless and thank you.

[@grndhg86d]

Shoving the branch into the nose seems to relate to over indulgence. Rather than enjoying the fragrance, they seek to consume it with excess.

[@user-wx9oy4sx5t]

that was what occurred to me listening, when I have gone to smell things and got it on my nose with the force

[@pennymchugh3146]

"... accept our role as the image or give our allegiance to images of our own making." Brilliant! Thank you. God bless you!

[@agwats85]

We've made idols of ourselves. Everything in our culture is about what's good in my eyes

[@RichardTavilla]

Exactly

[@DarlaDarling298]

this was eye opening. thank you!

[@clayblob2]

Oh, my god FINALLY SOMONE THAT SEES IT!!!!

[@RichardTavilla]

@@clayblob2 right. God bless you.

[@savedbygrace8337]

Isaiah 2:8 “Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:”

[@wakea.3]

So true cell phones, cars, etc - we are obsessed with killing the unborn, fake news, and too proud!

[@SerenityReyes-gk5vz]

We need more of these kinds of videos from Bible project.

[@bibleproject]

Are you familiar with Classrooms on our website and Bible Project app? You can check out the full class and more here: bibleproject.com/classroom/ Hope you enjoy our resources!

[@asdfrozen]

I was reminded of how people say we need to appease the economy. It sounds similar to how ancient people sacrificed to the sun god or fertility god.

[@JadDragon]

Jesus lives ♥️ and is God 🙏🏻 Christ ✝️ and King 👑

[@jty1999]

To the question posed by the title: Everywhere, but perhaps worst of all, the idolatry of self.

[@Colonel_Turtle]

Pretty much like vanity?

[@stevensgirl4569]

My first thought on, "And look, they are shoving the branch up their nose" made me think it was linked to God being long of nose with his anger and patience. That they themselves are intentionally making themselves short of nose by using branches from the forbidden tree to fuel their own fire and anger and therefore making way for even more violence.

[@samushunter0048]

This teaching and passages will always be timely but for some reason, it feels extra profound and hits hard to today's society.

[@bibleproject]

Thank you! We are happy to be a resource for you.

[@daffodil1017]

I'd never thought of idolatry as rejecting our role as God's image. What you choose to worship (give yourself to) costs your identity.

[@klaymeister]

I love that you used that word allegiance in the thumbnail. It hits home for americans.

[@cristinas4398]

Actually, you're right, I noticed that when I read the title. Allegiance carries a very specific connotation or representation... (From Texas)

[@lengdane6334]

Ezekiel 8:17 (19:34mn) Branch to their nose which my country did, they think this is the right way to prayer to the god they made to listen; help (get rich, flee from disease) and give the security to family wherever they go as you mentioned

[@anastasiaidaya]

Loved this type of content. Please do more of Bible studies that are more in depth with what's going on with/in the world. Thank you @BibleProject and God bless your ministry and whatever you do 🙏🏼🙏🏼.

[@grantwinsfield6848]

They have a ton of content with this exact format in their app and on their website. They call it “classroom”.

[@James0u812]

Where isn’t it?

[@SytzeJS]

Same as sin. Truly the last days of this earth

[@anjalE30]

Exactly! In the last days, People will be lovers of SELF Everyone wants to be their own God

[@sog1272]

Exactly. Which is why God's Grace/Love abounds covering a multitude of sins, through the revelation of Christ...who is ALL of God manifested for us feeble "humans" to know...even in a Whisper 😊

[@WhyWhat-jf1bi]

So true. Hopefully some random person won’t come along and say how this is “stupid”😃😀😄😆😁

[@denali1122]

​@@SytzeJS People have been saying 'last days' since the beginning.

[@KOSHERBLAK]

Very insightful indeed. I need to play this video back. I differently don't want idols where God should be in my life

[@sebastianconaco8501]

Thank you for this in depth intelligent bible study it's really informative. I never could've figured it out like this or come up with these terms thank you and God bless...🙏❤️

[@greyjedimaster3840]

The Hebrew word for “nose” can also be “anger” if I’m not mistaken, so shoving their branches up in anger, like an angry village would hoist their tools up in violence? I’m not expert obviously, but I feel like that makes sense 😂, unless it’s a different word.

[@Window4503]

I could see that. God says he, too, would respond with anger, so it’s implied that if he’s ALSO doing it (though it looks like “also” can mean “therefore”), then that’s because another separate party is acting in anger. It could also be wordplay; that perhaps there was some sort of piercing or branch-touching ritual that provoked God and/or it was done out of anger and violence toward others…like a spell. Edit: Tammuz is associated with the date palm, so maybe it was some sort of palm branch fertility ceremony.

[@laurahinojosa2973]

The Kings of the nations gathered together as one against who.. and who? Acts 4: 26 The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers gathered together as one against Jehovah The LORD God, and against HIS ANOINTED ONE. 27 For truly both Herod and Pontius Pilate with men of the nations and with peoples of Israel were gathered together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, WHOM YOU ANOINTED

[@BCSchmerker]

@laurahinojosa2973 *Concur as a quote from Dōd Ben Yeshai (Psalms 2.2-3):* "The kings of the earth take stand, and the regents take counsel against the LORD and His Anointed: 'Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast their fetters away from us.'"

[@laurahinojosa2973]

@@BCSchmerker against who and who? 2 names. Proverbs 30: 4 Who has ascended to heaven and then descended? Who has gathered the wind in the palms of both hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is 1) his name AND the name of 2) his son-if you know?

[@BCSchmerker]

@@laurahinojosa2973 *Specifically, against the Sovereign LORD of Gods (Hb: יהוה), and against Yeshua' Ben Yushef Ben Hēli Ben Mathat (viz., the LORD"s Anointed, Hb: ישוע משיחו).*

[@laurahinojosa2973]

@@BCSchmerker why most bibles removed the name of the LORD GOD the one who anointed Jesus?/YEshua? Because the king of the nations gather together against him and Jesus. But Jehovah will glorify his name.

[@BCSchmerker]

@@laurahinojosa2973 *The Yashar-Eli suppressed the Name in documentation, thus the repression of pronunciation.* Incidentally, _Yahweh_ doesn't translate to Japanese, so I fabricated an equivalent phrase: 大私有乃尊 _Oho wataku wari no mikoto_ "His Augustness the Great I AM."

[@MayapanRanch]

I think it's interesting, and certainly a bit scary, that God says we don't get to have more than 1. We cannot have Him and others. Sometimes I feel that God is looking down at his church who has gone whoring in various idolatries and He's saying: "oh yeah? how's that working out for ya?" I very much appreciated the comment the Brazilian brother made that eventually, the idol will come back and demand a payment from you.

[@sirelfinjedi]

We get glimpses of who we we're made to be. That's good stuff.

[@bibleproject]

Thank you for your encouragement! We are so happy that we can be a resource for you.

[@FiyaBretha-lh2tm]

Tim Keller has a great book on this topic named: counterfeit gods. Highly recommended.

[@patriciablackston8426]

Hallelujah, to God be the glory

[@cidered7888]

Thank you brothers and sisters X always love the WORD AMEN 🙏❤🙏

[@TheCreepypro]

we no longer build statues and worship them like in days past but we do make new abominations and worship them even though man likes to fool himself like he doesn't, only God can show us the folly of our ways through his miraculous divine intervention

[@ronaldandrews283]

Obsession over celebrities and whats going on in there life.

[@barry.anderberg]

I love you guys so much. I can't tell you what the Bible Project and Tim have done for my walk since I became a Christian seven years ago at age 40.

[@LearndingLife]

Love the classroom! Such a fun class and I'm only a little into it. The classroom is such a blessing! I do wish I could either watch the video at double speed or the audio in tripple.

[@Christopher_Lind]

Awesome! I didn’t realize a new classroom had dropped! 🎉

[@Nico-narrowpath]

So informative 👏 thankyou brother all glory be to God

[@BiteSizeBible1]

Very important question. Bridging modern idolatry from ancient idolatry is hard!

[@GAMINGOBRIEN69]

You are very good at drawing

[@Bigfoottehchipmunk]

If our religious "good" works are like filthy menstrual rags, then I certainly can imagine our manmade idols are like "dung balls". The explanation of the word etymology there is fascinating. Excellent, thought-provoking study. Thank you for letting us all in on the session.

[@Window4503]

“Polished turd” seem to apply here

[@BCSchmerker]

+jointhebibleproject *Idolatry has even penetrated the Assembly o' the Called Out.* Prosperity is rampant.

[@RichardTavilla]

Agreed. We should all only be worried about storing our treasures in heaven, it’s not about our best lives here now

[@shawnwalter9870]

Where isn't it is a good answer. Idolatry. It's not a stone, wooden, or steel object, but gold, silver, and money has seemed to transcend down through time. Idolatry. Something we live more than God and His Word. Idolatry. Something we place above or before God. Something we have made more important. Idolatry. Our own nonprofits in the Name of the Lord. Our missionaries even possibly? That is, it's being done for man's glory and recognition as in look what I accomplished with the Lord, rather than what the Lord has accomplished through us and others. It's great others are being led and taught about Jesus, but some have turned their ministry into Idolatry. We were all called to share and make disciples of one another. Teach that some...so Where isn't it?

[@cj2507]

Great discussion.

[@aaronlopez492]

Obsession to obtain Money, Political power at any cost and a craving for others approval.

[@LionLambFilms]

I agree wholeheartedly with your statement

[@PlazDreamweaver]

Amen.

[@wakea.3]

Food, phone, obsession over a person, etc!

[@debbieca823]

Thank you for this bible study ❤

[@donovanstewart6394]

Does anyone remember the episode where Tim discusses going to Jerusalem and plays the lords prayer in Arabic?

[@LionLambFilms]

30:55 is soooo edifying !!! 🙏🏽❤️💪🏽😇

[@WilliamBranhamsermons]

God bless you guys

[@Brooksalittlestream]

Have you ever gone bushwhacking, or on a trail ride, and have to hold a branch back so it doesn't hit you, but then you have to let it go because your horse keeps walking so it accidentally snaps on the person behind you's face? I wonder if the *branch in the nose* is referencing doing something like that to the fellows with you purposely, or with ill intent? Would've been a more commonly known & understood experience back then.

[@FireWolf1621]

Thank you, this was very helpful

[@KJVAudio]

I'm curious to the interpretation of when Jesus told Peter, 3 times, feed my sheep. He was calling us to be Shepards of His flock..

[@RichardTavilla]

I once learned it was because Peter denied Christ three times(not in a condemning way) so He was teaching Peter how to go out and spread the gospel with repetition as a level of importance. Not positive if that was helpful?

[@corymolnar218]

I wonder what u guys would do next once u are done making sermon on the mount

[@jonathanleonard1152]

This dreaming of Ezekiel is quite similar to what I feel every night.

[@jennywoodley7057]

Thanks & a great wrap up 👍

[@yishislassieswaiting4748]

Very nice. I like C.S. Lewis' way of stating it - we are IMAGE-BEARERS. Bearers of the image of YHWH/Yehoshua.

[@sleeplessnwonderland]

SHOVING THE BRANCH INTO THE NOSE ~COULD BE FINGER POINTING MY GUESS. TY FOR THE CLASS

[@Whatsdogpee]

The branch in the “Branch up the nose” tribe of Israel akin to the metaphor you talked of in your firstborn episode of the branch of Joseph and the branch of Judah reunited, perhaps? And the nose is either meant to be disrespectful or the opposite of the “slow to anger” metaphor you mentioned during the Shem a regarding having a long nose. Considering that the verses are regarding the violence in the land, I’m leaning towards the latter. The Israelites are just an angry group of people by that point. My take anyways.

[@ashleypitts3656]

Shoving the branch into the nose I think a kin to like how uncomfortable a covid swab was.

[@klausehrhardt4481]

On the branch on the nose. If I remember, to have a big nose meant to be slow to anger or loose temper. Yet the nose, on the other hand, is a very tender part of the body. If someone is punched in the nose, it bleeds, the pain is great and your loose sight because your eyes fill with tears. So, one may thing as an Englishman as poking or pulling another one's nose as to make an deliberate attempt to drive that person crazy. In other words, it would mean to tempt God, to look for His weaknesses in order to exploit them, to torture Him. As for idolatry, man only submit to creature if he removes himself from the face of God. In a sense, it happens as the loss of the sense of immortality. If all there is reduces itself to a span of time, justice ceases to be something in the sight of that man. Wheter you die before you are born or live a hundred years it is all the same. No surprise that that iniquity shall manifest in the form of violence down to the form of human sacrifices. Look at the Soviet Gullag, the Nazi concentration camps, and don't forget the abortion clinics also. Powers, wether demonic or angelic cannot escape to be ruled by Divine Omniscience. Only the demons accept worship, the angels not. Anyone there remember that even apostle John in His Vision mistook an angel for God, and the angel immediately corrected him?

[@RichardTavilla]

Very well written and thought out. Thank you for sharing that.

[@Passion84GodAlways]

👀👂🏾 Ready to learn!

[@clayblob2]

I'd assume. "Shoving the Branch in the nose" means; Like how a child whos playing while thier father is sleeping in the morning, shoves a branch up thier fathers nose as a prank. (Maybe this may provoke a sneeze) it is a disruption of your fathers peace. So when your father wakes up he gets angry because he knows you wont stop until he wakes up and he finally snaps and disciplines you.

[@patriciablackston8426]

I enjoyed the lesson

[@WilliamBranhamsermons]

amen

[@corymolnar218]

Very good video

[@Oldmankingspiffy]

Sports teams and athletes, celebrities, politicians… all these can be idols

[@Mike-eh8qo]

Off topic but wanted to ask... since we are dirt creatures was the curse of the serpent, to eat dirt or eat us, maybe eat our sin, why the scapegoat was sent to azazel?

[@eigenvalue5775]

First and foremost, religions that violate the First and Second of the Ten Commandments. Next, the entertainment industry. They don't call their celebrities *idols* for nothing.

[@MayapanRanch]

. . . and they bowed and prayed . . .to the neon gods they'd made Hollywood has their own little graven image gods in a gold Oscar and Christians, following their lead, have their little Dove idols for their musicians.

[@ericbruyn]

Everywhere

[@godssalvation87]

We created nothing on this earth. GOD gave us the idea an we just executed it like GOD an JESUS did for people in the past. People in this world without GOD an LORD JESUS guidance been doing nothing but sowing chaos.

[@KutloanoMatela]

We're living in biblical prophetic end times.

[@annasestier5351]

@BibleProject could the branch in the nose be a reference to removing the brain re- Egyptian embalming practices?

[@jimmyenobabor2342]

This is a great teaching!

[@bibleproject]

Thank you for your kind words! We appreciate you and your encouragement today.

[@00JC]

Everywhere bro, if it comes before God it's an idol. Just look at what 99% of people follow... money, power, status, various gains. On some focusedness some people rep old world gods like bail, molac, Ishtar, abraxis, you know the list. The ones the governments and rich families work with in the rituals.

[@Oldmankingspiffy]

Shoving branch in nose: mummification

[@MsFifthstone]

They call them by name in Hollywood (holywood) stars and idols

[@MayapanRanch]

and give the best ones little gold-god-Oscars they can take home and worship. Christians, wanting to be like the world, even have their own little Dove gods that the best musicians can take home and worship.

[@brantmiranda1120]

@BibleProject, why do yall post some classroom videos on KZbin, but not others?

[@johnjreckhart2429]

They live is a good movie. GOD bless y'all ✝️

[@timmynormand8082]

THEY LIVE is the movie ?

[@johnjreckhart2429]

@@timmynormand8082 not a godly movie but it's a movie

[@timmynormand8082]

@@johnjreckhart2429 ok I understand it's fine. An thank you for replying

[@jenniferkozuch4319]

Love the video. What program do you use to make the pictures and write down notes?

[@bg5760]

Thoughts on this idea: image of God, in my understanding, is not a set of attributes that can be given up anymore than my kids can give up being my kids. We, by de facto are, the image of God. I can refuse to identify with that but it doesn’t change the facts…not a popular concept these days or maybe ever. I believe we confuse the fruits of the spirit with being the image of God. “We” is collective and universal without limit. Hitler was as much the image of God as Mother Theresa…the attributes and fruits of the spirit, and acceptance as the image of God are quite different. The importance of this is impacts how I see and think of others…who’s in/out? Are you not an imager of God if you don’t believe in God? No, we’re all imagers…now salvation is the acceptance of our image and relationship with God, and not assigning the source of our image to other god’s. Thanks for this teaching

[@Lightgiver23]

Hi ! Can you explain the 400 years silence between the OT and NT? thank you 🙏

[@Only1OGCaesar]

I’d really like to join the BibleProject team

[@mathewrym]

❤

[@glennshrom5801]

What is fitting and due, is for worship to move upwards from the creation to towards the creator. We owe worship to God, and the things we make owe worship to us. When humanity worships humanity, or the sun, or the animals, it is worshipping something lesser than the creator, which is not proper. It's not too smart either. When humanity worships what humanity has created, the worship not only fails to flow upwards from us to our creator, but actually flows in the totally opposite direction, from the creator to the created, be it to our ideas, our institutions, or our stuff. That is not only a perversion, but also a complete stupidity, if only we would see it through that lens.

[@daffodil1017]

I would agree with all of that except about anything owing us worship. All creation should worship only God

[@TheAnbyrley]

Hamas = Violence? Didnt know that before but it makes sense.

[@avidmoviewatcher9335]

Could, now this is a BIG could (I am probably very wrong) @19:32 the "look they are shoving the branch into their nose!" be a dig at the "Slow to anger" nature of YHWH? Since YHWH is described to be "Slow to anger" or as we have learned with the help of the Bible Project, that phrase could also be seen as "long of nose". So their provoking is a jeer at the nature of YHWH trying to rile up YHWH? Just a thought since Tim was even confused. Again , I am probably totally off base, but that went through my mind when I read it.

[@bg5760]

Question: isn’t it that we are to have no other God’s before Him…so it’s not a car or any material thing that we covet but that the line is the actual Elohim? Or is it a continuum, not necessarily a line? I currently believe there’s more of a line and the line is no other gods.🤔Thanks

[@joshuamiller6287]

I wonder if the branch up the nose bit is just an expression. How we shoot ourselves in the foot they'd put a branch up their nose.

[@sethwagoner3430]

Hamas means violence wow imagine that

[@fernandogallardo3458]

Question: can the blind see the idols of the nations, high and lifted up on a flag pole? Answer: NO Question: is God against serving or pledging allegiance to OBJECTS? Answer: YES Question: is God against serving or pledging allegiance to SYMBOLS? Answer: YES Question: is God against serving or pledging allegiance to IMAGES? Answer: YES Question: is the flag an OBJECT? Answer: YES Question: is serving or pledging allegiance to the flag a sin? Answer: YES Question: is the star spangle of heaven? Answer: YES Question: is the national anthem to the star spangle of heaven? Answer: YES Question: is it a sin to give glory to the star spangle of heaven with a song? Answer: YES Question: is the star spangle of heaven, the god of the US? Answer: YES Question: is the star remphan of heaven, the god of Israel? Answer: YES Question: is the sun of heaven, the god of Japan? Answer: YES Question: is the maple leaf of the tree of the earth, the god of Canada? Answer: YES Question: is the eagle of the earth, the god of Mexico? Answer: YES Question: is the pledge of allegiance to the flag and anthem, idolatry? Answer: YES Question: is it a sin to serve or pledge allegiance to anything, in the likeness of heaven above, or in the likeness of anything in the earth below? Answer: YES [ Exodus 20:3-5 ] & [ Deuteronomy 4:15-19 ] Question: can the nations have flags for identity? Answer: YES

[@mattc.8887]

Our dogs and cats

[@jany-rj5cz]

What program do you use to make your videos?

[@Shepherd1234]

Guys which Bible version is he using?? Can't find it

[@jeremyklappauf5985]

Has bibleproject ever thought about teaching Hebrew alphabet on VR? I remember listening to the naked bible interview about vr learning?

[@Blockishbookhead]

VR is probably something that would be on the list in this video. It’s a world of man’s making. Whether you’re aware of it or not, using VR is telling God you’re not content with the world He has made in which there is more to do and see than can ever be seen or done. It is saying you prefer another world. We are here on this earth on a mission given to us from God to make more disciples. We are not here to escape. The internet is enough of a distraction. Please don’t go down the rabbit hole of VR. You may not come out.

[@jeremyklappauf5985]

@Blockishbookhead thanks. I appreciate your concern. I do believe technology is not all bad or replacing Jesus Christ. I can't imagine a Christian 100 years ago. You go to a church, and everyone hears the opinion of one pastor teaching a religion and some even hating others and going to war being compassionate to hurt other humans. I love that even as a husband working and supporting a family, I can use technology at work to listen and grow in Jesus Chirst with many views from many different religions who teach the word. The body is many parts, and it seems we are getting a double portion on the sixth day. I just thought learning Hebrew might be my next growth possibly and using VR might make it a great learning experience. Have a blessed day and thanks for sharing your thoughts

[@Blockishbookhead]

@@jeremyklappauf5985 Many things are gateways and slippery slopes. Pride makes us think we are immune. Then one day we wake up and wonder how we have gotten so far away. Hebrew is great. Diving deeper into God’s word, wonderful. But remember the point is to feed Jesus’s sheep and to follow Him in laying down your life for others. The point of the Hebrew is ultimate to point us to a significant encounter with God, to feed the hungry to share the gospel and to have our hearts broken over some aspect of the fallenness of this world. Don’t lose sight of your purpose. In my opinion, the internet is distraction enough. You can be reading all the Christian books, learning Hebrew, being listening to all the sermons and completely miss the point.

[@jeremyklappauf5985]

@@Blockishbookhead amen. Called to be Holy. 1 Peter 1:13

[@TorianCJ]

This title is deceiving and useless. It is not about modern culture definitely thing this is a BibleProject classroom: literary analysis of Ezekiel. If I were looking for a literary analysis of Ezekiel, I would not find it. Such as the case with all of y’alls titles now and it is tragic. Great work hidden behind the veil of useless titles. I love y’all and hope this message gets through kindly. Y’all once had a great directory for your videos. Please go back to letting the title serve as a directory. We all watch your videos because of their great quality not because we’re lured in buy some fancy title.

[@user-lk5bi3ml3x]

Branch up the nose.. addiction, drugs, cigarettes, etc. ??

[@kelvinpoetra]

sir, i want to ask what is meaning word " Yahwe" and "Elohim" ?

[@traceystuart127]

What are you drawing on?

[@Can13107]

⭐️🩵🤍🤚

[@carolbrown2412]

So, where is there idolatry in modern culture? I love you guys, but I just don't get it. "By my own making"... This all seemed to vague.