Should we reverence anything but God?
Yes....since reverence is defined as....”deep respect for someone or something.” Can we have deep respect for persons other than God...? Of course, but it depends on the level....as long as it doesn’t descend into worship, we can have deep respect for our parents and others whom we hold in high esteem.
What sort of things are reverenced inappropriately?
Idols.....whatever humans idolize. In today’s world the list is long.
We usually find crowds flocking to worship their idols in ‘temples’ accomodating large crowds, making offerings to them (usually money and adulation)
This can be in sports stadiums, watching their idols running around on a bit of grass with a ball of some sort, or celebrities whose presence at film festivals is treated with reverence, or at pop concerts with thousands of adoring “fans” (short for fanatics) carried away by the presence of their idol(s) as they respond to the music.
What behaviors of others illicit indignation on your part?
Due to their perceived irreverence.
Isn’t it obvious? Whatever you give the main focus in your life is a “god” to you.
Paul spoke of those of those who had wandered off the path and on into wrongdoing...
“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” (Phil 3:17-19 ESV)
For some food is their idol, as the fast food industry produces more and more addicts, joining the growing crowd of the morbidly obese.
Is it blasphemy to speak irreverently about things other than God?
The church, the Bible, a denomination or practice?
If something or someone is clearly out of harmony with God’s Standards, we would reject them or their behaviour outright, principally because God would reject them.
If they want to change their lives and come to the true God, then we would be there to help them.
Blatant disregard for God’s standards, if not identified and called out, would in turn encourage others to sink to ‘the level of the lowest common denominator’, which is sadly the result of our fallen human nature. We have to be constantly on guard so as not to have our standards eroded by satan’s world. (1 John 2:15-17)
A constant drip of water can create a deep crevice in rock over time....erosion takes time....satan is the drip.
When you reverence something, isn't that worship on some level?
Possibly even idolatry?
Possibly, but it must be identified regardless of the “level”.
We are told to be “faithful in what is least” so that being faithful in the bigger things will be a lot easier. This principle at Luke 16:10 cannot be disregarded....a little poison will make us sick, even if we drink it down with clean filtered water.
