“The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they do not speak;
eyes they have, but they do not see;
they have ears, but they do not hear,
nor is there any breath in their mouths.”
Psalm 135:15-17

Idols are anything that a person wears or reveres for blessing or for good luck. This is expressly forbidden by God throughout the Bible. Does this mean one should not wear any jewelry of a religious nature? No, if it only means a statement of what you believe – a cross that remembers the Lord’s crucifixion, or maybe a star of David to show your love for Israel. If your intent though, is to place any kind of trust in them for blessing or “good luck,” you have clearly defiled the commandment of God.

Also, the Scriptures speak of anything one would bow down before, such as the images in churches or as in bowing before statues of Mary, for example. It is the sin of idolatry to bow down or kneel before ANY statue. It is idolatry to wear medals created as a result of the several “apparitions” purported to be of Mary. The mother of Jesus did NOT appear in any of these sites. The mother of Jesus would have never have told people to defy the commandment of God and wear medals of her, such as the “miraculous medal” and others like it. The mother of Jesus would never have told people to make shrines to her. It is idolatry.

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image,
any likeness of anything that is in heaven above,
or that is in the earth beneath,
or that is in the water under the earth;
you SHALL NOT BOW DOWN TO THEM
nor serve them.”
Exodus 20:4-5