The Idolatry of False Teaching

Greg Beale:

"The last verse of 1 John says, 'Guard yourselves from idols.'  It is possible that he is referring to literal idols, but more likely he is summarizing the argument of the whole epistle of 1 John, which is a warning against believing the false teaching that Christ was not truly human or, in other instances, that Jesus was not fully God.  John is saying that when we trust in false teaching, which is a false substitute for truth, then we are guilty of idol worship.  The church must guard itself from venerating false theology as a substitute for the true."  We Become What We Worship, 284-285

Guarding oneself against worshipping idols is watching one's desires and one's beliefs.  If one's desires are craving something more than God it is an idol and a false god.   Also, if one is believing something different than what God has said in His Word one is trusting an idol and a false god.  

Therefore when you are checking your heart for idol worship check your desires and your beliefs.  What/Who am I desiring?  What/Who am I believing?