Contrary but not so contrary to most other replies I don't have a problem with the terms "boy-god", "holy boy" or "godling".

I don't know if there is an example in Scripture of a person becoming an idol... if anything man has glory as the image of God (Gen 1:26-27 and many others). Jesus even said (Jonh 10:34 quoting Psalm 82:6), "you are all gods".

The problem of idolatry is when the creature is worshiped and served OVER the Creator. But if in the creation we see the majestic and wondrous hand of the Creator and we glorify Him for His glorious work in the creation there I don't see a problem.

The boy imago I see makes me gasp in awe and fills my heart with such joy and wonder... if it stopped there my focus is ill placed... but if I move beyond that wonder at the boy and fall in awe before God then I'm truly worshiping.

I'll give you a for instance. My yf goes to my church. Sometimes during song time I'll glance over and see him just as I'm singing a song line such as, "You are beautiful beyond description, too marvelous for words... and I love You"... now when I think about my yf in that context my heart swells to bursting... but I don't stop there... I acknowledge that this glory he has... this ability to overwhelm my senses and my heart is just a reflection of the glory of God, the boy is but an image, an imago, of the one who is truly beautiful and lovely. I sing the words with gusto and direct them then towards God thinking, "Father, thank you for creating such a beautiful boy as he and for putting Him in my life!" and the gratitude flows out of me like a river... my eyes flow with tears and I feel that I'm really meaning what I'm singing.

Plus I think he's a HOLY imago... I must treat him with holy respect as the image of God. I mustn't let my lust dominate my thinking and covet after his flesh, but I must think of him in holy, loving, and godly ways. So my little boy-god is God's boy and I must honor the boy in a way that Honors God.

My most heartfelt praise towards God has often come from my love of another person. "Lord spare them, deliver them, heal them... thank You for them, thank You that they did that for me, thank You for their fellowship, thank You that they spoke Your word to me, thank You for my children, my wife, my yf... etc..." these are prayers from the heart inspired by people who are holy imagos of God.

Blessings
Cat.