Was Abraham's family idolaters?
Yes. Joshua 24 records that Terah, Abraham's father, and Nahor served other gods beyond the river. They were idolaters, and Abram was raised in that idolatry. Joshua declared this to all Israel at Shechem, showing Abraham's family background was pagan before God spoke to him.
Les teaches that in Joshua 24, Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and recounted that their fathers dwelt on the other side of the river in old time—Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor. Les points out that they all served other gods, so Abraham's family were idolaters, and Abram was raised in idolatry. Then when God spoke to him, Stephen in Acts chapter 7 gives the impression that God visibly appeared, using the Greek word optomiae.
And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.
More Questions
What was Abraham's family background before God called him?
Abraham was raised in idolatry; Joshua 24:2 says his forefathers—Terah, Nahor, and Haran—lived on the other side of the river and served other gods before God called him.
Where did Abraham's ancestors live before he was called?
Abraham's ancestors dwelt on the other side of the river in old time, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor.
Where did Abraham originally come from according to Joshua 24?
Abram originally came from the region on the other side of the river (beyond the Euphrates), which Les points to in Joshua 24 as the place Abram really came from.