idolatry knows no boundaries

You have forsaken your people

Their land is filled with idols

Isaiah 2:6a, 8a; NRSVue

Mortal, these men have taken their idols into their hearts and placed their iniquity as a stumbling block before them; shall I let myself be consulted by them?

Ezekiel 14:3; NRSVue

“the human heart is a perpetual idol factory” (hominis ingenium perpetuam, ut ita loquar, esse idolorum fabricam)

John Calvin: Institutes I.11.8

Conrad L. Kanagy, the author of the recent book, Walter Brueggemann’s Prophetic Imagination: A Theological Biography (a thought-provoking book), recently made the point that while we do well to recognize the idolatry within white Christian nationalism, we need look no further than ourselves to find more idolatry, some of that not that far removed from the idolatry we’re calling by name and renouncing. Kanagy goes on to explain, letting no one off the hook, including those of us in his “liberal, progressive” tradition. When the focus is not on God in our thinking or reading of Scripture, we gravitate to something which takes God’s place, whatever that may be.

I find such words suggestive and helpful, even liberating. This is neither to just ignore the idols and idolatry in our midst, nor to get on a quest to determine what our own idols and idolatry could be. It is more like an openness and acknowledgement that we’re not above this ourselves, in fact that we too struggle with this in big and little, even in a multitude of ways.

There are many dangers here. One of the basic ones is that we’ll retreat into some kind of empty religious space in which life is no longer enjoyed, that only God matters. But it’s interesting that the fullness of God is often experienced in the enjoyment of God’s goodness, in God’s creation. Neither do we have to spurn the multitude of God’s good gifts in the world and in humanity. We don’t have to reject the gifts to love the Gift-Giver. In fact, surely just the opposite. It’s only when we begin to see those things apart from God that we can get in trouble. Unwittingly without us even being aware of it, they can take the place of God.

I am aware myself of issues or areas in which I may be either prone to idolatry, or in some sense even given to it, while at the same time worshiping God. That may be my imagination, and God’s grace is always at work in our lives to help us in spite of ourselves. We find a few places in Scripture where it seems that people were worshiping both God and their idols at least in some formal sense. Surely a lot of that formality goes on today. But Jesus and God’s Word make it clear that we can’t serve God and idols at the same time. It either has to be one or the other.

So before we point the finger at others, we need to look in the mirror ourselves, in prayer and in Scripture, over time, and ask God to search us and know our heart and our thoughts to see if there’s any wicked way, any idolatry in us. And lead us in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24). And that will necessarily be ongoing, because we’re never out of the woods in this matter.

we become like what we love (and, you can’t have it both ways)

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.
Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”

Our God is in the heavens;
he does whatever he pleases.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but they do not speak;
they have eyes, but they do not see.
They have ears, but they do not hear;
they have noses, but they do not smell.
They have hands, but they do not feel;
they have feet, but they do not walk;
they make no sound in their throats.
Those who make them are like them;
so are all who trust in them.

O Israel, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.
You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.

Psalm 115:1-11; NRSVue

Your name, O LORD, endures forever,
your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.
For the LORD will vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants.

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but they do not speak;
they have eyes, but they do not see;
they have ears, but they do not hear,
a nose, but there is no breath in their mouths.
Those who make them
and all who trust them
shall become like them.

O house of Israel, bless the LORD!
O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!
O house of Levi, bless the LORD!
You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
Blessed be the LORD from Zion,
he who resides in Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD!

Psalm 135:13-21; NRSVue

Both psalms in their entirety are important for understanding the whole. Note too, that this is poetry. Often poetry, which the Bible is full of, is making a point along with various points but not so much intellectually, to know something, but to get more of a feel for what life is all about, what God’s word and calling to us includes.

Now let me lift out one part from each of the psalms above.

Those who make them are like them;
so are all who trust in them.

Psalm 115:8; NRSVue

Those who make them
and all who trust them
shall become like them.

Psalm 135:18; NRSVue

When you read the story of Israel from Scripture, it doesn’t take long to see that idolatry was an ongoing problem with them as God’s people. Paul makes it clear that what was written about them is for our own instruction and warning. And he tells the Corinthian church, and by extension us, not to become idolaters as they did (1 Corinthians 10:6,7,11; note also 10:13-14).

What are we tempted to idolize? Remember too, that there were points when God’s people worshiped God meaning in some formal sense and yet held on to idols (2 Kings 17:41; Ezekiel 20:39). But you can’t have it both ways. You either serve Christ and follow him, or you don’t. And such service is exclusive. Nothing else. A challenge to the church, to all of us in the church.

the idolatry of ideology

Then God spoke all these words,

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.”

Exodus 20:1-3; NRSVue

I am reticent to take on something which I don’t think I understand necessarily well. But ever since this thought was planted, after first wondering, I’ve been grappling with it, and it is making more and more sense to me. It’s something like the idea that when we adhere to an ideology as if it’s an absolute, we remove ourselves from God to something that essentially takes the place of God.

First though, it would be good to have a definition of ideology.

Any wide-ranging system of beliefs, ways of thought, and categories that provide the foundation of programmes of political and social action: an ideology is a conceptual scheme with a practical application.

Oxford Reference

What we’re referring to is tricky. A way of thinking and living can be provisional and might even be legitimate or good for the time and place. In some places all of that will be up for debate. That’s okay, and well and good in its proper place. One example, under certain agreed upon laws along with what is commonly expected there can be a democratic process which allows individuals and people groups to participate and have a say in a government and politics. There are places in the world where that won’t work given the culture. To hold to something is not only alright, but necessary.

We see the same thing throughout the Bible. What God’s people were to do at one time was no longer exactly the same at another time, something which can be seen in the Pentateuch, and all the more when considering the rest of Scripture. For a good number of reasons, things changed. It may seem the most radical change came with Jesus, and that may well be the case, but precedence was set before. This all involves the idea that we have to have our ears low to the ground to try to understand the world and times in which we live, and above all, raised up to God, especially together, to get sense and direction for what we might or even should do.

We must beware of making anything an absolute apart from the absolute of God’s active reign in Jesus by the Spirit. That is the one absolute in which we as followers of Christ are to live. What we accept as good for the time being is always and forever subject to that.

the devil’s playground

Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.’ ”

Luke 4:5-8; NRSVue

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Lord Acton

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.

Abraham Lincoln

It is a rare politician indeed who has never at least been tempted to think in terms of his or her own supposed best interest and grandeur and glory, yes power. At their best and what they’re supposed to be are “public servants,” for the good of the people. And I think we’ve seen real good come from such. But what I might call the politics of this world is in a danger zone or probably more accurate, is a danger zone. And what it becomes at least as often as not, and probably more often than not is the devil’s playground.

The devil tempted or tested Jesus along this line, one of the three temptations during Jesus’s testing in the wilderness. Jesus as we see above passes that test in flying colors calling for the worship and service of God alone. And maybe that’s getting to the heart of the problem. Ultimate power resides in God, and power given is given to humans to be in harmony with that power, the power for good. Humankind made in God’s image are supposed to be stewards of God’s creation, specifically the earth. And the two great commands are love of God with all of one’s being and doing, and love of neighbor as one loves themselves.

What does all of this mean for us today? I think it most certainly suggests that we should be aware and wary of politicians who seem to be power grabbing and enmeshed in having authority over others. That is why I think at least in the culture, albeit multi-culture in which we live, democracy is best. There should be limited power given to elected officials in more ways than one. And we have to watch out for those who want to rally the masses to their own vision, be it fascist or any other kind of totalitarian, authoritarian view. We have seen clearly and not that long ago how a minority of people can be passionately swept into such, and the inevitable disaster which follows.

Especially as an Anabaptist Christian, while I want to find good in any nation and government, I am wary. The United States where I live is supposed to be a representative government for all the people. I find many aspects of it both good and considering the history, troubling. I bow the knee to only one Lord, Jesus. But I also think we should use our earthly citizenship for good, for the good of people and the earth. But not to be taken in as if our identity is wrapped in a nation or some political party or mere human being. Never. Our identity if we’re followers of Christ is only in Christ and in God’s reign in him. All else is subject to that. Remember what is lurking and too often behind the scenes.

into a new place

The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the thigh muscle that is on the hip socket, because he struck Jacob on the hip socket at the thigh muscle.

Genesis 32:22-32; NRSVue

Sometimes it can seem like the bottom has dropped out from us and that there’s no place to go but down. And when we’ve imagined we’ve hit rock bottom, God seems to be no where except in our wondering, wandering thoughts. We’re lost in a web of trouble from which we can’t escape. I’ve been in something like that more than once.

And Jacob found himself there in his ongoing saga and struggle with his brother Esau, which had started with these twins from birth. Jacob knows that at one point Esau had had enough of Jacob’s treacherousness and trickery. And now they were going to meet after a long absence. Jacob thought his life was on the line. He was up against it, with seemingly nowhere to turn, except to go back home where Esau was along with God’s promise of the land. So in a rather desperate situation even though rich, he returns. In typical Jacob-like fashion, Jacob pulls out all the stops, doing all he can, just as he had always done to insure a good outcome. But thankfully for Jacob, this time that felt like not enough to him.

So Jacob encounters a man, turns out to be an angel, turns out somehow to be God God’s self, and wrestles with this man all night. And refuses to let go until this man blesses him. In the encounter, the angel puts Jacob’s hip out of joint. But Jacob prevails in that due to his tireless striving and insistence that he be blessed, the man blesses him. And changes his name from Jacob to Israel, “the one who strives with God” (NRSVue footnote).

From this encounter with God, Jacob is changed. As we see from the rest of the story of Jacob, it’s not like he’s now perfect. Not at all. But there’s a change, at least we can say that assuredly from this text. Perhaps we could say that Jacob changes from one who is essentially a striver with God and humans, to one who is a worshiper of God and a blesser of others (see Genesis 47:7, 31; Hebrews 11:21).

God wants to bring us into a new place as well. Might it be as difficult, or something of the same kind of difficulty Jacob went through? Surely of course. Otherwise, why is it in Scripture? Yes, I believe God wants to do the same for each of us, especially for those of us in special need of being broken and left with a blessed limp.