YOUR FALSE GODS WILL HARM YOU.

A series of essays on Public Theology. In contrast with Civil Religion that accommodates Religion to support the State's agenda, Public Theology starts with the Bible and God’s People to seek the welfare [Shalom] of the State, the commonwealth, and the common good. What the Bible says about Idolatry exposes partisan delusions.

King David asked, How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? (Psalm 4:2) Trust in falsehoods turns delusional. Devotion to false gods generates a force field of lies, empty promises, false hopes, and pretensions to power. Like any addiction, idols appear to offer you control but end up controlling and harming you.

You can correct falsehoods by fact-checking. But delusions are not open to change when presented with contrary evidence. Those who love delusions will defend their cults and double down, in spite of all the evidence, even if it leads to self-harm.

A dramatic Bible example is King Ahab and his court prophets. Facing an economic crisis of drought and famine, the king and people turned to baals, fertility gods. God’s true prophet Elijah was labeled a troubler of Israel. (1 Kings 18:17) Elijah exposed the impotence of false gods, and publicly shamed the prophets of false promises. But the false prophets at court shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. (1 Kings 18:28)

When your devotion to a false god becomes delusional, it leads to personal and social harm. In our time, uncritical loyalty to MAGA ideology has started to turn delusional and also socially harmful.

Swiss theologian Emil Brunner observed, For every civilization, for every period of history, it is true to say: show me what kind of gods you have, and I will tell you what kind of humanity you possess.

MAGA's distrust of federal agencies (or "the deep state") has brought massive cuts in public health, the National Institutes of Health, and the Communicable Disease Centers. Vaccine skepticism has led to a resurgence of measles. Losing scientific researchers, the ability to regulate and test new medications, and vulnerability to new pandemics are social consequences.

Cuts to the FAA have sown doubts about air traffic safety. The dismantling, not reforming, of domestic or international disaster relief agencies like FEMA or USAID, makes us less able to show compassion to our own citizens or world neighbors. USAID deployed three staff to the Myanmar earthquake zone. But China has flooded relief workers to aid earthquake victims.

If you make sweeping deportations, incarcerate a legal refugee, admit you ignored his Constitutional due process, but still claim — with no evidence — that the victim is a gang member? When asked, “Why do you claim this man is a gang member with no proof?” The MAGA answer: “Why do you defend a known gang member by asking that question?”

What if, contrary to most conservative economists, you start global trade wars, violate your own trade agreements? As the Economist notes: “Almost everything [potus] said … on history, economics and the technicalities of trade … was utterly deluded.” But cult leaders offer a “prosperity” gospel: “you'll get rich — just believe enough.”

David Kelly, the chief global strategist at JP Morgan Asset Management says, “The trouble with tariffs, to be succinct, is that they raise prices, slow economic growth, cut profits, increase unemployment, worsen inequality, diminish productivity and increase global tensions. Other than that, they're fine.”

But who cares if the stock markets tank? If families spend $1,000's more? Trust potus! He knows what he’s doing. Uncritical devotion becomes delusional, leading to personal and societal harm. Are they not rather harming themselves, to their own shame? (Jeremiah 7:19)