FALSE GODS WILL DISFIGURE YOU.

I have long studied the topic of Idolatry. In this cultural moment, biblical insights on Idolatry apply to Public Theology, the dialogue between those inside and outside the church. Public Theology identifies common interests, to build a good and just society to benefit all citizens, not just Christians. As God’s exiles, Christ’s Ambassadors, and local churches as Kingdom Embassies, how can we pursue the common good (“commonweal”) of American society?

The Bible warns: idols distort and disfigure you. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them. (Psalm 135:18) What you revere, you will resemble. Trust in false gods turns you into something corrosive, not preservative, to society.

To worship One who is worthy is positively transforming. God’s Son came to earth, was incarnate, embodied in Jesus. We all are broken creatures, bent images of God, but Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature (Hebrews 1:3). Only Jesus is the perfectly righteous Hero (royal Lion King) and the only worthy Victim (God’s sacrificial Lamb).

Devotion to Jesus transforms us into Christ-likeness: beholding the glory of the Lord [we will be] transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. (2 Corinthians 3:18) Devotion to the only One worthy of worship ultimately leads to bodily resurrection. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. (1 Corinthians 15:49).

But what happens if we give our hearts to a ruler or a political idol? When our idol acts cruelly or inhumanely, we ourselves become dehumanized. Those who trust in them become like them.

Idolizing rulers both disfigures people and distorts societies. When Babylon’s Nebuchadnezzar made absolute claims, he became beastly. The Bible does not reveal the identity of the final anti-Christ, the beast. But when any unworthy ruler claims to be “savior of the world” (like Augustus, the “revered one”), he becomes bestial. Counterfeits to God’s Lion-Lamb justify themselves as heroes who never do wrong, but are mistreated as victims.

Idolizing rulers produces cults. The Augustus cult persecuted early Christians. When politicians demand cult loyalty, their devotees are disfigured. Society becomes paranoid, brutal, coercive, and cruel. Respectful civil discourse is replaced by anger and grievance.

When professing Christians are seduced by beastly idols, they may begin to condone or excuse anti-Christian behavior, like inhumane treatment of refugees, prisoners, the weak, unhealthy, the poor, and people of color. Xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia, and racism are not the marks of a good society or a great nation.

Probably writing from Ephesus, a center of the imperial cult, the apostle John urged Jesus' followers to reflect God’s Light and Love. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you … many antichrists have come … they went out from us, but they were not of us. (1 John 2:18-19, 26)

Jesus' followers must not be corrosive, but preserving Salt, truthful Light, even blessing our imperial Babylon. Let us follow God's Lamb and not marvel at beastly counterfeits (Revelation 17:8). And, as God's children, let us keep ourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21)