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)

FALSE GODS ARE FALSE HOPES.

I am sometimes asked, “Why do you, a retired minister, speak or write so frequently on political topics? Is not your highest calling to declare the good news of God’s kingdom in Jesus Christ?” Are you being unfaithful to the “spirituality of the church?” I ordinarily reply in some of these ways:

First, the Gospel of Christ's kingdom is political, but not partisan. When the first followers of Jesus confessed, “Christ is Lord,” they risked their lives. They would pay taxes and honor the government (render to Caesar what was Caesar's), but would not confess Caesar as lord. When Jesus testified to Pilate, My kingdom is not of this world, (John 18:36) he was crucified by self-preserving Jewish politicians who alleged Jesus was a threat to the Roman emperor.

Second, now retired from vocational ministry, I am not diluting or distracting myself from the ministry of God’s Word. As a registered Independent voter, I do not misrepresent any church or ministry as endorsing one party over the other. Neither major political party fully complies with the biblical values of Christians. There is no “Christian party," and it's increasingly difficult for a Christian to be "all-in" on every political agenda or platform.

Third, and most important, my efforts to do “public theology,” to seek the common good, remains an intensely pastoral calling in these times. I often cite the Apostle’s words: I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3) Too many churches and professing Christians now seek to achieve kingdom goals with worldly, political means. When the Bride of Christ is being seduced by politicians, can a Christian minister remain silent?

At the start of his public ministry, Jesus was tested by the devil, who showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, ‘To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.’ (Luke 4:5-6) The Apostle Paul reminded Christians that though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. (2 Corinthians 10:3) The elderly Apostle John ended his first letter: We are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ … the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)

The topic of American idolatry is so timely because many American Christians and churches have concluded that kingdom goals and Christian values can be, or must be, advanced through worldly means. But false gods will seduce you into harmful false hopes.

So I seek to do some “public theology,” so that Christians will be salt and light, Christ's ambassadors, and local churches will become Kingdom embassies, to pursue the common social good of our neighbors. In the following posts I will note that false gods will not only FAIL you, but also DISFIGURE you and HARM you and others.

PUBLIC THEOLOGY AND POLITICAL IDOLATRY.

I am still cutting my teeth on “Public theology,” a term traced to the University of Chicago’s Martin Marty, who died last month at age 97. Public theology contrasts with a civil religion that tries to fuse (and confuses) the interests of religion and the state.

Public theology is Christian engagement and dialogue, both inside the church and with wider society. By pursuing issues of common interest, it seeks the welfare of a society that is good and just for all citizens, to build up the common good (“commonweal”).

So public theology resonates with God’s message to his people in Babylon. Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare (Jeremiah 29:7). Rather than seek a “Christian America” (religious nationalism), public theology accepts the calling of Jesus’ followers to be salt and light, God's exiles in a foreign land, a secular America (Philippians 3:20, 1 Peter 1:1, 2:11-12).

Inside the church, public theology answers the question: How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? (Psalm 137:4). The church can both worship God and serve all its neighbors as Christ's ambassadors and foreign embassies of God’s kingdom.

Public theology speaks with society. It does not just preach to or at society. It is a Christian theology that seeks to be publicly understood, as well as open to critical scrutiny and public debate.

While I am still a novice at public theology, I have studied the Bible topic of Idolatry, and have written a short course for students from around the world, most who are not Christian, about the risk of putting your trust in idols. Because all idols prove to be false hopes.

Idolatry is a helpful diagnostic for these chaotic American times. The Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky observed that all people “must bow down to something.” All your false hopes will finally disappoint, fail, or even crush you.

How can followers of Jesus seek the shalom of all our neighbors, and help build a better commonweal, a good and just society?

To follow: posts on the risks and the consequences of American Idolatry, trusting in politicians. The Bible warns, Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. (Psalm 146:3)