Idolatry Hiding in Plain Sight
written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.”
“In that day,” means we are not there yet. At first, I was sad because I craved to see our present situation end, and then I was reassured when I realized this isn’t as good as it gets, and God will bring unity from our current religious dysfunction. We know Isaiah experienced similar religious dysfunction because he, too, is looking forward to the day when the faithful will “make known among the nations what he has done.” Our religious institutions are not revealing God's mind. Instead, religious institutions often disagree with each other and with God.
Christian churches are as far apart as our national political parties, looking like arms of their political party affiliation, then communities united in our Triune God. Many churches in the religious right have fallen victim to unintentional idolatry. They’ve placed the president and party above Christian justice and faithful ethics. Meanwhile, the religious right has accused the churches on the left of pandering to abortion rights groups and the LGBTQ+ community, which they view as in opposition to Biblical values. Rather than see beyond individual issues, the churches have turned on each other, valuing political expediency over unity with God.
We are already witnessing the fruits of our hatred. Especially charismatic churches are proclaiming our president as “a saint” and called by God. The result is that the numerous political decisions made by the executive and legislative branches that cut funding to food, medical, and other resources for the poor are seen by this group as God directed. Affirming cuts, while cutting taxes on those with the most capacity to pay, becomes God’s divine will. That is idolatry! Yet, for many in the Christian community, that is where we are at present. Even those who are not directly worshiping at the foot of MAGA religious ideology, but who remain silent and ignore the negative impact of such idolatrous implications, remain culpable.
Our Christian call is to speak out against idolatry in all its forms. In 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul warns, “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” Our world is more complex than it was when Aaron disappointed Moses and God by making the golden calf. Still, our nation continues to create golden calves in the form of Christian nationalism, which blends divine truth with national, fatalistic fervor. Today, start a list that you keep accessible. Each time you feel something that makes you feel uncomfortable regarding your faith and how God is described, write it down. As you do so, you will begin to witness the concerns that are rotting God’s theology within our churches and in society. It is time to reclaim the God who is above all civil powers.
