North American Idols

I had an early exposure to idols, really enormous ones in a land far, far away where my parents were missionaries. These images were formidable, and people thronged to see them, to light candles and incense in front of them, repeat words of petition and panic. The instruction to me as a child by my Christian family was that I did not need to be afraid because these idols had no power, despite their appearance, prominence and following. Yet crowds amassed around them.

This Spring from my location at the margins, I have been watching a cultural season of Big Ticket awards, events and departures. Whether its had been a wedding, a farewell or an award, there have been crowds awash in an atmosphere of adoration, of praise, of awe and yearning, dynamics we often attribute to  a service of worship, “lost in wonder love and praise.” It has caused me to ponder idolatry in North America in the 21st Century. I never preached about it when I was in the parish; it never comes up in my conversations around spiritual direction. But, how odd, maybe how telling it is, that the author of the letter of First John, that eloquent and urgent plea for people of faith to give themselves to Love, ends with these words: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (I John 5:21)

What does idolatry look like for me, for us, as a culture on the 21st Century? It is not identifiable in big carved and painted statues, but I believe we know it by where we spend our resources–our money, our attention, our time, our energy. Often the object of our adulation is not bad–a good person or a worthy cause; but its power as an idol is in the way it diverts us from the Mystery we call God.  Jung has told us the “the Good is the Enemy of the Best.” After the royal wedding, money poured into the coffers of enterprising entrepreneurs for goods that were made in the image of the Prince and Princess. This month audiences swelled to catch a glimpse of departing TV icons. Personal plans and preferences for style have been swapped in favor of current trends being shown in the media. Hours of days and night are being spent, schedules are arranged, in service of the pursuit of being transformed into a likeness of what looked powerful and transformative.

To my surprise, the Acts 17 portion of the lectionary took us to this very issue this week. Paul was in Athens on Mars Hill, replete with idols; one could have one’s choice, and if undecided, could worship at the shrine of “The Unknown God.” He uses this opportunity to teach and to affirm  to them that the Mystery we call God is not going to be found in a concrete shrine, no matter how glittering, or aesthetically pleasing, or comforting. “The God who made the world and everything in it, the One who is the Lord of heaven and earth” does not live in humanly designed containers…”since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, and images formed by the art and imagination of mortals.” (Acts 17: 29).

I need to ask myself, what are the glittering, shiny idols take my attention, my time, my money, and my affection? Some come to mind:

• wanting people to like me, so doing what it takes to make it so
• wanting to be up-to-the minute, so reading, watching, and taking in information about the worlds and its cultures that is of no use to my spirit, nor lead me to acts of justice and mercy for God’s sake
• believing in my own preferences for Church and culture, so being unwilling to explore other ideas than my own, being unwilling to open my heart to those on the “other side” of the issue

And so the examen begins; where am I giving what belongs to the Holy One the good but lesser things that cost my heart, soul and energy and joie de vivre?

“Little children, keep yourself from idols.” A good word for me as I prepare to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit!