Thanks for these reminders, Julie! They are sobering. I appreciate your deep and enthusiastic study of the Old and New Testaments. It's exciting to see someone return to faith with such hunger and maturity. And I'm glad that you are sharing with us.
You gave us a heavyweight list of idolatries! I have seen the Golden Calves expressed in other ways, too:
- Years ago, Richard Foster (one of the leaders in the spiritual disciplines movement from 40 years ago) wrote a book that summarizes our culture's idolatries as Money, Sex, and Power. His illustrations are outdated, but his message still rings true. He would applaud your post.
-In addition to Foster's list, I would add these three Golden Calves: certainty; control; and comfort. Here's how I have observed them:
- nationalism (our country/culture is more superior to all others and therefore God's promises and blessings apply to us but not to others)
- ethnocentricsm (my heritage/skin color) is superior to other humans and therefore we deserve more power and benefits; example: for many, Jesus is a white anglo-saxon Protestant and therefore his grace toward people like him is greater than to others)
- dualism (the 'spiritual' is important and virtuous and the 'material' is unimportant and dirty. in a practical expression of this, creation means nothing because it will burn up; but faith will save our souls. Therefore, character does not matter, because what I do in my flesh has no eternal consequence.)
What a list! The OT prophets and the NT apostles and teachers identified them and warned us to avoid them. When I identify the many Golden Calves we tend to fashion from the good that God provides, it almost feels overwhelming. What thoughts do you have about overcoming our idolatrous nature?
This was such a great edition to this post! Thank you!
Overcoming our idolatrous nature. Oof. That's hard. Honestly I think the only thing that helps is constant and persistent communication with God. When you're in the struggle, when you're in the sin, when you come out, etc. He never turns away someone who is moving towards Him, even in weakness. Sounds cliche but it's the relationship that matters.
Like Moses in Exodus. When God says He's going to unleash His wrath on the Israelites and He says "Leave me alone"... at first it seems like the scripture is saying God is fickle. But we know God is immutable and unchanging. It's clear in that text that the purpose of that exchange is for Moses. God is drawing Moses into the mediator role. Testing his faith and endurance to say "No Lord remember your covenant". It's stunning how much God is moving towards humanity and responds to us when we move towards Him.
Really appreciated your list of golden calves you pointed out and I definitely agree with you on those! One thing I’d just add as a word of caution is around Richard Foster. While he’s often quoted for his insights on spiritual formation, a lot of his teaching actually blends in mysticism and contemplative practices rooted more in monastic and even non-biblical traditions. That kind of syncretism can be subtle, but it’s worth being aware of since it can shift focus away from the sufficiency of Scripture and the gospel. So I’d just encourage some discernment with him while still holding on to the solid points you made here.
"Will I worship Him as He truly is, or will I fall to the temptation to turn God into a reshaped version of who I want Him to be? Will I bend to what feels comfortable ... and what doesn’t upset the people around me?"
The challenge of a lifetime... and one i will need to meditate on for a while
Following God as the I Am, can be quite uncomfortable in this culture. Which is why I believe those of us who see and believe what you have laid out have a hard time expressing that to others who don't feel the same. You remind us that God is not concerned about our comfortablity. He's got us. He loves us but we must love him by following him only. Seeking him only to be able to articulate and speak against the “golden calf”. Praise God for such a sweet revelation.
Thanks for these reminders, Julie! They are sobering. I appreciate your deep and enthusiastic study of the Old and New Testaments. It's exciting to see someone return to faith with such hunger and maturity. And I'm glad that you are sharing with us.
You gave us a heavyweight list of idolatries! I have seen the Golden Calves expressed in other ways, too:
- Years ago, Richard Foster (one of the leaders in the spiritual disciplines movement from 40 years ago) wrote a book that summarizes our culture's idolatries as Money, Sex, and Power. His illustrations are outdated, but his message still rings true. He would applaud your post.
-In addition to Foster's list, I would add these three Golden Calves: certainty; control; and comfort. Here's how I have observed them:
- nationalism (our country/culture is more superior to all others and therefore God's promises and blessings apply to us but not to others)
- ethnocentricsm (my heritage/skin color) is superior to other humans and therefore we deserve more power and benefits; example: for many, Jesus is a white anglo-saxon Protestant and therefore his grace toward people like him is greater than to others)
- dualism (the 'spiritual' is important and virtuous and the 'material' is unimportant and dirty. in a practical expression of this, creation means nothing because it will burn up; but faith will save our souls. Therefore, character does not matter, because what I do in my flesh has no eternal consequence.)
What a list! The OT prophets and the NT apostles and teachers identified them and warned us to avoid them. When I identify the many Golden Calves we tend to fashion from the good that God provides, it almost feels overwhelming. What thoughts do you have about overcoming our idolatrous nature?
Thanks again for stirring us!
This was such a great edition to this post! Thank you!
Overcoming our idolatrous nature. Oof. That's hard. Honestly I think the only thing that helps is constant and persistent communication with God. When you're in the struggle, when you're in the sin, when you come out, etc. He never turns away someone who is moving towards Him, even in weakness. Sounds cliche but it's the relationship that matters.
Like Moses in Exodus. When God says He's going to unleash His wrath on the Israelites and He says "Leave me alone"... at first it seems like the scripture is saying God is fickle. But we know God is immutable and unchanging. It's clear in that text that the purpose of that exchange is for Moses. God is drawing Moses into the mediator role. Testing his faith and endurance to say "No Lord remember your covenant". It's stunning how much God is moving towards humanity and responds to us when we move towards Him.
Really appreciated your list of golden calves you pointed out and I definitely agree with you on those! One thing I’d just add as a word of caution is around Richard Foster. While he’s often quoted for his insights on spiritual formation, a lot of his teaching actually blends in mysticism and contemplative practices rooted more in monastic and even non-biblical traditions. That kind of syncretism can be subtle, but it’s worth being aware of since it can shift focus away from the sufficiency of Scripture and the gospel. So I’d just encourage some discernment with him while still holding on to the solid points you made here.
"Will I worship Him as He truly is, or will I fall to the temptation to turn God into a reshaped version of who I want Him to be? Will I bend to what feels comfortable ... and what doesn’t upset the people around me?"
The challenge of a lifetime... and one i will need to meditate on for a while
Following God as the I Am, can be quite uncomfortable in this culture. Which is why I believe those of us who see and believe what you have laid out have a hard time expressing that to others who don't feel the same. You remind us that God is not concerned about our comfortablity. He's got us. He loves us but we must love him by following him only. Seeking him only to be able to articulate and speak against the “golden calf”. Praise God for such a sweet revelation.
It definitely can be uncomfortable!