Gods In Our Image

What kinds of gods were represented by the idols that biblical peoples worshiped?  The 20^th Century horror author H.P. Lovecraft wrote of eldritch cosmic gods who were grotesque and inhuman and who had controlled factions of humanity in the ancient past.  His cosmic deities were strange and unnerving to see, and their idols were equally disturbing to look at.  But while some historical idols dug up by archaeologists exhibit exaggerated features – extra arms, numerous breasts, animal heads, etc. – the concept that ancient peoples had of their gods was of human shape.  The gods that people believed in were a lot like the cultures that worshiped them.  And not just in visage.  For the attitudes and actions of the gods reflected that of their followers.  As we read the mythologies of ancient peoples, we find that the gods they worshiped were petty, lustful, jealous, and violent.  Many of the creation myths of ancient peoples revolve around war between cosmic gods.  According to these accounts, the death or even dismemberment of certain gods is what brought our world into being.  These violent qualities are portrayed in the peoples who believed these stories and served these deities. 

People enjoy violence, so their gods are violent.  People enjoy illicit sex, so their gods demand immorality.  People enjoy prosperity and greed, so their gods want all the treasure they can amass.  Is it any wonder that God equates idolatry with sin?  When we look upon the images of these false gods we see a reflection of our own brokenness.  The ancient peoples served their gods not because the gods loved them, nor because the gods were morally superior.  Often the gods were ambivalent toward their worshipers and acted toward them even worse than criminals.  No, ancient peoples worshiped these deities simply because they perceived them to be greater, wiser, and more powerful. 

As a smaller nation might ally itself with a larger one for protection and economic growth, so ancient peoples sought to ally themselves with a spiritual power that could control the areas of life that are simply beyond us – the weather, sickness, war, etc.  Idolatry was the way that people sought control over the chaotic world.  If someone is sick and nobody can help, call on a god and bring him a big enough sacrifice… maybe he will intervene.  If the rain refuses to fall and the crops won’t grow, call on a god and bring him a big enough sacrifice…  maybe he will change the weather. Or maybe he won’t. But we feel like we have to do something.

Powerlessness and helplessness are terrifying to us.  We feel like it’s our responsibility to solve all the problems; to work harder, find a solution, fight to overcome.   When all that fails, we still can’t stomach the truth that we are powerless in the face of so much that our broken world throws at us.  So we ally ourselves with something we think will solve our problems – a better job, a new start, a new relationship, an influential organization.  But even then, we start to bend that power to our own will so we can use it instead of allowing it to use us. 

Even among those who worship the Lord God, we tend to ignore the truths of the Bible and we try to make God conform to our own wants and desires.  We try to manipulate Him and use Him to get what we want.  We don’t want to submit to Him, sacrifice for Him, obey Him, or love Him.  We just want to cajole Him into giving us what we want.  This is the worldly way of idolatry… to build a god who will be my servant; a god I can manipulate with flattery, worship, or gifts. 

But the Lord God stands apart from the idolatrous gods of the world.  He is real and true.  He will not submit to our sinful desires; WE must submit to Him.  He does not conform Himself to whatever truths we make up about Him; we must accept Him as He is.  He does not reflect our selfish desires; He has created us to reflect His holiness and goodness in the world.  He will glorify us if we will glorify Him.  He will exalt us if we will exalt Him.  But we need not manipulate Him into any of these things.  Our place is to trust Him, not force Him.  We do not worship a god who is ambivalent toward us, but one who loves us.  We do not worship a god who is broken like us, but one who is perfect in His desires.  We worship a God who is worthy of our best because He has given His best to us.