Idols

“The devising of idols was the beginning of fornication, and the invention of them, the corruption of life.”

- Book of Wisdom 14:12

Against the Heathen (Contra Gentiles), by St. Athanasius (html)

What began as an ungodly custom soon enough became law, with graven images worshipped as commanded by kings. But who are these, the ones men idolize as gods? What does one find when examining them?

If one were to take the actions of those they call gods, one would find that they were not only no gods, but had been of men the most contemptible.

The licentious actions of Zeus, the stealthy adulteries, creatures disguised as beasts, mutilating the father, the same woman as sister and wife. Doing things not even lawful for men in Rome – and corruption was considered moral in Rome, so that’s quite a low bar.

All prove that they are but men of former times, and not even good men.

The so-called gods at irreconcilable strife one with another, so feeble that they stoop to putting the mortals in grief against each other. They are passable and corruptible, adulterers, only seeking after pleasure or plotting grievous deeds.

…they are not ashamed to deify the teachers of adultery; and refraining from incest themselves they worship those who practice it; and admitting that the corrupting of children is an evil, they serve those who stand accused of it…

Such as these are, in fact, men and not gods. I cannot help but think that we do the same in our age. What are the characteristics of those that our society worships, the “social influencers” of our time? Adultery, innumerable marriages and divorce, licentiousness, fathering bastard children, lives spent acquiring toys and flouting wealth. Yet we tell tales of these “gods,” as if they are respectable men and women.

Which brings St. Athanasius to the topic of image worship. It is a folly, worshipping things of wood and stone – the things they burn or step on, they also worship as gods. The same material used to build a home is an object of worship.

…they are worshipping, not gods, but the carver’s art.

Having done the work, the artist (the image-maker) prays to his own production. It would be more just to worship the artist than the art.

…they worship them that cannot see, and hearing, pray to them that cannot hear, and call gods things which do not move at all, but have not even life, and, strangest of all, in that they serve as their master’s beings whom they themselves keep under their own power…

Such image worship is condemned by Scripture:

“Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.” “…they shall be ashamed that have formed a god, and carved all of them that which is vain…”

They have no real action, being inanimate objects.

All of this brings me to a personal observation / perspective. One of my difficulties, having been raised in a protestant church, is the idea of icon veneration. Yes, I can understand that these icons are of men and women that the Church has deemed “good,” and, certainly compared to the gods of Greece and Rome, the moral distinction is clear.

But where does veneration end and worship begin? I know that those well-versed in the Orthodox tradition have solid answers to this question. Even a protestant like Gavin Ortlund recognizes and appreciates the difference. But some examples I have seen, in person, have left me troubled.

Fortunately, the Orthodox church I occasionally attend does not have such a practice. The closest practice I see is when the congregants kiss the Gospels (held by the priest) at the conclusion of the liturgy (I do not join in). Is this true for this church globally, or is it just under our bishop? I once asked the priest this question, and he said it is the latter.

With that said, I once teased my protestant pastor about the icons on the stage at this church. He immediately chuckled before I described what I meant – he knew: the flag of the United States and another which is some version of the Christian flag. He recognizes the issue, but given that the church is within spitting distance of several military installations…well, in reality, there is little state or military worship even on military holidays.

Anyway, that’s my perspective on all of this.

Conclusion

A god is that which man places in the highest place. Therefore, such men are, in fact, gods to those who look up to them, who worship them. False gods, but gods nonetheless. This is just as true in our time – and among many Christians, as well – as in the fourth century.