A provoking topic this week. The Oxford definition is "extreme admiration, love, or reverence for someone or something". As a way to gauge this we can look at media influence and what people spend their time and money on; showing idolatry comes in the forms of sports teams and players, singers/musicians, intellectuals, celebrities etc. An idol - as in the definition given above - doesn't have to be a person either: money, beauty, personal fame, a political ideology could also fit the description.
As teenagers, one of my brothers and I were particularly taken with playing, watching and all things basketball (I'm pretty sure my brother is still!). My Dad, I'm certain would have preferred a sport with more Aussie pedigree such as AFL, cricket or tennis; but my brother and I would make sure our schedules were cleared anytime a few minutes of our favourite sport was on the TV. Immediately after (full of inspiration), we would be outside for hours working on the moves of our favourite players, humming the tunes of the latest Michael Jordan Gatorade advertisement ("Be like Mike" - still one of the best ads and instantly transports me back to childhood if I hear it!). In retrospect I feel sorry for our next-door neighbours at the time, who would have heard the ball pounding the asphalt all day on a weekend!
In my own field also, I find it interesting to see what people will spend money on. A percentage of society here in Australia report being unable or unwilling to pay out of pocket fees for health related medical care (we are blessed with a system that does cover large portions of it), but often in aesthetic medicine no expense is spared. I don't say this to judge people, only to comment on what different people will value. There are some who are the opposite and will spend anything to maintain good health!
These days one could have multiple "idols", but speaking in historical terms idolatry would be that which you worshipped and held above all else - a god. Often this would take the form of a physical object such as a statue made to look like a human, animal or combination of multiple things. These gods would both be revered and trusted to bring blessing and life sustaining abundance (sun, rain, crops, livestock etc.), often with sacrifices to garner the god's approval. Here in modern times, it is not normally as obvious as bowing down to an image but people will sacrifice time, money, energy and more for careers, status, influence and love - essentially turning these objects into gods. A particularly toxic form of this is elevating "the self" to a god. Having love for oneself is healthy and necessary, but when it is elevated to the level of Narcissus, it creates havoc in personal lives, relationships and ultimately future potential.
These gods of ancient times (and also now in many religions) would also be called upon when trouble came. The people would (and do) trust in these gods to bring rain during a drought and dryness when floods came; success when fighting wars and ability to defend territory when the fight was brought to their home; deliverance from pestilence, famine, earthquake and any other disaster.
Everyone has some kind of idol. Something that they put their trust in, would sacrifice for and elevate to highest priority.
What do you hold in highest regard? What or whom would you sacrifice for? In whom or what do you put your trust in, particularly when life starts to get difficult? Yourself? A partner? Job? Money? In a world that seems to have shakier foundations than ever, and age old institutions crumbling around us, it would certainly be nice to have a solid foundation, an immovable rock to anchor ourselves to while the tumult rages around us.
"Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?" Is 2 v 22
"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" Matt 6 v 21, Lk 12 v 34