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With these idols, Americans are essentially polytheists who worship at the altars of several deities. Many so-called Christians practise polytheism on par with Hindus.
Many so-called Christians practise polytheism on par with Hindus. Naturally, we have several titles for our deities of wealth, procreation, fortune, fame, or anything else.
Success and money are frequently seen as America’s gods. “The Almighty Dollar,” “God is gold,” and similar phrases. But with time, things have evolved. Money is now seen as a somewhat lesser god, although it is still fervently worshipped.
The Greatest Gods in America
These are the seven most worshipped gods in North America. Anything in our lives that demands greater allegiance, commitment, and dedication than the one real Living God is what I mean when I refer to “god.” Not necessarily the highest loyalty, given that a large number of us, whatever of our claims, are functioning polytheists. but fundamental and true dedication.
Then, what is the functional pantheon, in your or my opinion?
Such “gods” are, of course, idols according to the Bible. idols that the Bible disparages and decries.
The gods of modern America, arranged inversely:
7. Safety of the Nation
Indeed, this is the One High God (“My Country, Right or Wrong”) for certain individuals. Since the terrorist acts of 9/11 and the enactment of the (idolatrous? blasphemous?) Patriot Act, it is a much greater deity. Since the goal justifies the means, everything done in the name of national security—or, more recently, by the NSA—is by definition legitimate.
In the United States, nationalism’s ancient deity now goes by the name of national security.
However, this isn’t the High God for a lot of Americans. It is merely one of many gods, and it only pushes the other gods aside during obvious emergencies and threats.
This is one of the alleged gods that the Bible disapproves of. Go through Ezekiel.
6. Wealth, Riches, and Money
A deity that is still highly revered and sought for in the US. One of the two guiding principles of the United States, the pursuit of riches, is, of course, still in effect today. But these days, it is so accepted as true—so unquestionable—that the worship of this deity is rather less common.
Jesus mentioned this idol, also known as Mammon, in Matthew 6:24 when he said, “You cannot serve God and Mammon.” (Was he in error?)
But since technology has given rise to new gods, Money isn’t as beloved as it once was.
5. Weapons
Although it is widely acknowledged and evident, the American culture of gun worship is highly perplexing to many people in other nations, particularly Canada. A few months ago, a cartoon that showed an American church service—which was really a worship-of-guns service—was published in the British journal The Economist.
Michael Bellesiles’ Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture (2000) and other sources provide extensive documentation on the history of America’s gun culture.
Linking gun obsession to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was all that was necessary to convert it into a religion, at least among men.
When one meets a gun enthusiast or raises any doubts regarding this devotion, one can clearly see the signs of religion in today’s society. (To be clear, I’m talking about the deification of the gun, not about legal, restricted usage of weapons.)
I am aware that a lot of people would place this idolatry closer to the top. It really is Top God for a lot of Americans. However, I put it here since the number of devotees is actually a small portion of the whole population.
4. The Car
This lovely, ever-more-glitzy, technologically advanced deity has existed for more than a century. Historians discuss “America’s obsession with the vehicle.” The car swiftly evolved into a status symbol for power, money, and sex, with a distinct hierarchy definable by model and cost. a partition separating the wealthy from the poor.
The car has fully deified when it ceases to be just a means of transportation and becomes something more, a hierarchical status symbol. The symbols of worship, such as temples, prayer gatherings, and extravagant gifts, become clear. Another indication is our casual indifference to the thousands of lives lost on our roads (32,000 last year—adult and child sacrifice).
We’re not at the top yet, though.
3. Notoriety and Stardom
Celebrity has existed for a very long period, at least from the time of Absalom, the most well-known figure in the Old Testament, who wowed people with his gorgeous flowing black hair and cunning charm.
However, the Castor and Pollux deity of Fame and Celebrity has gained new significance because to contemporary technologies, particularly radio, TV, and now the Internet. Printing is one example of this.
So, even among Christians, popularity and notoriety are essentially taken for granted these days. It’s always better to be famous than not to be, and it’s always admirable when someone becomes a star. Consequently, aimed for.
It is foolish to pursue obscurity in this value system. Being “less so that others may become more” is illogical, dubious, and probably indicative of mental illness.
Many parents would give up almost everything to give their child the opportunity to become well-known in the entertainment, sports, or even academic fields. (Have you ever watched a kids pageant?)
Keep in mind that fame and popularity, rather than money, are the high gods here.
- Intercollegiate Athletics
Of course, playing collegiate sports may lead to fame, recognition, and money—at least in theory.
As a preliminary measure of this worship, compare the benefits and pay of sports directors and head coaches at universities to those of deans and presidents. Examine the media and sports budgets.
But there are a tonne of other indicators. College athletics has developed into a complex, high-tech profit-making enterprise, analogous to a company, complete with large winners and numerous losers.
Looked in from the outside, the idolatry is clear. From the inside, it seems unreasonable, illogical, and radical simply to pose the subject.
- Sports for professionals
Right now, this is America’s Favourite God. Now, not fifty years ago. Millions have not recognised the seduction since this god’s popularity and devotion have grown so subtly. Rather, what consumers witness is a flashy, high-tech display driven by massive advertising budgets.
Professional sports have it all: enormous and expanding economic influence, money, celebrity, sex, and technology.
Naturally, professional sports dominate collegiate athletics to the extent that drawing a distinction between them is frequently a joke.
Sports at colleges influence high schools, which influence sports in elementary schools. A vast, interconnected structure, a hierarchy.
As a result, depictions of sex or violence are no longer among the most repulsive and disgusting things you see on TV, the Internet, or in sports. It is a little child, just starting elementary school, who is being conditioned into an unnatural, unhealthy, and eventually dehumanising society and worldview. He is almost completely lost in a football helmet and outfit. imprisoned in a civilization that kills people and stuck in a uniform. It is both an amazing lesson and a tragedy. Actually a kind of deformity, or spiritual development.
This type of unrecognised child maltreatment, among many other things, actually isolates your child from regular, unprogrammed interactions with the natural world, which includes trees, flowers, birds, rivers, and dirt. The wonderful handiwork of God.
Examinations for Idolatry
I apologise! What noise is that I hear? Aw, protest cries! “No, no, no! These objects are not our gods at all! You’re not correct! In reality, we don’t idolise these objects. We simply enjoy them. They serve as amusements, distraction, and leisure pursuits. Activities. harmless.
Really?
Do I hear holy cows squealing?
Here are five ways to detect idolatry. so that we may make our own decisions.
1. The endurance and focus test. How much of my time, energy, and unwavering allegiance do I devote to this “diversion”? What about loyalty, passion, and depth of commitment? How much money and effort goes into this praise, and what other things are sacrificed in the process?
2. The examination of one’s capacity for inquiry and assessment. Do I ever take a step back and consider my allegiance, and am I willing to do so? To inquire as to how we determine when we have crossed the boundary between worship and interest? In particular: To doubt our commitments and allegiances in light of the biblical prophets?
3. The test of public signs of devotion. Devotees of gods commonly make their devotion public through their behavior, clothing and emblems. They give public displays, advertising where their loyalties lie, so everyone will know, and there will be no confusion. These often take the form of logos, flags, caps, T-shirts and other clothing items.
Over the past week or month, what loyalties have I publicly advertised?
4. The test of comparative devotion with other gods or loyalties. For example, loyalty and devotion to Jesus Christ. If I evaluate my interests, time and money use, amount and intensity of attention, what comes out on top? What is second, third, fourth?
Whatever is on top is your or my functional god, and the others are proof of polytheism.
Your or my functioning deity is whichever is above; the others are evidence of polytheism.
5. The ethical consequences test. What actions (interests, hobbies, vocation, relationships, etc.) flow from my worship? Do we consider the consequences of our devotions ethically? Or does my allegiance result in insensitivity to morality, particularly insensitivity to the principles and ideals of the gospel of God’s kingdom?
“Examine yourself to see if you are following the path of faith. Put yourself to the test. Unless you really fail the test, do you not recognise that you are a follower of Jesus Christ? (2 Cor. 13.5).
Last Remark
The pantheon rating mentioned above is unscientific and intuitive, to be sure. It could probably be verified by closely gauging the amount of money, time, and media coverage. My gut tells me that the results of such an investigation, appropriately weighted for variable factors, would essentially support what I propose here on the pantheon of gods.
Of course, any ranking is arbitrary. Polytheists frequently worship an enormous number of gods—one for every want, need, fancy, and day of the week. What we accept to become or adopt as a god includes everything and everything, including pets, medications (for every need), health, beauty/figure/physique, clothes, jewellery, tools, literature, food, individuality or individual rights, and religious buildings. Of course, there is also the traditional American trinity of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” which is admirable in moderation but idolatrous if it becomes an object of blind devotion.
Like all humans, we also have a talent for demonising people or things that we find objectionable.
Thus, we ought to assess ourselves. In the best-case scenario, we perform well if we pass the test, that is, if King Jesus proves to be the One True God in our life, the power that leads us to reject all idols.
Should we fail to pass with a clean conscience, it is likely necessary to renounce and undertake a pantheonic evaluation.
Indeed, and I remember that Jesus asked, “Why do you see the log in your own eye, but not the speck in your neighbor’s? Or, when the log is in your own eye, how can you say to your neighbour, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”? You hypocrite, clean your own eye before you can see well to remove the speck from your neighbor’s eye. Giving holy things to dogs and throwing pearls in front of swine will result in their trampling them underfoot and turning on you to maul them, according to Matthew 5:3-6.
According to Psalm 81:9, “There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.”
The Lord of hosts declares, “Return to me, and I will return to you” (Mal. 3:7).
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