Tommy Mann

  In Galatians 5:19-21 Paul lists what he called “the works of the flesh,” and among these common sins is idolatry. Obviously in the civilized world we do not see many people bowing down to idols, but I believe recent events demonstrate that politics is a form of American idolatry.   Politics has become a religion. We have made it our idol. We worship at Red or Blue altars. We no longer have a Golden Calf, but we have a Golden Elephant and a Golden Donkey. They are gods to some people, the party platforms are their holy writ, and their followers have waged jihad on those who belong to the other side.   There was a time when two people could have a civilized debate, even when holding very different beliefs. Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes were great friends, yet they debated fiercely on TV. Tip O’Neill and Ronald Reagan used to spar by day, but hang out by night. O’Neill was famous for saying, “Politics ends at 5PM.”   We have to get back to a place where we see the othe...

What is idolatry? We see the word  idol  at the outset of the word, tipping us off to the idea that idolatry involves idols. Webster defined idolatry as “the religious worship of idols.” Fair enough, but what are idols? Let’s ask Webster again. He says it is “an image or other material object representing a deity to which religious worship is addressed.” The dictionary goes on to say an idol may be a figment of the imagination, or any person or thing regarded with blind devotion. We often think about a thing in relation to idolatry, such as the Baals in the Old Testament or the kachinas of the Native Americans. But idolatry can also exist in the mind.  In the classic theological work  The Knowledge of the Holy,  A.W. Tozer wrote, “The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of him. It begins in the mind and may be present where no overt act of worship has taken place.”   We see this played out in Romans 1, where Paul...