America’s Idol is Safety
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Recently on Coffee and Cigarettes, Jeremy talked about golden calves. During that podcast, he discussed his theory that the children of Israel did not erect a golden calf because they believed that the could produce an adequate substitute for Yahweh. Listen to that podcast for Jeremy’s excellent analysis. In this post, I am going to discuss my similar theory about their sin and how it relates to modern life.
The truth is that we don’t know why the children of Israel so quickly became disobedient. The Bible narrative talks about them getting impatient in waiting for Moses to return from the mountain. After that, there’s not much information given. So, we wade into the dangerous realm of speculation. Personally, I think the calf was comfortable for them. Like Jeremy, I don’t believe that they worshiped the calf and actually believed that it was the god who brought them out of Egypt. In Exodus 32:4, when the people say, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt,” it seems to me that it was either sarcastic or representational of Yahweh in their minds. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but I don’t see how any people (“primitive” or not) could think that something they just created could be the thing that rescued them before the thing even existed. Instead, I think they somehow felt comfortable with having an object of worship. Unfortunately, in this case, it seems like if it wasn’t the calf, it would have been Moses since they were so uneasy with his absence.
It has been asserted that modern technology is a god of sorts. Where would we be without our cell phones or facebook? Even sports has been accused in this argument. After all, we regularly stand and clap at these gladiators, and even have feasts in their honor. These things all pose as legitimate contenders for America’s idol, but I have a different observation to make. I think America’s most prominent idol/god is safety.
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The idol of safety is demanded by the people, just like the calf was urgently requested of Aaron. We clamor for our leaders in government to make us safe, even if that means making huge sacrifices. We have become so comfortable as a society that we believe that every accident that happens could have been prevented. Unfortunately, this often takes the shape of new legislation and trusting someone other than our creator and ourselves to keep us safe.
I believe that the push toward governmental-imposed safety is a reflection of our societal move away from trusting God. In the name of safety, homeless people have been arrested and ticketed for asking for money on the streets. In the name of safety, the CPSC has banned thousands of items from being sold. In the name of safety, they are now running very realistic terrorism drills in some schools. In the name of safety some Amish are having to go against their religion by posting big, vibrant signs on their buggies. In the name of safety, some people are told they can’t pass out free food to homeless people.
It is because of safety that several entire government departments exist. The departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security come to mind. As a human being, I obviously crave safety. But, as a Christian, I find myself having to work against that tendency to worry and wish that someone was responsible and accountable for my security. All of us need to make sure that we are not allowing the false sense of security that government offers be the thing that we look to for comfort.
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:25-33
About The Author
Ann Sattley
I am a stay-at-home mom of two wonderful boys. I am a Christian. My husband is a microbiologist. I have a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling. I grew up in rural southern Michigan with two wonderful parents and siblings. I survived a traumatic car accident when I was 20 years old. Somehow all of these things have melded together to make me one very unconventional mommy blogger. You can read more about my life and philosophies in my book, Technically, That's Illegal. I maintain a blog by the same name.
