Why Is Idolatry Forbidden?

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"everyone worships — everyone has a god."
- a friend

I am concerned about how worship is commonly defined. Worship is often defined as “our response to what God has done” or something to that effect. Worship is not primarily a response. It is a participation. Worship does not take place if it originates in us, even if the act is a response to what we know about God. I know that most Christians would agree with what I am saying, but the language we use when speaking of worship indicates what our thoughts are about the subject.

Having drilled that point, I'd like to say something about worship as participation (reception and offering) as it relates to idolatry.

Might the prohibition against worshiping idols be connected to the fact that worship involves as much receiving (actually more) as it does giving? Worship is participation in the life of the Trinity and depends on our inclusion via the Incarnation. When we worship, we are receiving from God. Worship enables all of life to be lived, that is, to be a man fully alive, which is the glory of God, to paraphrase St. Irenaeus.

Therefore, if one worships an idol, then that one does not receive anything, because idols cannot see, hear, speak, act. An idol is not really real or truly true. An idol does not exist independently from the worshiper. Is it going to far to say that idolatry is staring into the abyss and attempting to invest it with meaning? "When you stare at the abyss, the abyss stares back at you" (Nietzsche). Staring into nothingness is the way to confusion, frustration and, finally, insanity.

When one worships in the Logos, the only true rationality and logic, then one is enabled to think true thoughts. It is possible for revelation to be received. When one worships an idol, that is, something invested with meaning by himself, then a type of circular reasoning incurs within a closed system. There is no connection with something outside the worshiper. The result is the stifling of life - a frustrated ability to meaningfully observe, ask questions, come to conclusions, know metaphysical truth, apply scientific knowledge.

Risen

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"He is not here, but is risen." (Luke 24:6)
All our hopes are vindicated.

Life from death.
Victory from defeat.
Holiness from the abyss.

Hallelujah.

Light

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Corruption.
Fallenness.
Evil.
Death.

Healed.
Transformed.
Displaced.
Overthrown.

"The light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." (John 1:5)

Prostrate

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I cannot sink myself deeply enough into the dust before the Holy Cross.

Stripped

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The place of gift and sacrifice. The place of despair and hope. Tonight, the place is only severe.

The Ochlophobist on Suffering

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"I think the new atheists are largely right with regard to the group psychosis and delusion surrounding popular Christianities. Any Christianity that has an answer for human suffering, or has a program to "deal" with human suffering, is worse than worthless. If that is Christianity, the ochlocrats can have it - then give me Nietzsche, give me Cioran, give me a bottle of Cutty Sark that will not end until I lay in the insatiable dirt.

"There is no answer to human suffering. There is no program which will end or substantially mitigate the inevitability of human suffering. Even in our decadent age of program after gratuitous program people find themselves immersed in hurt, loneliness, depression, woundedness - the course of a human life often enough brutal and unrelentingly harsh for many, even with our happy pills and TVs and internet relating and other forms of technocratic sedative. There is only, with regard to human suffering, a consummate Image, before which it is right to bow down and worship."

Go read. And pray for Gus.

Thanks, O.

The Novels of Charles Williams

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Here's a link to downloadable versions of Charles Williams's novels.

Wikipedia entry for Charles Williams

An essay on his novels

He was influential on CS Lewis and many others. If had a few minutes more right now I would say more. Go read.

Ron Paul - "What If ... ?"

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Either/Or

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Coke or Pepsi?
Vanilla Malt

Democrat or Republican?
No

Protestant or Catholic?
Anglican with Orthodox sympathies

Beatles or Stones?
Creedence

Blue State or Red State?
Anti-State

Calvinist or Arminian?
Social Trinitarian Theo-comic bound by the 3 Creeds and 7 Councils

Fox News or CNN?
Lew Rockwell

Spiritual or religious?
“This I tell you, brother: you can’t have one without the other.”

Vanilla or Chocolate?
Coffee

Coffee or Tea?
Beer

Liberal or Conservative?
Sometimes Classically Liberal, Sometimes Paleo-Conservative, Sometimes Neither

NY or LA?
Austin

North or South?
South

Chesterton on Our Ills

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"Now this same primary panic that I feel in our rush towards patriotic armaments, I feel also in our rush towards future visions of society."

- GK Chesterton, "What's Wrong With the World" Part 1 Chapter 4

Resource Request for Romans Study

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I am writing to request recommendations for a study of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans. The sources can be anything: commentaries, books, articles, et al.

My church has just started a weekly study of Romans that will last four months. I would like to use this occasion to do an intensive study on my own, as well.

I am especially interested in Patristic sources, as well as other Orthodox, Catholic and Anglican writers, but I will seriously consider any recommendations.

Am I in Austin?

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Some very un-Austin-y things are coming to Austin in the next month:

1. Bruce Springsteen

2. Motocross

3. Jerry Seinfeld

4. Harlem Globetrotters

5. Monster Trucks

Do Not Ignore the Parallels

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"The Beloved Leader" is a long-standing tradition. One that we honor at our peril.

Did you know that there is a Joint Resolution before the House that would repeal the 22nd Amendment which limits presidents to 2 terms? Here it is. It was introduced on Jan. 6. Here's a brief article about it.

HT: lutherpunk

Albert Jay Nock on the State

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The following was written in 1939.

"The weaker the State is, the less power it has to commit crime. Where in Europe today does the State have the best criminal record? Where it is weakest: in Switzerland, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Sweden, Monaco, Andorra. Yet when the Dutch State, for instance, was strong, its criminality was appalling; in Java it massacred 9,000 persons in one morning which is considerably ahead of Hitler's record or Stalin's. It would not do the like today, for it could not; the Dutch people do not give it that much power, and would not stand for such conduct. When the Swedish State was a great empire, its record, say from 1660 to 1670, was fearful. What does all this mean but that if you do not want the State to act like a criminal, you must disarm it as you would a criminal; you must keep it weak. The State will always be criminal in proportion to its strength; a weak State will always be as criminal as it can be, or dare be, but if it is kept down to the proper limit of weakness – which, by the way, is a vast deal lower limit than people are led to believe – its criminality may be safely got on with.

"So it strikes me that instead of sweating blood over the iniquity of foreign States, my fellow-citizens would do a great deal better by themselves to make sure that the American State is not strong enough to carry out the like iniquities here. The stronger the American State is allowed to grow, the higher its record of criminality will grow, according to its opportunities and temptations. If, then, instead of devoting energy, time, and money to warding off wholly imaginary and fanciful dangers from criminals thousands of miles away, our people turn their patriotic fervor loose on the only source from which danger can proceed, they will be doing their full duty by their country."

- Albert Jay Nock "The Criminality of the State"

Read it all.

The Heart and the Mind Are One

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A person’s failure to recognize the beauty of the life of the mind, either by neglect, inability, prejudice or faulty instruction, does not justify that person denigrating or dismissing intellectual pursuit.

The heart and mind are not two things, but one. What moves our mind moves our heart. When our heart is moved without any clear perception by the mind, however simple that perception may be, our heart is often moved by the wrong things and in the wrong ways.

Listen to Flannery O'Connor

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You're in for a real treat.

Follow the following links to download one lecture by Flannery O'Connor and one file of her reading one of her stories.

"Some Aspects of the Grotesque in Southern Literature"

"A Good Man Is Hard to Find"

HT: The Morning Oil by way of AEL by way of Faith and Theology.

Thanks to all for this wonderful material.

St. Anthony Thinks That I Am Crazy

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I've been looking through some old journals and found this little quip:

"A time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying, 'You are mad, you are not like us.'"

- St. Anthony of the Desert

(found in Henri Nouwen's "Way of the Heart" p24)

It is interesting that you could read that quote to just about anyone who believes anything with some level of conviction, and that person would nod his head. We are experts at sound-biting ourselves into a self-affirmation that is fortified against the assault of truth.

What I want to know is what madness St. Anthony would diagnose in me.

Merry Christmas 2008

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Christ is born.

Sin's reign is over.

Death is on the run.

We rejoice in the Word made flesh, dwelling among us.

The Right Perspective on Everything

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"What stops a man who can laugh from telling the truth?"

- Horace

Soldiering On

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Lord of Heaven's Armies,

Open to us the gates of righteousness,
teach our hands to fight,
grant us the courage to face any enemy.

We will be indefatigable,
indestructible,
faithful unto death.

We will win the fight of faith,
gather the spoils of the victory of the resurrection
and stand with you on the Day of Judgment.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Thanksgiving 2008

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A few things that I am thankful for today from the past year that relate to my faltering attempts to live a thoughtful life:

I have learned more about myself, and that is better for those around me.

I have learned more about the way the world works and gained some knowledge about how it might work more beneficially for its inhabitants.

My thinking has been challenged, which is good for strengthening what is right and correcting what is wrong.

I thank God for these things.

Doug Bandow on American Defense

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I heard Doug Bandow at an Acton Institute conference in '03 or '04. He's a Libertarian writer who knows much about globalization. He recently wrote an excellent article on what America's priorities should be when it comes to our military and defense.

"The conservative movement isn’t dead, but its wounds are serious. To revive, the Right needs to offer a genuine alternative to the traditional liberalism likely to dominate policy in the Obama administration. No where is that more necessary than in foreign affairs. Let President Barack Obama propose sacrificing American lives and money to reform the world. Let conservatives insist that Washington defend America rather than populous and prosperous allies and favor the protection of American liberties over the dream of global social engineering. That is a political battle the Right would win."

Read the rest of "The New Welfare State" by Doug Bandow.

I have added Doug Bandow's site to the Libertarian Links page.

Radiance

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Father of lights,

as the light shines in darkness and is not overcome,

so illuminate our dark hearts

that we both know ourselves and your goodness.

Deliver us from evil within and without

through your Son Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Amen.

"Conquering kings their titles take
From the foes they captive make;
Jesus, by a nobler deed,
From the thousands he hath freed."

- Nevers Breviary, 1727
(#324 verse 1, 1940 Episcopal Hymnal)

Obama's Cabinet = Legion of Doom

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With all the concerns about Pres-Elect Obama and the people he is tapping for Cabinet positions, I have dubbed the Obama Administation the "Legion of Doom."

You heard it here first. If a talking head or radio voice uses the nickname, remember the source.

21st Century Boy

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He’s quick with a tear,
A hug, shrug and smile.
A man, maybe not,
But he’ll do for a while.

He’s clearly in touch
With his feminine side.
Too bad he’s forgotten
What a man should provide.

The quivering lip,
Un-taciturn glance.
Behold him, dear ladies -
The sensitive man.

How the Heller Case Happened

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DC v. Heller was a landmark Second Amendment case. Read Brian Doherty's explanation of how this case happened.

"In retrospect, D.C. v. Heller seems almost inevitable, because of shifting public and academic attitudes toward gun rights. But victory came only after a protracted struggle, with many pitfalls along the way. It was pulled off by a small gang of philosophically dedicated lawyers — not “gun nuts” in any stereotypical sense, but thoughtful libertarians who believe Second Amendment liberties are a vital part of our free republic. Together they consciously crafted a solid, clean civil rights case to overturn the most onerous and restrictive set of gun regulations in the country. In the process, they set the stage for further legal challenges to other firearms restrictions from coast to coast."

I guess I've never posted anything Second Amendment-related on axegrinder. I've been interested in the Second Amendment for a few years. I will probably offer some more thoughts and links in the future. I will say that the Second Amendment's importance extends way beyond hunting, sport shooting and self-defense on an individual level (although it includes all those things). The Second Amendment promotes a principle that is essential to the character, health and survival of the United States as a republic that is founded in respect for personal liberty. This principle can and should be valued by all people, regardless of where they fall on the political spectrum.

The Good Fight

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Lord of Hosts,

give us the strength to fight


evil in the sunshine and under the clouds,

self-aggrandizement,

and the temptation to make everything a fight.


In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Amen.

Putting God Out of Reach

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I am involved in a study on Wednesday nights at my church. It has been profitable. I like the people in my class. I do not care for the material we are using.

The text focuses on knowing God and working with him to accomplish his will. One of the biggest failings of the book is that all the stories that are told to illustrate the lessons of the book have to do with church work in some direct way: vacation Bible schools, missionary work, starting a Bible study, a church meeting its financial needs, etc.

The study is supposed to help the layperson walk closely with God in his day-to-day life. However, all the stories in the book are about church, where 99% of the people using the book do not spend the majority of their time. If there are no testimonies about God's presence and leading that occur outside the direct context of a church, what is that saying to those of us who are not clergy?

I know the authors of the book believe that God is present with and works through all his people. I am afraid that they are leaving an impression on people that God is not all that interested in their vocation, unless they are clergy.

Fr. Thomas Hopko's 55 Maxims

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1. Be always with Christ and trust God in everything
2. Pray as you can, not as you think you must
3. Have a keepable rule of prayer done by discipline
4. Say the Lord’s Prayer several times each day
5. Repeat a short prayer when your mind is not occupied
6. Make some prostrations when you pray
7. Eat good foods in moderation and fast on fasting days
8. Practice silence, inner and outer
9. Sit in silence 20 to 30 minutes each day
10. Do acts of mercy in secret
11. Go to liturgical services regularly
12. Go to confession and holy communion regularly
13. Do not engage intrusive thoughts and feelings
14. Reveal all your thoughts and feelings to a trusted person regularly
15. Read the scriptures regularly
16. Read good books, a little at a time
17. Cultivate communion with the saints
18. Be an ordinary person, one of the human race
19. Be polite with everyone, first of all family members
20. Maintain cleanliness and order in your home
21. Have a healthy, wholesome hobby
22. Exercise regularly
23. Live a day, even a part of a day, at a time
24. Be totally honest, first of all with yourself
25. Be faithful in little things
26. Do your work, then forget it
27. Do the most difficult and painful things first
28. Face reality
29. Be grateful
30. Be cheerful
31. Be simple, hidden, quiet and small
32. Never bring attention to yourself
33. Listen when people talk to you
34. Be awake and attentive, fully present where you are
35. Think and talk about things no more than necessary
36. Speak simply, clearly, firmly, directly
37. Flee imagination, fantasy, analysis, figuring things out
38. Flee carnal, sexual things at their first appearance
39. Don’t complain, grumble, murmur or whine
40. Don’t seek or expect pity or praise
41. Don’t compare yourself with anyone
42. Don’t judge anyone for anything
43. Don’t try to convince anyone of anything
44. Don’t defend or justify yourself
45. Be defined and bound by God, not people
46. Accept criticism gracefully and test it carefully
47. Give advice only when asked or when it is your duty
48. Do nothing for people that they can and should do for themselves
49. Have a daily schedule of activities, avoiding whim and caprice
50. Be merciful with yourself and others
51. Have no expectations except to be fiercely tempted to your last breath
52. Focus exclusively on God and light, and never on darkness, temptation and sin
53. Endure the trial of yourself and your faults serenely, under God’s mercy
54. When you fall, get up immediately and start over
55. Get help when you need it, without fear or shame

HT: David Bryan and The Ochlophobist

Losing and Gaining

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Our Lord,


Take from us the things that would

harden our hearts to others,

blind our eyes to your goodness,

cripple our hands from working out our salvation.


Give us only those things that will

encourage sound thinking,

strengthen us in the midst of temptation,

make us an encouraging presence for others.


In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

Amen.