Modern Idols

Living among nonbelievers can be stressful and confusing. Our way of life as Christians does not have the same priorities as the world. While the world encourages living by ‘our own’ rules, the Church teaches to live another way. The way of Christ is strange and uncomfortable for the world. It is our daily cross to live among unbelievers while not being influenced by their way of life.

Today’s reading from Ephesians is a timely reminder of this struggle.  It is also a comfort knowing the ancient Christians struggled in the same way we struggle. Even the threat of martyrdom, albeit social rather than physical in contemporary America, follows our refusal to celebrate their idols.

Brethren, this I affirm and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart; they have become callous and have given themselves up to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of uncleanness. You did not so learn Christ! – assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus. Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth.

Ephesians 4.17-25

Today is the commemoration of Saints Sergius and Bacchus. These two faithful men were elite soldiers of the Roman Empire when they were discovered as Christians. They were tortured and eventually died the death of martyrs. They died merely because they refused to celebrate the idols of their day. Sound familiar?

We are faced daily with the choice to celebrate the modern idols or face social martyrdom. Unfortunately, we have become numb to the dangers that surround us. Many argue there is no danger in allowing others to live as they live. This is true until it means endorsing their idols and having their idols taught to our children.

Enter any public school classroom, or even many private schools, today. You will hear moral precepts in direct conflict with our Christian way of life. The recent fad of transgenderism and sexuality is just another idol placed in society to distract people from God. As Christians we are accused of hate ‘just because’ we disagree. This sounds strikingly familiar to what Saints Sergius and Bacchus had to deal with.

Modern idols are limited to transgenderism and sexuality. This is just ‘today’s’ idols. It unfortunately consumes our society. What was yesterday’s stigma is today’s honor. Tomorrow will bring another idol and another shame. What will always remain the same is Christ.

So, we return to Saint Paul’s challenge today. Stop living like the unbelievers. The way of the world is dark and isolated. The way of the Church is light and communion. We can’t leave the world. That has been tried before. The only cure is for us to come together as the Church as often as possible. When we are together, we strengthen each other’s will to survive.

The town in which Saint Sergius was buried after his martyrdom was eventually renamed in his honor. So many faithful came to honor his faith in Christ. Now it is our turn to stand up to the modern idols and choose Christ. We may find ourselves outcasts, but at least we will be together in Christ.