Three Dangerous Forms of Modern Idolatry

By: Brian G. Chilton, M.Div., Ph.D. | November 24, 2024

Idolatry is a dangerous and sinful problem for individuals. The act of idolatry places emphasis on a person, place, thing, or concept on the same or higher level than God. In many ways, as I have often said, idolatry is adultery against God. Just as adultery is the act of a spouse cheating on his or her marital partner, likewise, idolatry essentially cheats on God by placing something greater than Him.

The Word of God thoroughly warns against the sin of idolatry throughout its illustrious pages. The sin of idolatry made it into the Ten Commandments. When idolatry occurs, a person is consumed with whatever becomes the object of worship. And seeing that God is the source of goodness and love, anything other than God will wind up being a grave disappointment.

Aldous Huxley (1894-1963) was a British novelist and intellectual. He was a political commentator who was something of a modern-day prophet. Huxley’s fame came with this book A Brave New World. The British philosopher often warned of trends that could lead to potential dystopian societies.

Although Huxley was an agnostic, he warned about the potentials of three modern idolatries in his book The Perennial Philosophy. Huxley viewed these three modern idolatries as “a much more insidious and pernicious form of idolatry”[1] than many others. The three forms of idolatry that Huxley warns about are technological idolatry, political idolatry, and moral idolatry.

Technological Idolatry

Huxley describes technological idolatry as the belief “that redemption and liberation depend upon material objects—in this case gadgets.”[2] Such has been true for civilizations across the span of time. Wars have often been won by nations that had more sophisticated technology. For instance, nations with arrows defeated those fighting with sticks. Nations with bronze swords and shields defeated those without them. Those nations with guns defeated others with arrows, and so on.

With modernity, it is often assumed that technology will save humanity in various areas. For sure, technological advances have extended life expectancy by offering better healthcare. Nonetheless, idolatry comes when people place more value on their devices than God. The psalmist declares, “Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand firm” (Ps. 20:7–8, CSB).

Political Idolatry

Another form of modern idolatry is political idolatry. In this sense, people do not trust in gadgets as much as they do in organizations and political parties. Huxley states that political idolatry involves the belief that if the right kind of organization is ushered upon society, “and all their problems … will automatically disappear.”[3]

A similar problem plagued ancient Israel. Instead of trusting God, the nation relied on their political alliance with Egypt in 703–701 BC during Hezekiah’s revolt against Sennacherib.[4] Isaiah condemned Israel’s misplaced trust and said, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and depend on horses! They trust in the abundance of chariots and in the large numbers of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel, and they do not seek the Lord” (Isa. 31:1, CSB). This misplaced trust was later viewed as a lack of trust in God to defend and provide for His people.[5] Later, Hezekiah continued in his distrust of God by making an alliance with the Babylonians, which led to disaster.[6]

In the same way, we must ask ourselves if we have reached a point where we trust in our organizations, alliances, and parties more than God. That is not to say that we should not stand for what’s right. However, Hezekiah and his confrontation with the prophet Isaiah should remind us that ultimately our trust and reliance should be in God rather than political entities.

Moral Idolatry

Lastly, Huxley warns against moral idolatry. Moral idolatry can involve one’s reliance on one’s ethical ideals and interpretations of morality[7] rather than God and transcendent ethics. This can include a person’s reliance on their own ethical standards to give them hope, happiness, security, and significance.[8]

It could be argued that Job’s friends were guilty of moral idolatry since they trusted in their own interpretations rather than God. This could be one of the reasons why God did not accept their responses to Job.

Additionally, it could be said that many of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day were guilty of moral idolatry, as well. They trusted in their own interpretations of God’s Law rather than seeking the truth of God’s Word and trusting in the God Who gave the Law.

Likewise, many in today’s church are militantly divided into numerous denominations and focus on various styles of worship, to the point that other variants are seen as unChristlike or even heretical. At some point, we must ask ourselves if such a devotion to denominationalism may, in some part, make us guilty of moral idolatry.

Conclusion

We have only scratched the surface of potential applications of these three modern forms of idolatry. While Aldous Huxley spotted these three, I am sure that many more exist if we thought through the issues. In the end, idolatry is adultery against God. Any time anything—whether it’s a concept, faction, organization, ethical interpretation, or technological device—is held in higher esteem than the God of creation, then the practitioner is guilty of idolatry. May we all place our full devotion and trust in the God of creation. Because it is only in Him that we ultimately find our meaning, purpose, and value.

About the Author

Brian G. Chilton is the founder of Bellator Christi Ministries and the co-host of the Bellator Christi Podcast. Dr. Chilton earned a Ph.D. in the Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University (with high distinction), a M.Div. in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his B.S. in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); earned a Certificate in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, and completed Unit 1 of Clinical Pastoral Education at Wake Forest University’s School of Medicine. Dr. Chilton is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society.

In his spare time, he enjoys reading, working out in his home gym, and watching football. Brian has served in pastoral ministry for over 20 years, works as a clinical hospice chaplain, is an Adjunct Professor of Apologetics at Carolina College of Biblical Studies (https://www.CCBS.edu), and serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Acquisitions for Illative House Press (https://illativehousepress.com).

https://www.amazon.com/Laymans-Manual-Christian-Apologetics-Essentials/dp/1532697104 

https://www.amazon.com/Conversations-about-Heaven-Difficult-Questions/dp/1666762687

Notes

[1] Aldous Huxley, The Perennial Philosophy (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1945), 2; Daniel J. Sullivan, An Introduction to Philosophy: Perennial Principles of the Classical Realist Tradition (Charlotte, NC: TAN, 2012), 182.

[2] Huxley, The Perennial Philosophy, 2 [sic].

[3] Huxley, The Perennial Philosophy, 2.

[4] Wilf Hildebrant, An Old Testament Theology of the Spirit of God (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2019), 80.

[5] Leon Mauldin, “Trusting in Gods that Cannot Save,” in Living in Captivity: God’s People in a Time of Crisis, Daniel W. Petty, ed, Florida College Annual Lectures (Temple Terrace, FL: Florida College Press, 2010), 89.

[6] Samuel J. Schultz and Gary V. Smith, Exploring the Old Testament (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2001), 167.

[7] Huxley, The Perennial Philosophy, 2.

[8] M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893), 342–343.