Idolatry – Men create their gods
Imagine an EMPIRE – like the powerful GREECE of Alexander the Great.
- The number of Greek gods may be more than 3000, with 1-4 dozen main gods including Zeus and other ‘family.’
For a humorous look at the idol gods: - visit this source about the god Hermes [pictured in NYC for this post] from godchecker.com Greek Mythology is a veritable blockbusting soap opera. What can Zeus possibly get up to next — and with whom? How will Hera take her next revenge? Where will Aphrodite discard her nightie? Who has been barred from Olympus lately — and why? When is the next big punch-up? And will Hermes be sued for selling counterfeit sheep?
Imagine an EMPIRE – like the powerful ROME of the Caesars.
- The multitudes of Roman gods include Jupiter as head of a dozen deities similar to several gods and goddesses of Greek mythology plus ancient gods and goddesses of captive cultures inclusively embraced in exchange for a Pax Roma.
Julius Caesar was the first Roman leader to be called “god” and “savior,” which became dominant phrases in Roman Imperial theology.
The idea behind these lofty titles was that while the Roman Republic collapsed in the first century BC, Julius Caesar but mostly his son Caesar Augustus resurrected Rome from the dead.
Καισαρ Source for more interesting background – ABARIM Publications
Imagine a 21st century EMPIRE – like THE UNITED STATES or others.
Let Us Beat Swords Into Ploughshares is a bronze sculpture by artist Evgeniy Vuchetich (1908 ¬– 1974). Vuchetich was an esteemed Soviet sculptor and artist well-known for his heroic monuments.
It stands outside the U.N. Building in New York City, United States of America as another empire wield their swords once more to destroy the plowshares of their enemies. – RH
Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
– Joel 3:10-11 KJV
Micah 4:2 וְֽהָלְכוּ גּוֹיִם רַבִּים וְאָֽמְרוּ לְכוּ וְנַעֲלֶה אֶל־הַר־יְהוָה וְאֶל־בֵּית אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב וְיוֹרֵנוּ מִדְּרָכָיו וְנֵלְכָה בְּאֹֽרְחֹתָיו כִּי מִצִּיּוֹן תֵּצֵא תוֹרָה וּדְבַר־יְהוָה מִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃
And he [the LORD] shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. – Micah 4:3 KJV
Idolatry – Quick U-turns by Men claiming gods
So you say that idolatry such as that Paul and Barnabas encountered in Lystra over two millennia ago no longer exists.
Look a bit closer, you who have thus far survived 21st century multitudes of celebrity leader gods and goddesses who wield the swords of godless tongues and imagery of gods against the crowds they would overcome.
~48 AD
Acts of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas continued
“The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and was wanting to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
The Statue of Zeus 41 feet tall made by the Greek sculptor Phidias around 435 BC at the sanctuary of Olympia, Greece, Temple of Zeus, the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion.
![The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was a giant seated figure, about 12.4 m (41 ft) tall,[1] made by the Greek sculptor Phidias around 435 BC at the sanctuary of Olympia, Greece, and erected in the Temple of Zeus there. Zeus is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion](https://talkofjesus.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Le_Jupiter_Olympien_ou_lart_de_la_sculpture_antique-237x300.jpg)
But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out and saying,
“Men, why are you doing these things?
We are also men of the same nature as you, proclaiming the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM who in the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways;
and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”
WHAT has just happened?
Two Jewish travelers walk into a Lycaonian town in the mountains of Greece where most men are probably not educated philosophers, priests or Roman officials who know something of the Hebrews and their religion which holds to only ONE GOD, an inconceivable concept to pagans led to worship stone idols in grand temples built long ago in their town.
BUT, these two men perform a miracle which most certainly must be a sign from a MOST Powerful God of Heaven — to them, ZEUS.
Is this ZEUS IN PERSON?
IS THIS MAN in our midst a savior to be worshiped? (For he has done the impossible and we witnessed it.) We’ll go get this god’s priest from his temple at the gate of our city Lystra AND prepare a great sacrifice in honor of these two gods with us, Zeus and Hermes.
THEN these two strangers tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude and gods don’t stoop down to such things even IF they have come among us to have a mortal man stand.
SO these men who tricked us into thinking they were the gods Zeus and Hermes have told us to turn from OUR gods to their GOD.
And saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.
Acts of the Apostles Paul and Barnabas in Lystra 14:18
To be continued...
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