Dominican Call to Address Idolatry in Its Many Forms
S. Brenda Walsh, OP

Down through the ages, Dominicans have called the Members and others to examine the idols of our times and replace them with God's power. Each age has its own idols to address, remove and replace.

Recently I read an interesting article in Ministry Magazine for July 2007 that speaks to this topic, written by Carol M. Noren, PhD, Wesley W. Nelson Professor of Homiletics, North Park Theological Seminary, Chicago. She points out how we are called to God's service and how God's message is entrusted to us. Often unconsciously idolatry creeps into our lives and our service. People in leadership may often be tempted in this direction.We commit idolatry when we aim at pleasing humans rather than God, and we may hunger for applause and approval of those entrusted to our care rather than the approval of the One in whose Name we are sent. Perhaps it keeps us from speaking the truth to ourselves and those we serve. We may fail to speak a prophetic word or take a prophetic stand in case it would displease people. We commit idolatry when we evaluate our work in terms of success rather than faithfulness.

We are invited to take time to examine our own lives and relationships, to discover the idolatry within and rediscover the grace and power of Christ at work in us. When we start with ourselves,

• We are in a better position to name the idols in our culture, our nation and world. We need to name the systems and structure that dehumanize, starting with our own institutions and organizations. Beyond naming, we need the moral courage to put people before acquiring and possessing and begin relating to one another as brother and sister, not as Black or Brown, Yellow or White, rich and poor, educated and ignorant. Then we will have the motivation to work for peace and dignity for all.
  
• We need to name the violence we have institutionalized as a way of getting ahead and holding on to power in local, national or international situations.
  
• We need to redirect the trillions spent on armaments toward education, healthcare, job creation and other human needs. By continuing the arms race, we are adding to the world's violence. 

This will require a change of conciousness, a giving up of the idols we have long held and lived by and start to promote God's design, God's dream for our world.We need to get in touch with the real truth about ourselves and those around us and from there create systems and structures that suspport human life in all its forms.

When we reclaim our spiritual resources, we will have the moral courage to bring about needed change. It is a journey worth starting. Let us begin today courageously.

(Quotes from Ministry Magazine are used with permission - July 2007.)