Crisis ConvertedSample

Theme: Idolatry

Crisis Converted Then:

Again the prophet turns his satire towards man-made idols. Hebrew poetry is built upon repetition. In reading, it can be easy to move quickly through a repeated concept. Yet, the prophet is often adding or accentuating something different in the repetition. In this text, for example, the prophet draws attention to the impotence of an idol. An idol must be carried and then set down. It is incapable of moving on its own. 

Crisis Converted Now:

The imagery of the idols in this passage could also be used to describe our relationship with our cell phones. We enter a store loaded with displays of little idol phones sitting around everywhere. We take a little gold (money) out of our pocket to pay a craftsman to put in the right sim card and bring it to life. Then we carry it around in our pockets until we set it down. Wherever we set it down, it can’t move (unless it vibrates off the table). Despite it’s impotence, it always carries our attention. Yes, it might respond when we call out to it, “Hey Siri,” or “Alexa,” but it still can’t save us. Take time today to evaluate your relationship with your cell phone.