BULWARK AGAINST POLITICAL IDOLATRY

You and I are susceptible to idolatry. We easily make idols of everything--money, fame, sex, celebrity. Politics provides fertile material for idol-making. Sometimes our idols are made of the parties that emobody our political ideals. At other times, we make idols of the candidates and politicians that reflect our political convictions. The lack of a sound theology of church and state often leads to this sin among Christians. In my doctoral dissertation, I examine how the absence of a theology of church and state among American Evangelical pastors creates space where political idolatry can take root. While this study is focused on one subset of Christians, it really applies to all Christians. And while my target readers are pastors, local church lay leaders, and ministry executives, everyone can benefit from this examination of a widspread problem.