Propensity towards a deforming spirituality-by Abraham Sudeep Oommen

Text: Exodus 32:1-6

‘Hijacking’ is a familiar term for many of us. It means seizing the control of a person or an object for an undesired function. The confiscation of Indian Airlines in Kathmandu in Dec 24, 1999 and the air bus in 09/11 has made this term a more familiar. Interestingly this word has not often used for the last decade. But for the last one month, this term, in another sense, has become a topic of discussion in Kerala. A catholic magazine of this month labeled one of its articles as ‘Hijacking the Christ’. The vanishing of Christ’s face  from the Da Vinci’s last supper and the appearance of Christ’s picture  in a so called traditional atheist political party meeting may have influenced  the author to work on this title. But this incident should make us to think whether we, as Christians, have hijacked Jesus Christ. Are we following the person and work of Jesus who lived in the first century Palestine? Are we following the ethical values upheld by Jesus? One of the portraits in the quarters of my theology professor reads like this “O God, save us from your followers”. I think this thought has originated from the hearts of a person who feel Christians as the hijackers of Christ.

The passage also depicts the hijacking of YHWH by the people of Israel. The passage begins with a confusion of the people of Israel due to the absence of Moses. The people were ashamed and impatient on the non-responsiveness from the Mount Sinai. As a result they approached Aaron and asked to make a god for themselves. I believe that the expression ‘make us a God who can lead us through the wilderness’ is one of the hardest phrases in the entire scripture. They didn’t search for a God who revealed in their pains and pathos in Egyptian bondage, but tried to construct a god who is adaptable with their needs. They are not asking for a god who lead them through the wilderness but for a god whom they can handle.

There may be many reasons that made Israelites to demand the need of a constructed god. The life in Egypt was a static one which is contrary to the exodus journey which involves dynamic events like red sea, desert, Marah, wars and so on. They may be fed up with the adventurous journey through the desert which awards these unexpected events to them. They failed to see the works and providence of YHWH in their risky journeys. The transition in the social status of the people may have also compelled them to demand for a ‘god with handles’. The shift from cucumber to manna, from bondage to freedom has made them to think for an alternate God. May be the need for a symbol or an icon has made them for demand for a God. Unlike Israelites, the other people had many cultic symbols to denote their success, fertility. So it may be a need of the people to get a cultic symbol like that.

Whatever may be the reason; we too believe and like to see this passage as the fault and flaw of the people of Israel. But often we forget or caused to make forget that all these incidents happened by the orders of Aaron, the priest. The priestly presence which is often considered as holy and serene had made the people to move and accept a deforming spirituality.  

When Aaron heard the need of the people he asked them to collect the gold rings from their wives and children and he fashioned it in to a calf which is the symbol of success and victory in those times. He made an altar for its worship and announced a celebration. A faith affirmation, “These are your gods, O Israel who brought you up out of the land of Egypt” was formulated.  Sacrifices were offered to the god. Feast and festivals were started.  Aaron who was called to be the ‘tongue of YHWH’ has now become a ‘God maker’. The priest par excellence has now become a compromising person.

Similar voices can also be heard in the present day society. Many people in our times demand for a success oriented, safety oriented spirituality which are often selfish motivated. Many of them want a God which can be handled easily. In this context, we can see leaders and priests who make god for selfish interests. Similar to this passage we too can hear the interesting songs and interpretations of such people who try to manipulate God for their vested interests. These ‘god-makers’ like the king-makers, are the agents of a deforming spirituality. Kosuke Koyama, the well known third world theologian,  in his book, No handle on the cross, explains the difference between technology and theology: “ The basic difference with the technology and theology is that the former gives us both an engine and a handle, where as the latter has an engine but no handle. Theology does not aim to control the power of God. The theology that puts a handle to the power of God is no longer a theology but a demonical theological ideology.” The priests and leaders are called not to mould God but to mould the life of people and drew them to more and more commitment towards God

The result of this inclination in spirituality by the priest is well depicted in the passage. Unlike the preceding chapters, Aaron is never called to meet YHWH along with Moses. His office, as a priest was cut down to conduct some ritualistic cultic practices. The people of God too are affected with this attitude.  Instead of addressing the people with the usual phrase “my people”, YHWH addresses them as the corrupted people and the stiff-necked people. Moses breaks the two stone tablets which hold the commandments.  There is no need of a commandment for those who never had a commitment to YHWH. Moreover Moses asks them to fought within the community and kill their own brothers and sisters. It symbolizes the destruction of a community in the absence of a God. Furthermore YHWH sends plague on the people. In short,  every attempt to manipulate God disturbs the relation with God, nature and with the fellow human beings.

The priests are called to be the ‘bridge makers’, the ministers of the word and the sacraments. Are we considering these duties seriously? Rev.Dr.S.Jaganathan, professor of the department of Old Testament in Gurukul Lutheran Theological college, Chennai,  wrote in a devotion that Terrorism and violence need not come with political rebels; it can come from altars and pulpits with a sacred coating, it is more violent when it is oriented towards a systematic marginalization of the helpless”. Does the voices from the altars and perpetuates selfishness and success and comfort oriented spirituality? May our almighty God help us to be effective ministers in the society.