In my search engine's copilot, a number of interesting quotes were generated in association with this topic:
State worship, often referred to as "statolatry," is the veneration of the state or government, sometimes equating it to a form of idolatry, where the state is seen as the ultimate authority and object of loyalty.
State worship is closely related to king-worship, where the ruler is seen as the embodiment of the state. This relationship fosters a sense of unity among the populace, binding them to the ruler through a shared identity and loyalty. In such contexts, the achievements of the ruler are celebrated as collective victories, reinforcing the idea that the state's glory is synonymous with the people's glory.
The implications of state worship can be profound, leading to a culture where dissent is discouraged, and loyalty to the state is paramount. This can create an environment where critical thinking and individual rights are undermined in favor of collective identity and obedience to authority. In summary, state worship or statolatry represents a complex interplay between individual identity and collective loyalty to the state, often with significant historical and political ramifications. Understanding this concept is crucial for analyzing the dynamics of power and authority in various political systems.
-Bing Copilot
Now, those are helpful in defining the parameters of our subject, but what about "statolatry" as a recurring biblical theme? Think In Christ has an excellent article entitled Modern King-worship and State-worship. In that article, we read: Since immemorable past, man has been worshipping “super”-man: kings, warriors, sages, and anyone extraordinary. King-worship can be found in almost every ancient civilization, from Egypt’s Pharaoh, Babylon’s Nebuchadnezzar, Greek’s Alexander, Rome’s Augustus, to the Son of Heaven in China. Naturally the king is the most powerful man in the nation, and king-worship is always power-worship. Man worships the king not because the king has power, as many people have power, but because the king’s power is despotic and overwhelming, both of which makes him to bear a resemblance of divinity. The king is the lord, he looks like a god, and he claims a divinity.
The article continues: The king-worship is also connected to state-worship or nation-worship. The king is the glory of the nation, as Alexander gloried the Greek, and Augustus glorified the Romans. The king is the personification of the state, as a result of the fact that the people identify with the object they worship. Through state-worship, the king-worship binds the people together and binds the people to the king through a mystic religious union. The people are part of the sacredness epitomized by the king. They would not allow their king to be dishonored because they would not tolerate themselves be dishonored. They would celebrate the achievement of the king because they consider themselves as participating in this achievement. King-worship is the foundation of national solidarity, the sinew of social coherence, and the convergence of personal inspiration. People celebrate despotism and enjoy despotism, for a reason that is deep in human heart.
Indeed, from the Garden of Eden and the Tower of Babel to the Beast of Revelation, we see this as the most prominent form of idolatry mentioned in the collection of writings we refer to as "The Bible." Moreover, it wasn't just the Egyptians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans who were afflicted with this phenomenon. We can also see it in the history of the development of the nations of Judah and Israel.
At the end of the era of the judges, we read: Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.” Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.” So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king. “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. Some will be generals and captains in his army,[a] some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.” But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.” (I Samuel 8:4-20, NLT)
Notice that, even after Samuel had warned them about the manner in which human kings rule over their subjects, the leaders of the children of Israel still wanted to be like the nations around them! He told them that the king would conscript them into his army and confiscate a large part of their resources to support his projects and wars. Nevertheless, the impulse to have a king like the heathen nations which surrounded them was strong - irresistible in fact!
Later, the children of Israel were themselves overwhelmed by yet another powerful manifestation of the phenomenon of statolatry - the Babylonian Empire of King Nebuchadnezzar. Indeed, we learn in the book of Daniel that this manifestation of statolatry would serve as the symbol of all subsequent manifestations of the phenomenon - Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon would be the "head of gold" on the image which represented all of the subsequent kings and empires prophesied to rule on the earth. Moreover, the imagery of Babylon would be employed in the final book of the New Testament - the Apocalypse or Revelation of John of Patmos!
We read there: Then I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. It had seven heads and ten horns, with ten crowns on its horns. And written on each head were names that blasphemed God. This beast looked like a leopard, but it had the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion! And the dragon gave the beast his own power and throne and great authority. I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery—but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marveled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast. They worshiped the dragon for giving the beast such power, and they also worshiped the beast. “Who is as great as the beast?” they exclaimed. “Who is able to fight against him?” (Revelation 13:1-4, NLT) Continuing there: Then I saw another beast come up out of the earth. He had two horns like those of a lamb, but he spoke with the voice of a dragon. He exercised all the authority of the first beast. And he required all the earth and its people to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. He did astounding miracles, even making fire flash down to earth from the sky while everyone was watching. And with all the miracles he was allowed to perform on behalf of the first beast, he deceived all the people who belong to this world. He ordered the people to make a great statue of the first beast, who was fatally wounded and then came back to life. He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die. (Revelation 13:11-15, NLT)
Later, in the same book, we read: One of the seven angels who had poured out the seven bowls came over and spoke to me. “Come with me,” he said, “and I will show you the judgment that is going to come on the great prostitute, who rules over many waters. The kings of the world have committed adultery with her, and the people who belong to this world have been made drunk by the wine of her immorality.” So the angel took me in the Spirit[a] into the wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns, and blasphemies against God were written all over it. The woman wore purple and scarlet clothing and beautiful jewelry made of gold and precious gems and pearls. In her hand she held a gold goblet full of obscenities and the impurities of her immorality. A mysterious name was written on her forehead: “Babylon the Great, Mother of All Prostitutes and Obscenities in the World.” I could see that she was drunk—drunk with the blood of God’s holy people who were witnesses for Jesus. I stared at her in complete amazement. (Revelation 17:1-6, NLT)
Now, while John was clearly referring to Rome and its empire, the language of statolatry in these passages is clear. The state is supreme. The state is worshipped. The state has enough military power that no one dares to challenge it - "Who is able to fight against him?" Is this phenomenon dead? Did it disappear in the First Century or with the fall of Rome? Can you think of any modern nations of which we could employ similar kinds of language? Are there any modern nations where the sacrifice of one's life for the sake of the nation is glorified? Are there any modern nations which glory in their military might, wealth, and power? In short, is statolatry still something which afflicts human governance?
Jesus Christ preached about a different kind of kingdom and kingship. He preached about servant leadership and government that served the needs of its citizens. He preached about humility and peace. He spoke about love, cooperation, mercy, healing, forgiveness, and kindness. Are those qualities exemplified by any nation extant on the surface of the earth today? Is it possible that this is something that we might want to give a little bit more of our attention to? What do you think?
