A Playlist for the Ten Commandments – Pt. 9

What – you were expecting an Apis, perhaps?

“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol… You shall not worship them or serve them.” Exodus 20:3-5

In the chapter on the Second Word, the group in the coffee shop spend time discussing what exactly constitutes an “idol”, and then begin to ask what the major “American Idols” are. Someone suggests the economy – instead of a golden calf, we have the iconic bronze bull on Wall Street pictured above. If an idol represents a source of power beyond ourselves that we look to when we’re afraid, or in pain, or insecure, and to which we’re willing to make great sacrifices in order to ensure its continued blessing (or, at least, diversion from our pain), then perhaps “The Economy” is a strong candidate for the American Idol.

As one character muses, “…part of the attraction of an idol is that we know they are not God. So we come up with something we are willing to give ourselves to as a means to deal with the pain, insecurity and fear that we live with, but which we think we can still control.” Whether that be alcohol, or drugs, or relationships, or sex, or a career, or a family, or [fill in yours here]. “We think they serve us, but eventually we end up serving them.”

So, what songs come to mind that tap into this understanding of what constitutes an idol? For the book, I chose a lyric from “Medicine Show” by Big Audio Dynamite:

“When all around you seems like hell, just one sip can make you well.”

Add your suggestion in the comments below, and click on one of the buttons to invite others to help make another stellar playlist. Last week’s is available on Spotify here: 3: do not blaspheme. Congrats to Courtney Christensen who scores a copy of TEN for her suggestion of Derek Webb’s “Rich Young Ruler.”