Do we believe in the God of Jesus?

Abstract

Faith in God may seem obvious, but it’s anything but simple. What has happened many times throughout history and continues to happen today is that people think they are serving the God revealed in Jesus, but are actually serving a false image of him. This text therefore aims to reflect on the serious sin of idolatry that continues to plague Christian communities. The article analyzes the problem of idolatry as a great challenge to faith, reflecting on atheism and idolatry, treating the latter as a reality that reveals the conflict between different images of God, not between religions. It then presents some fundamental traits of God revealed in Jesus: his partiality for the poor, his mercy, and his incompatibility with wealth. Finally, it addresses the idolatry present in communities of faith today, how it is a silent and “religious” sin, and how only with an authentic return to Jesus can it be overcome.

KEYWORDS: Faith. God. Idolatry. Jesus of Nazareth. Kingdom of God.