We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry

A summary and reflection on the book by G. K. Beale

Have you ever noticed how people can begin to reflect the things they care about most? I hadn’t thought much about this until I was preparing for a Bible study camp on the book of Revelation. As I studied, I noticed a powerful theme—those who worshipped the beast were becoming beastly, while those who followed Christ were growing more like Him. G. K. Beale’s commentary opened my eyes to this pattern, and I soon discovered he had written an entire book on the subject: We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry. Over the past month, I’ve had the opportunity to read it.

Beale’s Main Thesis

At the heart of Beale's book is a striking claim: what people revere, they resemble—either for ruin or for restoration.

His fundamental presumption is that God has created humans to reflect Him. If we do not commit ourselves to Him, we will inevitably reflect something else in creation. At the core of our identity, we are imaging creatures, meaning that it is impossible to remain neutral on this issue. We either reflect the Creator or something within the created order. Those who follow God and look to Him will reflect His image (which we were created to do), while those who follow idols will become as vain and lifeless as the idols they worship. Beale defines idolatry as whatever claims the loyalty that belongs to God alone—whatever our hearts cling to or rely on for ultimate security.

Key Biblical Examples of Idolatry

In the introduction, Beale outlines this core idea and explains his exegetical approach. He combines grammatical-historical exegesis with a strong emphasis on canonical-contextual exegesis, which examines how biblical texts interconnect across Scripture. He notes that Scripture often explains Scripture, and that many themes develop like seeds growing into plants over time.

From this foundation, Beale explores biblical examples that reveal the destructive pattern of becoming like what we worship:

Isaiah 6: A Foundational Case Study

In chapter 2, Beale uses Isaiah 6 as a case study. Isaiah, who was given an opportunity to look upon God, was made clean and transformed to reflect His holiness. In contrast, those who worship idols become deaf, blind, and lifeless like the very objects they worship. Ultimately, idolaters share in the judgment of their idols.

Isaiah 6 is both sobering and revealing. God commissions Isaiah to preach to a people who have become spiritually unresponsive—their hearts hardened and their eyes blinded because they have persistently chosen idols over the living God. Beale argues that this punishment reflects a lex talionis principle (eye-for-an-eye), where God judges sinners by giving them over to their own desires, resulting in their ruin.

Israel’s Golden Calf and Idolatrous Transformation

In chapters 3 and 4, Beale examines Old Testament examples, most notably Israel's worship of the golden calf. Beale draws out how Israel became stiff-necked and stubborn like the calf they worshiped. Their idolatry led to a tragic exchange: they forfeited the experience of God's glory and took on the emptiness of a false god. Beale suggests that this pattern reflects the pattern of sin that began in the Garden of Eden, where Adam trusted the serpent rather than the Creator. The result was a distortion of human nature—people becoming increasingly like the things they idolize and sharing in their judgment.

Idolatry in the New Testament

In chapters 6 through 9, Beale traces this theme into the New Testament. Although the people no longer worshipped physical idols in the same way, they placed their trust in traditions, the temple, and other sources of false security. Jesus confronted this heart-idolatry directly, warning the religious leaders that their reliance on tradition blinded them to God's truth.

Beale connects this to demonic influence, suggesting that idol worship invites demonic oppression. By choosing idols, people welcome these destructive forces, becoming enslaved and even tormented by the very things they worship.

The Hope of Transformation

Though Beale’s study reveals the tragic effects of idolatry, his message is ultimately hopeful. In chapter 10, he emphasizes that God has made a way for us to be saved and transformed. Isaiah prophesied that a righteous King would come to lead the people out of their idolatry and restore them to their original purpose—to reflect God's image. Jesus is this King, and through Him, we are being restored.

Beale shows how Romans 12:1-2 beautifully portrays this reversal: while idolatry conforms us to the world, worshiping God transforms us into the likeness of Christ. This ongoing transformation will be completed when we are resurrected and fully restored to reflect God's glory.

Idolatry Today: A Sobering Warning

In his final chapter, Beale addresses the contemporary relevance of idolatry. He warns that idolatry is not just an ancient practice—it is alive and well in modern culture. He highlights three primary examples of modern idolatry:

1. The Idolatry of Self: Beale critiques the modern emphasis on self-esteem and self-fulfillment, warning that this often replaces true worship of God with a distorted focus on self.

2. The Influence of Media: He observes that media's tendency to ignore God subtly conditions people to live without reference to Him. Over time, this desensitization leads to spiritual lethargy and a loss of awareness of God's presence.

3. Worldly Wisdom: Beale also challenges the tendency to seek solutions and guidance solely from secular ideas, instead of grounding wisdom in Scripture and God’s truth.

Practical Reflections

Beale encourages readers to reflect on two questions to guard against modern idolatry:

1. Am I putting Christ first in my life? If not, are there things I am allowing to take His place?

2. Am I bringing all aspects of my life under His Lordship? Am I actively seeking His will in my work, relationships, and habits?

   
   

Final Reflections

Reading We Become What We Worship was both challenging and illuminating. I knew idolatry was evil, but Beale’s book helped me see how idolatry reshapes our very nature. His insights showed me how this theme runs from Genesis to Revelation as the great antithesis to what God has designed for us.

At the same time, I found Beale’s message incredibly hopeful: when we turn to Jesus, the true image of God, we are transformed into His likeness. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:18, we are being "transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another."

This theme was so impactful that I ended up preaching on it. If you're interested, you can read that sermon here.

This book has equipped me with a powerful new lens for studying Scripture. Whether I’m teaching from the Old Testament or exploring the New Testament’s vision of transformation, I now see how this theme—what we revere, we resemble—is woven throughout the Bible. It’s a sobering truth, but one that also points to incredible hope: as we fix our eyes on Christ, He is transforming us to reflect His image.

I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of idolatry, spiritual transformation, and the power of worship in shaping our lives.