Journal: Journal of Dispensational Theology
Volume: JODT 29:78 (Spring 2025)
Article: Sin’s Enigma And Polytheism’s Lure That Leads To Corruption Of Identity
Author: Floyd Talbot

JODT 29:78 (Spring 2025) p. 57

Sin’s Enigma And Polytheism’s Lure That Leads To Corruption Of Identity

Floyd Talbot

* Floyd Talbot, M.A., M.B.A, retired, lay adult ministry, City Bible Church, Sacramento, California

Why engage in discussion of sin and polytheism? How are they related? The first of the Ten Commandments provides the highest reason for addressing both nemeses of sin and polytheism, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exod 20:3).1 The first and preeminent commandment presupposes the mysterious sin of rebellion against God, the rise of polytheism, and a marred individual identity. Giving commands to fallen individuals clearly characterized their human condition under the oppression of sin. Sin and consequent polytheism’s treachery against God prompts utmost attention to their study. Sin and idolatry exist as the twin opponents of God and his commandments. Together they place all humanity at odds with God, under his wrath (Rom 1:18; Eph 5:6), and at loss concerning personal identity.

One cannot address polytheism without acknowledging the one true and only God of creation and redemption. Polytheists presumed his existence.2 However, fallen humanity misappropriated creation as reflecting God’s glory and embraced idols that distorted and corrupted God and glorified man. Glorifying creation as divine denigrates God to simply one of many or as nonexistent. However, glorifying humanity allowed individuals to assume their own identity, even that of divine, absent what God originally determined. While God endowed man and woman a special place in his created order by fashioning them in his image, sin changed that attribute with one stroke of disobedience. Sin turned what God intended as good (Gen 1:31) into rebellion against Him. Consequently, polytheists capitalized on God’s creation of man and woman by upholding individuals

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as idols for worship. Adam and Eve believed Satan’s lie that they could be like God. From their sin, divinity became the goal of humanity’s identity.

When Satan introduced sin into the world, he sought to redefine it as good and promoted creating counterfeits of God from creation. Sin simply became a virtue from natural instincts toward human upward mobility and ultimately divinity. Such a trajectory acted as rebellion against God leading to human destruction. Sin’s deception caused that rebellion and led individuals to create gods according to their imagination. Therefore, sin and idolatry produce an unending spiral of continuing revolt against God. Sin promotes idolatry and idolatry in turn instigates sin that once again sp...