What Humans Build
The Honda Civic Type R officially debuted in the U.S. in 2017, but really, tuners had been building it for decades. Turbocharged Civics with wings, spoilers, hood scoops, low-profile tires, aggressive damping, 300 horsepower, and nifty red Type-R badges have been terrorizing streets since the introduction of the D-series engine. The Civic Type R has 22.8 psi of boost, which seems like a lot to most people. But not the average Civic owner.
But you can’t build a 2017 Civic Type R. You can build an engine with 300 horsepower, but not the bandwidth and reliability of the new Type R. You can fit stiff dampers and low-profile tires on a Civic, but you can’t accomplish the competing goals of performance and ride quality. And nothing built from a used Civic could have the Type R’s warranty or safety.
People in the Bible have a troubling history of idolatry, and many times sought to build something that symbolized or even possessed (somehow) immense power. Worshiping a wooden trinket is surprising to readers in these enlightened, 21st-century times, so for your consideration, think of this excellent quote by Martin Luther: “What the heathen crafts out of wood, we make in our minds.” Idols have changed, but idolatry hasn’t.
Through his prophet Isaiah, God shows the sheer insanity of idolatry. Chapter 44 in particular gets satirical and even a little sassy. It’s great.
“The blacksmith takes a tool and works with it in the coals; he shapes an idol with hammers, he forges it with the might of his arm. He gets hungry and loses his strength; he drinks no water and grows faint.” (v. 12) Isaiah is describing humanity’s tireless pursuit of something – anything – and hoping it will solve our problems.
“[The carpenter] fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. Half of the wood he burns in the fire, over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, ‘Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.’ From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, ‘Save me; you are my god.’” (15-17) Although even the most basic human needs are met by God, it’s easy to become convinced that humans can be self-reliant, even to the extreme degree of replacing God with something better or not needing a source of divinity at all.
“They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand.” (v. 18) This description of an idolater uses double-meaning to show that idols, and the people who make them, are equally limited in power compared to the God who gives wisdom, sight, and life.
Below the obvious forms of idolatry in contemporary life – cars, cash, technology – lurk the even more powerful conceptual idols. No one builds an altar to a stack of dollar bills, but they may still practice idolatry if their sense of peace and assurance comes from their retirement fund. People may not literally genuflect before a car, but obsessing over perfection, status, and accomplishments are practices of worship. All of these forms of idolatry are uncomfortably close to what Isaiah described, since they all involve the practice of building or creating something to suit a strong need or desire.
Idolatry still lives today, and in fact could be stronger than ever, as long as people continue their breathless pursuit of self-reliance, self-assurance, self-efficacy, and self-will above their pursuit of God. God doesn’t want that for you, or for anyone. He’s more powerful than anything you’re relying on today, and his personality is broader than the sheer power you crave; God is creative, humorous, tender, eternal, approachable, precise, and of course loving. Take some time to pursue him today.
The 2017 Civic Type R is a front-drive phenom that finally provided the hot-hatch dominance that Honda faithful had been waiting for. It was a lot like the Civics from Honda’s glory days, except its valve cover said “HONDA,” not “VTEC.” Some tuning company out there probably has a fix. You can find it on a website, a parts catalog, or a forum – the things humans use to convince themselves that perfection can be built.
