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God Quote by N.T. Wright

“When human beings give their heartfelt allegiance to and worship that which is not God, they progressively cease to reflect the image of God. One of the primary laws of human life is that you become like what you worship; what’s more, you reflect what you worship not only to the object itself but…” quote by N.T. Wright
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““When human beings give their heartfelt allegiance to and worship that which is not God, they progressively cease to reflect the image of God. One of the primary laws of human life is that you become like what you worship; what’s more, you reflect what you worship not only to the object itself but also outward to the world around. Those who worship money increasingly define themselves in terms of it and increasingly treat other people as creditors, debtors, partners, or customers rather than as human beings. Those who worship sex define themselves in terms of it (their preferences, their practices, their past histories) and increasingly treat other people as actual or potential sex objects. Those who worship power define themselves in terms of it and treat other people as either collaborators, competitors, or pawns. These and many other forms of idolatry combine in a thousand ways, all of them damaging to the image-bearing quality of the people concerned and of those whose lives they touch.””

N.T. Wright

About This Quote

Source Book: Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright, 2008

Worshiping anything other than God reshapes identity and how we treat others, eroding humanity’s divine image.

In simple terms: Idolatry changes who we become and how we see people.

Key Takeaway

Guard your values, worship only what reflects divine humanity.

Themes

identity human dignity idolatry relationships

Mood

reflective concerned

Type

ethical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • personal relationships
  • workplace culture
  • media consumption
  • political leadership

Key Concepts

theology psychology social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

  • What do you value most in yourself?
  • How does that value affect your treatment of others?
A Different Perspective

Worship of material things can be subtle and socially reinforced.

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