Golden Calves

I wonder how many golden calves I have made to placate people (Exodus 32)? The people couldn’t see Moses, he was up on the mountain, and they couldn’t see God – they wanted something they could see.

How many pastors, priests, elders, deacons, trustees make calves to placate the people? How many have I made? Have I become an artisan of calves?

Did I make one yesterday? Did I affirm an already-existing calf?

Am I like the Alec Guinness character in The Bridge Over the River Kwai, who as he is dying asks, “What have I done?” Have I given the people what they want?

Have I proclaimed, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.”

What have I done?