On Reading Yourself in the Story

Douglas Wilson: On Reading Yourself in the Story -- "... What we often fail to recognize is that true moral choices come in the context of the interplay of relationships between characters. Moral choices occur within stories, and if you don't understand the stories, then you won't understand the moral choices. Aaron wasn't walking along in the wilderness one day until he came across a golden calf which he then decided to worship. No, he was pressured by other characters in the story, characters he was afraid of. To use this instance in application, if you can't see the characters you are afraid of, then you won't be able to see the golden calf either. ..."

Or, to put it another way, if you are more afraid of being scorned or mocked by the men who are already slaves to the Spirit of the Age than you are of being ultimately rejected by God, then you will worship the golden calf ... and you will call it "the wise thing to do", and you will viciously attack your (former) friends who will not bow down.