The Modern Golden Calf: How Brands Became Our Modern Idols
How do we stand out in the digital world?
Why should we even care?
There's so much noise.
What is my part?
No one even knows who I am.
What should I be creating?
The truth is, we are all created for a purpose—to worship.
Who we worship is the question.
That's really what creating a brand is all about.
The word "brand" means "to burn."
It comes from old cattle owners burning their initials directly into the cows so people knew they were theirs.
Everyone throws around the word "brand" these days.
It's fascinating—when you think about idols, it was always the golden calf.
The cow.
It was about taking what was most valuable to you—your livestock, your food—and putting it up on an altar.
The Bible says, "They will worship the created thing rather than the creator."
The Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt through incredible miracles—the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea—yet they still turned to idol worship almost immediately.
While Moses was up on Mount Sinai receiving God's commands, the people grew impatient and convinced Aaron to make them a golden calf to worship.
This shows how quickly our hearts can turn from true worship to idolatry, even after experiencing God's power firsthand.
It's a sobering reminder that we're all prone to creating and worshipping our own idols—whether they're relationships, success, or even our own personal brand.
When Jesus tells us to fast, He's telling us to give up food—to give up the most important thing to our flesh.
To give up the golden calf.
To give up what matters most to us.
In today's culture, we use money to purchase the most important things.
But put a starving man in the middle of a desert with a pile of money and a steak, and he'll choose the steak.
Money still represents the golden calf.
Burning a mark into the cow represents claiming ownership over something.
We live in a culture that idolizes brands.
It's our modern-day golden calf—a cash cow with a Nike logo burned in the side.
An idol that has us fixate on the creation rather than the Creator Himself.
We must ask ourselves: Where did all of this come from?
Who created the universe?
Who created the stars and the sun and the moon?
Who created the laughter of a child?
Certainly not man.
Certainly not a brand.
Humans are very limited.
The way forward is not to create a better brand, a better idol, a new golden calf.
The kingdom of heaven will be filled with brands that glorify the Creator.
They put His story at the center, highlighting the things He loves, rejecting the things He hates.
The future is not AI.
The future is not more tech.
The future is not determined by man.
The future is determined by the Lord.
It's time for men to stop burning their marks into the calf.
It's time for men to let the burning mark of the Holy Spirit burn bright in them, for the purpose God has created them for—to illuminate the world.
To let the Holy Spirit burn up sin and destructiveness.
You're not a good person because you have good ideas.
You're not a good person because you're kind to people.
We are all broken and need the forgiveness of God that is offered on the cross.
It's not until we accept that forgiveness and walk with the Lord that His purpose for us can begin to shine and make an impact.
Don't let the world fool you.
There is a God.
He came to earth 2,000 years ago, and He built the best brand of all time.
And it's eternal.
Get on board or get left behind.
For those who are born again: It's time to create with purpose.
To create without fear.
To burn bright.
To tear down the idols of the world.
And testify of the kingdom that is coming.
