Dissecting the Biblical Warning in "Him": How Idolatry Opens the Door to Destruction

Dissecting the Biblical Warning in "Him": How Idolatry Opens the Door to Destruction

The 2025 horror film "Him" opens not with a jump scare, but with a potent image of modern idolatry. The protagonist, Cam, and his family are gathered around the television, watching in rapt attention as his football idol, Isaiah, suffers a potentially career-ending injury. This moment establishes the film's central theme: the peril of worshipping anything other than God. "Him" serves as a stark, cinematic parable, using the horror genre to illustrate the biblical truth that idolatry ultimately leads to our spiritual downfall.

The Altar in the Living Room: A Foundation of Idolatry

The scene is meticulously crafted to highlight a dangerous syncretism. The family’s living room features a statue of Mary, yet it is surrounded by team paraphernalia, with the game playing like a sacred ritual. When Isaiah not only recovers but leads his team to victory, Cam’s father instills a toxic lesson: the importance of bearing pain like his idol. Here, the film identifies the first layer of idolatry—the veneration of human strength and endurance over divine grace.

This aligns directly with the biblical command: “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image... You shall not bow down to them or serve them” (Exodus 20:3-5). The family, perhaps unintentionally, has erected an altar to athletic prowess right beside their faith. "Him" argues that this is not a harmless hobby; it is a spiritual compromise that creates an opening for darkness.

The Slippery Slope: From Admiration to Demonic Pact

Cam’s journey is a chilling depiction of James 1:14-15, which describes how each person is “lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

Cam’s initial admiration for Isaiah festers into a consuming desire to *be* him. This is the essence of idolatry—it shifts our focus from the Creator to the creation (Romans 1:25). Cam’s desire manifests as the “lust of the flesh” (for the power and fame Isaiah possesses) and the “pride of life” (the status that comes with it). These are the very things 1 John 2:16 warns are “not from the Father but are from the world.”

The film’s horror elements manifest as Cam is tempted to make a literal pact with the devil to achieve his idol’s status. This is the logical, albeit supernatural, endpoint of a life spent chasing a earthly ideal. Idolatry, as defined in Colossians 3:5, is equated with greed, which is “idolatry,” because it demands we serve our desires above God.

Two Paths, One Lesson: The Cost of a Soul

The film presents two cautionary tales:

1. Isaiah, the Idol: Isaiah himself indulged in the worship of others. He reveled in the monetary gain and adoration, effectively becoming his own god. His fate—losing his soul for earthly glory—serves as a dire warning against the pride that accompanies idolatry. He worshipped his own flesh, a temporary vessel that, as the film reminds us, will one day perish, leaving only the soul to face eternity (1 Corinthians 15:50).

2. Cam, the Worshipper:In the climactic moment, Cam makes the righteous choice to reject the demonic pact. However, the cost is gruesome. This is a critical theological point: even when we renounce idolatry, the consequences of opening ourselves to its influence can be devastating. The path of the enemy taints us, making us less Christlike and leaving scars. Cam’s victory is spiritual, but it came at a terrible price, underscoring the importance of guarding our hearts from the beginning (Proverbs 4:23).

Conclusion: A Biblical Exorcism of Our Idols

"Him" is more than a horror film; it is a powerful exposition of 1 Corinthians 10:7-14, which warns, “Do not be idolaters as some of them were...” and concludes, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”

The film forces viewers to ask: What is my Isaiah? What do I place beside—or even above—God in my heart? Is it career success, financial security, a relationship, or even family itself? "Him" masterfully shows that when we idolize the things of this world, we open our souls to a spiritual battle we are ill-equipped to fight alone. The only true protection is to heed the words of Colossians 3:5: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature... and greed, which is idolatry.” Our worship belongs to God alone, for anything else we place on that altar will ultimately demand our soul.