Idol Factories
In this weekly connection point, I want to challenge you to think and consider resources that can give important perspective on faith and life. I want to introduce these resources to you in the hope that you will read some of them for yourself.
This week I want to introduce you to the book Gospel Treason: Betraying the Gospel with Hidden Idols by Brad Bigney. I read this book a few years ago and it had a transformative impact on me. The central idea of the book is that we are idol factories that constantly find different desires grabbing hold of our attention, trying to pull our attention away from God.
Bigney summarizes, “Now let me give you the definition of an idol: An idol is anything or anyone that captures our hearts, minds, and affections more than God. So what could be an idol in your life? Anything. That’s why we’re in such trouble, because absolutely anything can become an idol. Even a good thing, when wanted too much, becomes an idol. The Puritans called such things “inordinate desires.” Idolatry is who or what you worship, what you long for, what your heart is set on. Idolatry is a big deal because it flies in the face of God.”
Given our constant desires, we must constantly address idolatry in our lives. Too often we think idols are relegated to the Old Testament. We remember reading about people turning back to God and tearing down these poles or statues used to worship foreign gods. That was a picture of idolatry in that time, and that still occurs today in some parts of the world. But idolatry goes beyond that limited picture. Idolatry is alive and well in our society. Most often, idols are found in our hearts. This is what John was addressing in 1 John 5:21 when he wrote, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”
As we consider the reality of idolatry in our lives, I want to challenge you to consider slowly and carefully. Think through your life. Process through different situations where you are struggling, wrestling, or not settled. Why do you feel the way you feel?
If your processing leads you to the conviction of Scripture or a clear direction from God’s Word, then you need to yield to the Lord and follow. But if your processing leads you to a deep desire for satisfaction in something or someone beyond your relationship with God, then you have identified an idol. Anything or anyone that captures our heart, mind, and affections more than God is an idol.
Where we find idols, we need to repent. Ask God for forgiveness for allowing something to capture your heart more than God. Start to change your mind about how you think about the idol. Give it a right priority as you ask God to correct your thinking.
We need to have urgency to address any idol that threatens the supremacy of Christ in our life. When something threatens the supremacy of Christ, it threatens our joy, peace, and many other blessings of right relationship with God.
To help us all process through the different things that can become idols, write in the comments a common idol you see in our culture and world today. Let’s learn together about idolatry and repent from it before it steals glory from God and joy from our lives!
