Idolatry - The Present Version

I haven’t written in a while, and I’m coming to understand when I don’t feel inspired by the Holy Spirit to write – it usually means there is something He wants to discuss with me that I am actively avoiding. I’ve mentioned before, this blog is more for me and developing my walk with Him than for anyone else; even though I maintain the hope that my walk with God will encourage you.

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek Him. – Hebrews 11:6

I like the King James version: “for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (emphasis mine)

I’m holding on to that verse today after a very unsettling study this morning. Last night, I began reading “Age of Crowns” by Kori De Leon. I thought maybe I would whip right through the book and then put it back on the shelf to refer to the next friend that might need the message. I read through 2 chapters last night, and I reviewed and sort of thought about the questions she had at the end of each chapter…but I was wholly convicted to return to Chapter 1 this morning and really think about what she was saying. It was a tough subject on idolatry.

I think in today’s world we have a habit of writing off idolatry as statues and ungodly worship. Realistically I understand that idols can be many things: relationship, significance, success, and material resources (Kori describes these desires as a King, Crown, Kingdom and Castle); but practically I think I lump idols into physical objects more often than actions. Chapter 1 strikes straight to the heart of idols in our lives.

I like to think I am attempting to live a godly life. I study scripture daily, I pray to God consistently, and I try to conform my actions to mirror Christ. But I have been struggling for the last week with severe discouragement and frustration specifically around the ministry God has called me to. This struggle has led to doubt – not about God, but about myself. Seems like a noble cause, right? Ministry. God’s work. Kingdom purpose. Turns out, I’m searching for my crown instead of resting in the knowledge that Christ has already given it to me.

For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. – 1 Timothy 4:8

To train into godliness, we must exchange the time and energy we’re spending seeking idols and begin to seek God. We’ve already established that I am busy (and have been for most of my life) seeking a crown. Acceptance, value, sense of dignity, validity, success. I have a sufficient knack for wrapping my idols up in God so that outwardly they seem noble and Christ-like, but inwardly my heart is still seeking acceptance. And that’s where I think I missed the mark – while I had convinced myself my actions were to further the Kingdom purpose, my heart was still chasing validity…and out of that, an idol is born.

And god said, let us (the Trinity) make man in our image (resemblance of an outward form) after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. – Genesis 1:26 (emphasis mine)

Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. – Matthew 18:18

God created us to be like Him! He granted us dominion over all the things of heaven and earth. He has given us all authority in Christ Jesus. How does acceptance, value, dignity, validity and success come any higher?

We’re conditioned to live and measure ourselves against the world’s standards – it’s a conditioning we must learn to break. Until we do, we’re holding on to the idols of this world and losing sight of who God actually created us to be…even when it’s packaged with the pretty bow of ministry and God’s Kingdom purpose. Measuring against these standards leaves me discouraged and frustrated – not exactly the fruits of the Spirit. It leaves me chasing my own vision and not God’s vision.

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. – James 4:1,3

Are your passions at war within you? Even those good, godly passions? The ones that drive you to seek the lost, repair the damaged, raise up the fallen?

Mine are. I can come up with the grandest plan to further God’s kingdom, but if I’m not doing it to be closer to God and I’m doing it to chase some worldly benchmark for success, it doesn’t matter. It takes all that shiny gold polish off the top and reveals the rusted iron beneath it.

I encourage you to examine your heart. What are you willing to do to get what your flesh desires? God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him – and sometimes that means uncovering the root of pretense you’re living under. The pruning process can be painful – but the freedom from walking through it, measuring against God’s word, and digging out the deception your flesh has been trying to convince your Spirit is truth is far greater.  Name your idols and repent of them. Rest in the promises of God for the present and for the days to come. Walk wholesomely in His desires for you – they’re far greater than you can think or imagine. And make sure you’re not walking in sin with pretty packaging – I know I’ll be watching for that.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. – Ephesians 3:20-21