Idol Worship

Today at work I was doing a lot of mindless scanning and I was able to listen to my iPod all day. This morning, I had the wonderful opportunity to download various sessions from The Gospel Coalition annual conference, held last month in Chicago) and so I spent my afternoon learning from Tim Keller of Redeemer PCA in New York City.

The talk by Keller was regarding the idols of the heart. He discussed the idols of the ancient world as recorded in Acts 19:21-41. He particularly talked about the city of Ephesus and the temple of Artemis there in Paul’s day. He spoke about the importance of recognizing the idols in a society/ person. Only by seeing what they are currently worshiping can we tear down the idol and replace it with the glorious gospel of God’s grace.

Keller defined an idol as “anything that has replaced God as the ultimate object of worship in one’s life.” He says that it was obvious in the ancient world what the idols were, because pagans made carven images representing them. Today it is harder. It is the good things in life that we make supreme which are most often our modern idols.

The 3 main categories that Keller describes are:

Personal
- money
- romance
- children

Religious
- truth
- gifts
- morality

Cultural
- reason
- family
- politics

Then, Keller says that it is a dangerous thing to take on the idols of the world. While the idols themselves are worthless things or non-material things, it is through the idols that the powers and principalities of darkness work. Yet, we see that it is Paul (relying on the victory of Christ at the cross) who dares to take on these idols. It is a task which will bring pain, suffering, and hardship – just as Paul found out.

Nevertheless, we are called to take up our cross and bear the difficulties we may endure as we point out and tear down idols. Not to do so would be denying Christ and acting ashamed of the gospel. We can find rest in the hope that this is a temporary dwelling place – our home awaits us in the future grace that has already been purchased by Jesus.

Also, I was struck by the similarities that Keller points out between the ancient world and today. He notes that the idol of Ephesus (which was the fertility and crop goddess Artemis) was a representation of the idol of business and financial prosperity. It was common for the people of that day to sacrifice children to this idol in exchange for more fortune and wealth by way of good harvest. Then Keller links this ancient practice to modern NYC (where he pastors) which isthe financial center of the world. New York is a climate where abortion and absentee parentism are rampant for the sake of getting ahead in career. “Choosing” to murder an unborn child or leaving ones child with a nanny 90% of the time is not much different than the blatant child sacrifices were in Ephesus.

Interestingly, this topic has been the focus of the past 3 Sundays at my home church as well. Given the apparent emphasis that God is putting on this issue before me, I was also touched by Keller to examine the idols of my own life. Maybe this blog has been a tool for you to examine yours also.