 Spiritual: June 14, 2023 Issue [#12020] |
This week: Idols Edited by: Jeff  
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"Only a real risk tests the reality of a belief."
-- C.S. Lewis
About The Editor: Greetings! My name is Jeff and I'm one of your regular editors for the Noticing Newbies Official Newsletter! I've been a member of Writing.com since 2003, and have edited more than 400 newsletters across the site during that time. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me via email or the handy feedback field at the bottom of this newsletter! 
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Idols
One of my favorite worship songs of the past few years has been the song, "Surrounded (Fight My Battles)" by Elyssa Smith (first recorded and made popular by Michael W. Smith). The first line of the song (and a repeating refrain throughout) goes like this:
There's a table that You've prepared for me
In the presence of my enemies
It's Your body and Your blood You've shed for me
This is how I fight my battles
It's a reference to Psalm 23 in the Bible, which ends with verses 5-6: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever" (NIV).
I've always found that imagery a little curious; the idea that you'd be seated at a table full of people who wish you harm. But I was at a Bible study not too long ago where one of the members of the group wondered aloud of the enemies present at the table weren't more figurative in nature, and that the passage might be talking more about the idols we have in our life.
Tim Keller, the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan who unfortunately passed away just last month, published a book in 2009 called Counterfeit Gods wherein he defined an idol as "anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more that God, and anything you seek to give you what only God can give."
Back in the days of the Bible, idolatry often took the form of actual physical (often created) physical objects, such as statues of other gods, worship of objects of the natural world (sun, moon, stars, etc.), and the like. In the present day we aren't so much worshipping golden calfs anymore, but the things we do worship - the things we give most of our attention to - are idols all the same. Most of us are familiar with the big ones:
 Money
Status
Power
And just beneath the surface are a whole host of others:
Approval
Comfort
Food / Drink / Drugs
Health / Youth
Intellect
Relationships
Self
Security
Sex / Pleasure
Success
It's not really a choice between worshipping something or not; we all worship something to some extent. We all prioritize something in our lives. One of the central tenets of Christianity is that God is a more worthwhile and enduring object of your attention than anything else the world can offer you.
And you don't have to be a Christian per se to see that some of these idols have become incredibly toxic in modern society. Many of us accumulate money, status, and/or power at the expense of others. Quite a few of us go to extreme lengths to conceal or try to slow their aging. We get into relationships hoping the other person will fill that void in our lives, or are less generous than we otherwise could be because we're obsessed with making sure we've stockpiled more money or other resources for ourselves. We compete with our friends and neighbors to see who can make the most money at their job, have the nicest house, drive the fanciest car ... it's so prevalent in many Western societies that there's even an entire idiom for that dynamic: keeping up with the Joneses. Or it's modern-day equivalent, the very aptly-named: keeping up with the Kardashians).
The thing about idols is that they never satisfy, and they're almost always corrupting in nature. What seems fun and enjoyable or rewarding at first can quickly become an addiction or obsession. Unchecked drinking can turn into alcoholism. "Comparison-itis" can leave you feeling empty or like a failure no matter how objectively well-off you are. There will always be someone with more money, status, and/or power than you. There will always be someone with a hotter and cooler significant other. There will always be someone who is smarter, younger, and more accomplished than you.
It's worth taking the time to examine the parts of your life that you give the most attention and effort to. Not just because it's the "Christian" thing to do, or because you need better spiritual disciplines ... but because a materialistic, status-obsessed society like the one in which many of us currently live makes it so easy to slip into bad habits, or for an enjoyable thing to devolve into something that's life-draining rather than life-sustaining.
Everyone struggles with various different idols in their life. The most important thing you can do with them is to keep them in check to make sure they don't become toxic and, whenever possible, replace them with something more life-affirming and positive.
Until next time,
Jeff
If you're interested in checking out my work:
"New & Noteworthy Things" | "Blogocentric Formulations"
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EXCERPT: Many religious people today believe that – all religions are acceptable to God, that they are simply variations of one faith, but that, inevitably they are all serving the same God. The common saying is that “All paths lead to God.” Is that actually true? What do history, the human experience, and the religious writings of the world, tell us about the many faiths around the earth? Are all forms of worship acceptable to God, or does he have certain way of worship, and one specific message? Is religion a human “pick' n 'mix”, according to our preferences, or does God require more of us?
EXCERPT: We live in a distracted generation, too busy to spend time with God. We race from project to project, entertainment to entertainment without stopping to spend time with the One to whom we owe everything. Our indifference and our neglect hurt the One who loves us more than any other and who knows us better than we know ourselves. It is time to reconnect and renew that sense of intimacy with our First Love. God is waiting for us to call.
EXCERPT: Prayer holds a fascinating power through faith. In this article, we will delve into the practical mechanics of prayer, exploring its transformative potential for individuals seeking personal growth and well-being. By following a logical progression of events, thoughts, and emotions, we can unlock the true benefits of prayer and harness its power in our lives. Regardless of religious beliefs, understanding the process of prayer can lead to profound positive change, increased self-awareness, and a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us.
EXCERPT: I recently lost something I had worked at for eight years. An on-line writing site that had changed significantly making those topics and my sources of inspiration out of the loop of popularity and acceptance. The loss was sudden, shocking and devastating. I cried, fumed, plotted revenge, tried to fix things myself...all only making the situation worse. I had no control and felt myself spiraling downward. It was in the middle of a sleepless night that, in that deep silence, I allowed God a chance to speak above the uproar in my mind.
EXCERPT: I have a personal relationship with God. Is it as strong as it could be? No. But I know God and know that He has a plan for me. Unfortunately, I do not always hear and listen to His words. Many times, in hindsight, I realize I heard His voice but did not slow down enough to realize what He said and pay attention. I know I do not do enough or put forth as much effort as I should to strengthen my relationship with Him. I frequently apologize to Him for my shortcomings.
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