I grew up in West Mifflin, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh. Can you say, “Steel(er) country?” More to my liking can you say, “Pirate country?” But I rabbit trail.
Pittsburgh, if you check the history books, was a melting pot of nationalities. The promise of employment in the steel mills brought people from every nation on the planet. Polish. Greeks. Czechs. Slovaks. Italians. Negro (as they were called). You name it, it was there. So telling jokes on each other was par for the course.
So was religion. You name it, it was there, except for the prominent cults today (JW, Mormon), who were minor players back then. I grew up in a large Catholic area. When I thought of idols I thought of statues made of stone or metal. Idols bowed down to and worshiped. Idols on car dashes.
It is easy to dismiss “idol talk” being personal if that is the only picture one gets from idols. “I’m in the clear! Whew!!” But, as you know, an idol is more than a statue of stone, or a carving of some kind. An idol is a representation of what we honor, esteem, pay allegiance to, or worship. (p.73). Good definition. A definition which leaves none of us out of the discussion. An idol is something which attracts our attention and motivates us. I won’t lie. Basketball was, for the longest time, an idol to me. I have to watch cycling does not become that, especially in the summer.
Bobby says, “An idol, at its core, is a God-supplanter.” (p.75) I’m not sure one can find a better statement than that about idols. It takes the place normally reserved for God and places Him in a lower position. You know what?
GUILTY AS CHARGED!
The real Game of Thrones is who will we place on the throne? Any thoughts? What idol do you struggle with?
I used to (and probably still do too much), bow down to the idol of me. Always thinking about me, me, me definitely supplants Jesus in my life.
yeah, I have that same issue and there is not easy answer.
The thing is that idols creep in before you know it. Then yo don’t really think of them as idols. They’re just part of life.
That is a major problem with them.
The one I struggle with is… Sam.
After being on my own for so long, leaning on God because there wasn’t anyone else (friends and mom don’t really count because you can’t lean on them in a way you can lean on your spouse), it is still a conscious struggle for me to remember that Sam isn’t the one with ultimate control and that there’s God above him and that I should look up to God for help, not Sam (while I am thankful that I’ve got him.)
It helps that we keep reminding each other that it is God in control, not us.
It is easy to put our mate, especially a long-awaited one, on a pedestal. But least you are aware of it and can work on it.
I love Bobby’s definition of what an idol is. Anything placed above our focus on the Lord is, indeed, just that. I’m afraid I’ve been like Daniel above, placing myself first too many times instead of humbling myself before the Almighty. Thank goodness He’s patient with me!
Blessings, Bill!
it is a good one Martha. As you can see by my answer, I have the same problem as you and Daniel.
Great definition of “idol”.
When I was younger a big idol for me was my career and status. I took pride in my accomplishments and at the same time diminished the role God played in my life.
Becoming a “stay at home mom” really showed me the depth of my idolatry as I was humbled when I was forced to redefine who I was and what my purpose was.
What a great learning experience for me! So thankful God revealed that idol to me.
Thanks for being so honest TC. Identity is so important to all of us. Where we find our identity and in whom is often a game-changer.
Great definition and so true. Probably the biggest idol of my life has been “control.” Seeking it, wanting to feel it, etc. It’s hard to let go and turn it over to Him, but every time I do, it’s a beautiful thing. Thanks Bill.
All in all I’m not a hard-driving person. Pretty laid back but I think I still battle with control to some extent. Perhaps not to the extent some day but certainly a little bit.