Counterfeit Gods :: A Small Group Study Park Community Church. How to Find Your Rival Gods

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1 Counterfeit Gods :: A Small Group Study Park Community Church How to Find Your Rival Gods Idolatry is not just a failure to obey God, it is a setting of the whole heart on something besides God. An excerpt by Tim Keller/ OCTOBER 20, 2009 It is impossible to understand your heart or your culture if you do not discern the counterfeit gods that influence them. In Romans 1:21-25 St Paul shows that idolatry is not only one sin among many, but what is fundamentally wrong with the human heart: For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him.they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator. (Romans 1:21, 25) Paul goes on to make a long list of sins that create misery and evil in the world, but they all find their roots in this soil, the inexorable human drive for "god-making." In other words, idolatry is always the reason we ever do anything wrong. No one grasped this better than Martin Luther. In his Larger Catechism (1528) and also his Treatise on Good Works he wrote that the Ten Commandments begin with a commandment against idolatry. Why does this come first in the order? Because, he argued, the fundamental motivation behind law-breaking is idolatry. We never break the other commandments without breaking the first one. Why do we ever fail to love or keep promises or live unselfishly? Of course, the general answer is "because we are weak and sinful", but the specific answer in any actual circumstance is that there is something you feel you must have to be happy, that is more important to your heart than God himself. We would not lie unless first we had made something human approval, reputation, power over others, financial advantage more important and valuable to our hearts than the grace and favor of God. The secret to change is always to identify and dismantle the basic idols of the heart. It is also impossible to understand a culture without discerning its idols. The Jewish philosophers Halbertal and Margalit make it clear that idolatry is not simply ritual worship, but a whole sensibility and pattern of life based on making particular finite values and created things into god-like absolutes. In the Bible, therefore, turning from idols always includes a rejection of the culture that the idols produce. God tells Israel that they must not only reject the other nations' gods, but "you shall not follow their practices." (Exodus 23:24) There is no way to challenge idols without doing cultural criticism, and there is no way to do cultural criticism without discerning and challenging idols. A good example of this is the preaching of St Paul in Athens (Acts 17) and Ephesus (Acts 19.) Paul challenged the gods of the city of Ephesus (Acts 19:26) and that led to such an alteration in the spending patterns of new converts that it changed the local economy. That in turn touched off a riot led by local merchants. Contemporary observers have often noted that modern Christians are as materialistic as everyone

2 else in our culture. Could this be because our preaching of the gospel does not, like St Paul's, include the exposure of our culture's counterfeit gods? Identifying idols I am not asking whether or not you have rival gods. I assume that we all do; they are hidden in every one of us. The question is: What do we do about them? How can we become increasingly clear-sighted rather than being under their delusional influence? How can we be free from our idols so we can make sound decisions and wise choices that are best for us and the people around us? How can we discern our idols? One way requires that we look at our imagination. Archbishop William Temple once said, "Your religion is what you do with your solitude." In other words, the true god of your heart is what your thoughts effortlessly go to when there is nothing else demanding your attention. What do you enjoy day-dreaming about? What is it that occupies your mind when you have nothing else to think about? Do you develop potential scenarios about career advancement? Or material goods such as a dream home? Or a relationship with a particular person? One or two day dreams do not indicate idolatry. Ask rather, what do you habitually think about to get joy and comfort in the privacy of your heart? Another way to discern your heart's true love is to look at how you spend your money. Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there is your heart also." (Matt 6:21) Your money flows most effortlessly toward your heart's greatest love. In fact, the mark of an idol is that you spend too much money on it, and you must try to exercise self-control constantly. As St Paul has written, if God and his grace is the thing in the world you love most, you will give your money away to ministry, charity, and the poor in astonishing amounts (2 Cor 8:7-9). For most of us, however, we tend to over spend on clothing, or on our children, or on status symbols such as homes and cars. This reveals our idols. A third way to discern idols works best for those who have professed a faith in God. You may regularly go to a place of worship where you are a member. You may have a full, devout set of doctrinal beliefs. You may be trying very hard to believe and obey God. However, what is your real, daily functional salvation? What are you really living for, what is your real not just your professed God? A good way to discern this is how you respond to unanswered prayers and frustrated hopes. If you ask for something that you don't get, you may become sad and disappointed. Then you go on. Hey, life's not over. Those are not your functional masters. But when you pray and work for something and you don't get it and you respond with explosive anger or deep despair, then you may have found your real god. Like Jonah, you become angry enough to die.

3 A final test is for anyone to use. Look at your most uncontrollable emotions. Just as a fisherman looking for fish knows to go where the water is roiling, look for your idols at the bottom of painful emotions, especially those that never seem to lift and that drive you to do things you know are wrong. If you are angry, ask, "Is there something here too important to me, something I am telling myself I have to have at all costs?" Do the same thing about strong fear or despair and guilt. Ask yourself "Am I so scared, because something is being threatened, which I think is a necessity when it is not? Am I so down on myself because I have lost or failed at something which I think is a necessity when it is not?" If you are over-working, driving yourself into the ground with frantic activity, ask yourself, "Do I feel that I must have this thing to be fulfilled and significant?" When you ask questions like that, when you "pull your emotions up by the roots," as it were, sometimes you will find your idols clinging to them. Replacing idols In Paul's letter to the Colossians he exhorted them to "put to death" the evil desires of the heart, including "greed, which is idolatry" (Col 3:5) But how? Paul laid out the way in the verses immediately before. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. (Col 3:1-5) Idolatry is not just a failure to obey God, it is a setting of the whole heart on something besides God. This cannot be remedied only by repenting that you have an idol, or by using will power to try to live differently. Turning from idols is not less than those two things, but it is also far more. "Setting the mind and heart on things above" where "your life is hid with Christ in God" (Col 3:1-3) means appreciation, rejoicing, and resting in what Jesus has done for you. It entails joyful worship, a sense of God's reality in prayer. Jesus must become more beautiful to your imagination, more attractive to your heart, than your idol. That is what will replace the idols of your heart. If you uproot the idol and fail to "plant" the love of Christ in its place, the idol will grow back. Be patient We think we've learned about grace, set our idols aside, and reached the place where we're serving God not for what we're going to get out of him but for who he is in himself. There's a certain sense in which we spend all of our lives thinking we've reached the bottom of our hearts and finding it is a false bottom. Mature Christians are not people who have completely hit the bedrock. I do not believe that is possible in this life. Rather, they are people who know how to keep drilling and who are getting closer and closer.

4 The great pastor and hymn-writer John Newton once wrote about this struggle: "If I may speak my own experience, I find that to keep my eye simply on Christ, as my peace and my life, is by far the hardest part of my calling It seems easier to deny self in a thousand instances of outward conduct, than in its ceaseless endeavors to act as a principle of righteousness and power." The man or woman who knows the difference that Newton refers to the difference between obeying rules of outward conduct rather than setting the heart on Christ as your peace and life is on the road to freedom from the counterfeit gods that control us. Adapted from Counterfeit Gods Timothy Keller 2009 by Dutton. Published with permission from the publisher. Questions for Small Group 1. How does Tim Keller define idols? Would you add anything to that definition? 2. What are common idols in your life and in the life of those around you? There are many idols in our life and in the life of those around us. Many of them are surface idols, like a dandelion that appears above the soil. But there are also deep idols, acting like the roots of a dandelion. Unless those roots are eliminated, the weed (idol) will return. We all have many surface idols that have origins in one of three deep idols. T H R E E D E E P I D O L S CONTROL deep idol The Lie: If I can just maintain influence or mastery over this situation these people my performance my schedule my income or whatever, then I ll be ok, content, strong, and safe Biggest Fear: Instability or weakness Surface Idols that may be present: Relentless pursuit of security & power, financial security, focus on my schedule, exercise, future plans, etc.

5 SIGNIFICANCE/APPROVAL deep idol The lie: if this person, this social group, the colleagues in my profession, find me worthy of attention, or love, if they acknowledge my value or greatness, as long as I am not being disgraced before them, then I ll be worthy, important, and acceptable. Biggest fear: Rejection or humiliation Surface idols that may be present: overwhelming need for approval, love, or recognition. Desire for approval in social standing, relationships, children, pleasing others, success in every area of life, even ministry. COMFORT deep idol The Lie: If I can just maintain physical ease or relaxation, if life can just be laid back, if I can just keep away from stresses or responsibility, if I can just experience some pleasure or enjoyment in the moment, then life will be more fulfilling, easy, fun, or thrilling. Biggest fear: Boredom or responsibility Surface idols that maybe present: Avoiding stress or responsibility. Constantly consuming caffeine, alcohol, sleep, food. 3. From the list of idols in question 2, how would you group those under deep idols of: CONTROL SIGNIFICANCE/APPROVAL COMFORT 4. From the article, what are questions help to address idols in your life or those around you? What do these questions help surface in our life?

6 5. The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope. Tim Keller. Why is it imperative that we understand the Gospel when addressing idols in our lives? What does 1 Timothy 1:15 remind us? 6. Three are three important steps when dealing with idols in our life. a. Admit the Struggle What does James 5:16 tell us to do? b. Identify the lie What does Ephesians 4:22 tell us to do? c. Replace with truth. What does Romans 12:2 tell us to do? 7. Take a moment to pause and reflect on some of your idols. The truth is that with idols, we are not believing God s promises to us. I think often times we hear God s promises, think we believe them, but practically we don t believe them, and then idols develop to fill our innate need for what God s promises were intended to fill. Idol The Lie Truth What Scripture Reference 8. What truth is difficult for you to believe right now? Write out your prayer that God would help you replace the lie with truth.

7 An important reminder Decades ago, John Calvin stated, Man's nature, so to speak, is a perpetual factory of idols. We need to be aware we will battle idols all our life. Yet, the Gospel is greater and because of the finished work of Jesus. He took on our sin and transferred to us his righteousness. Colossians 3:5 tell us to put to death our idols. And Col 3:1-5 tells us how. And through the power of the Gospel we can! GREAT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Counterfeit Gods, by Tim Keller, Duton, :The Series-A Man and His Traps, Lifeway Church Resources, 2013 Fighting Specific Idols A. FIGHTING AN IDOL OF CONTROL WITH THE TRUTHS OF TRUST AND STEWARDSHIP Truths of Trust: Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Jeremiah 17:7-8 Bless is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for it s leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Matthew 6:25, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?...but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is it s own trouble. John 14:1 (Jesus speaking) Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God believe also in me Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Truths of Stewardship: Genesis 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Psalm 24:1-2The ear is the LORD S and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it up the rivers.

8 Luke 12:48 Everyone to whom much was give, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. 1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God s varied grace. B. FIGHTING AN IDOL OF SIGNIFICANCE WITH THE TRUTHS OF FEARING GOD AND HUMILITY Truths of Fear God: Psalm 97:7 All worshippers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him [the Lord], all you Gods. Psalm 113:4-6 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks down on the heavens and the earth? Psalm 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. Ecclesiastes 12:13 The end of the matter, all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. Truths of Humility: 1 Samuel 16:7 For the LORD sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. Psalm 34:2 My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Psalm 147:10-11 His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus says the LORD: Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord. Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to men I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 1 Peter 5:5-6 Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.

9 C. FIGHTING AN IDOL OF COMFORT WITH THE TRUTHS OF GODLY AMBITION, SELF- SACRIFICE, AND GOD HIMSELF Truths of Godly Ambition: Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. Hebrews 12:1-2 Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Truths of Self-Sacrifice: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercised self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than and unbeliever. Truths of God Himself: Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Philippians 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ. 33:The Series-A Man and His Traps, Lifeway Church Resources, 2013