Idolatry

Just finished listening to Tim Keller's lecture on Idolatry given at last weeks Gospel Coalition.

He raised some really interesting points which I'll try and summarise below:

He makes a case for discerning, exposing and destroying idols.

Firstly we need to understand, to see our own idols and the idols of our community (our city).

• An idol isn't just a little statue that people bow down to it is a thing or person or idea that we place above God.
• An idol is any object, relationship or pursuit that is so central that we can’t have meaning to life without it.
• "Hang on a minute" you maybe saying, "but I worship God above anything else, I have no idols".
• Well before you go on, analyse what else is important in your life - your lifestyle, your status in the community or at your job, your husband, your wife, your girlfriend, your opinion, your boyfriend, your children.
• If you lost whatever it is that is important to you, how would you react, you may feel gutted, devastated, but would your life feel meaningless as a result? If it would that is your idol.
• When you make a good thing an absolute thing you have an idol.
  

How do we do something about it?

• When idols are opposed it is dangerous
• Idols are worthless things, they are created things, things we made ourselves which doesn't have the power to give us what we want
  
• But on the other hand they are extremely powerful because through them the forces of darkness control us.
  
• BUT Jesus defeated the powers of darkness
• We know Jesus died for our sins and took the punishment for our idolatry
  
• But we need to see what he's done for us, know what he's done for us, when this hits home we can free ourselves from the stranglehold of idolatry
  
• Remember your career, marriage or children can't die for your sins
  

Read Acts 19