“Our society is as idolatrous as Paul’s was” says Henry Blackaby in his devotional written in 1998.
How could that be? When I think of idols, I think of those statues and temples built in Biblical times. Like the Golden Calf statue. Remember? Aaron claimed he threw the people’s gold “into the fire” and “out came this calf!” (Exodus 32:24) Sure. One of the best examples of blame-shifting ever. All while Moses was up on the mountaintop getting the Ten Commandments from God.
Yep – commandment #1 – “You shall have no other gods before me.” He even gets more explicit in telling them they “shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything….” (Exodus 20)
Blackaby used Paul’s experience in Ephesus as his example. There was widespread idolatry there and the “idol-making industry” provided a livelihood for many people. Along came Paul. Not to directly condemn those worshipping idols but to boldly proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
Result? As Blackaby outlines it, people were set free from sin’s bondage and idol worship began to decline. Why? The contrast between stone carvings and God’s power to change lives became obvious. “The righteous lives of the Christians stood in stark contrast to the hedonistic practices of the idol worshipers.” You can understand why idolatry diminished in favor of Christianity.
But here is the hard part. Blackaby brought this lesson home sharing that rather than worshiping statues, “we choose possessions, pleasures, or careers as our gods and pour our time, finances and energy into these things.”
He is backed up by Tim Keller, author, theologian, apologist, and founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. In his book (which I highly recommend) Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope That Matters, Keller goes deep into the recesses of our hearts to expose the hidden idolatries that hold us captive.
Keller calls our hearts “idol-making factories” that make good gifts from God more important to us, thereby replacing God in our affections. Here are some key points of his:
“What is an idol? It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.”
“A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living.”
Ouch, convicting – especially at Christmas time. Here’s my confession. I have been stressing for weeks over what gifts to give my grandkids – they are all teens now and it is oh-so-hard to buy them presents that bring those shouts of “oh boy” and laughter and joyful hugs of thanks. And in those past times, I could settle with a smile into my inner thoughts – “yes, I have been validated as the best gramma ever”! That is a bit hard to put into words, folks. But I do have to recognize the truth in it. It is all about me – my identity – my record of great gift-giving, my grandkids really love me, etc.!
Back to the lesson Blackaby was sharing. He made the point that we do not have to seek out and condemn today’s idols (even though it was a good exercise for my own “humbling”), but rather, as we “live out our Christianity, enjoying the abundant life God gives, our lives will discredit the idols around us.” I sigh a bit because I know that while this is right, well-said, and will be my goal, it is not easily done.
As Blackaby pointed out – people “do not like to have their idols dethroned!” If you remember, a silversmith in Ephesus called together people of the trades who made big bucks from silver shrines of their god Artemis. He incited a riot seizing Paul’s traveling companions bringing them into a theater in front of a riled-up crowd which shouted at them for hours. Paul’s friends stopped him from going to the theater to try to help. Thankfully, a “city clerk” finally quieted the crowd and dispersed them without harm coming to Paul’s companions. Blackaby is so right – people don’t like their idols threatened or dethroned. Especially ones that hit the pocketbook.
So how do I correct my “gift-giving” thinking? How can I uphold Christ in the way I live and share with others? And give gifts this Christmas?
First, I will focus on my grandkids and not me as I consider what would point them to God’s abundant life in store for them as they walk with Him. Yes, I will wrap and put under the tree for them the items I have already purchased, but I have prayed and thought about what would be God-honoring and special to them.
That leads to confirmation that we will share the scripture and the story of Christ’s birth as our group activity before any other gifts are exchanged (this is a bit of a tradition already, but I can add to that).
Then, I have decided that my husband and I will write for each of the grandkids our reflections of joy in watching them grow through the years, identifying character pieces we have loved seeing in them, reminding them of how special they are to us and to the Lord — giving them a vision and hope we have for them for their future. Yes, it will include scripture. We will put it all in written form sprinkling some photos throughout. And our prayers will accompany each of these gifts.
Nope – not as easy as jumping on Amazon and ordering for overnight delivery some gadget for their phone! And if the Christmas gift-giving industry is diminished – so be it.
But it feels more in line with what Blackaby reminded me to consider – my abundant God-given life being lived for His glory, not mine.
May this be helpful to you – and you may be way ahead of me in this department – but I pray for us all to “uphold Christs with victorious, purposeful lives” so that, as Blackaby says, “others will see a difference and be drawn to Him and the life that He offers.”
