Idols and IdeologiesSample

THE IDOL OF SELF

Diagnosis: The Idol of Self

It used to be the case that humans looked outside of themselves for answers, to the gods of wood and stone. Today, our ultimate authority and thus our object of worship lies within the human heart.

Like idols, this ideology is a partial account of reality. So many of us today worship our feelings. Our sense of what is right and true is measured by how we feel about something.

But culture, our emotions and idols of stone and wood (created things) are not the source of truth—God is. The idol emerges when we place ourselves in the shoes of God and begin to define good and evil for ourselves, therefore seeing ourselves as God and therefore worshipping ourselves as God.

This is idolatrous! It is God alone who is the author of truth and of right and wrong. He has created the world with purpose and order and imbued reality with meaning, to which our response is worship. To reject this meaning and offer our own meaning in its place is to become prideful and steal this worship for ourselves.

Those who see themselves as their own authority say things like, “I am the authority on what is right and wrong, not God. When discussing matters of right and wrong or good or evil, often they say, “What is right for you may not be right for me” or “Right and wrong is circumstantial”

Remedy: Humility

We must wilfully restore the understanding of God as Creator in our hearts (John 5:39-44). His ways are correct because he ordered the world (Job 38:4-7) and gave purpose to people (Gen 1:1-2:4).

How do we begin to destroy this self-idolization that so deeply informs this modern society and our own hearts?

We begin by looking outside of ourselves to the God who emptied himself. In Paul’s letter (Philippians 2:5-8) Jesus emptied himself of everything, becoming completely humble and completely obedient—even to the point of death. Jesus is our greatest example.

We can embody the virtue of humility. Humility is the virtue that counters pride. As pride leads to other sin, true humility clears a path for holiness.

Scripture: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. - Romans 12:3

Prayer Point: Lord, I repent of the idol of self. I thank you, Lord, for the virtue of humility that helps me to look outside myself to you for answers and truth. I thank you that you would keep true humility in me so that I can walk in your ways, wisdom and guidance.