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importance
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Understanding the Gospel and trusting Christ for our salvation is the beginning of an eternal relationship with God. But before we move on to learn what we need to build that relationship, we need to address something that can very easily destroy our walk with Him: idols.
When we first think of idols images of statues of false gods might come to mind, but that is not the essence of an idol. It is something much more present in our lives, yet many times unseen. In this section we’ll cover what an idol is, how to find them, and what to do about them. Although we are not talking primarily about statues worshipped by the Israelites and the surrounding countries, we certainly can learn a lot about the dangers of idolatry from their failures. Let’s take a look… |
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Idols offend and hurt God. They destroy our relationship with God. Idols destroy us, because they end in disappointment, discouragement, and despair. When we trust in them for the deepest needs of our hearts, we get crushed when they fail. Idols distract us from discovering the answers to the questions we are all desperate to know.
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what is an idol?
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Idol – anything that stands between us and God, hindering our relationship with Him because we are giving it our love, affections, time, and worship instead of God.
Key factor = dependence on something other than God for our deepest desires. When we think of the idolatry of the Israelites its important to understand that they weren’t simply bowing down to statues. They were depending on the god of that statue to fulfill a need for them. The god of the statue was a “savior” to them. They may have depended on the false god to bring them rain or protection from an enemy. They trusted the idol to bring them prosperity or hope during trials. It is the same with idols in our lives. The determining factor is dependence on something other than God for our deepest needs to be met. |
how to identify idols
God has placed in every human heart certain longings. His design is that He alone meet these needs. They are met when in close relationship with Him. Idols can be found in these areas of deepest needs of the human heart:
IDENTITY
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FULFILLS:
Need to feel valuable; self-worth |
ANSWERS:
Who am I? Why am I important |
SATISFACTION
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FULFILLS:
Need to feel happy |
ANSWERS:
How do I get happiness? |
MEANING
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FULFILLS:
Need to feel like I’m doing something of value |
ANSWERS:
What is worth doing? |
HOPE
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FULFILLS:
Need for a worthy outcome to my suffering |
ANSWERS:
What good can I expect from my suffering? |
FREEDOM
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FULFILLS:
Need to be free to be who you are and do what you were created to do |
ANSWERS:
How can I be free to be who I am and do what I want? |
UNDERSTANDING IDENTITY
Your identity is basically who you are. It also includes the idea of value. What makes you – you? And why are you important? The answer to these questions makes up your identity.
WHERE WE FIND OUR IDENTITY
First, it’s important to understand that our culture puts constant pressure on us to form our identity. Whether it be by telling us who we are or various ways we can have value – its always there. For the most part there’s two ways cultures implicitly impose identity formation upon us:
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In eastern cultures, identity is formed by family or community.
I am who my family or community says I am. My identity is my place in the community. When I fulfill my duties in the family I feel important, accepted, valuable, and honored. My approval and self-worth is dependent on my ability and willingness to perform the duties given to me by my community. |
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In western cultures the individual decides their own identity.
I determine who I am and why I am important. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, I decide who I am. I am my deepest desires and dreams. My approval and self-worth is dependent on my ability to live out who I’ve declared I am. |
Read:
Phil. 3:4-6
Who was Paul before He knew Jesus? What made him important?
examples of identity idols
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Social Standing
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EXAMPLE:
“Military life is easy. As long as you do what they tell you you’ll be okay. I advanced quickly and got respect. The problem came when I was discharged. I’m not a civilian. I had no idea what to do with myself. Working at Wal-Mart just doesn’t bring the same honor as the military.” |
DANGER:
The demands of the community can be smothering or too much to live up to. Once you leave the community or do not do your duties, you are no longer given the approval you need. |
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Physical Appearance
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DANGER:
Creating your own identity doesn’t actually work. We end up doing things to gain approval from others. |
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Accomplishments
Religious Activities Job/Career Character Traits
Possessions
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EXAMPLE:
“At first I had to get the best grades. Then I wanted to get into the most prestigious school. And so I did, which made me feel important for awhile. After college I climbed the corporate ladder. After all, I’m the successful one. When I got married I tried to be seen as a great husband – then father. It ended up being too much though. I lost my kids due to the job – then I got laid off. Never felt more alone and worthless.” |
DANGER:
If it is based on something you must perform to gain or keep, what happens when you fail? |
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Good Parent
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EXAMPLE:
“When my kid threw that fit in the store I thought I must be the worst parent alive to have a kid that acts that way.” |
DANGER:
If your identity requires someone else to change for the better, you fail when they don’t improve. This can often result in being critical, harsh, or resentful. |
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Activism
Sexuality |
EXAMPLE:
“My time at the soup kitchen started out well. I was excited to help out the less fortunate. However, I thought they would be more grateful. And they never stop taking.” |
DANGER:
If identity and self worth are based on our desires, we are on a fragile foundation because our desires change. They also get us into trouble. When we think about identity and sexuality we typically think of homosexuality. Yet, consider other sexual desires that can be used for identity: adultery, fornication, bestiality. |
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Love Relationship
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EXAMPLE:
“But what about my needs? She never notices when I do something good – maybe I should find someone that will appreciate me.” |
DANGER:
If self worth is found in your love partner destructive conflicts are likely. When they are critical of you they are taking away your very significance. Also, it will be difficult to meet their needs when you are depending on their affirmation to feel worth something. |
what to do about identity idols
Worship means to give worth to something. When we depend on something we attribute worth to it. When we depend on something other than God for our sense of identity and self worth we are saying, “I trust in (my career) to make me feel like I’m important.” – for example. In this scenario there is a tremendous amount of worth attributed to the career – it determines who I am and why I’m important. This is worship of an idol.
Idols cannot simply be removed – they must be replaced. This is because God designed us with these deep needs of the heart. They must be filled and will be filled in one way or another. God designed these needs to only be truly filled in relationship with Him.
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IDENTITY FACTS:
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SCRIPTURES:
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WHO ARE YOU?
process it
The top two potential idols I wrestle with when it comes to my sense of significance are...
Something I can do to replace these with Christ are...
Something I can do to replace these with Christ are...
questions to identify potential identity idols
- When do you feel the most valued?
- What do you do that you want others to notice?
- Who do you most want to be like?
- When do you feel bad about yourself? What would make you feel better?
- What, if you had it, would make you feel like you were important?
- How would you react if you lost (or could never gain) that “thing” that makes you feel valued? If anger, resentment, or depression come to mind, it might be an idol.
- Do you love that “thing” more than God or people by giving it more of your thoughts, time, energy, or affections? It may be an idol if so.
- Does that “thing” move your closer to God or further away? If spending time with God is hindered by it, then you may have an idol.