6 Unexpected Idols and How to Spot Them in Your Life
Share
Idols may have been more apparent during the time of the early church. Individuals could purchase idols of wood, silver, and stone from local craftsmen. Many cities even had large idols housed within temples, such as in Ephesus where the famous statue of Artemis stood.
These small shrines of Artemis were what brought Paul and his companions trouble when they visited Ephesus to preach the gospel. When Demetrius the silversmith noticed that many people in Ephesus were turning away from worshiping the silver shrines of Artemis that he created, he feared the loss of his livelihood (Acts 19:24-27). Stirring up the other tradesmen and people in the city, they rioted against Paul and his companions (Acts 19:29).
Believers often disposed of their household gods after placing faith in Christ. In many parts of the world today, this practice continues as new Christians remove idols from their home to demonstrate their devotion to Jesus. Yet, the problem of idolatry is not restricted to bowing down in front of carved images.
For many believers, especially those in the West, the temptation to worship an idol comes in abstract ways. We might not kneel before coins or dollars, but we can worship wealth and greedily grasp onto our money. Or we sacrifice all we have for the sake of a company or position.
Other idols, though, come in disguised forms. The casual observer may assume we are merely engaging with cultural practices or staying abreast of current trends. But there are times when we form idols from specific identities, roles, or activities. This form of idolatry can be unexpected, so we must be mindful of our attitudes and do as those early Christians did – dispose of the idols to demonstrate our devotion to Christ. For, as our Lord said, we cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/sakchai vongsasiripat
1. An Ideal Version of Ourselves
Social media makes it easier for us to compare our lives to others; we see their outfits, families, homes, and highlight reels. From this position of comparison, we begin to envision an ideal version of ourselves. We decide that to achieve happiness and fulfillment, we must chase after this imagined version of life with the perfect body, spouse, family, house, job, etc. An ideal becomes our idol.
Lots of us may not at first notice this new enthronement in our heart, since we might draw inspiration from those we follow online. Our patchwork imitation may start as an innocent interest as we copy recipes online or start buying similar outfits to what we see on our feed. But we quickly fall into the trap of worshiping a “perfect” image of ourselves by pursuing a specific physical look or imitating experiences to achieve an aesthetic. Eventually, this pursuit becomes more important than following Christ.
To identify and topple this idol, we must examine our thoughts and actions. Do we think that this ideal life will bring us fulfillment? Are we placing too much of our time and energy into this pursuit? The clearest sign that we have formed an idol is if we have focused our resources on achieving this imagined goal. Jesus told us that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
The goal of the Christian life is not to look more like those we see online or to copy all the trends that we think will make us happy. Worshiping an ideal will never bring us contentment; rather, we will experience abundant joy when we follow Jesus. It is Him we are meant to imitate, and to His image we are being conformed (Romans 8:29; see also Ephesians 5:1-2).
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Tanya Joy
2. A Social Media Influencer, Celebrity, or Christian Teacher
The same impulse that tempts us to enthrone a “perfect” version of ourselves is the same one that makes us elevate a person we admire. In a culture filled with influencers, celebrities, and even famous Christian teachers and pastors, it is easy to idolize a human being.
We watch interviews of our favorite actors or artists and become enamored – if only we could be like them. Our social media feed is filled with videos and posts from an influencer, and we start aligning ourselves more with their views. Or we find ourselves focusing more on what a beloved Christian teacher says than what God’s Word teaches. There is a real danger of idolatry if we keep our hearts unchecked in these types of scenarios.
The problem is not the internet or videos. Nor is it the fault of the individual, though they should be wary of fan worship (i.e., if a person is treated as a god, they might start to believe they are one). No, the real issue lies in focusing on the creature and ignoring the Creator (Romans 1:25).
God is the One who endowed people with skills and gifts. Instead of idolizing someone for their musical ability or posts online, we should praise the Lord for the variety of skills He has given to humankind. Their talent does not originate within them since every person was made for the glory of the Lord (Isaiah 43:7). Whatever gifts they may have – whether musical, theatrical, or practical – they come from the Creator. We should express thanksgiving for such gifts, turning our eyes away from the person to the One who created all things.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/DGLimages
3. Family
Families are a significant part of lives and should be viewed as gifts from the Lord (James 1:17). Many husbands and wives are working to ensure their children mature with a solid foundation of biblical truth and emphasize modeling a love for Christ. We need more families who are committed to following Jesus in the world, showing their neighbors the beauty of knowing the Lord.
Yet, there are some believers who overemphasize the role of the family. Yes, it is important and good, but following Jesus should be the main priority of every believer. Our Lord modeled this when He answered the people who said his mother and brothers were looking for Him: “Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’” (Matthew 12:49-50).
If we discover that our theological views are more formed by family members than by a rigorous study of the Bible, or that we allow devotion to parents or children to override obedience to God, then we have transformed our family into an idol. Our heart and worship are focused inwardly towards those around us, establishing blood relatives as the greatest authority and source of wisdom in our lives. We have taken that which is good and disfigured it by misplacing our priorities.
To love our families as the Lord intends, we must love God wholeheartedly and treasure Him more than anything else in life. He has made us His children, and we are now part of a new family, one not defined by physical relation but by the blood of Christ (see John 1:12-13). Even if parents, siblings, children, aunts, or grandparents decided to disown and forsake us, we would have family to welcome us: the community of believers.
May we praise God for the gift of family while also avoiding the temptation to shape it into an idol. We do not live for the approval or acceptance of relatives, but to please the Lord (Galatians 1:10).
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Filmstax
4. A Spouse
Like family, marriage is a blessing from the Lord. In fact, God instituted marriage for the benefit of humankind. He said it was not good for man to be alone, and so He made Eve as a suitable helper and equal partner for Adam (Genesis 2:18). In the New Testament, the image of marriage took on greater meaning as the church was compared to a bride being prepared for her husband, Christ. Our Lord demonstrated the greatest act of love by sacrificing His life for the sake of the church (see Ephesians 5:25).
Humans have distorted this gift, though, by changing marriage into something different than God created. Non-Christians and Christians often worship the idea of having a spouse. They assume that being married will fix their problems and bring unending happiness. Thus, being a husband or wife becomes their greatest purpose and, for many, is perceived as a divine calling. Some churches have sadly fueled this by teaching that marriage is necessary for becoming mature in Christ.
Married couples are not immune to this form of idolatry. A husband or wife could become obsessed with attempting to be the perfect spouse or by placing their identity in this role. We can spot this idol by the way we talk or use our time. Do we regularly talk about how great our spouse is without acknowledging flaws, even to the point of using vocabulary that should only be ascribed to God? Or do we get jealous when we hear of a friend’s engagement? Are we obsessively consuming marriage-themed content in the form of books and podcasts, but rarely focusing on growing spiritually or learning more about the Lord?
If we think marriage is the ultimate purpose in life, then we need to remember the temporary nature of being a wife or husband (Matthew 22:30). What is eternal is being the Bride of Christ.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/fizkes
5. Comfort
There is nothing quite like the feeling of wrapping ourselves in a blanket or drinking a warm mug of tea. Simple pleasures in life, including the basic comforts of shelter, water, warmth, and food, are reasons for gratitude. Far too many people in the world do not have basic access to these necessities, which provides a greater reason for not taking them for granted.
But those of us in Western society often assume comfort should be our default position. As it is, we live in a culture that profits from comfort – –advertisements highlight cozy moments or encourage us to buy items as a way to treat ourselves. The message we receive from these ads and items is that discomfort is something to be avoided, or at least minimized.
But if we start basing our decisions and rhythms in life on what is most comfortable in the situation, then we will often find ourselves in opposition to God’s commands. Turning the other cheek can be painful. Loving our enemies is difficult. Expressing generosity entails sacrifice. The Christian life is, by the Lord’s definition, uncomfortable; we must deny ourselves and follow Him (Matthew 16:24-25).
Enjoying comfort is not sinful; neither is giving thanks for an opportunity to treat ourselves and others. However, idolatry arises when we prioritize our sense of ease over obeying the Lord. We must remember that diligence and hard work are needed in the Christian walk, just as much as rest.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Klaus Vedfelt
6. Our Opinions
With widespread access to online forums and posts, individuals can easily voice their opinions about any topic. Had an unpleasant experience with a product? We can comment on the company’s review page. Outraged about current events? Social media allows us to vent our feelings.
Everyone has their unique perspectives and views. And there are times when we should share our thoughts with others, such as when building others up or offering advice. However, we fall into idolatry when we begin equating our opinions with authoritative truth. Anything we believe is more important than what others say. We place our views over the good of others, thinking that our perspective trumps the biblical command to love our neighbor (Mark 12:31).
Noticing this idol in our lives can be challenging, but we can discern its influence by taking note of our attitude. Are we intolerant of others when they voice a thought that disagrees with our own? Do we take a narrow view, believing that only those who align with our perspective are following the truth?
Scripture is the Word of God; our opinions are not (see 2 Timothy 3:16). No one can claim to understand every issue perfectly, as everyone will continue to mature in their knowledge. For example, our view on certain issues will likely evolve and mature as we submit ourselves to the Lord and study His Word.
We should stand firm in the truth of Scripture, acknowledging Jesus as our Lord and Savior, but recognize that our opinions are secondary. We misplace our views by setting them over God. Instead of rushing to make our thoughts known about issues, we can practice the biblical command to be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).
Photo credit: Pexels/Afif Ramdhasuma
