I still remember the words of a successful agent at a writer’s conference. He said, “Money changes people. I’ve only met a couple of Christian writers who haven’t been negatively affected by success.”
That’s a little scary.
Everyone tells us to pursue our dreams, but no one tells us to make sure we keep God first while pursuing them.
I’ve only been blogging for a little over a year this time around, but it didn’t take long to see how easy it would be to make writing an idol.
Living the American Dream
If you’re pursuing a goal, you know what I mean. It’s easy to become consumed by it. And while the goal itself might be wonderful–a way to love God and others–it still has the potential to mess us up. If we’re not careful, it will lead us away from God.
God has convicted me that this is something I need to work on in my own life once again, so I thought I might as well blog about it! Future posts will deal with how to break free from idolatry. But before we can break free, we need to know what our idols are.
I’ve been talking about the idolatry of a goal, but there are a million different potential idols out there: recreation, exercise, work, the Internet, relationships, approval of others, excitement, television, food, and avoiding conflict, just to name a few.
Here are a few questions to help you determine whether or not you have any idols:
Do You Have an Idol? – Quiz
- What do you feel like you have to have to be happy?
- What do you think about in the middle of the night or when you first wake up in the morning?
- What do you spend a lot of your time on each day?
- What do you worry about?
- What would you have a hard time giving up for a month?
- What makes you stressed out and/or depressed?
- What do you do when you’re stressed out and/or depressed?
- What do you do to avoid doing the things you don’t want to do?
- In what areas of your life, do you experience your greatest struggles?
- Where do your feelings of self worth come from?
- What do you escape to when you’re having a hard time in life?
- What do people tell you that you spend too much time on?
- What do you hide from others?
- What do you talk about too much?
- What could you not live without?
When you finish answering the questions, glance back over your answers. Do you see anything popping up more than once on the list? The more often you see it on your list, the more likely it’s an idol.
If a big category keeps coming up again and again such as writing or working, do the questions again to see if you can find out what aspects of that category are giving you trouble.
For example, let’s say writing kept coming up on the list. What do you feel like you have to have as a writer to be happy? What parts of writing do you think about in the middle of the night? What parts of writing do you spend too much time on and why do you spend too much time on it?
You might discover it’s the reward part of writing that’s an idol. Or the people pleasing part. Or it could be fairness or wanting it to be easy. There are a number of idol possibilities under the umbrella of those bigger categories.
Breaking Free from Idolatry Blog Post Series
Once we’ve identified our idols, the next step is to work on getting rid of those idols. Click here to see a list of all the “Breaking Free from Idolatry” posts. These posts will walk you through the process of how to get rid of idols.
I’ve also written a book since I published this post that will help with breaking free from idolatry. It’s called The Renewing of the Mind Project . This is a book about breaking free from bad habits, recurring sin, and negative emotions and also a book about how to start good habits and accomplish scary or hard goals. Even though it’s not a book about letting go of idols, it will help you let go of your idols as our negative emotions and bad habits often reveal our idols, as does our reluctance to work on our goals.
Question: Do you think idolatry is prevalent in the church today? Does your church provide much instruction on how to break free from it?
I think idolatry is more rampant than ever and more than we might suspect. The moment we revere anything more than our Father, including or maybe even especially fear, we’re guilty of it. The ones with the type “A” (yes, you Raveling!) personalities, are prone to it I think. This is a battle I’ve had with my flesh for years, in business and personal life. Great post and I’ll be looking forward to tackling the issue.
Oh-oh, another person who thinks I’m a type-A. :) The interesting thing is that my idols have changed since my work ethic changed. I was a lazy (non-type A-ish) person for 20 years or more, and have only recently ventured into the workaholism world. I think God has allowed me to experience almost all the faults out there so I can understand them since I write on transformation. :)
Excellent post. I will work through the questions. It is easy to allow people, places and things to become idols in our very thingish and selfish world. I believe that is one reason it is important to realize your vision from God because it puts your values in line with what He values.
I can see how it would do that, Bernard. I’m enjoying your book. I’m on Key #7.
This is a very important subject. I’m working today on a new book and it deals in part with surrendering our idols. Your questions are excellent! I ask very similar questions in my book to help people get in touch with their self-protective sinful strategies that protect idols. Keep up the great work! Can’t wait to read more!
Sounds like an interesting book, Kathy. You should include the self-protective sinful strategies in your book description. It’s intriguing.
OH, interesting thought. ummm, will think on that. Thank you!
Great post Barb, with some very thought provoking questions. Thanks so much for the shout out. This topic has been rattling around in my head for weeks. More questions than answers, but by God’s grace I will keep searching for His truth. Blessings!!
I’m really enjoying exploring it as well, Deb. I’ve delved into it a little bit when I teach classes on trials and breaking habits, but have never specifically studied and written on idolatry. Looking forward to your post tomorrow on idols and the church.
If we’re being honest, there are many things that compete for my attention, but often I’m my own idol. There’s too much thinking about me, and how that person is affecting me, and my ambitions, and my needs, and me, me, me. Even in a child centered home, the welfare and happiness of my children is a reflection on my parenting skills. My charity outside the home, fills ME up. Dying to the idol SELF is a fulltime job. Only abiding in Christ makes it possible.
That’s interesting, Karen – I never thought of it that way before, but I can see that you’re right. Lots of different things, but it all boils down to me. No wonder I get so sick of myself some days!
You’re so right, Karen. Idol worship really is all about self and how to satisfy it. Even when it seems like the focus is on an object or whatever, it’s really all about satisfying self. So, dying to self is a key to defeating idol worship. And, the only way I know to die to self is to focus on Jesus. Good point!
I identify with you Karen. God is constantly revealing the real truth behind my aspirations and dreams and the things I do. It’s astounding really. Your last sentence is so true..abiding in Christ. It makes the difference. We can’t change ourselves but God can and will, when we allow Him
Yes, karenfoster! I think you’re on to something. Maybe my idol is me.
Great questions! After the kids go to bed, I’m going to sit and answer these honestly! Thanks Barb (((HUG)))
That sounds good, Elizabeth. I love thinking of your happy house filled with so many kids and grown-ups – well, probably not always happy now that I remember those kid days! :)
Thanks Barb! It is a happy home- even if we aren’t always actively happy! LOL!!
I have to say honestly I did not “get” what Karen was saying about me being my own idol. And then I sat and thoughtfully answered the questions. I had a tiny running theme of computer on a few. But the big picture………..the real idol……….. it was me!!
Oh, my, I can see it exactly now! I truly need to work on this. Any suggestions anybody? When the me-me-me idol tries to take over?
Thanks! (((HUGS)))
The computer came up for me too Elizabeth. It’s hard when you’re a writer because you’re on it so much. It does seem like it’s a constant dying to self process, doesn’t it?
I am right there with Karen, I am my own idol most of the time too. Right now I am dealing with a me problem. Think I will print off the questions and take them to our bible study for us ladies to answer on our own. Good post, really good post.
What a relief. I thought I was the only one who needed to slay the giant “I”
When I was a young student, I remember someone (maybe a teacher) telling us not to start every paragraph with I …..
Too self centered, and it stuck with me.
Even with I’m whining to my friend about my efforts to serve God: “I’m not worthy, why don’t I see more fruit, How can I reach out to….”
My friend will say, ” I hear a lot of “I” in that statement.”
Don’t you love wise friends? I have a friend that also helps me in that way.
Yes I learned in communications that when addressing others to use “you” rather than I. But it is so hard to remember.
You know what just occurred to me? Remember back in the old days when Campus Crusade had those little four spiritual laws books and they had the little picture of self on the throne? I suppose that was like making an idol of self. The idea was to take self off the throne when you accepted Christ, but in reality, taking self off the throne is a lifelong process.
Thanks, Betty. I’m glad it was helpful.
Yes, I think idolatry is prevalent in the church today. It was throughout biblical history as THE main problem, actually, and I’m not sure that has changed much. Sure, the idols are a bit different, probably there are more options today. My church teaches a focus on Jesus, which is the only way I know of to break free of idol worship. Personally, I would like more application on this topic just because it is such a huge problem and has been throughout time.
Yes, it’s crazy reading the Old Testament about all the kings. One king takes them down. Another one puts them back up. Although, I think there were more that put them up than took them down. It’s something we always need to be careful of. I definitely think there are more options today for idolatry.
Since there are more options, we have to be more transparent in our struggle with them, I think. The more we are, the more we can encourage one another to find victory, which I believe is possible even in our idolatry-ridden culture.
I agree. The more the subject is discussed and brought to the light, the more we can help each other with it.
These are great questions Barb. God has been working in my heart along the same lines. Am looking forward the future posts.
Thanks, Ngina.
Great questions, Barb.
I think the Church has a big problem with idols, but not the golden calf’s people first think of. I think the church focuses more on laws than grace, more on works than grace. OR they water down God’s grace to meaning they don’t have to DO anything.
We are saved by grace and that grace should compel us to use our God given talents for His glory and to help edify others.
But so much of church seems to be about “me”. What am I getting out of it? How does it benefit ME.
Me, me, me is so much apart of our world that we can’t even identify idols. These questions really help people focus in on sore areas of life that need addressing.
Great job, look forward to future posts.
I agree with all you said, TC. It’s interesting that the church has problems with both laws and grace, isn’t it? I’m afraid we’re a reflection of our culture in the “me” department.
Great questions Barb! I’m going to be thinking about and reflecting on them today. Thank you for sharing a challenging post.
You’re welcome. :)
I think ministry, such as your writing, is especially susceptible to becoming an idol. Because it’s so easy to think that we’re serving God instead of really serving ourselves and our own pride. We can deceive ourselves so easy which is why this test is great.
I agree. Even if we get into it for the right motives, it’s easy to switch have way through. We need to be constantly on our guard.
I just answered the idol questions and I have to say I was surprised at what kept coming up: Facebook. And “skinny”. But really, Facebook was a huge thing! My eyes have been opened!
That is interesting! And helpful to know!
Great post! Apparently marriage and the future is my idol. I truly pray that God will break this from me. I don’t want to idolize anyone or thing but him.
Glad you were able to figure it out, Stacey, and I hope it’s helpful to recognize it. I had marriage as an idol for lots of years. I’m guessing it’s a pretty common one. That’s also interesting about the future – it would be interesting to break it down a bit and see if there’s anything underlying that one.
This is a tough and painful subject for me to work through right now, as I have a forest of idols and of course somehow it always doubles back how it affects me, my value as a person, how it reflects on me somehow. Some of my idols are rooted in pain, rejection and abandonment so that when I try to love it twists and morphs into something neither person really wants it to be; it is clearly a spiritual warfare plugging into the flesh issue. It seems that no matter what I do or which way I go, it becomes about approval, hanging onto identity and status. It causes me to seek things from people, like say respect or generousity from people who are full of selfishness and contempt. I’d run away from myself if I could but somehow i manage to keep up! I have noticed that my husband and I are kind of co idolaters and that we tend to fall into relationships with each other and other people that do not lead anywhere worth going either, seemingly trapped by a need for belonging, approval and affirmation. It is amazing how much poison one can be willing to imbibe for that little drop of affirmation, and how much it blinds and distorts reality when one has this going on in their life. One becomes guilty of soul prostitution and cannot even see it. Barb I don’t know if I can even answer the questions you’ve posted because my mind is in such a spiritual fog right now. But I am crying out to Jesus to remove this idol from my life and restore my heart. I do think idolatriy is seriously rampant in the church; i see many in ministry whose need for man’s approval is so great that it has utterly derailed and corrupted their ministry and they don’t even realize it, other than being over a barrel of shame all the time and being reduced to practicing a shallow and self serving version of faith, and being threatened by anyone who sees the problem. May God have mercy on us and move upon us with His Spirit, for divine enabling is totally necessary. Apart from Him we can do nothing.
Wow, Patricia, you are an incredible writer. I know you were just commenting, but I love the way you described the problem. I have definitely struggled with a need for approval myself, especially since I started blogging over 3 years ago. Something about blogging brought out all my insecurities! It’s interesting how we can not even know we have a problem until a trial pops up that fully reveals our problem! I also see it in ministry and can understand the temptation since I have experienced it myself! I think what’s helped me the most with this is just renewing my mind whenever it crops up. I’ve done loads of truth journaling about this subject and have had LOTS of conversations with God about it, using the questions from the Renewing of the Mind Project. Praying God will help you work through it. I know how hard it is! Thanks for sharing your struggles.