I'm in the middle of a study on Habakkuk right now. Seems like a funny book to be studying, eh? Why not go for a "practical" book such as James? Well, I'm two thirds of the way through Habakkuk thanks to the faithful shepherding of my podcast pastor, Matt Chandler. Are ya trackin' with me?
This study has totally taken me off guard. You see, I'm not very established in Old Testament knowledge, I'm more of a New Testament, "churchy" student of the Bible. I'm working very hard to change that, though. Throughout my studies in the OT, I have learned that it really isn't that much different compared to the NT. Go figure, right? This study has turned out to be REALLY applicable and convicting- just what I needed. Today's sermon podcast was number eight in Chandler's series, entitled: American Monkey. (You really should listen to it to grasp the meaning of the title- it won't mean as much if I attempt to explain it.) Anyway, it covered verses 18-20 of Habakkuk chapter two:
"What profit is an idol
when its maker has shaped it,
a metal image, a teacher of lies?
For its maker trusts in his own creation
when he makes speechless idols!
Woe to him who says to a wooden thing,
Awake;
to a silent stone, Arise!
Can this teach?
Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver
and there is no breath at all in it.
But the LORD is his holy temple;
let all the earth keep silence before him."
If these words aren't positively convicting to you, Christian brother or sister, than I believe you are in the same boat I was in. You see, I had a less than completed view of what an "idol" really is. When you think idol within the OT context, you probably picture the Israelite's golden calf (or something similar). Perhaps you even think of present day idols in Indian or Chinese cultures. You would be right to picture those things; I did. However, you might be missing out if that's where it stops for you. I cannot relate to worshiping these types of idols, therefore, I missed the point of these verses the first time around. Elaborate statues, images, etc., created by man and worshiped by man as gods are in fact idols. However an idol is certainly not limited to only these things.
In American culture, our idols aren't set up in "shrine form." We don't have random animal statutes with alters on every other street corner, nor do we have temples where we can go make bizarre sacrifices to man made gods. . . Or do we? What we DO have is even scarier! What do you see, without fail, in every single grocery store line? Magazines covered in scandalous stories of celebrities and half naked people. As a nation, we obsess over Hollywood. Some of us even strive to make that lifestyle our own. We want to be A-listers, envied, have the best of the best.
Chandler said, "Idols rarely dwell in morally dark places, rather they most often dwell in positive things that we twist until they become unhealthy." (paraphrase) What he was talking about was this: Food is good for you until it becomes your source of comfort and causes you to build an unhealthy appetite. When it gets in the way of everyday life stuff, it's not a good thing. Same with exercise; It's great to work out! However, if building the perfect body consumes all of your time, you've created an unhealthy pattern and ultimately idolized your own body. This line of thinking can be applied to all other areas of life, your job, your relationships, your stuff, etc.
Chandler also said that idols are built around control and fear. For example, you have a fear of being alone, so you, being the awesome human you are, take the control and find yourself a significant other. He or she becomes the source of your existence and because you are afraid of ever being alone, you'll do anything to keep him or her around even when it hurts you or others. You see the pattern there. . .
So idolatry goes far beyond the OT explanation. Everyone has an idol on the throne of his or her heart. The question is, is it the right One? Ask yourself these questions, examine yourself and answer them honestly.
Ten Questions to Identify Idols (Thank you, Tim Keller)
1. What consumes most of your thoughts and feelings?
2. What motivates your actions?
3. What are you most afraid of?
4. What brings the most of amount of frustration or anger to your life?
5. What is one thing that can change your mood in one second?
6. What would your friends say is your most favorite topic of conversation?
7. What do you yearn for?
8. What can't you live without?
9. What brings you solstice?
10. What do you wish God would give you?
"Idols always break the hearts of their worshipers." -C.S. Lewis
