IDENTIFYING YOUR IDOLS  (By Tim Keller)

 

A. USING "PROBLEM EMOTIONS" TO IDENTIFY IDOLS.

a.         If you are angry.  Ask, "is there something too important to me? Something I am telling myself I have to have? Is that why I am angry ‑‑ because I am being blocked from having something I think is a necessity when it is not?" Write down what that might be

 

b.        If you are fearful or badly worried. Ask, "Is there something too important to me? Something I am telling myself I have to have? Is that why I am so scared ‑‑ because something is being threatened which I think is a necessity when it is not?" Write down what that might be:

c.         If you are despondent or hating yourself: Ask, "Is there something too important to me? Something I am telling myself I have to have? Is that why I am so 'down' ‑‑ because I have lost or failed at something which I think is a necessity when it is not?" Write down what that might be:

 

B. USING "MOTIVATIONAL DRIVES" TO IDENTIFY IDOLS.

"... that most basic question which God poses to each human heart: "has something or someone besides Jesus the Christ taken title to your heart's functional trust, preoccupation, loyalty, service, fear and delight?  Questions... bring some of people's idol systems to the surface. 'To who or what do you look for life‑sustaining stability, security and acceptance... What do you really want and expect [out of life]? What would [really] make you happy? What would make you an acceptable person? Where do you look for power and success?' These questions or similar ones tease out whether we serve God or idols, whether we look for salvation from Christ or from false saviors. [This bears] on the immediate motivation of my behavior, thoughts, feelings. In the Bible's conceptualization, the motivation question is the lordship question: who or what "rules my behavior, the Lord or an idol?" ‑‑ David Powlison, "Idols of the Heart and Vanity Fair"

 

We often don't go deep enough to analyze our idol‑structures. For example, "money" is of course an idol, yet in another sense; money can be sought in order to satisfy very different, more foundational idols. For example, some people want lots of money in order to control their world and life (such people usually don't spend their money, but save it) while others want lots of money for access to social circles and for making themselves beautiful and attractive (such people do spend their money on themselves!) The same goes for sex. Some people use sex in order to get power over others, others in order to feel approved and loved and others just for pleasure/comfort. The following outline can be helpful in letting people consider different foundational "idol‑structures". Dick Keyes calls them "far‑idols" as opposed to "near idols". Remember, these are all alternative ways to make ourselves "righteous/worthy":

 

What We Seek                          The Price We're Willing to Pay Our Greatest Nightmare           Others Often Feel     Problem Emotion

COMFORT                             Reduced productivity               Stress, demands                      Hurt                         Boredom

(Privacy,

lack  of  stress, freedom)

 

APPROVAL                           Less independence                   Rejection                                  Smothered               Cowardice

(Affirmation,

love,  relationship)

 

CONTROL                             Loneliness; spontaneity             Uncertainty                             Condemned             Worry

(Self‑discipline,

certainty,  standards)

 

POWER                                  Burdened; responsible              Humiliation                              Used                        Anger

(Success,

winning  influence)

 

 

Circle the thoughts that are lodged in your heart:

 

Power idolatry:      "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I have power and influence over others.

 

Approval idolatry:                 "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I am loved and respected by

 

Comfort idolatry:   "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I have this kind of pleasure experience, a particular quality of life."

 

Image idolatry:       "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I have a particular kind of look or body image.

 

Control idolatry:    "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I am able to get mastery over my life in the area of

 

Helping idolatry:    "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ people are dependent on me and need me."

 

Dependence idolatry: "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ someone is there to protect me and keep me safe."

 

Independence idolatry: "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I am completely free from obligations or responsibilities to take care of someone."

 

Work idolatry:       "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I am highly productive getting a lot done."

 

Achievement idolatry: "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I am being recognized for my accomplishments, if I am excelling in my career."

 

Materialism idolatry: "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I have a certain level of wealth, financial freedom, and very nice possessions.

 

Religion idolatry:   "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I am adhering to my religion's moral codes and accomplished in it activities."

 

Individual person idolatry: "Life only has meaning/ 1 only have worth if ‑‑ this one person is in my life and happy there and/or happy with me."

 

Irreligious idolatry: "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I feel I am totally independent of organized religion and with a self‑made morality.

 

Racial/cultural idolatry: "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ my race and culture is ascendant and recognized as superior."

 

Inner ring idolatry:                "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ a particular social grouping or professional grouping or other group lets me in"

 

Family idolatry:     "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ my children and/OR my parents are happy and happy with me."

 

Relationship idolatry: "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ Mr. or Ms. 'Right' is in love with me."

 

Suffering idolatry: "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ I am hurting, in a problem ‑­only then do I feel noble or worthy of love or am able to

deal with guilt."

 

Ideology idolatry: "Life only has meaning /I only have worth if ‑‑ my political or social cause or party is making progress and ascending in influence or power.

 

(A COUPLE OF OTHER ONES THAT I ADDED)

 

Understanding idolatry:  "Life only has meaning / I only have worth if – I understand why I am the way I am and understand my idols!"

 

Safety idolatry:      "Life only has meaning / I only have worth if – I am pursuing the safest course of action and not taking risks emotionally or physically"

 

Authenticity idolatry:  "Life only has meaning / I only have worth if – I am not pretending and being honest [shameless] about who I really am"

 

 

Answer these diagnostic questions:

a.         What is my greatest nightmare? What do I worry about most?

 

b.        What, if I failed or lost it, would cause me to feel that I did not even want to live? What keeps me going?

 

c.         What do I rely on or comfort self with when things go bad or get difficult?

d.        What do I think most easily about? What does my mind go to when I am free? What pre‑occupies me?

e.         What prayer, unanswered, would make me seriously think about turning away from God?

 

f.         What makes me feel the most self‑worth? What am I the proudest of?

 

g.         What do I really want and expect out of life? What would really make me happy?