Unmasking our Idols
On Sunday afternoon, I flew to Denver for a meeting of church planters. We met in a hotel in downtown Denver. After a day and a half of meetings, well, let’s just say, I was fried. I am in a place of breathtaking beauty, and I’m stuck in a room with no windows. Aesthetic death for my soul. Scott Lowe, a good friend who pastors in Ft. Collins, picked me up and thankfully delivered me from a “death by meetings,” and we drove to Colorado Springs so I could investigate a couple of venues for a conference for EPC church planters that I’m attending in October.
We drove to the venue I was hoping to rent and it was fabulous. Since we had some time to kill, Scott brought his mountain bikes. I confess I felt some fear in this. Not only because I have made fun of some of my best friends with this obsession; but, at over six thousand feet and pedaling uphill, I knew it might be a problem. It was worse than I thought. He put me on a “beginner’s” trail and, for the first part, it was fine. Even after almost killing myself on an ascent, gasping for breath, my heart going 170 beats per second, I thought—this might be okay. The view in the canyon was like nothing I had ever seen; the payoff was worth it. Then, however, we started going up switchbacks that would be difficult for a mountain goat, and I almost went over the edge! With some difficulty, I made it to the top without killing myself, and the ride down was all adrenaline. Just a straight shot, and I experienced glory and the old saying, “you got to pay to play.”
The next day we took another short ride before I went to the airport. Literally, a canyon in the middle of the city that was a state park. The views were, again, like nothing you can see from Collierville. People are moving to Colorado in droves. And yet—the number one mental health problem in the state is loneliness. What’s the problem? People move to Colorado with a “spiritual aspiration.” This is the good life. There is breathtaking beauty; the scenery will break your heart and yet…Does this alone make you happy?
People move to the suburbs with something like a “spiritual aspiration” as well. It is safe, the schools are good, we can own a larger house, it is a great place to raise a family. So, what is the problem? Is being safe bad? Are good schools bad? Is having a nice home evil? Is being in a great place to raise a family wrong? No. No more than the ache in your heart you get when in a place of great physical beauty like Colorado. The problem is when you make any of these things a god or idol, that is, something you really look to for your identity, comfort, and joy.
With much fear and trembling, we are to look at the idols of suburbia—good things that can become more to us than just a good thing or a gift from God. And yet, as God told the Israelites as they were about to enter a new land in Canaan, “watch out for the idols in this new place I am giving you.” See, when you are a slave, a homeless person, wandering in the desert, and you are about to become middle class—game on, everything changes. You don’t even know the things that might steal your heart away!
So, join me Sunday as we “wake up” to the danger that is hidden in all beauty and good things.
Blessings,
Jim