An Imperfect Woman by Kim Hyland

Author:Kim Hyland
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Christian Living / Women;Christian women—Religious life;Perfectionism (Personality trait)—Religious aspects—Christianity;REL012130;REL012120;REL012070
ISBN: 9781493408399
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2017-10-31T04:00:00+00:00

Modern Idols

Dear friends of ours have spent their entire adult lives as missionaries in foreign places where idolatry is openly practiced. Years ago, they were in the states with their family and visited us. It was fascinating to talk with them and hear their perspective as Americans who, being removed from the culture, had a more objective point of view. I’ll always remember how surprised I was when they expressed that the idolatry of our country was worse than where they worked to share the gospel: “The idols of the West are disguised and hidden. People don’t recognize their idols for what they really are.”

They went on to explain how our idols aren’t typically found in temples or candlelit shrines. Rather, they’re parked in our garages, hanging in our closets, and growing in our bank accounts. They’re hiding in our computer screens, credit cards, refrigerators, and often even in our relationships. They are masters of disguise, and they’re what we turn to in trust. While more subtle and deceitful than its Old Testament and foreign counterparts, idolatry is alive and well in our modern material and relational idols. Like Rachel and the Israelites, we turn to the idols in which our culture has taught us to trust.

Quite often, our idols pose as ideals. They come in every shape and size. Ideals are what sell our books and determine our culture’s trends. They promise health, knowledge, beauty, esteem, security, confidence, happiness, and more.

Ideals can be useful. They define our lives and the paths we choose. They’re deeply personal, and they reflect the image of God’s unique design for each of us. Surrendered to him and kept in their proper role and function of service, they are a gift and can serve us effectively.

But in our concerted efforts to achieve these ideals, they can slowly morph into idols.

And idols don’t serve. They enslave. When we turn to our ideals in fear and make desperate grasps at self-sufficiency, we make the mistake of the Israelites. The resources given by God become our own “golden calf.” And we bow.

My own experience with idolatry follows that pattern. I saw a good thing. Marriage, family, service in the church—all things that were gifts from God and could be a blessing to me and a means of sharing God’s love and truth with others. But the means became an end as I struggled to “do it right.” My ideals subtly morphed into idols as they became the standard for my self-worth, security, happiness, and peace. My weaknesses weren’t areas in which to deepen trust in God and to experience his grace and strength. No. They were liabilities, and my idols had no tolerance for them. Day after day, I fell short of their unrealistic and incessant demands to be better, try harder, and work faster. My golden calf was ravenous and insatiable.

Grace, forgiveness, gospel—they were words that I could sing about, define, and point you to in the Scriptures. But in my self-determined pursuit of righteousness, I

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