Idol Factories

"For many of us, our hearts have been idol factories where we punch our time card more often than we care to admit."

That word, idol. It just sounds so outdated.

In a world where religion and spirituality is viewed as an archaic junk drawer this idea of idolatry holds a less than appealing luster.

And really the only place we find it permissible to use the word worship is in the traditional religious settings scattered amidst the broad landscape of secular appeal.

Let's think about this for a moment. There's a small remnant of religious affiliates that herald the idea and intent of worship and discredit the term idolatry. But I would suggest that the sacred and secular actually are closer on this spectrum than they may care to imagine.

By defining the word worship as "giving attention to or having an affection" for some object then we can begin to more practically and with greater plausibility see that we are naturally inclined to cherish what we consider to be of significant worth or value.

Allow me for a moment to assume that the God of the Bible is a supreme being worthy of worship and that all else is inferior to Him and to worship anything besides Him is idolatry. If this be the case then I believe it's safe to say that there really are idols that are constantly vying for our attention and affection.

Relationship Idols
He goes to the gym and she buys a new dress to become more physically appealing. They each make promises hoping the other keeps their end of the deal. It's that Jerry Maguire "you complete me" vortex that so many in our culture find so intriguing. We look to relationships to fill a void and provide a sense of self-worth. In an effort to belong and feel loved we substitute human relationships into a God-shaped hole that only He can fulfill.

Work Idols
He wants to be known as a man's man, making the deal, living luxuriously, as a testament to the 70-80 hour work week he's constantly putting in for his family. He's taken the notion of providing for his family to the extreme. But the problem is he's absent. And frustrated. And tired. Sure, his wife will enjoy the new car and the kids will enjoy the new trinkets and toys. For a minute. But working religiously to appease someone else will never be a satisfying substitute to the security found in belonging and resting in your relationship with God.

Entertainment Idols
Cinemas, stadiums, and recreational sites have become sanctuaries that make big screens, soccer nets, end zones, jet skis, and golf clubs our altars where we pledge our allegiance, make sacrifices, and sing worship tunes to the gods of the entertainment industry. Seriously! Our attitude, how we treat our spouses and kids, and in some cases even our bank accounts are all riding on whether a 19 year old catches a pass in the end zone. Entertainment should never become the substitute for the passion and commitment God designed for us to have with Him

Is it any wonder why God had to tell His people to have no other gods before Him nor to make any graven images so as to become an idolater? We dress up our idols so they're more fashionable than stone or wooden images but the truth is, we all have idol issues.

We must fight the urge to punch our time card at the idol factory as often as we do. Maybe it's time to admit that your idol factory needs to close its doors. When we come under new management we should be manufacturing a new product; Christ-likeness.

Taking the Day Off

I had perfect attendance through grade school!

No joke! I really did.

In a world where little Johnny has the sniffles and Susie's parents want to take her shopping for her 10th birthday perfect attendance is becoming somewhat of an anomaly.

Not me. Every morning when the lights came on, I was up and ready to go.

What if it was my turn to be the line leader? What if our class had PE all day? What if the cafeteria was serving McDonald's Happy Meals for the entire school? What if my girlfriend got a love note that read "check yes or no" from under her desk three rows across the room?

I had to be there.

I was so eager to get to school the next day that sometimes I would sleep on an already made up bed in my school clothes. I  can see my mom now just rolling her eyes asking, "What are you doing?"

Actually, I don't know if that was my eager side or lazy streak! It just didn't make any sense to take a day off.

Have you ever taken a day off?

I don't mean a day off from work. Or a day off from going to the gym. Or even a day off from fixing the kids dinner and having to make a last minute pizza run.

Have you ever just taken the day off from making good, sensible decisions? One of those days where you look back and wonder, "What was I thinking?"

I believe the majority of us live most of our lives making sensible decisions. Not perfect but acceptable. Choices, looking back, maybe we could have tweaked or thought through a little better but not necessarily things we regret or keep hidden in shame.

Take for instance a guy many people know by the name of Samson. Here's the big picture of his story; a strong guy with long hair who had a crush on a gal named Delilah.

In spite of some of his severely off track behavior he "led Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines." Contrary to popular belief he really did exercise moments of faithfulness.

But watch what happens next. He "went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute, and he went in to spend the night with her." Talk about a senseless moment! He was most definitely taking the day off!

Before we're too hard on him, let's be honest. Haven't we had similar lapses in judgment? Maybe not sleeping with a prostitute. But maybe anger, addiction, gossip, greed, lying, lust, porn, or pride has become the motive for us taking a day off.

Just before his death, some of Samson's last words were "God, remember me" and "strengthen me." There wasn't much he could do to correct his bad behavior. It was going to be difficult to right all the wrongs from the days he took off. But, nevertheless, he decided it was time to have a conversation with God that I'm sure was long overdue.

Perhaps you and I still have several days left to recover from the days we've taken off. And if so, maybe we need to use the same language as Samson and ask God to remember us and to strengthen us. No more senseless decisions. No more lapses in judgment. No more days off!