This week we will study the idol of Affection. This idol goes by many names: romance, intimacy, but most often, simply "Love." We are indoctrinated with the claim: Love is god. We are taught that without a romantic relationship, our lives are meaningless; without romantic love and affection, we are somehow incomplete. Like every idol, this one overpromises, under-delivers, and always breaks our heart. Perhaps the physically strongest person in all of Scripture, Sampson, was slain by the idol of affection.
Detox: The Idol of Affection
Judges 13-16
March 11, 2018 • Judges 13—16
More from
Detox
Detox: The Idol of Control
March 25, 2018 • John 18—19
We live in a world that is out of control and beyond our control. We work hard to create order out of the chaos of our lives, but even at the pinnacle of our powers, we can't control most of which sets the course of our lives. We are finite, dependent creatures, and we don't like it. This is why the idol of control is so powerful. It offers us power, control, influence, authority, and we're willing to sacrifice whatever this idol demands to get everything it offers. We conclude our Detox series by looking at Jesus' trial before Pilate.
Detox: The Idol of Comfort
March 18, 2018 • Luke 12:13–34
One of the most dangerous toxins to our spiritual life and growth is the toxin of comfort. Comfort kills all growth, but especially spiritual growth. When we worship at the alter of the idol of comfort, by orienting our lives around becoming as comfortable as we possibly can, our souls are lulled to sleep and we are rendered ineffective. We lock ourselves in cages of comfort, and we becomes shells of our potential selves. We need a spiritual detox from the toxicity of comfort.
Detox: The Idol of Significance
March 4, 2018
A detox is a process by which a person aims to cleanse the body of toxins or unhealthy substances. In the same way that our bodies incrementally and imperceptibly accumulate toxins, our souls do the same. A little here, a little there, and without realizing it, we've found ourselves in a spiritual funk. During this year's season of Lent, we will spend 4 weeks going through a spiritual detox of sorts by analyzing the heart's deepest idols: significance, affection, comfort, and control.