It’s time to talk about idols. In my last article (Thoughts on Structure and Outcomes) I mentioned that I would return to the topic of idols in Canada. The reason I want to talk about idolatry is that I feel that for most Christians it flies under the radar. Idolatry in Canada is easy to ignore because our idols have camouflage, they look harmless. But, before we go there, a quick recap on our view of disciple-making at Novo Canada.
We believe that the heart of the church is God’s heart. A simple expression of God’s heart is that God desires that we would love him and love each other, just as he loves himself and loves his creation. It’s important to remember that love is always expressed practically. God showed his love for people by sending Jesus to earth as a human and his mission of love continues in his disciples. Following the way of Jesus means expressing our love for God and for people in many ways, but one of the most significant is helping someone discover Jesus and become a disciple. Disciples express their love through obedience to Jesus’ commands and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, they are transformed into his likeness, bringing glory to God.
This is bigger than just getting someone to say a conversion prayer. As disciple-makers we want to participate in a person’s journey to Christ and then help them to become disciple-makers too. This robust, and potentially time-consuming journey, is really important in our post-Christian society where so many people are unfamiliar with what Christian’s believe. (Diagram: Discipleship.org).
Life on life discipleship is critical. And our witness becomes even more effective when people see Christians living together in ways that reflect the transformation they are experiencing as individuals.
About Idols
In Deuteronomy 4:15 God says to Israel not to make any image to worship in place of him. This is the way most of us think about idolatry. We’re not idol worshippers because we’re not worshipping an image. But idolatry is more complex than that. Chris Wright in his book Here are your Gods says that “At the root, then, of all idolatry is human rejection of the God-ness of God and the finality of God’s moral authority.” He continues, “Idolatry dethrones God and enthrones creation.” (Wright, p34)
Wright goes on to say that false gods may be things that entice us, things we fear, things we trust in place of God, or need. Some corresponding examples may be the desire for wealth, the portrayal of who we are in social media, money, a job. More insidious gods may be something like secularism in Canada that expects us to segment our lives so that religion is reduced to a room in the house of our being versus God being all-in-all.
None of the gods or idols that we face are new. Many are the work of our own hands. We’re often responsible for giving them power, even as many are empowered by demonic forces at work in the world. Their ability to exert power in our lives springs from Adam and Eve’s choosing to name good and evil for themselves. Thankfully, when we believe in Jesus, and he restores our relationship with God, he extends his power and authority to us to defeat the power of the gods and idols at work in our lives. But there is a cost. The cost is that we have to take up our cross daily. Surrendering to Jesus as Lord of all things is how we live free from the power of the idols at work in the world.
If you are a child of God and Jesus is your Lord you need to know that Jesus’s promises exceed the promises of the gods at work in Canada.
For instance:
- Jesus has overcome the post-modern god of “no-truth” because he is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
- Jesus overcomes the god of self that places our choice as the highest good because all things were created by Jesus and for Jesus (Colossians 1:16).
- Jesus overcomes the idol of independence and individualism because he has made us full members of a new spiritual family (Matthew 12:48).
Back to Disciple-Making
So, how serious is the idolatry of the church in Canada? I believe one piece of evidence of our compromise with the idols and gods of this age is our struggle to make disciples who make disciples. Without the witness of a transformed life at a personal and corporate level, we have nothing. In other words, our God has no power.
Some may object to me saying this but look at it this way. If a disciple is a person who hears Jesus, obeys Jesus, and shares what they know about Jesus with others, then a disciple of Jesus is a person who is experiencing how Jesus is Lord over all things. Their personal story is a manifestation of the kingdom coming and tearing down the lies of opposing power structures. Transformation occurs. And the power of Christ at work is contagious, just look how quickly the good news spread in the first century, an age without social media. Therefore, I surmise, our low levels of disciple-making are an indication of just how compromised we are in Canada. (Selah)
Yet still, there is hope. The apostle John’s words to the church in Sardis ring true today. “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent.” (Revelation 3:3) Let’s pray for the Church in Canada to do that.
Action: Set aside some time to invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart to see if there are idols in your life. One by one ask: Holy Spirit search me. Are there things that entice me that have become an idol? Are there things that I fear that have become an idol? Are there things I trust in place of God that have become an idol? Are there things that I need that have become an idol? Repent of anything that the Lord shows you.
John Hall is President of Novo Canada. Novo Canada is a mission organization that raises up teams of ordinary Christians in Canada to reach Canada, and the nations. Prior to working with Novo Canada John led Mission Central for 9 years.
