21st CENTURY IDOLATRY

IDOLATRY:  THE SURPRISING ROOT OF CONFLICT

Book of James 4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 

QUESTION:  But what if our desires aren't sinful?
PROBLEM:  Ken Sands says the problem occurs when a legitimate desire turns into an idol.  Usually, this needs to be dealt with before dealing with surface issues.

PRACTICALLY, HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN?

A DESIRE      ( I want a peaceful home, respect from my wife, professional success, spiritual growth in my church family, a cell phone, an Ipad, a motorcycle, etc.)  Name whatever your desire is.

      When my desire begins to preoccupy and control my other thoughts and actions, it  escalates into

A DEMAND     (I cannot be happy or fulfilled if my desire isn't satisfied.)  

      When other people don't meet my demand, I view them as blocking me from getting what I want.  As a result,

I JUDGE     (You are the cause  of my dissatisfaction and must change for my desire to be satisfied.)  

      When I use my words and actions to manipulate  your behavior toward fulfilling my demand,

I PUNISH      ("If you won't do what I want you to do, then I won't do what you want me to do.")      

      When I pursue my desire before I listen to and obey GOD, it becomes

AN IDOL     ("I am preoccupied with this desire.  It directs what I do and how I feel; it is the controlling grid through which I view this situation.")   

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          What about the spiritual element involved with conflict?  Obviously, our Enemy hates unity---and so he makes suggestions that tempt us to judge others and feel self-righteous.

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EXAMINE   When you are confronted by someone or something that makes you uncomfortable, lean into the discomfort.  Drag that feeling into the light of Scripture, and examine it closely.  Is it the pain of your temporary flesh being crucified----or the pain of an eternal truth being violated?  Challenge yourself to respond immediately and obediently to God's promptings.
        

          (Excerpts from May 2012 In Touch Magazine)