Mark Driscoll - Idolatry

[1madeintheimage]

I like the way he says there are those who make Jesus an "Idol giver", that he'll give you things, when the only reason we have to come to jesus is He Made us and we are lost without him! All else we do should be for the benifit and glorification of Him and his Kingdom! 1st cor 2:1-5

[BritneyAddicted4EVA]

It's not that I don't love Jesus but that this struggle really makes me wonder if I'm even a Christian. Apart from Jesus, there's no reason why I keep with my studies or anything else I do. Not in a paying-for-salvation way but in Jesus there is hope for everything. No labor is in vain in the LORD therefore my studies, if successful might produce some fruit and I might in the end do at least something that would make the tiniest little difference for my Lord. :,)

[BritneyAddicted4EVA]

It is not God that let me down, it is I who always tend to led down Jesus. Lack of video games wasn't such a problem before, I really have no idea why is it now! I haven't been playing anything for 5 days, but still I struggle with it.

I don't want to pay for salvation, it's gloriously free but I want to worship Jesus only. I'm afraid to talk to my pastor about this but I really need someone to pull me aside and beat me to bleeding if that's what it takes. I'm weak so that would be easy.

[BritneyAddicted4EVA]

I think I'm in a need of deliverance. I believe I am saved by the blood of Jesus and for a long time I've been praying to Him that I would love to with all my heart be changed and live according to His will, but 2 weeks something horrible happened. Well, lately I have to study for exams. Thing is that I really like playing video games but the fact that a few days it made me think if I should play or not all the time is an obvious beacon: I'm a divided person. Q_Q

I pray God helps me.

[PEEEJ45]

Yes...yes....and yes!!!!! 

[CatholicBruin]

@RealTalkVidzz Rev 22:18-19 warns against adding to or taking away from the Bible, like Luther did.

Rev 21:8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

Rev 22:14-16 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

[CatholicBruin]

@RealTalkVidzz * ALL SINS ARE NOT EQUAL. * Unfortunately, this is a common lie believed & perpetuated by many Protestants. : ( Why do you think all sins are equal & there are no worse sins?

1 John 5:16-17 "If any one sees his brother committing what is not a mortal sin, he will ask, and God will give him life for those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin which is mortal; I do not say that one is to pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is a sin which is not mortal."

[jesus7es7dios7]

"that your idol is pride".... I totally agree..

[DearGodForgiveMe]

Also when preachers say things that aren't Biblical, it reminds me of this verse.

James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

I also saw him sign an autograph for a man in another video, which if I was a preacher I would refuse saying something like, "No, I'm not a celebrity, I'm a servant of God, I won't do it."

[DearGodForgiveMe]

Matthew 12:32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Idolatry is not the worst sin of all, this guy needs to read his Bible so much more or he isn't reading a KJV. It is common Christian knowledge that blasphemy of the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven. But he is giving good examples of how to tell what or WHO your God is.

[solf08]

A lot of respect for this brother but yea no sin greater than others but pride is a very strong sin...

[RealTalkVidzz]

All Sins Are Equal There Are No Worst Sins ..

[AcaiBunch]

@RealTalkVidzz Proverbs 6:16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

[travro25]

Wow, my video game addiction is an idol. I never thought of it that way. Amazing, and saddening. I mean it makes sense: here I am finding artificial pleasure and accomplisment in alternate realities for the sake of pride.

Lord I love you and I thank you for the grace of Jesus and the sermon of Driscoll that opened my eyes. Thank You.

Pray for me guys. I will do likewise.

[janeym]

@travro25 WOOT WOOT! =)

[rleeermy]

@travro25 Christ on sale you can't be serious.

[goproclaimthegospel]

I love Driscoll but I dont think the "what is the first thing you wouldgrab" is a good test. I am gonna grab my laptop because it is the most expensive thing I have and Jesus is not going to burn in a fire.

[MarkHolgate]

@goproclaimthegospel lol. presumably that doesn't include nearby people ...

[gametime6o4]

Wow... I really didn't know that much about idolatry until now... That's a powerful message he gave there... I'd like to send out a prayer request... I'm 17 years old, I've been a Christian since I was 16 and I've had a really hard background... I used to be really strong in the faith, but since the end of the summer of '09 I've been backsliding... my whole soul hates what I've been doing...I feel like every1 from my church is judging me... please pray for my faith... I really need it, thanks!

[Farr1012]

I will definately pray for you. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (James 4: something).

[kikekuriakos]

GREAT STUFF!!! THANKS!!! very usefull

[slaveofChrist7]

ouch! i really struggle with this... and need prayer in this...

Pride is definitely a problem for me.

[talithakoumi]

if your house was one fire what would you grab? Powerful! my bible was my first thought! pride is idolitry and its something everyone wrestles with and its the first thing that God showed me He hated because He cannot work with someone who is prideful.

[chukaorji07]

One more thing, dont mix emotion with completeness and fulfillment. meaning if something that you loved is taken away from you and you get upset for a time, then i feel like that's normal. who would get happy if something important were to be taken away from them. the problem arises, when you joy, fulfillment,happiness, etc. leaves with that important thing. meaning instead of being sad for a short period of time you start to change emotionally and then become depressed, unfulfilled etc.

[chukaorji07]

One thing that I think you all are missing, is the fact that no of yall deserve anything that god gives you in life. if you love your family more than god then you family is a idol. If you love your blessings more than the one who gave them to you, then your idol is your blessing. if god takes something away from you and you lose comfort, then what he took away is an idol. the topic of idolatry shouldn't be that complicated, mark and the luther quote pretty much summed it up, for me at least.

[rooak]

I agree with you that Luther's comment is right on target. However, because—in my circle at least— that statement is quite well known it becomes an issue as to how it can be discerned that you are clinging to and confiding in a thing. I have found the anger/depression (which may be really just inwardly turned anger) issue a good guide to how dearly I hold something. What if the Lord refuses us marriage, kids, a long life, success—do we say with Job, the Lord's name is blessed.?

[rooak]

4570sharps - I think that your comment missed what I was saying. I was not saying all anger/depression was inappropriate. What I was saying iis that that thing that you can't have and that you get angry/depressed about that fact is the idol. It can be a good a thing but it is held idolatrously if you are angry if God removes it from you. In the middle of any situation we have to ask am I going to sacrifice obedience to the Lord in order to hold what I want.

[4570sharps]

True, but still, I think Luther's comment gets at the heart of the issue best. Are you talking about any and all kids of anger/depression or just anger/depression that you might feel towards the Lord? For example, I in no way think of my home as an idol in my life but if you came over and burned it to the ground on purpose I would have a hard time not being angry/depressed but not at God. He is sovereign and I would be seeking Him all the more. (cont.)

[4570sharps]

part2)But, my anger & depression over the loss of my home may reveal that (like all Americans) I depend on material possessions for my security & comfort in life and not the Lord. Parts of the Lord's prayer (like "Give us this day our daily bread") mean NOTHING to us Americans but does that mean "bread" is an idol or that we need to be more thankful and dependant on the Lord even when we have so much (or both)? Ultimately an idol is something u worship, think about most of the time & depend on.

[rooak]

How do you know what your idols are? Just think about what you get angry or depressed about if your access to it is denied. That's the idol.

[lucasdasilvamaria]

I see. But... What if i get mad for not being able to hug my wife and my son for a whole month? Am i an idolater?

[4570sharps]

Or what if you caught your wife in an affair or you found out your daughter was on drugs??? You would be pretty angry & depressed right? I think Luther sums up the whole issue best;

"Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God" --Martin Luther

[lucasdasilvamaria]

Yes, i see. Ad that agrees with Jesus, who said we should HATE our relatives for the love of Him. I didnt realize so far how radical it is.

That makes an idolater. Man! I have to repent!