Renouncing the things that are our idols

Keller says, An idol is something we just can’t live without. We must have it, and therefore it drives us to break rules we once honoured, to harm others—even ourselves—in order to get it. Idols are spiritual addictions that lead to terrible evil. And Paul tells us here that if we are to be Christians—if we are to be converted to Christ—we must renounce these things as idols. It does not mean that you can not work hard in your workplace, but you must renounce success as your god. It does not mean that you can not use money and make provision for your life, but that can no longer be your life. So with beauty, so with power, so for sex, for power, glory—all of those things. Believing the gospel, embracing Jesus Christ, involves a change of the will, the renouncing of a master, to worship, serve, and honour God the Father through Jesus Christ. I have mentioned how that change was described for converted animists—what it meant for them to come to Christ. And I am going to apply that same language to you and me. What does it mean to be converted to Christ? We must claim his lordship. We must put ourselves under his blood. We must trust in the Holy Spirit’s power. We must claim God’s fatherly protection as our only hope for life.¹

Richard D. Phillips