Idols

 

          Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. (Colossians 3:5)

          There is the “nearby idol,” the thing close at hand, which gives us a sense of control over our world. Then there is the “faraway idol” which provides a sense of transcendence. (John Eldridge, Journey of Desire. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, p. 78.)

          Let’s deal first with the odd wording of today’s passage. We are to put to death what belongs to our earthly nature. Paul then provides a list and finishes with “which is idolatry.” Shouldn’t it be “which are idolatry?” Technically, the sentence reads “…whatever belongs to your earthly nature, which is idolatry.” The list provides example. Another way to look at it is that we are to put to death sexual immorality, which is idolatry; and impurity, which is idolatry; and lust, which is idolatry….

          But it’s really the second passage that caught my attention. I’m not sure Mr. Eldridge has it quite right, but I think the distinction he makes is helpful. He describes our “nearby idols” as giving us a sense of control over the world. A nearby idol he described was an internal-frame backpack. With it, or by it, he could go experience adventure, his faraway idol. The problem is with the words “control” and “transcendence.” We’re not free if we change those words to something else that finds its way back to them. Freedom is wonderful, but to what extent does freedom mean that we’re in control.

          It seems that that nearby idols are the means, other than God, to the faraway idols, which are ends that are other than God. Is it possible, then, to treat God idolatrously? A simple example would be the attempt to use God as the means to wealth or power. A faraway god can, in turn, be the nearby god used to reach a god that is even farther away.

          The faraway idols tend to be values and ideals. Ultimately, if we’re not seeking God, we are seeking wealth, power, fame, influence, self-respect, hope, peace. They’re moving targets. They’re intangible. The nearby idols are more concrete.

          Another question to sink your teeth into. It would seem wrong for us to make idols of the nearby gods. It would also seem wrong for us to use them as a means to a far away god. We should not worship idols, period. But does that mean that the idols we tend to worship are bad? Is self-control necessarily bad? It’s described as a fruit of the Spirit (or a part of the fruit of the Spirit.) Self-control, as a nearby god or a faraway god is wrong. However, self-control as an outcome of our worship of God seems to be natural. It’s not quite a case of “the cart before the horse,” but a realization that when we keep things in the right order, we may find ourselves gaining – with a proper perspective – the very things we desire.