Comments on: American Idols pt. 1

By: Tony Bernhoffer

Tony Bernhoffer — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:25:05 +0000

YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU!
FOR WE BROUGHT NOTHING INTO THE WORLD, AND WE CAN TAKE NOTHING OUT OF IT. BUT IF WE HAVE FOOD AND CLOTHING, WE WILL BE CONTENT WITH THAT. PEOPLWHO WANT TO GET RICH FALL INTO TEMPTATION AND A TRAP AND INTO MANY FOOLISH AND HARMFUL DESIRES THAT PLUNGE MEN INTO RUIN AND DESTRUCTION. FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL” (I TIM. 6:7-10A, NIV)

By: Tony Bernhoffer

Tony Bernhoffer — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:52:05 +0000

I was just thinking this morning of the Scripture which says:
DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD. IF ANYONE LOVES THE WORLD, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM." (i John 2:15, NIV)
And John goes on to defie worldiness:
FOR EVERYTHNG IN THEWORLD-THE CRAVINGS OF SINFUL MAN, THE LUST OF HIS EYES AND THE BOASTING OF WHAT HE HAS AND DOES-COMES NOT FROM THE FATHER BUT FROM THE WORLD." (i JOHN 2:16, niv)
I once heard an Insight for Living radio program say that some make an idol of their education-their college diplomas and PhD's.
America once built an idol statue or a monumente to PROGRESS at the 1916 World's Fair. Even at the factory my dad used to work at, they provided him with booklets which emphasized PROGRESS. But I say after my fall in graduaie school at Michigan State University in 1986 I asked myself the quesiton AT WHAT PRICE SUCCESS? Or in the words of /Christ roughly, WHAT DOES IT PROFIT A MAN TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD BUT LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?

By: A seeker

A seeker — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:13:58 +0000

I think we have to look not externally to things like money, posessions, sex, health–but internally to what ideas about life or our own personhood rule us. However I think all we can do is be open, because we want the Holy Spirit to do the work. Trying to improve ourselves can even become idolatrous, because we may hold up the standard we want for ouselves and strive for it, when it is not the standard God wants. For example health consciousness, which is not a bad thing, can become idolatrous if we are motivated by the fear of death, the idea that somehow we can prevent diseases from coming upon us (look at Job), or the idea that to be worthy we must look a certain way. Idolatry runs very deep in us. It began with Satan who worshipped himself. But I think it is an awesome series to start a process of renewal in our hearts. And to answer your last question about a big American idol-I think we just want to avoid suffering at all costs. And the cost of that is high–according to Scripture suffering is a pre-requisite for endurance and maturity!