Question 17

Catechism 17 - What is idolatry? Idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator for our hope and happiness, significance and security.

The catechism says that we ditch the giver for the gift…

Hope

[Illustration]

Being a nurse in the hospital...

Is your only hope in life and death that you are not your own but belong to God?

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Happiness

[Illustration of Martin Luther]

Martin Luther says, in summary,

“You’ll know someone’s idol by what they lose”

[Illustration]

Jett with my board game…

[Illustration]

The Rich Young Ruler...

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Significance

“Significance” could be swapped with “identity”. Who we are.

[Illustration]

For adults, it’s usually our function in work or society that we idolize. Take it away, and we think we are “nothing”

What makes you feel important? Is it the love of God?

“If you live for the affirmation of others, you will die at the lack of it”

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Security

What gives us a sense of “safety”? When life is tough… what gives us ultimate assurance?

[Illustration]

C. S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce, summarized

I saw coming towards us a Ghost who carried something on his shoulder… What sat on his shoulder was a little red lizard, and it was twitching its tail like a whip and whispering things in his ear. As we caught sight of him he turned his head to the reptile with a snarl of impatience. ‘Quiet, I tell you!’ he said. It wagged its tail and continued to whisper to him. He ceased snarling, and presently began to smile. Then he turned and started to limp westward, away from the mountains. Off so soon?’ said a voice. The speaker was more or less human in shape but larger than a man, and so bright that I could hardly look at him. His presence smote on my eyes and on my body too (for there was heat coming from him as well as light) like the morning sun at the beginning of a tyrannous summer day. ‘Yes. I’m off,’ said the Ghost. ‘Thanks for all your hospitality. But it’s no good, you see. I told this little chap’ (here he indicated the lizard) ‘that he’d have to be quiet if he came—which he insisted on doing. Of course his stuff won’t do here: I realise that. But he won’t stop. I shall just have to go home.’ ‘Would you like me to make him quiet?’ said the flaming Spirit—an angel, as I now understood. ‘Of course I would,’ said the Ghost. ‘Then I will kill him,’ said the Angel, taking a step forward. ‘Oh—ah—look out! You're burning me. Keep away,’ said the Ghost, retreating. ‘Don't you want him killed? ’‘You didn't say anything about killing him at first. I hardly meant to bother you with anything so drastic as that. ’‘It’s the only way,’ said the Angel, whose burning hands were now very close to the lizard. ‘Shall I kill it? ’‘Well, that’s a further question. I’m quite open to consider it, but it’s a new point, isn’t it? I mean, for the moment I was only thinking about silencing it because up here—well, it’s so embarrassing. ’‘May I kill it? ’‘Well, there’s time to discuss that later.’ ‘There is no time. May I kill it?’ ‘Please, I never meant to be such a nuisance. Please—really—don’t bother. Look! It’s gone to sleep of its own accord. I’m sure it’ll be all right now. Thanks ever so much. ’‘May I kill it?’ ‘Honestly, I don’t think there’s the slightest necessity for that. I’m sure I shall be able to keep it in order now. I think the gradual process would be far better than killing it.’ ‘The gradual process is of no use at all.’…2

John Owen said, “Be killing sin, or it will be killing you”

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Idolatry is a mortally dangerous, pervasive sin.

What is the cure?

TO KNOW THE REAL THING