idols

a poem about guarding our hearts against idolatry

there’s no room for idols
between me and you
you take up all the space 
you fill all the room

of every space in my soul
you flow through every vein
for you alone
are worthy to be praised

take all the idols of the world
throw ‘em to the wind
burn them in the pile
never to be seen again

there’s no room for idols
just enough for me and you

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About

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. - 1 John 5:21

Something I do at the start of every new year’s season is to take time to review my journal entries over the past year and compile a list of the major events, breakthroughs, struggles, answered prayers, and lessons that I learned over the year. One thing that I noticed was that in 2022, the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work in my life had a lot to do with identifying and addressing things or people that I was idolizing.

One of the major changes I made was the decision to completely leave social media and delete my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts. The Holy Spirit led me to realize that the time I was spending compulsively scrolling through posts and stories of the digital world was taking precious time away from being presently engaged in the physical world. It was worsening my anxiety symptoms and existing as a place I could turn to as a means of escape from worries and fears rather than turning to my Lord and Savior in prayer.

Central to this unfolding sanctification process was the study of Jesus’ words during the Sermon on the Mount concerning God’s command to not commit adultery:

You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. - Matthew 5:27-30

A way of summarizing this passage that has been really helpful to me is the following:

• If anything leads you toward or causes you to sin, distance yourself from it.

The sin of idolism is a form of adultery of the heart involving turning to someone or something in the way that we should be turning to God. The idolization process leads to exalting people or things to a place where they ultimately do not belong in our lives. There are things and people that should be held close to our hearts, but nothing should be held closer than the Lord.

For me and social media, obedience looked like leaving social media platforms altogether, and doing so has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. Without social media, there’s been more space in my mind to stay engaged in the present moment, contemplate the things of God, and intentionally speak to him. I don’t think that God has called everyone to delete all their social media accounts, and I believe it’s possible God may call me to rejoin social media at some point in the future. What it practically looks like to distance ourselves from potential idols will not look the same for everyone. What is the same is the calling to be intentional about examining our hearts and taking the steps the Holy Spirit and the Word of God leads us to.

Like David did, we ought to pray:

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! - Psalm 139:23-24

Prayer

Holy Spirit, one of your roles is to convict us of sin. You seek to glorify the name of Jesus. Convict us of our sins and reveal to us the things that we are idolizing in our lives so that Jesus can be exalted and glorified all the more in and through us. We confess our sins before you, God, knowing that according to your word, you will be faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Thank you for the mercy, grace, and love that you lavish on us. There is truly no room for idols between us and you. Amen.

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