At church services and weddings, the popular reading from 1 Corinthians begins with verse 4 (“Love is patient, love is kind…”).  The passage describes love as a set of stipulations and prohibitions most hopeless romantics would consider a fairly low bar.  However, verses 1-3 are rarely brought up – anywhere.  They’re a much tougher pill to swallow, describing remarkable “Christian” capabilities and gestures that are meaningless if love is not the driving force behind them.  In the absence of love, eloquence, knowledge, faith, generosity, and sacrifice are being done with another, impure motive.  An honest self-examination may uncover that the impetus behind many of our “religious” acts are actually idols.  As sinful human beings, we have a tendency to represent ourselves as better than we are.

Even Christians and churches may idolize “family”, perception, and security – and therefore speak and act to elevate their standing in the sight of others.  Idols supplant worship of Creator with worship of creation.  But unconditional (Agape) love puts God first since He is love.  As our culture drifts away from Jesus and churches struggle to keep the doors open, the temptation grows for even “good” things either to become an America idol or utilized to promote our idols.

1. Family becomes an idol when we…

The Bible is clear about the importance of family.  It’s the foundation for civil society.  In fact, the health of American culture is in decline due to active efforts to undermine marriage, gender, birth, and fatherhood.  So how do we then fault a parent for pouring all their time, energy, and money into their families?  Only when spouses and children replace God as their highest priority.  Only when churches treat “family” as customers.

Relegate God to the back seat…

Individual Idols: “Obligations” take precedence over personal relationships with Jesus

Love is the Cure: Love fuels discipleship, ensuring the entire family is Christ-centered

Church Idols: “Obligations” to attract, retain, and manage operations dictate priorities

Love is the Cure: Love risks all, even a church’s existence, for the sake of obedience

Won’t give them up for God…

Individual Idols: If honest, we wouldn’t surrender all, as Abraham and our Father did

Love is the Cure: As God’s children, love doesn’t cling to those He has entrusted to us

Church Idols: If honest, pastors worry more about attrition than they’d like to admit

Love is the Cure: At the height of His popularity, Jesus preached His toughest sermon

Give them nearly all our time…

Individual Idols: Little bandwidth available to serve those outside of family members

Love is the Cure: Jesus’ mission and model – even His identity – prioritized the “poor”

Church Idols: Little bandwidth available to serve those outside of “family” members

Love is the Cure: The Great Commandment clearly defines neighbors as non-members

Have little left over for anyone else…

Individual Idols: Plowing 99% into fixed expenses to maintain a standard of living

Love is the Cure: Love compels sacrifice; it doesn’t live in comfort as others suffer

Church Idols: Asking 10% from members but only 1% left to reinvest in community

Love is the Cure: Love compels generosity; it doesn’t just ask for it from others

2. Perception becomes an idol when we…

Social media (and now AI) offer Americans daily opportunities to present a false self to the outside world.  We signal virtue, await affirmation, play offense behind keyboards, get defensive when confronted, but stay quiet about beliefs at odds with conventional wisdom.  We even use other idols (like families and assets) to keep up façades.  Christians and churches aren’t exempt from this distinctly (not uniquely) American idol.

Find it hard to think about others

Individual Idols: Self-preservation, comparison, and position dominate our thoughts

Love is the Cure: Dying to self frees us to feel and act out of genuine love and empathy

Church Idols: Self-preservation, comparison, and position drive strategy and metrics

Love is the Cure: Dying to self seeks unity and Kingdom impact beyond the “4 walls”

Are less concerned about God’s feelings about us

Individual Idols: Approval-seeking and self-reliance silence and stifle conscience

Love is the Cure: Satisfaction that the Lord’s love is sufficient validation of value

Church Idols: Conforming to, not confronting, social norms to avoid controversy

Love is the Cure: Satisfaction that the Lord’s love is sufficient validation of value

Defend self while injustice prevails

Individual Idols: Quick to protect personal interests, but slow to react as others suffer

Love is the Cure: Concern for the underserved and vulnerable who lack social capital

Church Idols: Quick to protect church interests, but slow to react to community needs

Love is the Cure: Deploying its vast capacity to bless the marginalized and maligned

Adjust behavior to improve social standing

Individual Idols: Projecting an image, exaggerating, or focusing only on the good parts

Love is the Cure: Transparency and confession helps others see their need for Jesus

Church Idols: Projecting an image, diluting truth, or focusing on volume-based metrics

Love is the Cure: Humility and repentance can lead to revival within a church and a city

3. Security becomes an idol when we…

There’s no security in this life, but that doesn’t stop Americans from seeking it here.  For Christ-followers, the only certainty is the eternal reservation that Jesus booked for us.  All else should be released (we can’t hang on to it anyway) with an open hand and generous heart, out of love for our Father who provided it and for those made in His image.  However, security has become an idol for many Americans and churches.

Love it more than God

Individual Idols: Too anxious about its absence or excited about its accumulation

Love is the Cure: Would give up jobs, houses, and bank accounts if the Lord asked

Church Idols: Too anxious about its absence or excited about its accumulation

Love is the Cure: Would give up jobs, buildings, and bank accounts if the Lord asked

Find our security there

Individual Idols: Trust and identity rooted more in financial than spiritual net worth

Love is the Cure: Knowing whatever our Father provides is a generous, temporary gift

Church Idols: Complacency or conformance to preserve what leaders have built

Love is the Cure: Knowing whatever our Father provides is a generous, temporary gift

Don’t give it away freely

Individual Idols: Reluctant or unwilling to give without strings attached (recognition)

Love is the Cure: Eager to donate to critical causes as a wise steward of God’s wealth

Church Idols: Worries about sustainability outweigh confidence in the Lord’s provision

Love is the Cure: Eager to address critical causes as a wise steward of God’s resources

Acquire assets while others suffer

Individual Idols: Working single-mindedly to fulfill desires for luxury goods or a lifestyle

Love is the Cure: Having a greater level of commitment to knowing and sharing Christ

Church Idols: Working diligently to build, grow, or maintain facilities and membership

Love is the Cure: Content but not comfortable, compelled by love to Meet The Need

It’s Your Turn…

What other American idols are common issues for both our culture and our churches?