Some years ago the show When Animals Attack enjoyed some popularity. Our intrigue over the title was surpassed by an admittedly morbid fascination with otherwise “peaceful” animals like deer turning into a forest brawler, pummeling their human “opponents.” In many of the cases there was something that set-off the animal causing them to react. However, there were other times when the animal was just flat out surly; they wanted to scrap.
The image of a deer on his hind legs throwing punches like Riddick Bowe reminds me of heart idolatry. Idolatry is simply anything that sits in God’s chair; specifically anything that you value, serve or build your life upon that is not God. Like the quiet, peaceful deer, our hearts seem quietly peaceful and safe. But when the idols of our heart are poked, prodded, questioned or threatened then they attack.
I say “they attack” but really it is us that attacks. When we set up idols in our hearts we make an investment in them. These investments are costly; they conform and shape our thinking and emotions.
Whenever the items of our affection are threatened then we react. Sometimes this attacking is loud and demonstrative. Like an angry animal on its hind legs we try to land hay-makers. Consider the husband whose wife has recently brought a concern to him. What is his response? Well, before even truly listening to the concerns and thinking through them he begins to point out flaws in his wife. He shows her weaknesses that correspond to his own. Sometimes this is quite loud and painful. Other times he could just refuse to engage the point, play the victim and then cut off communication. Whether actively (yelling) or passively (quietly distancing) this is manipulation–the husband is trying to control the situation because his idol is threatened. His treasure is seen to have rust on it. He is angry.
What is the idol? It could be the idol of approval. He loves the approval of others and the thought that he is not thought well of by others just eats him up. It could be the idol of comfort. Conflict makes him uncomfortable. Instead of dealing with it, he chooses to ignore it and maintain (ostensibly) his comfort. It could be the idol of power. He feels that such a critique of his ability or leadership is an overt attack upon his position. He will then assert his power by attempting to control the situation.
All of these source idols (power, approval, comfort) use the acts of the flesh (manipulation) as surface idols, puppets to ward off the attackers to the idol of self.
We should not be surprised when idols attack. They are always under fire because they are weak and insufficient. Idols cannot satisfy. They cannot bear the load of human expectations and hunger. No matter who or what you put your trust in, build your life upon, and gain your joy from, if it is not God then it is an idol.
This is why the gospel is seen to be so powerful.
Through the gospel we learn that our power is not our god. Instead when we are weak then we are strong—God’s power is perfected in our weakness (2 Cor. 12.10). We worship a God who became weak for us through the cross.
Through the gospel we learn that our acceptance is not our god. Instead our acceptance is bassed upon the work of Christ. Jesus won the ultimate approval for us with God by being rejected by God. We need not grovel before the idols of the nations for approval when the God of heavens smiles upon us in Christ (1 Jn. 2.2).
Through the gospel we learn that our comfort is not our god. Instead our comfort comes from the work of Christ. We are comforted based upon the work of Christ where he was made uncomfortable for us. He suffered, died and was buried for us. He wore the crown of thorns so that we could be comforted with the crown of righteousness. He drank the miserable cup of wrath so that we could drink the cup of blessing. He bore God’s frown so that we could receive God’s eternal smile (Matt. 27.46; Rom. 8.32).
When your idols attack realize why: it is because they are threatened. They are weak and insufficient. Then smash them like Joash hyped up on caffeine (2 Kings 11.18-20). Run to Christ, seeing and savoring his sufficiency.
