{"id":2525,"date":"2011-04-05T15:53:48","date_gmt":"2011-04-05T22:53:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thepangeablog.com\/?p=2525"},"modified":"2011-07-06T19:12:52","modified_gmt":"2011-07-07T02:12:52","slug":"when-beliefs-become-idols-quote-to-ponder-tim-keller","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thepangeablog\/2011\/04\/05\/when-beliefs-become-idols-quote-to-ponder-tim-keller\/","title":{"rendered":"When Beliefs Become Idols (Quote to Ponder: Tim Keller)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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While I was working on some research for the book of Jonah, I came across a quote that is worthy of pondering.\u00a0 It makes me wonder if we in the religious community, on both the right left and center are making idols out of our theological convictions?\u00a0 With all of the uproar about the future of evangelicalism and the coming split between the new Calvinists and those of us who don\u2019t fit that label, I wonder if this quote from Tim Keller applies to us?\u00a0 Have we been guilty of crossing the line from passion into idolatry and not even recognized it?\u00a0 What thoughts come to your mind about idols in daily life that Christians are often tempted to embrace without even recognizing it? <\/em>Do you see the irony of using a Keller quote in light of the context of this conversation? (Keller = favorite Calvinist!)<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAn idol is something that we look to for things that only God can give.\u00a0 Idolatry functions widely inside religious communities when doctrinal truth is elevated to the position of a false god.\u00a0 This occurs when people rely on the rightness of their doctrine for their standing with God rather than on God himself and his grace.\u00a0 It is a subtle but deadly mistake\u2026.\u00a0 Another form of idolatry within religious communities turns spiritual gifts and ministry success into a counterfeit god\u2026.\u00a0 Another kind of religious idolatry has to do with moral living itself\u2026\u00a0 Though we may give lip service to Jesus as our example and inspiration, we are still looking to ourselves and own own moral striving for salvation\u2026.\u00a0 Making an idol out of doctrinal accuracy, ministry success, or moral rectitude leads to constant internal conflict, arrogance and self-righteousness, and oppression of those whose views differ.\u201d\u00a0 Tim Keller, Counterfeit Gods<\/a>, p. 131-132<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 While I was working on some research for the book of Jonah, I came across a quote that is worthy of pondering.\u00a0 It makes me wonder if we in the religious community, on both the right left and center are making idols out of our theological convictions?\u00a0 With all of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,92],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-quote-to-ponder","category-theology"],"yoast_head":"\nWhen Beliefs Become Idols (Quote to Ponder: Tim Keller)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"        While I was working on some research for the book of Jonah, I came across a quote that is worthy of pondering.\u00a0 It makes me\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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