Monday Moments
Identifying Idols
It’s easy to think idolatry doesn’t exist when we live in a (mostly) monotheistic society. Idols are very much a real thing in every culture, however. They just look different. Some we might deem more obvious, and others more subtle. The caution is that no matter the time or place, we are all prone to idolatry, and we must keep ourselves from them.
St. Thomas Acquinas eloquently stated that, “the essence of sin is disordered love.” That’s exactly what idolatry is. When we place something other than God as first in our hearts, it’s an idol. It can happen with the obvious, but it can also happen with good things too. The lesson is that we must always be humble and willing to ask the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts and see if there is anything that might be in the place where only God should live. When we elevate our preferences, time, or resources above our love for God and/or others, it’s probably an idol. The good news is that the cure is not as costly as you might think.
It’s easy to think idolatry doesn’t exist when we live in a (mostly) monotheistic society. Idols are very much a real thing in every culture, however. They just look different. Some we might deem more obvious, and others more subtle. The caution is that no matter the time or place, we are all prone to idolatry, and we must keep ourselves from them.
St. Thomas Acquinas eloquently stated that, “the essence of sin is disordered love.” That’s exactly what idolatry is. When we place something other than God as first in our hearts, it’s an idol. It can happen with the obvious, but it can also happen with good things too. The lesson is that we must always be humble and willing to ask the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts and see if there is anything that might be in the place where only God should live. When we elevate our preferences, time, or resources above our love for God and/or others, it’s probably an idol. The good news is that the cure is not as costly as you might think.