March 7, 2021 | Pastor Nathan Elms
The problem of idols is more than just an ethical or moral problem, the idolatry question is – what do you seek? Where do you think your blessing comes from? Where does your protection come from?
The author, Susan Cain, unintentionally does something interesting … describes an idolater in psychological terms: a person described by psychologists as a “reward-sensitive” person is actually an idolater at heart:
“A reward-sensitive person is highly motivated to seek rewards–from a promotion to a lottery jackpot to an enjoyable evening out with friends. Reward sensitivity motivates us to pursue goals like sex and money, social status, and influence. It prompts us to climb ladders and reach for faraway branches in order to gather life’s choicest fruits.
“Life’s choicest fruits” like sex, money, relationships, and power are some of the top idols that humans throughout history have served.
Being ‘reward-sensitive’ turns a good thing (sex, money, relationships, and power) into an ultimate thing–and even in the world of psychology, this is when it becomes dysfunctional, or toxic.
The moment you make something into an ultimate thing… it starts leading your life.
It is taking you somewhere.
But there is a danger of too much reward sensitivity (and idolatry):
We can get so excited by the prospect of juicy prizes, like winning big in the stock market, that we take out-sized risks and ignore obvious warning signals.
“Reward-sensitive people ignore obvious warning signals. They are obvious and should be seen, but reward-sensitivity (and idolatry) makes us blind. This is why people with bad habits and addictions can have such a hard time changing–they can’t even see their problem–they are blind to it, and ultimately they are helpless just like the gods they serve.”
We do not grow spiritually by accident; we do not stumble upon rich communion with God accidentally.
