Idealized idols ∙∙
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.- Romans 12:3
1 Timothy 1:12-16
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him,
13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.
14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.
15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them all.
16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.
Dr. Saul Levine, M.D. wrote “Our Illusions of Role Models, Heroes, and Idols.” It was posted on December 22, 2017, in Psychology Today.
“Idols who inspire and reassure us are ordinary people, both worthy and flawed. You remember ‘role models,’ don’t you? You know, those people we looked up to when we were younger, whom we aspired to be like, and possibly now, whom we want our children to emulate?”
“As young children, our first role models are usually our parents, and it takes years for us to see them as people with frailties despite their impressive qualities. Adolescents and young adults form relationships with admired mentors at school or work. They often idealize their mentor until the realization sets in that despite some exceptional talents, this role model is an ‘ordinary’ person with attendant faults. Accepting our parents and mentors – and ourselves – as worthy but flawed can at times be challenging.”
The Scriptures are replete with heroes and role models. They are often bigger than life, ancient superheroes. Consider Moses, Abraham, Joseph, Samson, David, Daniel, Paul, and Peter. Church history has more recent superheroes and role models: Jonathan Edwards, Fanny Crosby, Amy Carmichael, Hudson Taylor, Watchman Nee, William Wilberforce, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Jim Elliott, Corrie Ten Boom, George Mueller, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Billy Graham. In all cases, they were indeed heroes of the faith, flawed but worthy of our admiration.
But when we look more closely, we often discover that they were ordinary people whom the Father used in extraordinary ways. For example, the prophet Amos herded sheep and was a fig picker.
Amos 7:14 I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs.
Moses apparently lacked self-esteem.
Exodus 3:11 Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”
What’s more, Moses probably had some form of speech impediment.
Exodus 4:10 Moses pleaded with the LORD, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”
Charles Spurgeon was often the object of extreme, dreadful criticism during his ministry. People had it in for him and were out to get him. Paraphrasing a bit, on one occasion, he suggested Brother, if anyone thinks poorly of you, do not be angry with him, for you are worse than he perceives. If he falsely accuses you on some point, be content, for if he knew you better, he might alter the accusation, and you would gain nothing from the correction. If your moral portrait is painted and appears ugly, be satisfied; it would only take a few darker strokes to make it even closer to the truth (Spurgeon – Volume 34, Sermons).
REFLECT & PRAY
1 Corinthians 1:26-28
26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.
27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.
28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.
Father, help me be clear-headed and balanced in my thinking about myself and others. Thank You for using ordinary people in extraordinary ways.
INSIGHT
A continuum of self-worth characterizes fallen human DNA. Some feel unworthy, while others think they are superior and far better than others. We tend to idealize our heroes, but they are all fallen creatures needing forgiveness. Are any of them perfect? No, not one!
Paul got it right when he advised the children of the King in Rome. They tended to think too highly of themselves. Paul warned them, “Don’t think you are better than you really are” (Romans 12:3). What is left unsaid, but equally valid, don’t think you are worse than you really are.
This concept can be expressed in many ways in different cultures. Do not think of yourself more highly than you could be rendered as “Do not think that you yourselves are so high,” “Do not think of yourselves with a big head,” or “Do not say to yourselves, I am so very big, when you really are not” (UBS).
Instead, he provided a very balanced approach.
Romans 12:3 Think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
The Greek verb translated as “think” is phroneo. Phroneo does not refer to the thinking process itself but rather to “the direction of one’s thinking, the way in which a person views something.” In this context, Paul uses the verb to denote how a person views themselves (Moo).
In contrast to overestimating ourselves, Paul encourages all children of the King to view themselves in a “sober” manner. The Greek word translated as sound judgment, sober, or be honest in your evaluation is sophroneo, derived from sophron – meaning sober-minded. It signifies possessing a clear and rational mind, exhibiting reasonable thinking, and exercising sound, discreet, self-disciplined, and sensible judgment.
We should view ourselves and others as ordinary individuals, each possessing both worth and flaws. While the strengths of others can be a source of inspiration, we should avoid elevating those we admire to a superhuman status akin to the gods of Greek and Roman mythology or the heroes of legends and myths.
It is wise not to let the successes or achievements of others make you feel ashamed or condemned. The Scriptures aim to inspire us by recounting the lives and deeds of faithful children of the King, ordinary people whom the Father used in extraordinary ways. These individuals lived, acted, and died in faith, demonstrating that the same is possible for each of us (Hebrews 11).
As children of the King, we are not to live horizontally, looking back to the past or forward to the future in this life. Instead, we are to focus on looking up!
Psalms 121:1-2
1 I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there?
2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!
Revelation 22:20 “I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
It can be frustrating when the material you are accustomed to reading or hearing doesn’t meet your expectations and fails to enhance your walk with the Father. In such situations, consider changing your sources.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 4-09-2
© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 