New City Catechism, Week 17

Note: This is the final post from our intern, Hillary Smith. Hillary gave many hours to providing these insightful resources. Thank you, Hillary!

Q: What is idolatry?

A: Idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator for our hope and happiness, significance and security.

Idolatry in the life of Christian did not disappear with the old practices of ancient religions. We  are no longer tempted to bow down to gold statues or carved faces, but our idols manifest themselves in more subtle ways. How secure does your savings account make you feel? How comforting is it to cast your worries on your spouse? How much does the praise of others affect your day? These things are not bad inherently.  Idolatry is when we let blessings from God become the object of our worship.  We fall in love with the created, not the Creator. God asks us to rely solely on him for security.

As last week’s speaker, Steve Lammers, said (in his relationship series with RUF), we are called to put our hope in God, not in the good things. God is the only lasting good on this planet. We are to seek our security, comfort, and fulfillment in Christ. We are to put our expectations in the new heaven and the new earth, because there is nothing that is ultimately secure except for Christ.

We cannot find our identity in anything in this world without suffering. How can we exchange the glory of the Lord for something that perishes? We are called to store up our treasure in heaven and to rely on Him for everything. We were created to worship only God, and disaster comes whenever we don’t. But the Lord is merciful. We are Gomer, constantly running to other lovers. And the Lord is Hosea, always bringing us back and restoring us. Hosea 2 creates a beautiful picture of our unfaithfulness and God’s loving mercy.

v17-20:

For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more. And I will make for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety. And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord.

He will write his law on our hearts and make himself known to us. He has given us a covenant to restore us and heal this broken world and our sinful nature. Let us look forward to that glorious day and seek to honor Him above all else!

Last Sunday was week 17 of 52 catechism readings from New City Catechism. Christ Community is reciting an entry from the catechism each Sunday in 2013.