Seduced Into Idolatry
Pete Wilson

I think most people get into ministry for the right reasons. We want to spread the Gospel. We want to help the church reach her full potential. We want to help people become the men and women God created them to be. Our motives are pure but over time we easily become seduced into playing games, which feed ego.

•Power
•Performance
•Praise
•Perfectionism

All of these become these mini god's, which promise us increased satisfaction and purpose but leave us feeling unsatisfied and empty.

The other night I was reading in Luke 14 and read (25) Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: (26) "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple.

We're all smart enough to know that Jesus is not saying that we literally need to "hate" our family. His main point in this passage is don't take something good and make it ultimate.

This is where I believe so many of our ministries get off course. Your greatest temptation as a leader in the church will probably not be to abandon the faith, embezzle money, or get involved with a scandal that's going to hit the front pages. Not that we don't have to guard against such things, but I don't think this is our biggest temptation.

Your greatest temptation is not to chase after what is ridiculously evil but what is deceptively good. This is where so many of us are seduced into idolatry.

John Ortberg recently wrote a fantastic article for Christianity Today where he ended with the following questions. He labeled the series of questions the "Idol Quotient Test."

-Where does my sense of security come from-from God or from how my church is doing?

-After a worship service, do I find myself grateful that God is God and feeling joyful that I get to live in his care? Or, if I'm honest, are my emotions dictated more by how many bodies were in the room?

-Do I spend more time thinking about God, or thinking about how to make my church/ministry do better?

-How do I feel when the prospect for more prizes in the church tournament-recognition, praise, reputation, applause-get taken away from me?

-Does my sense of identity flow more out of my relationship with God or out of my performance at church?

-How much do I sacrifice to know God better versus how much do I sacrifice for my church to work better?

As I read through these questions I started to break out in a cold sweat. Idolatry had never been clearer. I'm afraid I may tend to take good things and make them ultimate things.





Pete Wilson is the founding pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Cross Point is a 6 year-old church which reaches over 2,500 people each weekend through its 3 campuses located around the metro Nashville area.