Counterfeit Gods

Timothy Keller has already written two of my all-time favorite books on faith. The Prodigal God and Reason for God were both game changers for me. Full of insight and provocative answers for those who are both skeptics and believers. Some days, I'm a bit of both.

Well, I just finished his epic third book in the trilogy, Counterfeit Gods. And this one in many ways is my favorite of the bunch.

The book deals with our idols and the empty promises of money, sex and power - and how none of these ever truly quench our thirsts.

I must admit, I never really thought much about the Commandment to "have no other God, or idol, before me." But God put that Commandment first, so he must find it important.

Even so, I have always held a very uninformed view on idols. That they were lifeless creations worshiped by a more primitive people. And while that's true, it is also true that idols are still very much worshiped in our modern, "sophisticated" generation.

In some ways more than ever.

The idol of success. The idol of "having it all". The idol of sex without any commitment. The idol of all pleasure with no pain. The idol of staying forever young. The idol of total convenience. The idol of getting now but paying later.

Just this week I began to worship of the new idol from Mac - and the iPad isn't even in production yet!

The list is endless. But Keller's book helps open your eyes to modern day idol worship. Better yet, he gives you information and inspiration on how to replace these idols with the worship of a God who surpasses them all.

Read an excerpt of the book here. Or better yet, read the whole thing as soon as you can get to it.

Great Quote by Bono

Just finished up The Reason for God by Timothy Keller. Mind blowing. Definitely one of the best books I've read this year. I'm still processing a lot of it, but wanted to share this one exceptional passage that appears in the book (pg. 229) It's an interview with U2's Bono with Michaka Assayas:

Assayas: Christ has his rank among the world's great thinkers. But Son of God, isn't that far-fetched?

Bono: "No, it's not far=fetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: He was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn't allow you that. He doesn't let you off that hook. Christ says, No. I'm not saying I'm a teacher, don't call me a teacher. I'm not saying I'm a prophet. I'm saying: "I'm the Messiah." I'm saying:"I am God incarnate." And people say: No, no, please, just be a prophet. A prophet we can take. You're a bit eccentric. We've had John thhe Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don't mention the "M" word! Because, you know, we're gonna have to crucify you. And he goes: No, no, I know you're expecting me to come back with an army and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah. At this point, everyone starts staring at their shoes, and says: Oh, my God, he's gonna keep saying this. So what you're left with is either Christ was who He said He was — the Messiah — or a complete nutcase. I mean, we're talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson...I'm not joking here. The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me that's far-fetched..."

Amen.

The Reason for God

I am about half way through the most excellent book by Timothy Keller, The Reason for God. It was written, in part, as a response to the "new atheism" movement led by best-selling authors like Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris. Keller's book offers thought provoking responses for why believing in God makes sense. Whether you are a true believer, a total skeptic or somewhere in between, Keller's book is a tremendous read for those with an open mind and looking for an honest debate about the Christian faith.

Here's a passage (one of many) I really liked. A response from Keller about "Christian fanatics"(pg. 57)

"Think of people you consider fanatical. They're overbearing, self-righteous, opinionated, insensitive, and harsh. Why? It's not because they are too Christian but because they are not Christian enough. They are fanatically zealous and courageous, but they are not fanatically humble, sensitive, loving, empathetic, forgiving, or understanding—as Christ was. Because they think of Christianity as a self-improvement program they emulate the Jesus of the whips in the temple, but not the Jesus who said, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone" (John 8:7). What strikes us as overly fanatical is actually a failure to be fully committed to Christ and his gospel."

The Prodigal God.

Every now and then you come across a book that changes everything for you. Such is the case for me with the book I'm reading now, The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller. I haven't finished it yet. As is the case with all great books, I'm savoring every page, not wanting it to end.

The basic premise is simple yet profound. Keller's point is that the popular parable about "The Prodigal Son" tells only half the story. Most of the focus has been on the younger son, that took his part of Dad's money and went off to enjoy the "good life." A first century equivalent of "what happens in Vegas..."

Where he ends up is in a pigsty, embarassed, broken and lonely.

Keller's point is that the other brother (the elder brother) is just as broken and exiled from his Father. He has used his "goodness" not because he truly loved his Dad and wanted to have a realtionship with him, but as a means to get what he wanted.

I had never thought about this parable this way. Keller brings out so many deep insights about how we can all go astray from God, either as "a younger brother" (through our disobedience), as an "elder brother" (with our Pharisee-like adherence to being "morally perfect") or some combination of the two. It's made me face the ways that I've had an "elder brother" attitude, without even realizing it. Keller's points on how God is a Prodigal (seeking endlessly) in both instances is riveting.

Read. This. Now.