Wholeness: The old self & the Idol of Excuses

In a recent YouTube video that I made, called Wilderness Training. I went into detail how idolatry is just as rampant today as ever. That we still look to created things, instead of the creator, for the hope of fulfillment. Even if they are not as literal as they once were. However, there was one thing about them I didn't get into there, which is better suited for this blog series anyway. A detail that's revealed in this verse.

But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. -Psalm 115:4-8

While one would think we would want a God that can hear, see, and respond to us. However, an inanimate idol will not question you, it cannot correct you, and it won't convict you. Nor do they expect us to face our fear of change; hence, the appeal of them. While I am sure humanity has always been intolerant of being questioned, we have become all the more blatant about it in the 21st century. We have even gone as far as to vilify anyone who convicts people and makes them feel bad. No matter how self-destructive their actions may be.

As adults, we become so very attached to our old selves. As imperfect and problematic as they can be, they are still familiar, and ultimately manageable. Even if it is through the virtual idols of pleasure, power, and self. Not only that, our old selves come with built-in excuses. If there is anything that humanity likes better than mute idols, it’s excuses. “Because this happened, I’m entitled to do that. Since my parents did that to me, I should be able to do this, my old self needs this virtual idol to cope.” Shedding our old selves means relinquishing our excuses, and the virtual idols tied to them.

Idolatry, excuses, our old selves, three seemingly unrelated things, yet often found together backing each other up. Keeping us in a static state upon the plateau, and impeding our path to wholeness. Making us as blind as the virtual idols we serve, which is a constant obstacle to the resurrected life of victory.

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but I hate him, for he never prophesies anything good regarding me, but always bad. He is Micaiah the son of Imlah.” But Jehoshaphat said, “May the king not say so.” -2 Chronicles 18:7

. . .in reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. -Ephesians 4:22-24

The Visual PARABLEist

 The Narcissist