Counterfeit Gods

I was speaking at my home church in Southampton recently on idolatry as part of a series on the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments. I discovered on the Thursday before that Tim Keller's new book, Counterfeit Gods: When the Empty Promises of Love, Money, and Power Let You Down, had just been published – just too late. It's something that I've spent quite a bit of time reflecting on over the last few years, but over the last year I've heard a couple of Keller's sermons in which he talks about the subject. He's got a fantastic ability to express things simply, clearly and profoundly. He seemed to sum up everything I'd thought, formulate it far more powerfully and go a lot further. So, inevitably he's had quite an impact on my more recent thinking. And some recent tweeted quotes from the book (thanks @RedeemerNYC) gave me some useful quotes for the sermon. I can't remember whether I used this one: 'What do we fear the most? What, if we lost it, would make life not worth living?' That's a soul-searching question.

I've only just got round to ordering the book from Amazon, but today I see that there's a new Counterfeit Gods website. Here's the introduction:

Success, true love, and the life you’ve always wanted. Many of us placed our faith in these things, believing they held the key to happiness, but with a sneaking suspicion they might not deliver. The recent economic meltdown has cast a harsh new light on these pursuits. In a matter of months, fortunes, marriages, careers, and a secure retirement have disappeared for millions of people. No wonder so many of us feel lost, alone, disenchanted, and resentful. But the truth is that we made lesser gods of these good things – gods that can’t give us what we really need. There is only one God who can wholly satisfy our cravings – and now is the perfect time to meet him again, or for the first time. The Bible tells us that the human heart is an “idol-factory,” taking good things and making them into idols that drive us. In Counterfeit Gods, Keller applies his trademark approach to show us how a proper understanding of the Bible reveals the unvarnished truth about societal ideals and our own hearts. This powerful message will cement Keller’s reputation as a critical thinker and pastor, and comes at a crucial time—for both the faithful and the skeptical.

I was hoping this site would be a useful new resource, but it appears to be just this introduction, the video introduction I've already posted, and a few links to buy Keller's books or listen to some sermons. That's disappointing. Given the importance of the issue, it could have been a really useful resource in its own right.

Posted via email from Tony Watkins