Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters

by Timothy J. Keller

Another form of idolatry within religious communities turns spiritual gifts and ministry success into a counterfeit god. Spiritual gifts (talent, ability, performance, growth) are often mistaken for what the Bible calls spiritual “fruit” (love, joy, patience, humility, courage, gentleness).103 Even ministers who believe with the mind that “I am only saved by grace” can come to feel in their heart that their standing with God depends largely on how many lives they are changing.

I’ve witnessed this first hand as someone has tried to make me their “project” to convince themselves of their own self-righteousness. Annoying, right. Idolatry is very really in Christians. But, I love how Keller doesn’t just lament the state of our hearts, he gives us biblically based answers to combating idolatry. Worship. When we worship God he begins to take the place of what our hearts currently worship and then we can defeat idolatry. Of course, as Keller says this will be a lifelong battle, and is why even though the church is still hypocritical at the best of times I still love it. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to explore the sins of their heart/grow in their knowledge of God.