Each culture is dominated by its own idols.
The Vikings had Odin, Thor, Freya and Loki.
The Greeks had Zeus, Artemis, Aphrodite, and Eros.
Hindu deities include Brahma, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Vishnu.

We have Significance, Affection, Comfort, and Control. These idols contaminate our souls with spiritual toxins. Over the course of this year's Lent season, we are working to identify and dismantle these idols from the alters of our hearts to purify our worship of the one true God, the only one Who satisfies. We aim to detox our worship. 

A detox is a process by which a person aims to cleanse the body of toxins or unhealthy substances. In the same way that our bodies incrementally and imperceptibly accumulate toxins, our souls do the same. A little here, a little there, and without realizing it, we've found ourselves in a spiritual funk. 
 

Have you ever been angry with God? We've all certainly been disappointed when God's plan doesn't coincide with ours. But that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about something deeper, more seething. Have you ever literally or figuratively raised your fist and shouted at God? You ever flip God the bird (or wanted to)? When you didn't get in to the school you wanted. When you didn't get that job. When you were rejected by a loved one? That time you were betrayed by a close friend. When you hear about that diagnosis... or your diagnosis. When we don't get something we want or when we get something we don't want, we're infuriated!! When we did all the right things, and God didn't do what we expected, and we feel powerless to do anything about it. 

Have you ever noticed that whenever you decide to live seriously for God, to commit to greater levels of faithfulness and obedience, to commit to intentional Gospel relationships, to start serving sacrificially in a ministry, to pursue greater intimacy with God like never before, you're met with head-on opposition? It's as if all the powers of the Evil One are directed at you at that very moment? This shouldn't surprise us! Actually, we should expect it. There is nothing more displeasing to Satan, then people who long to live a life pleasing to God. 

One of the strongest desires of the human heart is to make our loved ones proud of us. We take pleasure is seeing the people dearest to us, taking pleasure in us. We're born with this innate desire. From a young age, children long to please their parents. I see this in my kids. Our youngest daughter, Milana (7 months), lights up when she sees mom and dad's pleasure... not just our joy, per se, but the joy she evokes in us (and every time I see her cheeks, I take joy... she's done us proud). I see this in my kids, and I see this in myself. Some of the most memorable moments in my life are when I visibly made my mom and dad proud. We long for that. 
 

I heard a John Lennon quote one time, which I think profoundly describes the human experience. He said, "Part of me suspects that I'm a loser, and the other part of me thinks I'm God almighty." This brilliant little nugget encapsulates our schizophrenic inferiority and superiority complex. On the one hand, we absolutely know we do not measure up. We are not enough. We're not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, talented enough, etc. So we're all deeply insecure. On the other hand, we're absolutely convinced that we're awesome. We totally know how our life should go.  We totally know how to fix the world. Why aren't we in charge, again? Why hasn't everyone noticed how amazing we are? If some have, why haven't the rest?!?