It just seems like the more we do not believe is a measure of our idolatry and vice versa: the amount we idolize things more than we idolize Jesus is a measure of our unbelief. And / or, the depth of our desire to not let go of an idol is an exact measurement of our amount of unbelief.
And EVERYONE is an idolater to a certain degree. Pastors, priests, ministry workers, small group leaders, the pope, the head of the ELCA, you name it - no one is exempt from idolatry, even if it is in small degrees, we all have it.
And the amount of idolatry we have is directly related to our amount of unbelief: and we all have THAT, too. I never really understood this relationship until reading the story in the New Testament about the man who asked for help with his unbelief. He says, "I believe! Help me with my unbelief!"
I infer two things from this simple passage: one, that belief is not all or nothing, not like being pregnant or not pregnant, not a state of complete; and two, that belief and unbelief coexist on the same spectrum. The more you believe, the less unbelief you have and vice-versa.
So many more stories in the NT become clear if you perceive that belief and unbelief are an inseparable pair. Like the guy who explains his lifetime of devotion and learning then asks Jesus what he must do to follow him. And Jesus responds something like, "go home, give away everything you own, then you can follow me." Translation: "get rid of your last idol, your most stubborn idol, then you will be at 100% belief, which is a state of following me." It is not so much about money as it is about an idol more important to this man than Jesus.
Once this Christian scholar, teacher, speaker (whose name I can't remember) visited Mother Theresa and when he first met her, he was overwhelmed.
She asked, "What can I do for you?"
And he responded, "Will you pray for me?"
To which she asked, "What would you like me to pray for?"
He said, "Clarity."
She said, "Then I shall pray for trust, for when you trust in the Lord, your desire for clarity will be removed."
Do you see how she honed in on his amount of unbelief? He was making his clarity - understanding - insight more important than his belief in that moment. Clarity was his idol. His level of desire to cling to it matched his amount of unbelief.
Having idols is a sign of unbelief. How strongly we cling to our idols indicates the measure of our unbelief.
I once worked with someone who kept referring to the church as, "my church", as in, "You are not going to change MY church!" That's idolatry. She loves the church more than she loves the head of it.
If you love your ministry more than you love bringing glory to Jesus with your ministry: that's idolatry.
If you love your pastor more than you love your God. People who leave a church when the pastor retires or leaves: that's idolatry.
In ministry, wanting to work only with people who are your friends: that's idolatry.
Love the music more than you love the worship? That's idolatry.
Get in arguments over your ministry budget? That's idolatry. Loving your ministry more than Jesus.
Pick your church because you like the building? That's idolatry.
People who are always obsessing with how to make the church grow? That's idolatry. The church will grow when Jesus is glorified by your worship of him, your honor of him.
Only like going to church if all the conditions are right? That's idolatry...of yourself. You are placing your needs before Jesus' honor.
Have to have your table out in front of the church? That's idolatry. Jesus is at the center and forefront of worship - not ministry tables.
Allow the rules of church - the liturgy - the doctrine - dictate how you treat others. That's idolatry.
The list goes on and on...work, home, personal relationships. It's not just church leaders who are idolaters.
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