I mentioned a while back that I had begun listening to some
sermons while I drove the 6 hrs between where I live and where my parents
live. It not only makes the drive
remarkably quick but I am getting so much out of the sermons that I am
listening to them twice each!
This trip I listened to 2 sermons by Timothy Keller, a pastor
from New York. I downloaded some of his
sermons from his iTunes podcasts.
The first sermon was centered around the reliability of the
Bible. This is a topic that I have
always struggled with. Sometimes I have
found myself believing that the Bible is out of date, that certain stories had
been embellished or that teachings were out of date or culturally specific. This sermon addresses this issue and it is
very common issue for Christians and non Christians alike. Pastor Keller argues that the Bible is
reliable and can be trusted Historically, Culturally and Personally.
I found the sermon to be such an encouragement towards reading
the tricky and challenging sections of the Bible and it has really propelled me
to understand what the Bible is actually teaching.
I particularly liked Keller’s arguments around culture and our
bias towards our own culture and the perspective that our own culture is
superior. I think that there are many
occasions where western society in particular, displays cultural superiority
and bias over many areas of life and the Bible contradicts much of it. However Keller points out that it contradicts
Eastern culture as well, in fact that the Bible contradicts all cultures in
varied and different ways only goes to support the argument that it is the word
of God and displays the perfect culture, His culture.
Check it out, Timothy Keller: “Literalism: Isn’t the Bible
historically unreliable and regressive?”
The second sermon, titled “How sin makes us addicts”, explores
the idea of sin and idols in our society.
It was very interesting to delve into the idea that God desires after
us, that he longs for us to be in His arms the way newlyweds long for each
other. Exploring the concept of sexual
intimacy and our relationship with God in this way was revolutionary.
Keller’s argument that when we sin we are not only turning away
from God but we are actually breaking his heart in the same way that a cheating
lover breaks hearts is compelling.
Keller discusses ‘lover gods’, these things that we feel that we have to
have and without them we are dead or worthless.
Keller discusses the way that we are ‘in bed’ with other idols, desiring
after idols in this world thinking that they are going to fulfill us, make us
feel beautiful, but in reality these things cannot save us and in the times of
great need we cannot call out to these ‘lover gods’ to save us because they
cannot, they will fall short.
It was interesting to stop and think about the things that I
have built my life on. What are my
‘lover gods’, what am I addicted to?
It is important to remember that these things are not
necessarily bad things in themselves however we have made them to be bigger and
more able, more powerful than they actually are. These may be career, family, romance, sport,
health, being a good person, any number of things. Once we rely upon them instead of God we have
turned them from good things into ‘lover gods’, idols.
I encourage you to get out and listen to some online sermons
today. Think about how you view the
Bible, can you argue for its accuracy and what are your ‘lover gods’?
