Tim Keller and Idols

Money, Sex, and Power.... These are the leading themes of idolatry which Tim Keller relates to his audience in his new book Counterfeit Gods. I'd have to say he got my attention with the title and description. He has done a good bit here to shape the Christian message toward issues of actual significance. Preachers who reach a highly popular level often tend toward far more fluffy and light themes. Not so much with Keller.
Keller regards the issue of idolatry as a recurrent theme throughout the whole Bible beginning with the Ten Commandments and mentioned numerous times throughout the Prophets and Historical books, and in the NT, ie 1 John 5 "my children keep yourselves from idols."
As Keller relates the concept to us, people are able to make ultimate anything created in world, and in doing that, they attempt to derive from that thing the fullness of joy and delight which can only be sourced in God. One way this is identified is by the response in the person if that particular thing, which has been made ultimate is lost. A person who slips beyond the expected disappointment and remorse, and into despair, has probably made whatever was lost into an idol.
Its a disturbing thought.

Keller tells a few stories of high level company executives committing suicide following the meltdown of the housing market. While that kind of reaction is unusual, I think he's right. Obviously something is amiss in a person's heart if they have no hope in wake of financial and career ruin.
One thing I learned from Keller is how Nietzsche picked up on this theme a generation ago and wrote about it.
"There are more idols in the world than there are realities," -- Nietzsche, Twighlight of Idols
Yes, there are, and that's one more reason I am glad Tim Keller has taken the time to point some of them out to us.