1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian Idolatry - The Sin Beneath The Sin | Page 2

Introduction
Last week we saw that nothing is to be more fundamental than God to our happiness,
meaning in life, and identity. We saw, however, that we easily create idols.
An idol is anything besides Jesus Christ that we feel we must have to be happy, anything
that is more important to our heart than God, anything that is enslaving our heart through
inordinate desires. Martin Luther said that under every behavioural sin is the sin of
idolatry, and under every act of idolatry is a disbelief in the gospel.
As we look now at the idea of a Christian community, keep in mind that idolatry is also
one of the key problems we face when it comes to creating community.
Princeton’s Robert Wuthnow has found that small groups mainly ‘provide occasions for
individuals to focus on themselves in the presence of others. The social contract binding
members together asserts only the weakest of obligations. Come if you have time. Talk if
you feel like it. Respect everyone’s opinion. Never criticize. Leave quietly if you become
dissatisfied.’ In Overcoming Loneliness in Everyday Life, two Boston psychiatrists… suggest
that…groups ‘fail to replicate the sense of belonging we have lost. Attending weekly
meetings, dropping in and out as one pleases, shopping around for a more satisfactory or
appealing group—all of these factors work against the growth of true community.’
This week’s theme is Community, the context for change.