“The sign of idolatry is always inordinate anxiety, inordinate anger, inordinate discouragement. Idols are good things (family, achievement, work and career, romance, talent, etc.) that we turn into ultimate things in order to get the significance and joy we need. Then they drive us to the ground because we have to have them. If we lose a good thing, it makes us sad. If we lose an idol, it devastates us.”
-Tim Keller
via Theology in Verse
When I searched Google to try and find a source for the quote I stumbled across this interesting set of pdf notes from a presentation by Keller to the Ockenga Institute Pastors’ Forum / Wednesday, April 5, 2006. Introductory notes here and here.
Wednesday Chapel: Preaching to the Heart Without Being Pietistic: Page 2
Pastors’ Forum Sessions: Unintentional Preaching Models: Page 4
Reading, Preparation, Conversation, and Preaching: Page 11
Preaching to ‘Emerging’ Culture: Page 23
The seem to be on the website of some Christian ministry in Canada, but I can’t find links to the material through their website proper.
The Keller stuff looks good though.
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