Counterfeit Gods
When the Empty Promises of Love, Money and Power Let You Down
by Timothy Keller
GoodBookStall Review:
A study of the idols people put in place of God – not carved images, but things like money, love, politics, power and success, even religion. Many of these are good things in themselves, until we make them the be-all and end-all of our lives. The Bible teaches that the main problem with the world is sin and the only remedy is Jesus – when we substitute something else for either problem or remedy, when we seriously believe that the end we desire justifies the means, then we have an idol problem. The book explores each area in depth, revealing how subtly these idols conceal themselves and how easily we are deceived – definitely a book to come to with an open mind and a humble spirit! The author draws on both Old and New Testaments, primarily on the accounts of Jacob and Jonah, as well as using modern examples and experiences to demonstrate the ultimate despair and destructiveness of centring our lives on anyone or anything other than God. He does not pretend that there is any ‘quick fix’ answer to the problem – all discipleship is a life-long process – but healing cannot begin until the sickness is diagnosed, and this is an authoritative and illuminating tool to that end.
Reviewer: Diane Morrison (02/03/10)
A study of the idols people put in place of God – not carved images, but things like money, love, politics, power and success, even religion. Many of these are good things in themselves, until we make them the be-all and end-all of our lives. The Bible teaches that the main problem with the world is sin and the only remedy is Jesus – when we substitute something else for either problem or remedy, when we seriously believe that the end we desire justifies the means, then we have an idol problem. The book explores each area in depth, revealing how subtly these idols conceal themselves and how easily we are deceived – definitely a book to come to with an open mind and a humble spirit! The author draws on both Old and New Testaments, primarily on the accounts of Jacob and Jonah, as well as using modern examples and experiences to demonstrate the ultimate despair and destructiveness of centring our lives on anyone or anything other than God. He does not pretend that there is any ‘quick fix’ answer to the problem – all discipleship is a life-long process – but healing cannot begin until the sickness is diagnosed, and this is an authoritative and illuminating tool to that end.
Reviewer: Diane Morrison (02/03/10)
