Idolatry and Pain
Below is an excerpt from Adam Young's Newsletter:
There is a linkage between your past stories and the way you are presently living your life. Isaiah 61:1-2 identifies the linkage:
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners.
When Isaiah says, "he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives," he is making a connection between being broken-hearted and becoming a captive.
Here's the connection:
The "captives" and the "prisoners" that Isaiah speaks about so tenderly are precisely those people who have first had their hearts broken ("He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted").
We become captive to those things that promise to protect our hearts from being wounded in the same way again. The Bible calls this idolatry.
Isaiah's claim is that your idolatry grows in the soil of your pain.
Your idolatry is not random.
There is a linkage between your captivity (idolatry) and how your heart has been broken.
Your idolatry is deeply related to the experiences that have caused your broken-heartedness.
In this way, your past story is profoundly influencing how you are presently living your life.
Your past stories of harm (broken-heartedness) are deeply affecting your present life (the places where you are bound).
There is always a story behind this stuff. And it's the story of the particular ways your heart has been wounded.
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners.
When Isaiah says, "he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives," he is making a connection between being broken-hearted and becoming a captive.
Here's the connection:
- When your heart is wounded—when something breaks inside of you—you begin living in a way that promises to relieve the wound and assures that you will never be hurt in that particular way again.
- And this way of living enslaves you. You become captive to this way of living.
The "captives" and the "prisoners" that Isaiah speaks about so tenderly are precisely those people who have first had their hearts broken ("He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted").
We become captive to those things that promise to protect our hearts from being wounded in the same way again. The Bible calls this idolatry.
Isaiah's claim is that your idolatry grows in the soil of your pain.
Your idolatry is not random.
There is a linkage between your captivity (idolatry) and how your heart has been broken.
Your idolatry is deeply related to the experiences that have caused your broken-heartedness.
In this way, your past story is profoundly influencing how you are presently living your life.
Your past stories of harm (broken-heartedness) are deeply affecting your present life (the places where you are bound).
- There is a reason you are captive to financial security... and that reason will be found in the story of how you've been wounded. Maybe you never felt safe in your house—never felt in control—and now the only way to feel safe is to make sure you have enough money in the bank.
- There is a reason you are captive to such a high level of achievement that you are never able to rest... and that reason will be found in your story. Maybe your Dad's approval was just out of reach—you got close to earning it, but not quite. And now you can't stop working and you don't know why.
- There is a reason you continue to find yourself in nonreciprocal friendships—that is, friendships in which you are always giving and rarely receiving. Perhaps your role in your family of origin was to give, give, give to your very needy mother.
There is always a story behind this stuff. And it's the story of the particular ways your heart has been wounded.
I think these words are particularly helpful in understanding the dynamics of the hard circumstances that we find ourselves in.
But consider Isaiah 61's words about this suffering, conquering servant - Jesus. He is the binder of our broken hearts. He is the healer of our wounds. He is proclaiming liberty to those in captivity. So, wherever you find yourself, if you open yourself up to Him, he is graciously smashing your idols and leading you toward life and peace with Him. Will you receive this work in your life?
But consider Isaiah 61's words about this suffering, conquering servant - Jesus. He is the binder of our broken hearts. He is the healer of our wounds. He is proclaiming liberty to those in captivity. So, wherever you find yourself, if you open yourself up to Him, he is graciously smashing your idols and leading you toward life and peace with Him. Will you receive this work in your life?
This Sunday
This Sunday, we are going to be continuing in the book of Acts (References from Acts 11, 12, and 13) by looking at the church of Antioch for the next two weeks.
This Sunday is also bittersweet as it is the last Sunday before the Roughtons return to India. We will pray and send them out this Sunday as a church, just like the church at Antioch did in Acts 13!
This Sunday, we are going to be continuing in the book of Acts (References from Acts 11, 12, and 13) by looking at the church of Antioch for the next two weeks.
This Sunday is also bittersweet as it is the last Sunday before the Roughtons return to India. We will pray and send them out this Sunday as a church, just like the church at Antioch did in Acts 13!
Hospitality and Set Up
2 Sundays ago, I preached on Acts 10-11 where the gentiles are welcomed in to the New Covenant through Jesus. One of the implications of my sermon was the need to create an environment of welcome and hospitality on Sundays. If you interested in serving in this way and have not connected with Ronny Wilson yet, please do!
In addition to that, Ronny is also serving as point over all set up on Sunday for now as we announced that Tyler Folsom is stepping back as a deacon in this season of life and ministry. If you have questions regarding his transition, please reach out, and at a minimum, make sure to thank Tyler for how well he has served our church during this last season of ministry.
2 Sundays ago, I preached on Acts 10-11 where the gentiles are welcomed in to the New Covenant through Jesus. One of the implications of my sermon was the need to create an environment of welcome and hospitality on Sundays. If you interested in serving in this way and have not connected with Ronny Wilson yet, please do!
In addition to that, Ronny is also serving as point over all set up on Sunday for now as we announced that Tyler Folsom is stepping back as a deacon in this season of life and ministry. If you have questions regarding his transition, please reach out, and at a minimum, make sure to thank Tyler for how well he has served our church during this last season of ministry.
Posted in A Note From Alex
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