Functional & False

Question to myself that you might be interested in: Why do I blog?

Answer to myself that you might be interested in: First, writing is my preferred mode of personal processing, and I enjoy leaving a "trail of words" to reflect upon later. Second, there in a some level of fulfillment in sharing my thoughts with others (though it is much more fulfilling to share F2F). And, if God uses my thoughts to assist anyone in pursuing Him, then there is great purpose in my sharing.

Did I tell you how excited I am about my new Bible study??? Today's QT did not disappoint. Kelly Minter's No Other Gods (2007) is touching my core, and I am only through Session 1/Day 1! Today I considered my false gods by defining them as functional.

Functional gods are those areas of life that I pursue in order to fulfill a deep craving. Many functional gods are not inherently evil. For example, I say that I believe God will provide for me, but I spend lots of time providing for myself beyond my actual needs. There is a fine line between wisdom and "over-attachment to something that is, in itself, perfectly good" (p. 15). Working is good and Godly, but working to have more and more stuff may very easily become an addiction. Eating is necessary to live, right? Unhealthy eating may very easily become an addiction that I use to meet a need within me that only God can meet. Money and food are examples of functional gods, and so are comfort, the pursuit of happiness, and the need for love and respect. All of these examples are good - to a point....

As Minter says, "A professed god is who or what we say our god is; a functional god is who or what actually operates as our god" (p. 15).

Good stuff - check our Kelly's Bible studies!