You must not make for yourself an idol
of any kind… Exodus 20:4
“I’ve gotta get
home,” Bekah murmured. Her mother raised a brow as she backed out of the school
parking lot. “What’s so urgent?” Bekah shrugged one shoulder and faced the
passenger window. “I posted a few selfies with that hot new guy, Brad, then my
phone died. I wanna see who liked it.” Her mother sighed. “Oh. I was hoping you
were excited about drama practice at church tonight.” Bekah rolled her eyes at
the window. “Puh-leeze, Mom. I’m not
gonna be in that. They gave Jenna Ray the lead, and everybody knows I’m better
than her.” She tossed her hair. “I deserve a bigger role. I will not be just an extra.”
Self-worship. We
are supposed to outgrow it, like we outgrow taping rock star posters to our
bedroom walls. Unfortunately, many don’t, and social media gives us plenty of
platforms upon which to build our shrines. Even those of us who profess to
follow Jesus can get turned around and start following ourselves. We
subconsciously gauge our worth by the number of “likes” or comments on our posts.
Duck-face selfies replace genuine smiles, and if we can’t Instagram it, why do
it? American culture has seduced us into becoming our own gods, and this god is
insatiable. We must feed, pamper, and console it continually, or it plunges us
into depression. We may never bow to a wood and stone idol, but we bow every
day to the one in the mirror.
.
