Black American Idols---Happiness, Idol or Not

Greetings Brethren,

I know it has been some time since I last posted.  It was not for a lack of trying. 

Today, I want continue our discourse about idols.  Specifically idols in the Black American community, and in the Black American church.  I don't wish to step on your toes, but if I do, you may want to take a moment to examine your thinking through a biblical lens. I have done so myself, and the more I think about my own thinking through the light of the word of God, I find myself lacking. 


It's funny how things work sometimes.  Twice this week I have spoken with different people who mentioned in the course of conversation that they do not believe that God wants them to be unhappy.  It was the first conversation that led me to post about this very topic.  It was the second conversation that confirmed it. 

The question on the floor is this: Is happiness an idol? 

I see many television preachers selling happiness on TV, and I often wonder what happens when people send in their money and they do not receive the happiness promised.  Why is happiness a goal for so many people?  Should we be so focused on our own happiness?  Does our preoccupation with being happy reveal a sort of selfishness within us?  

Remember, our working definition of idol is bascially anything that replaces God in our hearts and minds, or anything that we 'worship.' 

Many times I hear people say, if they just had this, or just had that then they would be happy.  That a certain job, or relationship, or car, or degree would be the thing that makes them happy.  And of course, if it makes you happy, then God must want it for your, because God wants us to be happy?  Right? 

Thus, we chase after the thing that will make us happy.  Then we get it.  Then we are happy.  Then the thing gets old, or boring, or broken in some way and we are no longer happy.  Then we fixate on something else to make us happy.  Sound familiar? 

Brothers and Sisters, if you are chasing after happiness, then happiness may be your idol.  And it is a false idol, like all other idols.  Like all other idols, happiness is temporary, and it cannot last into eternity. 

I do not believe that God is concerned at all with our happiness.  I believe that God is concerned with our salvation.  Question, if everyone was happy all of the time, why would we ever need God?  Why would we turn to God?  Why would we seek his face, or his grace, if we were always happy? 

When I think about my own salvation, it was due to me being very confused, very distraught, and very unhappy.  That unhappiness was the thing that drove me into the arms of my lord and savior.  To be completely transparent, when I am at my lowest points, I am closest to my savior.  Read the following scripture written by Paul in reference to a 'thorn' in his flesh that the lord would not take away.

2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.


  If Paul, who wrote most of the New Testatament, had an ailment that God refused to take away, so that God's power would be made perfect in Paul's suffering---what makes you think God wants you to be happy?    Did you know that almost every apostle was murdered for Jesus?  That they died horrible, terrible deaths, because they followed Christ?  Was God concerned with their happiness?    What about David?  David spent a large part of his life running from his enemies.  Was God concerned with his happiness?   Consider Job, who was a faithful servant.  Was God concerned with his happiness?    Brothers and Sisters, God wants us to believe in Jesus, repent of our sins, and spend eternity with Him.  If we must suffer for that to be accomplished then so be it.  It would be far better for us to suffer in this life than in the next, because if we suffer in the next life we will suffer for eternity.    I hope this is clear.

I hear too many Christians saying that God wants us to have life, and have it more abundantly.  YES,  HE DOES!  What do we think that means?  That means Jesus!  It means Jesus came so we can have access 24/7 to the life that he gives---eternal life with Him. Read John 10:10 again, and see if it makes sense now.  The life Jesus provides is Jesus, and communion with with Him, our savior.  It does not mean we are going to be happy.  It means that whatever is happening, we can always go to our High Priest with with it. 

 Lastly, I want to say this.  A few chapters later, in John 14:6, Jesus says this: I am the way the truth and the life.  You see, Jesus himself is what we need abundantly.  He works all things together for our good.  That is all things--happiness, sadness, poverty, prosperity, all things.  So just because things didn't work out the way we planned--we know that we are being led to a good place by a good Sheppard; even if the way is rough. 
 I can say more, in fact I think I will next time.  Until then, examine your thoughts, search the scriptures, and see what the word of God has to say about happiness.  Maybe you are in a place where God wants you because he can work with you in this place.  He can perfect you in this place.  Maybe your trial is necessary to make you weak so his strength is perfected in you.  Maybe we are too concerned with our own happiness and not concerned enough about His will.  Remember, Thy will be done, not My will be done. 

Black American Idols

The next few posts will be hard to write, and for some (including myself) hard to read.  I have often compared the Black experience in America with Israel.  Both were enslaved people who were freed and inhabited a land that rejected them.  I believe both peoples are deeply spiritual and passionate about God.  However, it seems that Black folks have never truly made it out of the mindset of slavery; and it is something we struggle with to this day.  I will submit to you that a very large part of our collective lack of success has to with our dependence on, and uplifting of idols.  Idol worshipping is not something God loves.

i·dol  (dl)

n.

1.

a. An image used as an object of worship.

b. A false god.

2. One that is adored, often blindly or excessively.

3. Something visible but without substance.

It surprises me that a people whose roots are in the church exhibit such a limited understanding of such a huge biblical principle.  The Old Testament is literally filled with passages about God's hatred of idols.  Yet, we seem to have an ungodly tolerance to idols in our Black churches.  Don't misunderstand, I'm sure White churches also have their idols, but I cannot comment on that because I have not been a member of a predominately White church.  God wants us to love what he loves and hate what he hates.  Why then, do we tolerate, and, even celebrate idols and idolatry?  Is our love of worldly idols blocking God from establishing His will in our churches and in our lives?

What was that?  Yes, thank you.  The man in the back asked what are some specific examples of idols?  I'm glad you asked that sir.  I'm sure everyone in the room would like to know that.  Let's start with the obvious.  clothes.  People, there is nothing wrong with putting on your best when you come to church.  Personally, I love seeing a church full of well-dressed people.  But when you spend more time shopping for your Sunday outfit than you do in the word of God--YOUR CLOTHING IS AN IDOL.  Why?  Because idols receive the worship that should only belong to God.  Idols receive the energy, money, and thought that belongs to the creator, the redeemer, our Lord and Savior. 

I think our addiction to externals runs deep in the black subconscious.  We were never accepted for our beauty in this country.  Therefore we sought to make our appearance more palatable to the majority so we could blend into society easier.  But that cost us something.  It cost us our understanding of the biblical principle that we too were created in the image of God.  So we decided to help God finish what He started by putting all manner of time and effort into making ourselves lovely by standards other than His.  Since we have never really been accepted as equally beautiful, we have continued this foolish pursuit of looking good.

I'm equally guilty with reinforcing this idol.  I tell people in church how nice they look; but I don't inquire about the state of their Christian walk.  I compliment shoes, but I wont dare ask my brother if I can pray for him or with him.  Wow!  What am I communicating to folks?  What am I saying every time about what is really important to me? 

Ok, that last one hurt.  So I'll just make one more point about clothing and cosmetics in general.  I'm not fully convinced that when we invest resources into our exterior selves that we are worshipping the things we put on.  In fact, I want to revise that statement now.  When we are more focused on how we look than we are on what God has to say to us--we are not worshipping the clothes, jewelry, or make up. We are worshipping ourselves. 

Give God some glory today and everyday.  Let us all decrease, so He may increase.