Power, particularly political power, becomes a “counterfeit god” when it takes on ultimate significance for us. When we feel powerless, we naturally position ourselves to gain greater power over our lives. But acquiring and maintaining this power is a never-ending cycle.

The biblical account of Nebuchadnezzar illustrates the unsatisfying nature of the pursuit of power. The most powerful man in the world, Nebuchadnezzar sleeps uneasily, gripped by insecurity and fear (Dan2), yet also prideful (Dan4). Through his dreams in Dan. 2 & 4, we see a picture of the most enduring power of all – the kingdom of God.

Our culture tends to idolize romantic love. We may even believe the message of the Beatles’ song from 50 years ago: Love is all you need. Romantic love is generally a good thing, but a good thing becomes a counterfeit god when we ascribe ultimate meaning to it.

In Gen. 29, we find Jacob looking for transcendence and meaning in his relationship with Rachel. Jacob believed as we do sometimes – that if we could find that one special person (our “soulmate”), all that is wrong within us would be healed. When this happens, Ernest Becker says, “the love object is God” in our lives. This truth is revealed in the Biblical account of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah.

The pursuit of happiness is exalted in our culture. Prevailing wisdom encourages you to “follow your heart.” But according to Rom. 1:24-25, one of the worst things that can happen is for God to give someone over to the desires of their heart.

God tests the desires of Abraham’s heart by asking him to sacrifice Isaac, the child of promise. Even the good gift of family must not become a “counterfeit god” in our lives. As long as Abraham never had to choose between his son and obedience to God, he could not see that his love for Isaac could become idolatrous.

Idolatry is the fundamental problem in the Scriptures. And although modern readers of the Bible may scoff at the notion of bowing down before a golden calf, we must acknowledge the more nuanced and subtle form of present-day idolatry. Col. 3:5-8 lists examples of our earthly nature that must be put to death (sexual immorality, lust, greed, rage, etc). But these aren’t simply vices to be avoided. In Col. 3:5, these behaviors are referred to as “idolatry.”

The Bible uses three basic metaphors to describe how people relate to the idols of their hearts: they love idols (marital metaphor), they trust idols (religious metaphor), and they obey idols (political metaphor). Thankfully, God offers to cleanse us of our idols by giving us a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:24-27).

We aspire to be a hopeful people. Our life in Christ infuses us with the hope of eternal glory as we await the return of our Lord.

Key theme: Hope fosters confidence, peace, and joy.

In a world filled with bad news, the people of God are a Good News people, a true contrast community shaped by the Gospel of Jesus. This message of Good news is a word of hope – a promise of something more to come as God’s glorious future intersects the reality of our present circumstances. This is the power of the Holy Spirit: to produce overflowing hope in our lives. People of hope are filled with peace, joy, and confidence because of their conviction that God’s Good News is the final word in all things!

We aspire to be a hopeful people. Our life in Christ infuses us with the hope of eternal glory as we await the return of our Lord.

Key theme: Hope fosters confidence, peace, and joy.

In a world filled with bad news, the people of God are a Good News people, a true contrast community shaped by the Gospel of Jesus. This message of Good news is a word of hope – a promise of something more to come as God’s glorious future intersects the reality of our present circumstances. This is the power of the Holy Spirit: to produce overflowing hope in our lives. People of hope are filled with peace, joy, and confidence because of their conviction that God’s Good News is the final word in all things!

We aspire to be a loving people. Because God first loved us, we live as reflections of that redemptive love in the world.

Key theme: Love fosters trust, obedience, and justice-seeking

The Hebrew concept of faith is understood as “trusting obedience.” To have faith in God is to live in trusting obedience to His commands. In the New Testament, we find the idea of trusting obedience linked with love. As John teaches, to love God is to live in obedience to His commands. We seek to be people formed by love for God and love for others. As people who love God, we trust Him fully. As people who love others, we desire justice for all – justice that is rooted in the righteous character of a loving God.

We aspire to be a grateful people. We are defined by an attitude of gratefulness for what God has done in our lives and we share with the world what we have been freely given.

Key theme: Gratitude fosters praise, generosity, and service

Our spirit of gratitude is rooted in our relationship with Jesus. Like the man cleansed of leprosy, we find healing and restoration in Jesus. True gratitude wells up in a life of praise, thanking God for all He has done. Gratitude also prompts us to live generously, to share the bounty of God’s blessings with others. And overflowing gratitude becomes manifest in a life of service.