What happens when good things take God's place in our lives? In this conversation with Kris Emerson, we pull back the curtain on idolatry, revealing its subtle forms in the 21st century. We discuss how finances, family, and even our own righteousness can become idols if we're not careful, and how easily we can replace God's plan with our own. Ultimately, we explore the challenge and freedom of surrendering to His will.

Seven Key Takeaways:

1. Idolatry is anything that replaces God: It's not just about physical idols; anything we prioritize over God becomes an idol. As Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24)
2. Modern idolatry is often subtle: We may not bow down to statues, but we can still prioritize comfort, security, or control over God.
3. Idolatry can stem from good things: Even good things like family or financial security become idols if we place them above God.
4. Our own righteousness can be an idol: Pride in our goodness can lead us to replace God's judgment with our own.
5. Idolatry is often rooted in impatience: We may turn to idols when we lack the patience to trust in God's timing.
6. Surrender is essential to combating idolatry: We must surrender our desires and control to God.
7. God's power is limitless: True faith recognizes God's power and provision.

Twelve Quotes:

1. "Idolatry is when you find those things in places that are not God." - Kris Emerson
2. "He is the one-stop shop. He is going to provide for every deficiency and hole in our lives." - Kris Emerson
3. "Sometimes your idols have to fail you in order for you to recognize that you've been putting your future, your daily peace in the wrong places." - Kris Emerson
4. "Idolatry is more than just replacing God with something else, it's replacing the will and the way of God with something that is designed to fit me, not designed to glorify Him." - Kris Emerson
5. "It really boils down to either God rules or you rule." - Kris Emerson
6. "Be careful replacing God, yes. Be careful creating your own path to God, yes. But be careful becoming God." - Kris Emerson
7. "You put him in his place and life will be as good as it's ever gonna get." - Kris Emerson
8. "I sure am putting a lot of faith in that 403B." - Kenny Embry
9. "There's a lot of insurance that if it's real or if it's not real, I'd like that insurance." - Kenny Embry
10. "I like being right, Emerson...I like being on the right side of history." - Kenny Embry
11. "The older brother...was basically resting on his righteousness...he worshiped his dad's stuff more than he worshiped his dad." - Kenny Embry
12. "He promises that he will take care of us, but we don't get to dictate the terms that we're taking care of." - Kenny Embry

Four Applications:

1. Reflect on your own life: Take time to examine your heart and actions. What are you prioritizing? Are there any areas where you need to surre

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Kenny Embry and Scott Beyer delve into the fundamental question of Christianity: "Who is Jesus?". They explore the historical evidence for Jesus' existence, discuss the implications of His claims to be the Son of God, and address the significance of His miracles. They also grapple with the complexities of understanding Jesus' dual nature as fully God and fully man, and emphasize the importance of a personal relationship with Him.

8 Key Quotes:

1. "Who is Jesus is fundamental... We call ourselves Christians. Christianity is the faith and belief in Jesus." - Scott
2. "The claim of Christianity is that Jesus died for all of our sins." - Scott
3. "Christianity is all about the historicity... Everything said in the New Testament hinges on real historical events that either happened or they didn't." - Scott
4. "Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord. There are no other options." - Scott (quoting C.S. Lewis)
5. "The empty tomb is the true answer to whether or not Jesus is liar, lunatic, or Lord. If the tomb is empty, he is not a liar. He is not a lunatic. You’re only left with one choice, which is Lord." - Scott
6. “God doesn’t have grandchildren. He only has children. And if you’re going to be in His family, you better find ways to relate to Him.” - Kenny
7. "Jesus is the embodiment of the Word. He is the Word that walked amongst us so that you can understand all these character traits about God." - Scott
8. “What’s good about knowing Jesus? I know I’m safe. I know I’m loved, and I know I’m not in charge.” - Scott

6 Takeaways:

1. The question "Who is Jesus?" is central to Christianity.
2. Christianity stands out due to the historical evidence supporting Jesus' existence and the public nature of biblical revelation
3. Jesus' claims to be the Son of God and the Messiah have profound implications for how we understand Him and our relationship to Him
4. The miracles Jesus performed served as signs of His divine power and authority
5. A personal relationship with Jesus is essential, but it doesn't mean we will fully understand Him or His ways.
6. Faith in Jesus involves trust based on evidence, even when faced with unanswered questions.

4 Applications

1. Investigate the historical evidence for Jesus and the claims of Christianity
2. Reflect on the implications of Jesus' identity as the Son of God and King
3. Consider the significance of Jesus' miracles in demonstrating His divine power
4. Cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus through prayer, Bible study, and obedience to His teachings

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In this thought-provoking episode of Balancing the Christian Life, Dr. Kenny Embry engages in a conversation with Tommy Humphries, a college professor at Saint Leo University, about the existence and character of God. They delve into the complexities of belief, drawing parallels between faith and marriage, and explore the transformative power of love in the Christian journey. Join them as they navigate through questions of doubt, the limitations of human understanding, and the pursuit of a deeper relationship with God.

Key Takeaways:

• Simple but Complicated: The question of God's existence is foundational to Christianity, but it's more complex than a simple yes or no.
• God as Love: Tommy believes God is love, and you can't talk about God without talking about love.
• Human Reason & Faith: Both human reason and faith play a role in understanding God. Even atheists and theists can have similar views if terms are clarified.
• Doubt and Faith: Doubt is part of the human experience, even for Christians. A lack of doubt can be a sign of shallow thinking.
• Marriage as an Analogy: Both marriage and faith involve commitment before full understanding and deepening of the relationship over time.
• God's Character: Believing in God involves understanding His character, not just acknowledging His existence.
• Love as the Core: Love is the greatest of all virtues, and the ultimate goal is to become a perfect lover of God and neighbor.
• Good of Believing in God: Belief opens us to a deeper understanding of the world and a transformative relationship with God.

Memorable Quotes:

• "I became a Christian for very different reasons than I stay a Christian, because I think the reason I became a Christian was to escape hell. But I don't stay a Christian to escape hell." - Kenny Embry
• "God is love, and the heart of love is the ability to give yourself completely to another for their good." - Tommy Humphries
• "The real work of a theologian is to present a love which cannot be deconstructed." - Bishop Daniel Flores
• "Faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13

Call to Action:

• Sign up for the free Balancing the Christian Life conference.

Additional Notes:

• Dr. Kenny Embry is a conservative church of Christ member and communication professor.
• Tommy Humphries is a Catholic and a college professor.
• The conversation explored the complexities of belief in God, the nature of faith, and the importance of love in the Christian life.
• Dr. Embry emphasizes the importance of learning from people with different perspectives.

Remember to be good and do good.

If you would like to sign up for the 2024 Balancing the Christian Life Conference, go to www.balancingthechristianlife.com and click the menu at the top.

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