Idol Worshiper

It’s amazing how God works when we are even slightly paying attention. I was in the middle of writing a paper while working on becoming a Recovery Chaplain. I was facilitating a small group at our church with curriculum created by Andy Stanley called “It Came From Within.” Had just started reading Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover and reading a book by Edward T. Welch Addictions-A Banquet in the Grave, when I had some kind of crazy revelation. I was an Idol Worshiper! Worse. I had been doing it all my life. The bible is full of these stories and examples. There are idol worshipers, idol smashers, and re builders. Time and time again, story after story. I had a heart problem. I was writing a book about recovery coaching and found Edward T. Welch and The Old Testament coaching me. The parts that made the most impact to me in Edward's book was the sections on idolatry, adultery, and building walls of protection for our recovery. He goes as far to call addiction a “Worship Disorder.” And I was on a journey of the heart. We are all in recovery from something. When you read the story of Achan in Joshua it is just plain disobedience. Think about where you are at in your own journey and what idols you are still holding on to and lets high-five the ones that you have already smashed. We are going on an idol smashing rampage!


Ever heard of Achan? Probably not, read Joshua 7:16-26 then come back to this blog. Now read it again and put your name where Achan’s is, replace the robe, the coins and the bar of gold with the things that are controlling your life, ruining your life. Maybe you have been clean for a while from any substance and you need to replace it with anger, guilt, worry or any other emotion that is hidden in your tent. Not the greatest ending to a biblical story is it? Achan wanted this stuff so bad that he did not care if it hurt everyone around him. He hid these things deep under his tent. Joshua asks him, “Why have you brought trouble on us?” The Israelites found out about this, stoned Achan and his entire family, burned their bodies and piled a heap of rocks on them. They even called that place “Valley of Trouble” The end. Ouch! You ever been there, the valley of trouble? When you want something so bad that you could care less if your entire family would be killed over it. Its drastic I know, but that is what Edward T. Welch is saying about addictions. Did I want my family to die? No, but when I drank alcohol that is exactly what happened to my relationship with my wife, my kids and it blocked me from the love of God for years. God still loved me, but the idol was in the way. We can’t serve two masters. I wonder how long I would have lasted in the Old Testament days. Just one touch, one taste, need more need more. Pow! French fried human being. I would be on the 6 o clock news, another one bites the dust. Thank God for the gift of Jesus Christ and stories like this, that speaks to my heart.

By: Bill A. Gaspard, Life Recovery Coach
For more information on Christian Recovery Coaching visit
http://www.christianrecoverycoaching.com/