False Idols Fall

The 5 most common idols we encounter on campus.

I recently read an article on the BBC about Bangladeshi idol craftsmen. Aside from being a fascinating insight into the world of idol-making, it made me reflect on the kinds of idols we worship in our culture today. That reflection eventually became a sermon I preached at university campuses across Ontario, calling students to be bolder in identifying and confronting the idols of our time.

The sermon was built on a remarkable passage from 1 Thessalonians, where the early church was described as “turning from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9).

So, let’s talk about idols.

What is an idol?

In this context, I define an idol as anything that competes for authority with Christ. The key characteristic of all idols is that they promise freedom but deliver slavery.

What are the idols we are observing?

Here are five of the most common idols we encounter on university campuses today:

1. Materialism: The idol of personal comfort.
   By far the most common, this idol convinces people that life’s goal is comfort. Pretty simple but no less pernicious.

2. Vague Spirituality: The idol of self-made religion.
   The spiritual-but-not-religious mindset is still prevalent, promoting a kind of pagan syncretism where people piece together spiritual beliefs based on personal preference rather than revealed truth.

3. Woke-ism: The idol of ideological reductionism.
   This refers to the tendency to adopt a simplified ideological framework to explain the world. In doing so, these frameworks function as substitute religions. This could include environmentalism, feminism, conservatism, racism, power, or any other system that becomes an ultimate lens through which life is interpreted. Many people have rejected faith in Christ simply because they have been taught that Christianity is an “oppressive power system.” Idols will always distort the truth.

4. Islam: The idol of religious rigor without Christ.
   Islam is the most influential religious voice on many campuses, and Muslim students are often well-equipped in basic apologetics when engaging Christians. While Islam strictly forbids idol worship, by our definition—anything that competes for authority with Christ—it can still function as an idol.

5. Sexuality: The idol of self-expression as salvation.
   This idol promises that embracing a sexual or gender identity will bring freedom. Yet, nothing could be further from the truth. Sadly, this is an area where Christians often fail to communicate the true liberty found in Christ effectively and have, in many cases, opted to be silent - creating a massive chasm of confusion.

If you were to interview ten Canadian university students about faith, I could virtually guarantee that these five idols would surface.

Why This Matters

Confronting and turning from idols is serious business. In the New Testament, it was a major source of conflict (Acts 17 and 19). Why? Because idols are deeply entangled in people’s identity, way of life, and community.

But Jesus calls us to a radical transformation of our identity, way of life, and understanding of community. Being a disciple means rethinking the most precious things in our lives in light of Christ’s lordship.

What Can We Do?

1. Train disciples to develop Holy Spirit-led self-awareness.
   Before we challenge cultural idols, we must first identify and confront the idols in our own hearts (Matthew 7:3-5).

2. Equip disciples with cultural intelligence.
   We need to correctly identify, name, and understand how idols shape our culture so we can respond with wisdom and truth.

3. Train disciples in confidence and courage.
   Confronting idols requires practical training—helping believers develop the skills, knowledge, and boldness to engage these issues with a Biblical and loving response.

Join the Conversation

I’m hosting a seminar and reception on May 10th at 7 PM EDT at the LIFT Church building to explore these ideas further. If there’s enough interest, we may stream it as well—comment below if you’d like that!

You can register for the in-person event here.

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Thanks, everyone!