Outside Reading: Gods at War: Defeating the Idols that Battle for Your Heart

Gods at War by Kyle Idleman is a book about false gods that are at war within everyone. These gods fight for control of our hearts and want to be glorified at the center of our lives. Idleman states that what keeps people from truly following God (decentered self) is the pursuing of something or somebody else. Most people think of idols as being the old school images and items found in the olden times, but there are a wide variety of modern day idols that consume people's lives. He basically states that the suffering, the loneliness, the hurt you feel all stem from a false god that is being victorious in the battle for your heart. Idleman poses some questions that are tough to answer, but help determine who or what is running your life. These questions include: What makes you mad? Whose applause do you long for? What do you sacrifice for? What do you worry about? He believes that everyone is created for worship, but who or what we worship is ultimately our choice. This idea was a powerful point in my mind. Knowing that we are meant to worship our creator is an awesome thought, but when we let other things get in the way, we begin to worship things that were not meant to be worshiped. I feel as though this book relates to this class in a sense that sacred communication and journey are key components to a life of worshiping the Almighty.