We don’t tend to think of ourselves as idolaters, we associate idols with shrines and statues, but in Ezekiel 14 God’s complaint against the elders in Israel is that they had ‘set up idols in their hearts’ (Ezek. 14:4). That’s what this book is about – the idols of our hearts: the things we look to, to give us meaning, identity, security, approval and joy. John Calvin said that the human heart is an idol factory and Martin Luther that idolatry is the root of all our sinful behaviour. So if we’re ever going to properly repent of our sin we need to understand the idols of our hearts.

The book is particularly written into the context of the current global economic crisis which Keller believes has given us a unique opportunity. Many of the idols that we have worshipped have come crashing down, we are briefly experiencing disenchantment, therefore this is a great opportunity to discern the idols of our hearts and of our culture and escape their destructive influences by turning back to the true God.

While this sounds like a book for unbelievers, and I’d very happily give it away to an unbelieving friend, Keller has the knack of applying deep truths to believer and unbeliever at the same time. Christians still face this battle for the functional throne of our hearts, and repentance – turning from idols to the true and living God – is a lifelong process for us.

While anything can be an idol, Keller picks four idols which are prevalent in our culture: love, money, success and power. Each chapter is based around a narrative from the Bible and Keller combines deep insights into God’s word with a clear and perceptive understanding of the culture around him – his writing is a constant interaction between the word and the world.

What I like most about Keller is the way he applies the gospel to every situation. Each chapter takes us to Christ as the one who alone can free us from our addiction to idols. For example, money and wealth promise to give us security, status and control but, where those promises prove empty, God offers better promises. Ultimately the cross guarantees our eternal security, the cross gives us a status beyond that which money can ever give – we are God’s children, and actually we’re not in control in our chaotic world, but God is, and we can trust Him! Repenting from, and being set free from slavery to our idols is not just a question of redoubling our efforts. It’s a matter of believing and grasping the gospel in clearer and deeper ways. The gospel is God’s power to save us and keep saving us, and as Martin Luther said – we need to beat the gospel into us!

The book finishes by looking at how we spot and replace the idols in our hearts. We have to look at the fruits in our lives: what makes us angry, anxious, happy, and what makes us despair? What do I daydream about? How do I spend my time/money? Then try to trace the fruits down to the roots – why do I behave like this? What’s going on in my heart to produce this? And then the power for replacing an idol is the ‘expulsive power of a new affection’ (taken from Thomas Chalmers’ famous sermon) – we need to treasure Christ, and the riches that are in Him, more than anything else, so that increasingly He alone captures the affections and loyalty of our hearts and lives.

I really recommend this book. As well as helping us to understand and relate better to our culture, it reveals the idolatry in our own hearts, and points us, and those around us, to Christ who alone is the worthy ruler and treasure of our hearts.

John Richards