The Idols That Silence Our Mission

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gives His disciples a truly remarkable mission: to share His message and magnify His name across the globe. Yet, despite this powerful call to action, many of us today find ourselves grappling with the challenge of fulfilling what we know as the Great Commission.

But what really holds us back?

Not long ago, I would have pointed to fear as my biggest obstacle to obedience. After two decades of planting and revitalising churches, though, I've seen fear as the surface indication of a much deeper issue within my heart. In Exodus 20:3, God reveals some critical insight into this issue: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Tim Keller defines these “other gods” as idols. He says,

"An idol is anything more important to you than God, that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, that you seek to give you what only God can provide….A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would not feel worth living. An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought….An idol is whatever you look at and say in your heart of hearts, “If I have that, then I’ll feel my life has meaning, then I’ll know I have value, then I’ll feel significant and secure.”

Ultimately, the real challenge lies in the presence of idols in our hearts. Identifying and confronting these distractions is crucial to fully embracing our mission and truly living out the Great Commission.

There are four fundamental idols that dominate our hearts: power, control, approval, and comfort. Let us take a moment to reflect on which of these resonates most deeply with you.

How is your comfort zone, which represents a longing for pleasure and security, becoming an obstacle between you and the people God wants to save? Where are the places you feel comfortable? What are the places you do not want to go to make Jesus known? How can you overcome this idol? Jesus says, “Go” to places you wouldn’t usually go to share the gospel.

How is the desire for control, which stems from a longing to have everything go according to your plan, becoming a wall between you and the people God wants to save? Who are the people you find difficult to engage with? What cultural differences do you find most challenging due to the inability to control the behaviour of those who are different from you? How can you defeat this idol? Jesus commands us to “Make disciples of all cultures.” This means you should engage with people you wouldn’t typically interact with because they are different from you.

How is the need for approval, driven by a longing to be accepted or desired, hindering you from reaching the people God wants to save? How can you overcome this idol? Jesus instructs us to “Teach them everything I have commanded.” This involves clearly and convincingly explaining the truth, without compromising it in any way. We share the good news with boldness and at the same time the bad news with compassion and respect.

Why are those pesky idols grasping at our hearts?

It all boils down to the idol of power—a deep-seated craving for significance, influence, or recognition. In essence, it’s the desire to elevate ourselves to a status that only belongs to God.

So, how do we conquer this idol?

The answer is in Matthew 28:17. Some of the disciples worshipped Jesus while others doubted. In other words, Jesus was the one some loved as their Lord and Saviour, while others still had to have their idols defeated.

A love for Jesus defeats idols. When our hearts are filled with Jesus, we don't leave space for idols. When our hearts overflow with Jesus's love, sharing that incredible gift with those who feel empty becomes second nature.

Consider which false god has captured your attention and affection. What idol holds the strongest influence over your choices? As you identify the idol which tends to occupy the place of Jesus in your heart, destroy it by obeying the Great Commission and the greatest Commandment.

“Go” — step out of comfort zones into unfamiliar places.

“Make disciples of all cultures” — engage people outside your usual circles.

“Teach them everything I have commanded” — share both good and bad news with respect, compassion, and clarity.

“Worship Him” — Honour Christ as the ultimate source of hope, joy, fulfilment, comfort, approval and control.

Let us love God by making Him known.