Freedom of Choice

The people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! . . . We too will serve the Lord, because He is our God.”-Joshua 24:16, 18-

Christian philosopher Peter Kreeft says, “The opposite of theism is not atheism. It’s idolatry.” Everyone is going to worship a god of some sort (yes, even atheists), because we were created to be worshipers. It’s written into our genetic code. It’s an inescapable part of our job description as human beings. Worship comes as factory-installed, standard equipment in any member of the human race who has a body, a mind, and emotions.
The question, of course, is whom or what you will choose to worship personally. There are lots of options, and most of them are not “religious.” In whom or what do you put your hope? What do you pursue? In short, to what do you give the bulk of your life’s attention?
Here are some choices that reveal the god or gods you may be worshiping:
* How you spend your day off or your free time
* Whom you choose as friends & which ones you call in a crisis
* What you do for a living
* How you manage your money
* What you watch on TV or what websites you visit
* What clothes you wear (or wish you could afford to wear)
* What food you eat
* What you think about
* How you spend your Sundays
* What type & level of education you have gotten or are getting
* Whether or not you a time with God — every day of the week

Instead of worrying about the question, “What god am I serving?” Look at your choices. You really are free to choose. But choosing well can be difficult.

Pursuing Today
Ask yourself, “What choices am I making? Have I been influenced by the choices of my friends and family? The culture around me? Consider your answers to the choices listed above. Stop for a moment and weigh your options. Then complete these sentences, using the same language the people of Israel used. “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve [ ]. We too will serve the Lord because [ ].