{"id":1294,"date":"2011-01-10T14:00:08","date_gmt":"2011-01-10T20:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/?p=1294"},"modified":"2017-11-07T10:41:03","modified_gmt":"2017-11-07T16:41:03","slug":"twirl-023-11011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/member\/lessons\/twirl-023-11011","title":{"rendered":"TWIRL 023: What and Who do I Worship?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This Week In Recovery Lesson<\/span><\/h2>\n

What and Who do I Worship?<\/strong><\/span>
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Ultimately,\u00a0MEdom is my addiction to me. At the core of all addiction is worship. What exactly does the word ‘worship’ mean, and why is being used here?<\/p>\n

Mirriam-Webster defines worship as, “extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem… a person of importance.” This is the bottom line of the MEdom condition. Whether we are willing to admit it or not. There are so many who read this and feel the last person they respect, admire, and have high esteem for is themselves. Yet, the value they place on their pain, their struggle, their loneliness, their unworthiness, and so many more things in deep dark places, is central to their well-being and livelihood. Pain and overall discomfort is of prime importance and the object of utmost esteem.\u00a0Even though\u00a0a victim of perhaps abuse and neglect and other horrible life experiences, the reality is that the feelings, thoughts, and beliefs derived from a history of life experience belongs to them.<\/p>\n

We are all owners of our thoughts, feelings, and desires. Those paralyzed by the\u00a0pain of perilous memories\u00a0remain stuck\u00a0because they will not let go and choose to hold on to the burden of the past. Then there are those paralyzed by the drive of selfish ambition and pride, lust, and greed. They can never be satisfied with who they are and what they have. They strive to possess what they do not have, and to possess more of what they do have. Then there are those that may not be so much into material wealth but are determined to have their way and be in control. Then there is everyone else in the midst of these human conditions whose selfishness may not always be as obvious to others, or even to themselves, but are in fact selfish to one degree or another with the potential to harm oneself and others.<\/p>\n

The scope of self importance ranges from merely living to survive, to living to have it all. Wherever\u00a0you fit\u00a0within that scope,\u00a0you are the most important person in\u00a0your world. It started\u00a0the moment you were born hungry\u00a0and desperate to be fed, and you made it that know\u00a0to whoever happened to be listening. The truth is that we idolize self, whether by way of indulgence or self-loathing\u00a0behavior. Either way, we do and say what we have to in order to minimize discomfort and reduce\u00a0anxiety.<\/p>\n

Isaiah 57:1-13<\/p>\n

1\u00a0Good people pass away;
\nthe godly often die before their time.
\nBut no one seems to care or wonder why.
\nNo one seems to understand
\nthat God is protecting them from the evil to come.
\n2\u00a0For those who follow godly paths
\nwill rest in peace when they die.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Idolatrous Worship<\/h3>\n

3\u00a0\u201cBut you\u2014come here, you witches\u2019 children,
\nyou offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!
\n4\u00a0Whom do you mock,
\nmaking faces and sticking out your tongues?
\nYou children of sinners and liars!
\n5\u00a0You worship your idols with great passion
\nbeneath the oaks and under every green tree.
\nYou sacrifice your children down in the valleys,
\namong the jagged rocks in the cliffs.
\n6\u00a0Your gods are the smooth stones in the valleys.
\nYou worship them with liquid offerings and grain offerings.
\nThey, not I, are your inheritance.
\nDo you think all this makes me happy?
\n7\u00a0You have committed adultery on every high mountain.
\nThere you have worshiped idols
\nand have been unfaithful to me.
\n8\u00a0You have put pagan symbols
\non your doorposts and behind your doors.
\nYou have left me
\nand climbed into bed with these detestable gods.
\nYou have committed yourselves to them.
\nYou love to look at their naked bodies.
\n9You havegiven olive oil to Molech\u00a0(god of fire representing consumption)
\nwith many gifts of perfume.
\nYou have traveled far,
\neven into the world of the dead,
\nto find new gods to love.
\n10\u00a0You grew weary in your search,
\nbut you never gave up.
\nDesire gave you renewed strength,
\nand you did not grow weary.<\/strong><\/p>\n

11\u00a0\u201cAre you afraid of these idols?
\nDo they terrify you?
\nIs that why you have lied to me
\nand forgotten me and my words?
\nIs it because of my long silence
\nthat you no longer fear me?
\n12\u00a0Now I will expose your so-called good deeds.
\nNone of them will help you.
\n13\u00a0Let\u2019s see if your idols can save you
\nwhen you cry to them for help.
\nWhy, a puff of wind can knock them down!
\nIf you just breathe on them, they fall over!
\nBut whoever trusts in me will inherit the land
\nand possess my holy mountain.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

The purpose for the use of this Scripture is not<\/strong> to suggest that you are a witch, adulterer, or prostitute. Rather, we will explore attempts to…<\/p>\n

… achieve\u00a0spiritual significance by way of alternatives\u00a0outside of relationship with God (aligning with\u00a0opposing spiritual forces)<\/span><\/p>\n

… betray and reject God, replacing Him with other gods of attention, affection, and admiration (adultery against God)<\/span><\/p>\n

… offer your souls to the highest bidder to experience an imitation of gratification and fulfillment (“prostituting” to false gods)<\/span><\/p>\n

The following questions will only be effectively helpful to you if you are absolutely honest and thoughtful in examining your lifestyle, relationships, routines, and habits. Failure to fearlessly consider the full merit of each question means that you will only cheat yourself out of the benefit of working through these issues and concerns that permeate the human condition and experience. Please read each question\u00a0carefully and offer a thought-out response.<\/p>\n