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Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters

Book by Timothy Keller · 17 quotes · Grace, Idols, Ifs

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Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters Quotes

“[T]he main problem in life is sin, and the only solution is God and his grace. The alternative to this view is to identify something besides sin as the main problem with the world and something besides God as the main remedy. That demonizes something that is not completely bad, and makes an idol out of something that cannot be the ultimate good.”

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Book:Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters
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“Rejoicing and repentance must go together. Repentance without rejoicing will lead to despair. Rejoicing without repentance is shallow and will only provide passing inspiration instead of deep change.”

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Book:Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters
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“When love of one's people becomes an absolute, it turns into racism. When love of equality turns into a supreme thing, it can result in hatred and violence toward anyone who has led a privileged life. It is the settled tendency of human societies to turn good political causes into counterfeit gods.”

PeopleHumansPoliticalTurnsCausesResultsViolenceRacismHatredAbsolutesSupremeTendenciesPrivilegedHuman SocietyCounterfeitGood PoliticalPrivileged Life
Book:Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters
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“When people say, "I know God forgives me, but I can't forgive myself," they mean that they have failed an idol, whose approval is more important than God's.”

PeopleKnowsMeanI CanImportantForgivingIdolsApprovalKnowing GodIdolatryForgive MeGod ForgivesCan't ForgiveGod Forgive Me
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“If you want God's grace, all you need is need, all you need is nothing. But that kind of spiritual humility is hard to muster. We come to God saying, "Look at all I've done," or maybe "Look at all I've suffered." God, however, wants us to look to him - to just wash.”

IfsWantNeedsLooksKindHardDoneSpiritualGraceHumilityGod's GraceMuster
Book:Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters
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“We think that idols are bad things, but that is almost never the case. The greater the good, the more likely we are to expect that it can satisfy our deepest needs and hopes. Anything can serve as a counterfeit god, especially the very best things in life.”

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Book:Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters
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“If we are deeply moved by the sight of his love for us, it detaches our hearts from other would-be saviors. We stop trying to redeem ourselves through our pursuits and relationships, because we are already redeemed. We stop trying to make others into saviors, because we have a Savior.”

IfsTryingHeartWould BeSightMovedPursuitSaviorHis LoveStop TryingRedeemed
Book:Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters
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“Why didn't Jacob simply refuse to go along with this bold, obvious swindle? Again, Robert Alter's insights are invaluable. When Jacob asks, 'Why have you DECEIVED me?' the Hebrew word is the same one used in chapter 27 to describe what Jacob did to Isaac. Alter then quotes an ancient rabbinical commentator who imagines the conversation the next day between Jacob and Leah. Jacob says to Leah: 'I called out "Rachel" in the dark and you answered. Why did you do that to me?' And Leah says to him, 'Your father called out "Esau" in the dark and you answered. Why did you do that to him?' His fury dies on his lips. He sees what it is like to be manipulated and deceived, and he meekly complies with Laban's offer.”

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Book:Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters
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