Don’t Follow Your Heart?? (with Thaddeus Williams)
Jan 4, 2024
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Thaddeus Williams, Biola professor and author, discusses his book 'Don't Follow Your Heart' and the ten commandments of self-worship. They explore the origins of self-worship and its rise in society. They also delve into self-worship in the church, the difference between ancient and modern concepts of happiness, and the idea of being a cultural heretic.
Self-worship is infiltrating society and promoting the idea of following one's desires instead of God's heart.
The cultural emphasis on following one's heart is counter to biblical teachings, and self-worship promotes self-gratification and infallible emotions.
Deep dives
The Ten Commandments of Self-Worship
The podcast explores the concept of self-worship and how it is infiltrating the hearts and minds of a new generation. The guest, Thad Williams, discusses his book 'Don't Follow Your Heart,' which challenges the idea of following one's own desires and emphasizes the importance of following God's heart instead. The podcast highlights how the culture promotes self-worship as a religious-like devotion to oneself, and how it impacts various aspects of society. Williams presents examples of the Ten Commandments of Self-Worship, such as betraying yourself, embracing the idea of 'You only live once (YOLO),' and promoting the notion that 'Love is Love.' He encourages listeners to be cultural heretics, going against the cult of self-worship and embracing a biblical perspective instead.
The Fallacy of Following Your Heart
The podcast delves into the idea of following one's heart and why it may not be a reliable guide. Williams shares a personal anecdote about his daughter questioning the message she saw in a commercial, stating that she would rather follow God's heart than her own fallen heart. He explains that the cultural emphasis on following one's heart is counter to biblical teachings and promotes a self-worship mindset. Williams argues that self-worship is a false gospel that centers around self-gratification and the belief that one's emotions and desires are infallible. He challenges the notion that being true to oneself is the ultimate goal and emphasizes the importance of aligning one's heart with God's.
The Dangers of Self-Worship in Culture
The podcast discusses how self-worship is prevalent in today's culture and its impact on various areas of life. Examples are given, such as the entertainment industry promoting the notion of 'follow your heart' and the cultural buzz surrounding gender identity. The guest highlights the shift towards self-identification and the belief that one's feelings are unquestionable, leading to a lack of tolerance for disagreement and diverse perspectives. The conversation touches on how the church is influenced by self-worship, with an emphasis on the seeker-sensitive movement and consumeristic attitudes towards church. The dangers of self-worship are discussed in terms of its flattening effect, robbing individuals of awe, and hindering moral courage.
Becoming Cultural Heretics
The podcast concludes by encouraging listeners to become cultural heretics in response to the cult of self-worship. The guest provides examples of cultural heretics, such as those fighting against human trafficking or championing adoption and foster care. He emphasizes the importance of taking God seriously to free oneself from having to take oneself too seriously. The guest also introduces the Heretics Manifesto, which calls on individuals to reject the false promises of self-worship and commit to a biblical worldview. The manifesto provides practical ways to be cultural heretics, challenging the prevailing notions of self-worship and promoting God-centered perspectives.
What is humanity’s oldest lie? And how is it freshly emerging to steal the hearts and minds of a new generation? Our guest today, Biola professor Thaddeus Williams, has a new book out called Don't Follow Your Heart: Boldly Breaking the Ten Commandments of Self-Worship. Join Scott and Thaddeus as we dissect his “ten commandments” and talk about how to be a cultural heretic today.
Thaddeus Williams is Associate Professor of Theology at Biola University and the author of several books and numerous articles. He is the author of Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth and REFLECT: Becoming Yourself by Mirroring the Greatest Person In History.
Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.
To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.
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