Recommended Reading (pt. 8)

Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller

Success, money, true love, and the life you've always wanted. Many of us placed our faith in these things, believing they held the key to happiness. The recent economic breakdown has cast a harsh new light on these pursuits. In a matter of months, fortunes, marriages, careers, and a secure retirement have disappeared for millions of people. No wonder so many of us feel lost, alone, disenchanted, and resentful. But the truth is that we made counterfeit gods of these good things- gods that can't give us what we really need. There is only one God who can wholly satisfy our cravings- and now is the perfect time to meet Him again, or for the first time.

In Counterfeit Gods, Keller shows how the Bible reveals the unvarnished truth about our faith and our hearts' desires. This powerful and inspiring message will cement Keller's reputation as a critical thinker and pastor, and comes at a crucial time- for both the faithful and the skeptical.

The college ministry that I am apart of, Veritas, has chosen a good book to have a discussion on with its members. College students are in a time in their life where they are interested in love and sex- perhaps thinking about their future marriage- and working their way up towards careers that involve making money and gaining power. Timothy Keller's book gives us a good look of how people in this world make idols out of those things and more, why they don't work, and why we need God for true fulfillment. He uses people in the Bible as examples for this, revealing them in a light and giving me a deep perspective of them that I would have never seen myself. His writing style is simple and easy to read, but profound and thought provoking. I learned a lot by reading this book, like I do with all of them. This is a great book for all of those who want to get a perspective on the idols in their lives and how to replace the idols with the true love and hope of Jesus Christ.