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

by Timothy Keller

Publisher:

Riverhead Books

, 2011

Overview

Success, 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, but with a sneaking suspicion they might not deliver. Harsh economic realities are casting new light on the pursuits of sex, money, and success for happiness: careers, fortunes, marriages, and retirement security have collapsed. Many feel lost, disenchanted, and resentful. But the truth is that we made lesser 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.

The Bible tells us that the human heart is an “idol-factory,” taking good things and making them into idols that drive us. In Counterfeit Gods, Timothy Keller applies his trademark approach to show us how a proper understanding of the Bible reveals the unvarnished truth about societal ideals and our own hearts. This powerful 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.

Key Features

• Provides compelling arguments for the ongoing relevance of Christian belief in society
• Addresses key practical questions all Christians wrestle with in their journey of faith

Contents

Top Highlights

“De Tocqueville says it comes from taking some ‘incomplete joy of this world’ and building your entire life on it. That is the definition of idolatry.” (Page xiii)

“The Bible’s answer is that the human heart is an ‘idol factory.’^{5” (Page xvi)}

“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.” (Page xix)

“For Jesus, greed is not only love of money, but excessive anxiety about it.” (Page 56)

“As many have learned and later taught, you don’t realize Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.” (Page 19)

Product Details

• Title: Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters
• Author: Timothy Keller
• Publisher: Riverhead Books
• Print Publication Date: 2011
• Logos Release Date: 2016
• Pages: 256
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Idolatry; Christian life › Presbyterian authors
• ISBNs: 9780525951360, 9781594485497, 9781101148044, 9781101148877, 0525951369, 1594485496, 1101148047, 110114887X
• Resource ID: LLS:CNTRFTGDSTMTTRS
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T22:53:23Z

About Timothy Keller

Timothy Keller (1950-2023) was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which he started in 1989. For over 20 years, he led a diverse congregation of young professionals with a weekly attendance of over 5,000. He was also president of Redeemer City to City, which plants new churches in New York and other cities. For the last decade, the organization has launched over 200 churches in 35 cities. Logos has collected his sermons in the Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (1989–2011) and Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (2012–2013).

Keller wrote multiple New York Times bestselling books, including The Reason for God and The Prodigal God. His recent work included The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God, Walking with God through Pain and Suffering, and Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work. He is also wrote his own commentary and study guide series. Christianity Today has said, “Fifty years from now, if evangelical Christians are widely known for their love of cities, their commitment to mercy and justice, and their love of their neighbors, Timothy Keller will be remembered as a pioneer of the new urban Christians.”