Idolatry and Salvation

Idolatry involves putting something that is not God in the place of God. An alternative god is whatever we value most. Since we tend to esteem most what we believe will satisfy us best, our idols are those non-God things we turn to most often for fulfillment. And our fulfillment requires not only getting more of what we need but also getting rid of what prevents us from wholeness. If we are unable to free ourselves from such obstacles, we need a savior. So idolaters will usually seek salvation apart from God. But salvation is found only in Jesus Christ.

Why Science Needs Philosophy & Theology

Scientists can tell us what the facts are but we need philosophers and theologians to help us figure out what the facts mean and how to evaluate them. For instance, psychologists can determine how much satisfaction people derive from an activity. However, we need to think philosophically about why people enjoy that pastime and that will require that we find out what it means to them. We will also need to discern whether the involvement in question is genuinely worthwhile. And that will require us to ask if engaging in it contributes to the purpose for which God created us.