Colleen Orchanian

The last verse of the first letter of John says, Little children, beware of idols. I used to think this was an odd way to end the letter. It seemed out of place, and then I spent a little more time in the verses leading up to it. (Reading in context is very helpful.) The Apostle is reminding the reader (that's us) that we are of God while the whole world is in the power of the evil one. There's the connection.

Idolatry is choosing something of the world, a created thing, over God, the Creator of all things. When I do that, I am in the power of Satan. In contrast, the closer I get to God, the less power Satan has in my life. John warns us to beware of idols because they pull us away from God.

What is the remedy? Detachment. It's a powerful tool in our spiritual arsenal. When we detach from things of this world, the enemy has trouble getting a foothold in our souls.

Paul is our role model here. He wrote in Philippians 4:11-13: Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. I can do all things in him who strengthens me.

Are we like Paul? I have to say, I am not there yet. Maybe you aren't either. It's likely that we are detached in some ways and struggle in others. Here are six areas to seek detachment. Ponder where you are in each of them.

Material Detachment

This is a detachment from our stuff—our house, clothes, jewelry, car, money. Jesus challenged the rich young man, who wondered what he needed to do to be saved. He had followed all the commandments. What else did he need to do? Give away everything. And the man went away sad because he was attached to his stuff. Jesus knew that material wealth was an obstacle keeping the man from following Him. His wealth had become an idol. Others who followed Jesus were also wealthy, but that wasn't an obstacle for them because they were detached from their money. It wasn't about the money for them; it was about serving God. We aren't to be reckless with material things; rather, we are to be good stewards. Hoarding and binge spending are indicators that we don't have material detachment. When we do, on the other hand, wealth is a means to an end, which is union with God.

Comfort Detachment

There are comforts in life that are wonderful. They make us feel good: a hot shower, warmth in the winter and cool air in the summer, getting a facial or pedicure, a good mattress. We thank God for those comforts. But, an indication that these have become attachments is when we get frustrated or angry when they are gone. That's when we're like Jonah, who became attached to the shade tree. When I go to Adoration and the church is very cold, I am miserable. My lack of comfort becomes a distraction from God. Because of the attachment to comfort, I am not praying. Instead, I'm judging and accusing. I am detached from comfort when discomfort draws me closer to God, when I am able to offer up the discomfort and turn it into prayer.

Recreation Detachment

When rest and relaxation replace God in our lives, we have an unhealthy attachment. For example, kids have travel ball, or we take a vacation, and so we skip church. Or our football team loses, and it affects our mood for days. We look for thrills from our hobbies, seeking satisfaction in them rather than our relationship with God. Do we need downtime? Yes! Absolutely! It can recharge our batteries. Attachment is a problem if our goal is recreation rather than restoration to better serve God.

Media Detachment

Social media is like a drug for some people. The first thing they do upon waking is check their phones. Can't sleep, scroll through Facebook. Something happening in the world? Check out all the usual places to find out the details. If there is nothing new, keep looking anyway. I am attached to my phone, when I panic if I forget it. I am attached when it's what I grab when I'm bored. I am attached when I spend time staring at a screen instead of reading, or doing a chore, or talking to the person next to me. Detachment means I don't get caught up in the things of this world. I am informed without overindulging. I see the humanity in front of me rather than the screen that calls for my attention.

Ideology Detachment

Some people are attached to a particular ideology, political party, or cause, and see everything through the lens of that ideology. If my ideology is Jesus, that's not a problem. But if it is anything else, even something good, it means I am attached to the ideology, and it becomes more important than my relationship with God. If I have an unhealthy attachment to a cause or ministry, the devil uses it to cloud my vision. I become judgmental about those who disagree, even questioning their faith. I unfriend people who disagree, call them names, criticize them to others, maybe even yell at them. And because I believe my cause is just, which it is, I think my behavior is acceptable, even honorable. A clue that I might have an unhealthy attachment is this. Is my cause or position drawing me closer to God? Is it bringing me peace? Is it making a difference? If the answer is no, I need to take that to prayer to understand how it has become an idol. When I am detached from a cause, ministry, or ideology, I pray more, I engage others more, I welcome different opinions, and I have much greater peace.

People Detachment

This may be the most difficult attachment to break. We love our kids, our spouses, our parents—as we should. Detaching from them doesn't mean ignoring them or leaving them and moving to a monastery. In Matthew 8:22, Jesus invites someone to follow him, and the man asks to wait until he buries his father. Jesus told him, Let the dead bury the dead. Anyone who doesn't hate father or mother, brother or sister, isn't worthy of the kingdom of God. This is a hard teaching, that nothing and no one can be more important than being a disciple of Jesus. Detachment from people allows me to love others more purely, seeking the good of the soul, which is union with God.

It's unlikely that you will have difficulty detaching from all six areas, but there will be one that is your strongest attachment. That's where you begin if you want to be battle-ready with this spiritual weapon. Take that one area into prayer and ask God to reveal why it has a hold on you. Don't rush through this. Journal what comes to you and avoid censoring your thoughts. Some of those thoughts are from your own mind, some from the devil, and others from the Holy Spirit. Don't try to discern as you write. It may not make sense in the moment, but when you look at it later, it may give you a new perspective about your struggle.

Beware of idols, John said. We are little children, and idols are all around us, calling to us. This was the last thing John wrote, not because he didn't know where else to put it, or it was an afterthought. I think it was the last thing in the letter because he wanted it to stay with the reader, with us. It was that important.

The bottom line is that any attachment to this world is going to be an opportunity for the devil to attack. As we embrace detachment, we become stronger spiritually. We let go of the idols and attach ourselves to the one true God, who is deserving of all our love. He will fill our every need. Beware of idols, my friends.

Questions for prayer:

1. Which one area of detachment is easiest for you? Why do you think that is?

2. Which area is most difficult for you to practice detachment? Why?