Idol worship?

It’s not popular ( or maybe it is ) to disagree with Mark Driscoll, the high-flying pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA. He has become the spokesman for a new generation of Christians and holds tremendous sway within the Christian community. I recently watched a segment on ABC News Nightline where Mark was talking about idolatry in our current culture.

The clip:

Mark does a reasonable job in his interview of laying out modern addictions to the typical vices in modern culture: Sex, alcohol, co-dependency and so on. They then interview a number of people from the Mars Hill congregation, and they confess that they too are a victim of modern idolatry, pointing out their addictions to fitness at the gym and so on. The interviewer and Mark then take a ride around Seattle in Mark’s jeep, where Mark points out the modern temples within which this idolaters worship. The modern office building, the Starbucks headquarters, Qwest Field are identified as the new place of worship for today’s new brand of idolaters.

I have to say, Mark, I just don’t get it. Maybe your comments were taken out of context, or maybe these are things that you really believe. What would you have us “post-modern” Christians do?

Comment #1, on work:
“How many people are going to work today, giving up their bodies as sacrifices to these companies?”
I don’t think that the majority of people working today are “worshiping” the company they work for. Most people are trying to make a living, and provide a good life for their family. Their motives may not be 100% pure, and they may have their priorities out of whack a bit, they may like having things that maybe you think they shouldn’t like having, but idolaters?

Comment #2, on Starbucks logo at the top of the building:
“The Starbucks logo is high and exalted, in a pre-eminent position, where God’s supposed to be”
Should Starbucks put their logo on the pavement, and hope people can figure out that this is Starbucks headquarters?

Comment #3, on sporting events:
“If someone were dropped in from Israel 2000 years ago, they would think they are at a religious event”
I have been to probably hundreds of sporting events by now where the arena was full, and people were having a good time. Not one time did I feel like I was at a religious event. I think 97% of the people that attend sporting events or concerts ( Michael Jackson not included ) are just having fun, and enjoying someone being really really good at what they do. I had an absolute blast at the U2 concert last Saturday night, but I was not worshiping at the altar of the band just by being there.

Maybe I am missing something. I have not studied Biblical text to the extent that Mark has, and he may be way ahead of me on this one. I am also sure that there is a good bit of truth in what he is saying. The problem I have with it is that the message just feels way out of touch with reality for the majority of the population.

I would love to be corrected if I am way off base. It has happened before, and I am sure it will happen again.