In my three years as an assistant principal and six additional years as a coach and classroom teacher I've arrived at the conclusion that every child acts out for one reason: To protect or portray a desired image.
This image that we so desperately crave is what we think will be the vehicle for the acceptance and approval of a certain social group. We want to be noticed, we want to be liked, we want to be worshipped; and we are willing to do whatever it takes to receive such adoration.
One minor problem, however - we are not worthy of receiving worship. "Underlying idolatry is the lie. . . The lie in its various forms says that you are god, you can become a god, you are part of god, you are worthy of worship as god, you can be the source of your life's identity and meaning, you can transform yourself, and you can transform the world and its sin problem as a sort of hero/savior. The answer, therefore, is not to look outward to God for identity, meaning, insight, and salvation. Rather, the answer is to look inward to self for identity, meaning, insight, and personal liberation. The answer, the lie says, is to be found in self rather than in a creator God who is separate from me and rules over me." (Driscoll & Breshears, 2010, p. 341).
So here are the questions that we all need to ask ourselves:
1.) Is this me? Is my identity in Christ, or do I place more importance in what others think of me?
2.) What are the motives behind my own behavior? Why do I behave the way I do? Is it to please man and receive worship from others, or is it to please the one true God?
If we continue to campaign for worship with attention seeking behavior or any other behavior for that matter, we must ask ourselves, "What god are we serving?"
More specifically, "What god do you serve?"
Driscoll, M. & Breshears, G. (2010). Doctrine: What Christians Should Believe. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway.
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