Reaction & Root Idols

Ian Miller | 07/01/2024

Reaction is a natural human response. Yesterday I was frying eggs and a piece catapulted out of the skillet toward my eye. My eyelid reacted and heroically rescued my eyeball from being scalded. It all happened in a split second. My subconscious reaction saved the day.

Subconscious reactions are part of survival. I can’t even begin to consciously evaluate and act on every bit of information that I encounter in a given day. But it is crucial that I tune into the subconscious so that I can understand and evaluate my reactions. Many of my reactions rescue me from impending danger. But some of them are harmful and destructive. 

Lately I have been processing a reactive pattern that I see in my life. I react to what I perceive as controlling leadership. Something rises up within me when I feel like someone else is being controlled and manipulated. Many times, this reaction triggers a tension that builds up in my heart. Every once in a while it boils over into unhealthy responses in relationships. 

As I consciously evaluate this reaction, it leads me to see a deeper root issue. An idol in my heart. In her book “Who You Are” Judy Cha talks about root idols. In her 30 years of counseling ministry, she along with other fellow counselors at Redeemer Counseling Services have identified 4 root idols. Power, Control, Acceptance and Comfort. We naturally revert to one of these. And I see how I revert to the root idol of power. My subconscious response is to exercise my influence and power to change the situation, to fix things, to help people.

Quoting my friend and coach Lyndon Risser, “The success of every generation can be measured by their ability to avoid reacting to the inconsistencies of the former. In contrast, learn from their inconsistencies to create a better reality. Otherwise, we will only repackage and repeat them differently.”

I want to learn to tune into my reactions so that I can surrender my reactions to the refining work of the Holy Spirit. I want the mind of Christ to permeate every aspect of my mind so that I do not live under the control of my core idol of power. I want to rely fully on his power rather than independently exercising mine. 

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36 NKJV).