Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller
Week 5: Chapter 4 — The Seduction of Success
Read Chapter 4 of Counterfeit Gods. Key passage: Genesis 11:1–9 (the Tower of Babel); also Philippians 3:4–11.
Previewing Week 5 of Counterfeit Gods
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 9-week guide when you’re ready.
Achievement, recognition, and success are things we celebrate — but Keller argues they are among the most spiritually dangerous idols precisely because they feel so virtuous to pursue.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Keller uses the Tower of Babel as an archetypal image of success-as-idolatry — a project built not for God's glory but to "make a name for ourselves." What makes the Babel builders' motivation so relatable, and so dangerous?
2.Keller draws on Nebuchadnezzar's story — a man of extraordinary achievement brought low by pride, reduced to living like an animal, and ultimately restored through humility. What do you make of this dramatic narrative as an illustration of where the success idol leads?
a.Keller notes that Nebuchadnezzar's restoration came only after he "lifted his eyes to heaven." What does that gesture symbolize about the direction pride must be broken?
b.Can you think of a modern equivalent of Nebuchadnezzar's journey — someone whose fall became a surprising path to humility and recovery?
3.Keller argues that the success idol is particularly powerful in Western, especially American, culture — where identity is almost entirely defined by what you do and what you achieve. How has that cultural script shaped your own relationship to work, ambition, or status?