Idols: The Wild Ride of Admiration, Obsession and Reality

Does this sound at all familiar?

‘Ok, time to sit down to write a blog about idols.’ 

I sit down and open my laptop.

‘Wait, where did I save those notes?’

*I pick up my phone…

(Let me quickly break from this story to share that I’m not even 5 sentences in, and I literally just picked up my phone, entered youtube and started watching a video. Ok, let’s return.)

I pick up my phone and instead of going to my notes app, my thumb sneaks over to the Youtube app

‘Ooo look, a new video uploaded.’

2 hours later

‘Oh it’s dinner time… what was I having for dinner?’

Oh, my friends, I’ve had a real time of it these past couple of months. Thanks specifically to six young men who have somehow seeped into my mind alarmingly quickly … and stubbornly refused to leave.

Astro with one of their many awards

Here they are.

A Kpop band called Astro. For two months now I have woken up with their songs playing in my head; spent time watching their behind the scenes videos before I sleep; and loyally watching their stage performances while I’m on the bike at the gym. 

This definitely isn’t a new problem. While it’s the first Korean boy band I’ve had this experience with, over the years singers and actors of all kinds have had this effect on me. But it wasn’t until now that I have been deeply reminded of God’s very important first commandment. 

“You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.” Exodus 20:3-4 NLT. 

It was a harsh reality to realise how much these other guys were taking the place of my Creator. My Heavenly Father, the one who I should be worshipping on a daily basis. I should be waking up in the morning and my first act should be praising Him. Before I sleep I should be talking to Him and thanking Him for the work He’s doing.

Why the obsession with these idols?

It’s been said that we often look up to celebrities because we wish we had their lives. Whether it’s an actor, sports star, social media influencer - whoever it is, we will often want something they have. It might be money, a nice house, or the opportunity to meet other people of influence. 

On the other hand - like in my case - we really admire someone because of who they are. What I’ve learned about Astro is that each member is hard working, dedicated, and super talented. And, beyond that, they also spread joy; they love having fun; and they are such supportive brother figures to one another. In an intense environment like the Kpop world, these guys maintain a level of down-to-earthness and an appealing goofiness that’s hard to find in people who are in the public eye.

Astro tend to get in giggle fits over their lunch breaks

Because of this, it’s interesting to think of how to combat this type of problem. I’ve gone back and forth a lot on this. 

To be completely honest, I’m still figuring it out. 

On the one hand, watching these guys so much has been a time chomper. How much content could I have made for my blog if I never discovered Astro? How much more sleep could I have got if I hadn’t kept watching their videos until 1am? How much more prayer time with God could I have had if my mind wasn’t on a continuous loop of their songs? 

But on the other hand, they have made me laugh on days where I needed a good laugh. My ears have been blessed hearing their voices sing, as they use their (literal) God-given gifts. As public figures, they role model kindness, support, and respect (alongside healthy relationships, like when they playfully mock each other as brothers do).

Honestly, it is so nice to see this in our world in a time where selfishness is becoming more acceptable and respect is losing its value. Which might be another reason their content has taken over my life. Watching them is, in a way, uplifting … and a refreshing break from the destructive and depressing news stories that are encircling us on a daily basis.

Here’s my problem.

For me, I’m currently attempting to work out some kind of shift. God has certainly made it clear that I need to reorganise my priorities. References to idols seem to be popping up left, right and centre ever since I discovered Astro - even at my weekly Bible study. We recently started to study the book of Ezekiel. He highlights how Jerusalem’s rebellion against God is worse than the surrounding nations because Jerusalem consists of God’s chosen people (see Ezekiel 5:5-6). They were given the commandments from God through Moses, and as a people they agreed. Yet it didn’t take long for them to turn away and build their own idols. 

I feel convicted by this because I have been a Christian for a long time. I know that God must come first before anything else in my life. And yet… the temptations are real. Often I go for worldly comforts, instead of going to God for comfort. Though the temptation is different for everyone, we all fall into its traps.

Not your regular Kpop idols - that's for certain

Even when we believe these temptations are good, like me thinking there’s nothing wrong with watching videos of these goofy guys and having a good laugh, they cannot be more important than God. The things that bring us happiness in this world cannot be more important than God. We are to praise the Creator, not the created. We are to seek fulfilment from God, not from earthly distractions. 

Thankfully, God is a patient God. He knows my struggles. He knows my mind. What I know, and this is from past experience, is that when I reorganise my priorities, when I put God first, those temptations and distractions diminish. As in any area that we’re trying to improve in our lives, the key is to stay consistent. 

You have probably guessed but this blog is not exactly a ‘how to guide’ for how to keep away from idols. Instead I simply have blurted out my current struggle. 

So, instead of giving this blog a conclusion, I think a ‘to be continued’ is more appropriate. I hope you’re not disappointed!

Should I keep you updated on my struggles? Do you have the secret sauce to keeping worldly idols at bay? Please share them in the comments below! I would be most grateful!

UNEXPECTED UPDATE: 

Moonbin in the studio

My friends, this whole lesson on idols has taken a very drastic turn. 

On 19th April, Astro member Moonbin passed away (I believe from exhaustion and underlying health issues leading to heart failure). He was 25.

After weeks of watching him laugh, sing and dance his way into my heart - I am saddened. He’s another young talent with a beautiful personality gone too soon. Truly, it is a cruel reminder that the world is harsh. That as much light and joy that people give out, the darkness is real and seems to be ever present.

It is a strange thing, mourning the passing of someone you didn’t know personally. So I’m left wondering, why has this happened? And is there anything I can make sense of in this? To be honest, I’m not sure. 

People in the public eye have the unique opportunity to impact a lot of people. Depending on the person, sometimes it’s good, other times it’s not.

Moonbin was a ray of sunshine

From what I’ve seen, Moonbin was one of those people who brought good into this world. But sadly, there is no such thing as a person without pain, whether physical or mental. I’m reminded that, like our beloved Robin Williams, the people who bring the most joy into the world are likely also those who are hurting the most.

This brings up two important points.

First, our idols - the people we admire - are also flawed. Just like us. When something like this happens, it reminds us that people come and go - only God is unchanging and constant; only He will never leave us. He is our firm, unmovable rock who can withstand anything. Therefore, it is only He who should be the one we rely on at all times. 

Secondly, idolising people is not only unfair to God, to whom we owe everything, but unfair to the person being idolised. Now more than ever, I’ve learnt about the pressures that come with being a Kpop star. According to Rob Schwartz, an Asia correspondent for Billboard Magazine, Kpop stars are likely held to a completely different standard, more than celebrities in the Western world. Therefore the need to hide their pain and struggles becomes more dire, as it is ingrained in them not to disappoint their fans. This has become more apparent with the rise of deaths of people under 30 in Korea.

Moonbin with bandmate Sanha at a fan concert

So maybe the lesson here is to simply love one another with grace, not admiration. I am reminded by the Bible verse in John 13, as Jesus explains that He is going into glory and His disciples cannot go with Him. He leaves them with these words:

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35  NLT. 

If this is what two months of fangirling has brought me to, then I am thankful to God. Despite the evil and sadness in this world, I’m reminded that God knows us all so intimately. He loves us deeply. He knows what we need and I pray I never forget or neglect His goodness. I also pray that loving others at all times will always be a top priority for me.

When we love, not obsessively but genuinely, we make a safe space to accept the flaws in people. Rather than striving for perfection, we can choose to support others to make better choices. When we love, we are saying we see your beautiful self for who you are, for who God created you to be. And that is enough. 

I’m also reminded that it’s up to us, followers of Jesus, to share this love wherever we are. Everybody deserves the chance to know their Creator personally. If we don’t share, then who will?

Remembering Moonbin for his humanity, not his idol status

As much as we must give love, we also need to be aware that we cannot work out of an empty shell. My prayer is that our world can get to a point where asking for help becomes the norm. The discussion about mental health in recent years has certainly brought this issue to light. Yet as we continue to get further away from God’s original creation, the battle for our minds is getting more difficult to overcome, requiring us to work harder and dig into the strength we can only receive through the Holy Spirit.  

I am more and more convinced that as the world turns away from God, it’s losses like this that will continue to keep happening.

Please know that you do not need to suffer in silence. If you’ve reached out for help and felt you weren’t heard, please keep trying. I promise you’re not alone. If needed, I am here for you. Email or message me because I would love to pray and be a listening ear for you.

This blog certainly went a way that I never expected. We started talking about idols, and ended up talking about love. But I felt God knew this was an important message to share, and I hope you are encouraged or comforted through it in some way, wherever you may be in your journey. May you be inspired to spread some love, wherever it’s needed. 

God bless. 

Pictures taken from various Youtube videos.