Quote:
Originally Posted by Nell
From a body of evidence over a lifetime, I don't think we have to look far to determine idolatry of Lee or not. The "last word" in a frame is just the capstone leading to the obvious. We need to first understand what idolatry is, weigh the actions (not the words) of Lee and his followers over time.
IMHO It's not about the hearts of men. We certainly cannot know the heart of any man. It's about the behavior...actions of men. We can see their actions with our own eyes. We have also lived under the consequences of their behavior. Is there any doubt that without the "Lee factor" the entire Local Church movement would collapse?
Nell
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It seems to me, Nell, that the two ideas are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Actions are often tied to what is in one's heart. But let's say a young brother is tasked with putting up the picture. He may not think much of Lee or really dwell so much on his writings, but "sacrifice" sounds like an interesting idea to him. Perhaps he should do more to give the Lord. The living sacrifice of his body. The sacrifice of praise from his lips. He doesn't give it much more thought than that and simply hangs the frame as requested by the elders in his locality. Perhaps he muses on the word for another week or two, thinking it's a rather interesting way to close the book on one's life, but as the weeks go on he forgets about the frame and the word. It becomes just another part of the background in the meeting hall he attends. He continues to study his bible and seeks to praise the Lord as many genuine saints in The Lord's Recovery have done, are doing, and will likely continue to do despite the darker goings on that often goes over their heads. He preaches the gospel with a pure heart, emphasizing a need for repentance and coming to the full knowledge of the truth as the Lord has commanded. He continues to search the scriptures because he loves to learn about his God and the men who preceded him in following this God. Yet perhaps every now and then the quote reminds him of the sacrifice of the Son of God and the sacrifice we are called to give as sons of God.
It is for young men and women that have such hearts that I say it is a matter of the heart. Being complacent in the framing and hanging of such a quote is not in and of itself idolatry. Meeting in that particular meeting hall which contains the frame is not in and of itself idolatry. Musing on the word "sacrifice" after seeing the quote is not in and of itself idolatry.
This is why it is a matter of the heart, because our actions are ultimately dictated by the state of our heart, and our actions will mold our hearts as well. They go hand in hand with one another. There are men, wicked men, who do indeed raise Lee to such an idolatrous status, even if they themselves don't realize it or are willing to admit it. They hold to Lee's teachings faithfully. The twin doctrines of "Minister of the Age" and "deputy authority" which place Lee at the top of an ungodly hierarchy. The "dead letter" doctrine which makes the Word of God answer to Lee's interpretation rather than the other way around and its sister doctrine of seeing all opposing testimonies as "poison" or "trash". The doctrine of "degraded" and "deformed" Christianity along with its sibling doctrine of the "Overcomers" which creates the stagnant air of spiritual elitism within the Local Churches.
But not everyone holds to these. Some may hate all such ideas from Lee, or they may not yet realize that this is exactly what is happening within The Lord's Recovery. Such a one who is ignorant may be perfectly fine with having such a quote framed and hung on a wall within their locality, and they are not guilty of idolatry, neither in their actions nor in their hearts. This is why I will not simply say that doing such a thing is idolatry. It depends on the heart of man, for many faithful and genuine brothers and sisters will do such things to remember and honor other genuine and faithful brothers and sisters who have passed. Such an action is not in and of itself idolatry. As you've stated, in The Lord's Recovery such a thing is the capstone, not the foundation. Because of this, we must be careful upon whom we heap the accusation of idolatry.
Tell me that one of the abusive ones who holds to all the twisted doctrines I mentioned above is the one who framed and hung it in their meeting hall, and I will be much more willing to accuse him of idolatry, but to those who do not know much yet appreciate the quote and are inspired by it I will not heap such an accusation.
I am not saying that you would, Nell, but I feel like this clarification on my part is necessary. It really feels like both our statements are really just two sides of the same coin. I also understand that the longer one remains in The Lord's Recovery, the less ignorant they will become, and if such experienced ones remain ignorant it may very well be because they choose to be ignorant, ignoring the testimonies of ones such as John Ingalls, Steve Isitt, Jo Casteel, and the many who have given their word here and elsewhere. Because of this, it is also true that the longer one remains in The Lord's Recovery, the greater the odds of the idols of the Local Churches making their way into their hearts. This is because they will see the red flags and refuse to take action because they fear being "dead right" and would prefer to be "livingly wrong." Though their once pure hearts and minds may not have fallen under judgement from the onset because they had not taken such foul teachings into their hearts, I believe that we all know that in The Lord's Recovery it is only a matter of time before the Lord offers to open our eyes and gives us an opportunity to make a proper choice.
To my great sorrow, I am certain that many of us are aware that many dear brothers and sisters within the Local Churches have refused to take advantage of such an opportunity, hardening their hearts rather than letting the Lord soften them.