Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt
Idolatry is the single most prevalent topic related to disobedience and sin in the entire OT. If we don't know how to map it forward with a sober mind to the current day, then something is wrong. We are told to 'guard' ourselves against idols. If we are ignorant of what they are and how they come into our lives, then we are not on 'guard'. To the frightened, I say what Jesus said, "Fear not". Jesus said that a lot. For now, just learn knowing that God is full of mercy for you in anything you have erred if you are willing to repent of it.
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Matt,
If you do a simple word study of the usage of idolatry in the New Testament it's pretty clear that it is associated with many of the baser works of the flesh. E.g.
"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like..."
(Gal 5:19-22).
"For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." (Eph 5:5)
"For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry." (1 Pet 4:3)
What I'm saying is that these verses suggest that idolatry isn't something that nuanced. It's a gross manifestation of the flesh that is accompanied by other gross manifestations of the flesh. That's one side of it, at least.
I'm not so sure idolatry is the problem in the LC so much as gross deceptions based on warped visions of oneness, accord, leadership, one ministry, God's move, etc, etc. Once they are brainwashed into buying into the premises of their particular vision of oneness, the behavior they manifest is the logical result. They get locked in.
LCers are no more idolators of Lee's teachings than fanatical Calvinists are idolators of Calvin's teachings. Then again, fanatical Calvinists
are kind of idolators of Calvin's teachings.