Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Debelak
P.S. Thankful, this post is immediately responding to Nell's post, but the thought is also a response to your post. I don't think there are necessarily "categories of idolatry." However, I do wonder what "fleeing" idolatry is supposed to look like to the outside observer. I wonder if there are many in the LC who "fled" idolatry but yet their very remaining in the LC makes you think that they haven't. Thoughts on that?
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Hi Peter,
Once light dawns for someone on "idolatry," he/she has to address his/her own part in it before the Lord with repentance. If he/she has hurt others as a result, obviously those persons should also be addressed. Repentance means a change in behavior. God says concerning Mystery Babylon the Great, whose evil characteristics the LC system has, "come out of her my people." The evil characteristics are mainly 1: An authoritarian leadership with one at the top being "God's representative on the earth today declaring the "true" meaning of God's Words and will to the faithful and 2) A definition of oneness that is not God's definition. (These have been elaborated up on in earlier posts.)
So, what does "Come out of her my people mean" practically? So, as far as the LC goes we need to "flee" an authoritarian leadership system with one person being the main voice whose burden everyone ends up following (even in an LC where there is a "plurality" of elders... that would be a "leading" elder who always has the final say type person). Each believer needs absolute freedom to not follow someone else's burden and yet still be fully received. We also need to "flee" any type of definition of oneness which is not God's definition and which results in improperly relating to other brothers in Christ. It is a complete and thorough and absolute coming out in heart and mind, first and foremost.
Does this mean we cannot meet with people who believe and practice 1 and 2 above? To this I would say that it's really about what God tells us to do. So, if He, for His reasons, tells me to stay and continue to meet and I am clear about that before Him, then I stay; however, there should be no compromise on 1 and 2 just mentioned or I become a part of "her." That means if I see insistence on either of these things, I must speak up. If I see abuse taking place because of either/both of these things, I must speak up, etc.
As for what others think about what we do, in this case (re: who we meet with), what others think about what we do means nothing. It is my intention in what I share on this forum to help others view things in the light of the Bible and to encourage them to come back to its Words for themselves. If the Bible exposes certain deeds and practices as evil, then we have to take that seriously and stop participating in such things. Where or who I meet with is no one's business but mine. I must, however, practice the truth of Jesus being my Lord (no one else) and I must receive all believers. I also must confront sin when I see it, these two in particular because they are fundamental pillars of the LC.
That's a pretty short answer but captures the kernel of my thought.
Thankful Jane