Re: [asa] Improved view of idolatry

This sounds like sweeping accusation based on what?

A major reason the conventional Christian view of idolatry is unacceptable IMO is partly because it makes sweeping accusations based on no info and partly because things often cited as idols are to some degree necessary for human life. For example, there is a sense in which all Christians should think of themselves as "basically good people." They are created by God and live in his fellowship. What's bad about that? God surely does not want his people to go around with totally negative images of themselves. This is not biblically justifiable. What image of himself generally did David have, do you suppose? Or Christ's apostles after Pentecost? The conventional view of idolatry IMO tends to hang multiple guilt trips on everybody all the time, and that's wrong.

Don

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Janice Matchett
  To: Don Winterstein ; asa
  Sent: Sunday, November 04, 2007 12:43 PM
  Subject: Re: [asa] Improved view of idolatry

  At 08:49 AM 11/4/2007, Don Winterstein wrote:

    Luther: "...To have a god is to have something in which the heart entirely trusts."
    Murphy: "What is really fundamental is where we put our ultimate trust...."
     
    By these standards there is probably little or no idolatry among God-believers in America: Very few of them, if asked, would claim that their ultimate trust is in their wealth or in anything or anyone but God. .."

  @ What they would claim is beside the point. Probably the majority of them also think that they are "basically" good people - that alone makes them idolaters.

  There are only two choices and that's why - boiled down to their essence - there are really only two religions.

  ~ Janice

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Received on Mon Nov 5 09:44:59 2007