Re: Regarding praise and idolatry -- RSQUBF discussion forum

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Date Posted: 22:05:36 12/14/04 Tue
Author: Joe
Subject: Re: Regarding praise and idolatry
In reply to: Joe 's message, "Re: Regarding Praise" on 20:12:48 12/14/04 Tue

>>1) about praising each other--> both become happy;
>> Your argument is possible, but i can't find it
>>definitely.
>
>The praise does not run both ways. It runs mostly one
>way, toward the leader. Some examples: 1, 2. The praise does
>indeed make the cult leader very happy.

In the spiritually abusive model of praise and thanksgiving, where the praise and thanksgiving generally flow one-sidedly toward the leader (see the Doctrine of Testimony Sharing discussion), the praise and thanksgiving do result in "both becoming happy." But "happy" doesn't equal "healthy" here. The abusive leader is "happy" for the praise and thanksgiving because it's an indication of the degree of obedience he/she will get and an indication of the degree of stability in the hierarchy.

The followers are "happy" because constantly praising, admiring and thanking their beloved leader "feels good." It feels good because the leader has become an important foundation if not THE foundation for their faith. And by praising and thanking the leader a lot, they affirm their foundation, and "become happy," feel "secure."

There's a reason why people have idols. The visible idol they can see comforts them in an uncertain world. This is a general weakness in human beings.

I know how important constantly praising and thanking Sam Lee and Sarah Barry was in UBF because I did it all the time like everyone else. It was an inescapable part of the reality of being a core Chicago UBF member. And neither Lee nor Barry did anything to discourage or stop it. For a time, this constant praising and giving thanks for them made me "become happy," too. But the important questions are whether the spiritually abusive model of praise and thanksgiving is biblical, whether it honors God or not, whether it is what Jesus would have wanted. The answer, I think, is a resounding NO. See Matthew 23.

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