Ten Commandments (1972)_b.pdf - Herbert W. Armstrong
Ten Commandments (1972)_b.pdf - Herbert W. Armstrong
Ten Commandments (1972)_b.pdf - Herbert W. Armstrong
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42 The <strong>Ten</strong> <strong>Commandments</strong><br />
symbol of "Santa Claus" for the unsuspecting children,<br />
and a time of human joy and revelry. The true MESSAGE of<br />
Christ - of His laws, His ways, His soon-coming government<br />
on this earth - all are forgotten in this time of<br />
human merriment. Rather than the true picture of Christ<br />
sitting at the right hand of God - His face shining like the<br />
sun in great POWER, waiting to return and RULE this earth<br />
with a rod of iron - the participants in the Christmas<br />
celebration are left with a picture and concept of a helpless<br />
little baby in its mother's arms.<br />
Therefore, such humanly devised religious festivals<br />
give a false picture of Almighty God - and this is<br />
IDOLATRY!<br />
Worshiping Systems and Institutions<br />
One of the most common forms of modern idolatry is<br />
the making of an idol out of one's church or society. For<br />
many people, this world's society - its dictates, customs<br />
and traditions - becomes a literal "god." Many people are<br />
desperately afraid of doing anything that might be<br />
regarded as different or "odd." They feel they must CON<br />
FORM to this world and its ways.<br />
But God commands: "Be NOT conformed to this<br />
world: But be ye transformed by the renewing of your<br />
mind" (Rom. 12:2). This command must seem very hard to<br />
obey for people who get to thinking that other people<br />
must be right in what they think and do and practice.<br />
The Bible shows that many people in Jesus' day<br />
FAILED in their worship: "For they love the praise of men<br />
more than the praise of God" (John 12:43). If you blindly<br />
obey the dictates of your family, your church or society<br />
instead of the direct commands of God, you are guilty of<br />
IDOLATRY. That group or institution becomes an IDOL to<br />
you in place of the true God!<br />
Even ritualism in a church service is a dangerous<br />
thing, for however refined the ritualism of some institutions<br />
may be, it begins and ends in the physical senses of<br />
human man - and is NOT a valid substitute for the true<br />
worship of God "in Spirit."<br />
The Bible directly warns that pe.ople of our. day would
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