submitted by SHT
Pastor General Report 08/29/80
HWA: I Take the Ordinary and Make it Out of the Ordinary Using Psychological Tools
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HWA: Little tiny embittered angered, revenge seeking former members falling flat on their face
submitted by SHT
PGR 07/11/80
Poor Bob Thiel and all the other splinter leaders are in direct defiance of their spiritual leader. They all claim to know better than their spiritual daddy.
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The Most Important Book To Gerald Flurry After MOA and Malachi's Message
Gerald Flurry has claimed his Malichai's Message and Herbert's, Mystery of the Ages are on the same level of importance as the Bible. They are so important that they will eventually be made into scripture. These books should be in every one's library.
Now it seems Flurry has been influenced by another book. A book so significant that it has influenced the editorial department of the Philadelphia Church of God.
Let me give you an example. One time, when the Key of David tv crew was waiting in Heathrow Airport for our return flight to the States, we decided to shop. My dad, as he typically does, made a beeline for the bookstore. He left the store with a new volume tucked under his arm: Full Disclosureby Andrew Neil. It was several weeks later when I realized the importance of that book, as my dad quoted large portions of it at an Editorial meeting.
The impact of that one book has been significant. In the editorial department alone, it has helped to better organize our publications and improve our writing. My dad later told me, “It’s as if that book was written for this Work.”
Keep a watchful eye on what the Church quotes or often refers to. If it is good enough to be quoted extensively in the Trumpet, it may be worth adding to your library. Be observant, seek the advice of those knowledgeable in certain fields, and you will have no problem finding plenty of good books. Your problem will then be trying to narrow your selections down.
Andrew Neil's autobiography. As Managing Editor of Britain's Sunday Times he was the most powerful and innovatiev editor in Britain's Fleet Street. He fought with The Royal Family, endlessly with Margaret Thatcher and eventually with the paper's new owner Rupert Murdoch. Fascinating and required read for anyone interested in journalismAll of this comes from the latest article by Lil'Steveie Flurry telling PCG members to build home libraries. Forget the fact they will be fleeing in a couple of years, it is important to build worthy libraries. Your Personal Library: Build a book collection like Churchill.
This desire to have a library like Winston Churchill comes about after Gerald Flurry was filled with lust in his heart after viewing Churchill's library.
“Wouldn’t you like to get your hands on that?” my dad remarked as he gazed at Winston Churchill’s private library. We were in Chartwell, England, at Churchill’s home. Churchill was a great man, and the books on those shelves—still preserved just as Churchill had left them—helped to shape his mind. That’s why my dad wanted them.I am surprised at Flurry's great desire to have a huge library, considering his idol, Herbert Armstrong did not have a huge collection of books in his home. His library was rather small but was decorated with expensive gold and silver statues, some rare books that he never opened other than the day he bought them at Harrod's and a few personal books, like Message to Garcia, which he kept on his desktop.
Once your small, personal library is in place, don’t just give each book a cursory read. Study those books. Read to learn. And every so often, re-read. This seems obvious for books like Malachi’s Message and Mystery of the Ages, but we rarely apply this principle to secular reading. Why not? We’re better off mastering 20 or 30 excellent volumes than quickly browsing 100.
Mr. Armstrong often said that the Bible does not contain all knowledge; it is merely the foundationof all knowledge. God expects us to build upon that foundation. He admonishes us to prove allthings—to keep growing. There is always room for improvement. Education never stops.
God has given each of us a responsibility to develop character as we support this Work. Studying history and the lives of great men and women, keeping up with current events, and reading all of the Church-produced material makes us more responsible in our role.
Develop your own 20- or 30-volume set, and then let those books shape and mold your thinking the way Churchill’s library did his.
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Ron Weinland Loses More Members
Ever since Ron Weinland went off for a prophetic honeymoon of 3 1/2 years with Big Bubba as his cellmate, the Church of God Preaching the Kingdom has been losing members. Then when his loony wife Laura and money laundering Audra were elevated to preaching positions, even more members left. We all know how painful it must be to sit and listen to Ronnie pontificate for 2 hours in his basement on some balmy Saturday afternoon, but imagine 2 hours of loony Laura and Audra! The licking flames of the lake of fire would be comforting to see at this point!
Even after felon Ronnie got out of his half-way house, he has been struggling to keep his dwindling flock in check. More and more people leave each week, taking their money thus forcing Laura to stop buying lingerie in Las Vegas.
Ronnie mentioned in his sermon this past Saturn's Day the following:
“So the question, again, was asked: “So is anyone being sloppy, negligent in how they follow or choose to believe the instruction, the guidance, and direction God is giving now and that He has given to us in the past?” Because as it was brought out in several sermons, this is happening way, way, way too much. Two more people in this past week now being suspended and one disfellowshipped, and there are more to come. For those who don’t respond, to those who don’t listen to God, those who aren’t making change in their life, this is it.
As I mentioned during the Feast, this is it, and God is bringing these things to the surface and they’re being dealt with. Either we’re really in the Body and we’re functioning within the Body as we should be or we’re not, and if we’re not there is no sense in playing games anymore. There is no sense in wandering around blind out in the courtyard, and maybe farther away than that. So we’re following through and doing what needs to be done to cleanse God’s Church.”He then goes on to call his followers that question his revelations, fools and stupid.
“How long will scorners take pleasure in scorning, and fools, again, as I mentioned in that particular sermon, basically just a word that means to be stupid. Because we’re really stupid if we neglect what God has placed before us, if we don’t fight this fight after being ever how long you’ve been called and a part of God’s Church and at a time of all time in all human history to not use what we’ve been given, to take it seriously. We would be most stupid to neglect what God has given to us. Yet there are people out there being, candidly, stupid. I mean, there really is no other word for it, just stupid, not very bright. I have a hard time understanding that and yet I don’t.
...and fools/the stupid hate knowledge. Because there is knowledge that God gives to us that we’re to apply to self. There is a sound that has been going out so powerfully before the Feast, a sound that God has been giving during the Feast, and it’s up to us to hear it and to receive it.”Ronnie is particularly pissed that some of his flock would rather stay home and watch TV on Saturn's Day than to assemble with other members and listen to him preach.
“There are too many people neglecting fellowship with God’s people when they could be having fellowship with God’s people; too many people doing that in the Church. Okay? It’s easier to stay at home and watch it or whatever on TV or listen to it. Now, if you’re not able to that’s one thing, but if you have the ability to, shame on you. Because this is where, here and other areas where people are today, wherever your congregation or group of people is that meet together, there is a fellowship there, as was mentioned during the Feast, that you’re able to have with God, because these are God’s people and God’s spirit is in them and we’re lifted up by that and we’re strengthened by that. We’re not strengthened by that by being on our own unless you can’t help it.”Excerpted From: Ronald Weinland. “God's Mercy.” Apple Books.
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Ron Weinland says to continue to save second tithe even though Jesus returns Pentecost 2019
Last year Ronnie Weinland, so far the only convicted Church of God felon, made the proclamation that his creature "jesus" was returning on Pentecost 2019. After the feast, felon Ronnie must have realized what a false prophet he is and is now telling his dwindling flock that they must save second tithe to prepare for the Feast next year.
“You’ve got to plan ahead in your life. Not like some did for 2012 where people were ready to quit jobs and everything else. Well, we learned a lesson from that. If there are some reasons, whatever they might be, and we don’t know what they are, and something can go beyond that, so be it. God knows what He’s doing and He’ll let us know at some point what we need to see.
So, anyway, you keep doing it. Some questions have come up, can it be used for different things like coming into Phoenix or to Cincinnati. No, it’s not a holy day. Now, there has been a time, one time in the past where some were being allowed to do that because of the focus we had, because of what was believed as strongly as it was at that point. But not now. You keep it for the holy days, holy days only.
“Some have asked about excess they’ve had after the Feast. You can save it for the next year. If you know you’re going to do something different, maybe go somewhere else if we go on, and you want to go to another place that’s going to take more money or maybe your finances have been cut back for whatever reason and you’re on the edge as it was for going to the Feast this past year, and yet you still had a little bit left, you can save that aside for next year. Now, if you’re doing exceedingly well and you know you have far more than what you need then yes, sometimes, you know, a person turns that in, excess second tithe, which is used in the following year, can be used to help others attend a Feast or for whatever purpose deemed necessary by God’s Church.Ronnie also laid down a new law to the gathered faithful. They were to no longer treat the Feast as a time for giving lots of presents. The Feast has been a regular Christmas giving season.
“I do want to make a comment that it’s not a time of passing gifts around, of thinking you’ve got to give gifts to different ones or everybody in an area. This isn’t Christmas. People shouldn’t feel obligated to have to give a gift to one another. You know, if you want to give a gift to some, to a few or whatever, that’s fine, you know, something that is special that you know would help them or be encouraging to them, that’s fine. But sometimes we get in certain places, certain areas where people have this feeling that they’ve got to do it year after year. No, you don’t. Again, it’s not making up for Christmas. It’s not feeling like you’ve got to pass out gifts to everybody, or whatever, or people get expecting of gifts or whatever. So please don’t do that.You are allowed to buy a few prices of clothing though to upgrade your current rags, but not a new wardrobe like Ronnie and Laura do.
Some have asked about clothing. Can you use second tithe for clothing? Well, it’s fine to, if you want to upgrade something, like for the Feast of Tabernacles, but not your whole wardrobe, not for something for the entire year, you know. Buying this or that, a pair of shoes, whatever, in the past I’d have said a suit, but I’m not worried about that any more, a special tie... well, we’re not doing that necessarily. If you want to upgrade something, fine, if you have ability to do that. But again, you don’t go on a great big shopping spree just because it’s that time of year and it’s not even going to hardly be used at the Feast. It’s about the Feast of Tabernacles. So that’s what you’ve got to keep in mind.Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God members need to stop saving that money for some dumb Feast with Ronnie and Laura and use that money for themselves. Take a vacation, buy new clothes, pay off some credit cards, and enjoy life as it was meant to be. Stop supporting the certified liar Ronnie and his sick family. These two are no more the two witnesses than Bob Thiel is a minister of God. Peoples lives are too important to God than to be subject to all of these bottom feeders of Armstrongism.
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HWA: 5 - 20% MORE Money For Ministers - Members - Tighten up and sacrifice.
Pastor General Report 03/06/81
clipping by SHT
The 1980's was a time of extreme excess in the church. Money was being spent on extravagant concerts, receptions with cases and cases of Dom Perignon and Rothschild wines, travelling international exhibits, courting royalty from Queen Sirikit to Mrs. Sadat, helping restore the Globe Theatre in London, putting money down on Hollywood films (The Wild Geese), helping restore the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia, helping fund the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, and much much more. Include in this Herbert Armstrong buying more silver, gold and fine art.
Add to this mess certain evangelists who remodelled their campus homes at church members expense, in some cases multiple times just because one evangelist's wife could not make up her mind. While all of this was going on, members were told to tighten their belts and send in more money so the work could accomplish its end time goals.
Its fraudulent Plain Truth Newsstand program dropped millions of dollars over the decades claiming it was the largest circulated religious magazine in the world. Hundreds of thousands of PT's were dumped in the trash every month by church members, PT distributors and Pasadena personnel, yet they all went towards that total that was spoon fed to the members as gospel truth.
Why would anyone in Pasadena lie to the members?
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I Didn't Say it, The Members Heard Me Wrong.
Pastor General Report 01/23/81clipping by SHT
How many times have we heard various COG leaders and members deliberately LIE that Herbert Armstrong never set dates?
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I am going to ignite a spiritual revival across the entire Spiritual Ekklesia and prepare a people for the advent of God’s two servants and the coming of the Bridegroom!
After suffering a public humiliation of mockery about his new YouTube channel, God's most important end time Chief Pharisee and bastardizer of the law, James Malm has decided that he will now move his kick off broadcast to next year.The Chief Pharisee is quite adamant that he has no intention of being compared to our other resident foolish YouTuber, Bob Thiel of the improperly named "continuing" Church of God with his crooked bookcases, 1980's curtains, and door knobs. Even Chief Pharisees see the bumbling mistakes of lesser church leaders. Though, we most likely will see the Chief Pharisees sitting at his kitchen table in his apartment pontificating away.
Pharisee Malm claims he is not going to impress anyone, but yet will IGNITE A PROFOUND REVIVAL OF PASSIONATE ZEAL. There we go again, there is that word "zeal" that the Pharisee likes to throw out as a dagger to humiliate anyone who doesn't agree with him. Don't agree, you have no zeal. You are a Laodicean piece of trash.
Also, the Chief Pharisee says he is not going to waste an hour and a half preaching about innumerable topics or just taking too damn long to get a point across. He will get his point across in 10 minutes.
Ultimately though, the Chief Pharisee is going to start a worldwide explosion in the Church of God as he sets about preparing members to stand behind the two witnesses.
When pigs fly will be the day this ever happens!
Please note that I am not a polished speaker and I cannot come close to the nearly one million dollar studios, sets and recording equipment staffed by expert technicians; operated by the major COG entities. They produce polished programs designed to impress people with a business model non offensive content sadly lacking in sound doctrine.
I have absolutely no interest in producing such programs; my programs will NOT be designed to impress anyone, they will be designed to COMMUNICATE the truth and sound doctrine of the Word of God as plainly and understandably as possible.
They will not be sermons designed to impress with polished oratory and rhetoric; they will be plain speaking designed to clearly and unambiguously COMMUNICATE the way of salvation and the sound doctrine of every Word of God, and to ignite a profound revival of passionate zeal to learn and live by every Word of God!
These will be different from what many are used to, there will be no taking of an hour to say what could be easily explained in ten minutes. Listeners who have not been grounded in sound doctrine over the years will have to stay awake and pay attention and they will have the Bible Studies site to go to for further study.
The coming programs and the Bible Study site are intended to compliment one another, not to be copies of each other.
The plan is to have the Bible Studies fully updated and to begin programs with a few talks on current events and prophecy as world events unfold and trends in the corporate COG’s become clearer. I will not set any dates but I am working to prepare the brethren for the potential set up of the abomination and the start of the tribulation in late 2020.
I will not hide my purpose: My intention is to do all I can with the help of God, to ignite a spiritual revival across the entire Spiritual Ekklesia and prepare a people for the advent of God’s two servants and the coming of the Bridegroom!
Do not despise small beginnings TheShiningLight will begin to make an impact; as world events unfold interest will increase and as trends in the corporate COG groups become clearer, this work will champion a profound spiritual revival through both print and programs.
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Missing Member? Stalk Them Down, and if you can't find them, CONTACT ME OR ELSE!!!!!
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HWA: No one is CUT OFF from going above my head to Christ; or above HIS HEAD to the Father
But the Whole World is cut off from God except for Herbert and his cult.
There just isn't enough Herbert for everybody.
The door is open. To ministers. Not lowly members of course.
Just don't challenge Herbert Armstrong.
"''Nuff said".
submitted by SHT
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Living Church of God Calls Fast to Appease Their God
The kind of God needed for the COG's to function.
This past weekend the Living Church of God was asked to fast soon after the Feast of Tabernacles. Many LCG members found it rather odd that the church just celebrated symbolically the coming Kingdom of God and yet within a few days after celebrating the millennium, where no one will be required to fast again, LCG members were told to reexamine their lives in order to devote more attention to pleasing their god and refocusing themselves into supporting the church in order to give more income to the church for a final witness.
LCG members constantly seem to be found guilty of doing something so wrong that they need to keep God appeased with works. Instead of following Jesus, instead of the law, they fail to understand the rest they could have in the Jesus they claim to follow. All of this constant "doing" would be unnecessary if they understood the work has already been done.
Why Self-Examination? God told Abraham that one of the conditions of the covenant was to “walk before Me and be blameless [perfect]” (Genesis 17:1). Jesus urged His audiences to “Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14–15) and to become “perfect” (Matthew 5:48). The Greek word for “repent” is metanoeo which means “to change your life, to think differently, to turn with contrition and sorrow from a former course of action.” This involves learning to live “by every word of God” (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4) and learning to recognize and eliminate behaviors that are contrary to God’s instructions. This requires “self-examination”—prayerfully studying God’s word and prayerfully examining our thoughts, attitudes, and actions in order to follow the example of Jesus Christ. This is what the Apostle Paul advised Christians to do if they want to become more like their Savior (1 Corinthians 11:27–32). One way to do this is to review the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and to consider both the letter of the law and the spirit of the law as outlined in Mathew 5–7 and Galatians 5:18–24. Taking time to work through this self-examination process will help us walk more perfectly in the footsteps of Jesus and develop the very mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5–11).
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
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What do GTA, Urantia, Proctor and Gamble, Indians, Hearts, and Cremation have to do with ANYTHING a Christian needs to worry about?
Obviously shocked to see the ragged and bleached out 1980's curtains.
How can a week go by without snickering at our resident self-appointed false prophet? God's most special man to ever exist in human history (after Dave Pack) has released his latest video for his faithful to listen to at their weekly "sabbath" service of the improperly named "continuing" Church of God.
Doubly blessed Bob Thiel exhibits, once again, why he does not bother to really research scripture for a sermon on one topic. He claims his members have sent in questions to his church on a vast number of subjects and it is his duty to answer all of those questions. It is all a load of Armstrongite doo-doo. All Thiel has done is use old reprint articles of the Worldwide Church of God letter answering department.
It is all painfully obvious when you see all of the topics he covers in one sermon:
In this sermon, Dr. Thiel answers questions that have been submitted to the Church of God on many topics, such as:Is cremation acceptable for Christians?
Can you wear garments of mixed fabrics?
Does Romans 14:5-6 eliminate Holy Days?
How should Christians dress?
Is it right to have pictures of Jesus?
Does Matthew 27:5 contradict Acts 1:18-19?
What happened to Garner Ted Armstrong?
Can you use a heart symbol?
Should you trust 'The Urantia Book'?
What about dinosaurs and the age of the world?
What are the origins of Native Americans, often called Indians?
Can you use Proctor and Gamble products?
Does 1 Kings 8:9 contradict Hebrews 9:4?
Who is the 'elect lady' of 2 John 1?
Was Abraham a Jew?
What is a Hebrew?
What was Ambassador Foundation for?
Is 'Amen' pagan?
Dr. Thiel goes through scriptures, facts, COG documents, and historical information to provide answers.Are we expected to believe that his African members care about the silly questions of first world Americans? Do the handful of his American followers even care?
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The SEP Music Flipout You Never Knew Happened
In the middle of the summer in 1984, Herbert Armstrong flipped his lid about music at SEP. Jowels were probably flapping fast and furiously. You could probably hear him yelling down the 3rd floor and in the elevator. It probably wasn't a good time in Headquarters!
It seems that he was very upset about the choices of music that were at SEP back in the 80s. Apparently, somebody told him that they were going behind his back playing "Unacceptable Music." Which led to an immediate press release from Armstrong himself. That was to be read to EVERYONE.
In short, he had a tantrum.
I wonder exactly what music was playing that he got so offended about!
Madonna's "Like a Virgin" didn't come out until October in 1984. So that wouldn't have done it.
One of the biggest hits of 1983 was Toto's "Africa". Nothing offensive about that one!
Of course, Micheal Jackson's Billy Jean was a huge hit clear up through 1984. This could have done it.
For a variety of reasons!
Lionel Richie's "All Night Long" came out in late 1983 as well.
There weren't other songs that were especially scandalous in the Mainstream in 1984. To most of the world.
But in Armstrong-Land, anything except classical music, musicals, Young Ambassadors, and Dwight Armstrong - and a few easy-listening stars and muzak type songs were scandalous. And somehow, the other music "Damaged" the kids.
Herbert probably thought that the beat of the music would arouse all of the SEP'ers into wild parties of forbidden fornication. He always said fast beats were too "sexual". Of course, though things did happen at SEP, most of the campers just enjoyed music that was a little different than "Praise Ye The Lordo" or "Oklahoma" or "Singin' In The Rain".
Well, you might ask - what happened? We don't know. But this happened just a day later.
Guess what folks?
No clarification was ever issued. And nobody knew this ever happened, because it was never read.
Could Herbert Armstrong have become enraged at the rumor mill?
Did someone give Herbert misinformation?
What REALLY went down at SEP camp - or Headquarters - that summer? We may never know. If someone here knows, it would be interesting to know the backstory on this.
But what this was is an example of the many rumors, conspiracies, and incidents that happened frequently at Headquarters as detailed in the Ambassador Reports, and from first hand reports of life in Pasadena. This one just happened to make it to the Pastor General Report. It never made it to the general membership - this kerfuffle about the music at SEP that get Kermit Nelson appointed as the Camp Director, where he remained for many years later. Wes White, a contributor here at Banned, has detailed other controversial incidents that have happened at Headquarters as well. The atmosphere at Headquarters was often not what we thought it was, out in "the field".
submitted by SHT
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Where are all the good works?
All the mainstream Christian churches have wonderful works:
Gideons Bibles in all hotel rooms
Hospitals
Great universities
(picture below is Oxford, England)
Community centers
Missions like sister Teresa helping the poor
Paul’s view – same as Jesus
Galatians 2:1010All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.
And one scripture from the old testament:
Deuteronomy 15:10-1110Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
Christ criticized the Pharisees for only keeping some of the laws – though they did them extremely scrupulously. Luke 11:42 – great tithers, but ignored justice and the love of God.
Are the ACOGs trying to emulate Christ or the Pharisees?
submitted by TLA
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Be Kind
Yes, the phrase “BE KIND” sums up what many religions are all about. One exception is the Armstrong COG culture where you will experience love and acceptance only as long as you are loyal to the group and its leaders.
On the other hand, disagreement and asking questions “in a wrong attitude” will get you kicked out or frozen out. Impure motives will be implied against you. You will be called names. Once you find yourself on the outs, it is near impossible to be readmitted.
This lacking of love goes back to the days when HWA ran WCG. Today, it has developed into a dysfunction that is now ingrained in the very DNA of so many of the offshoots of Armstrongism.
On the other hand, disagreement and asking questions “in a wrong attitude” will get you kicked out or frozen out. Impure motives will be implied against you. You will be called names. Once you find yourself on the outs, it is near impossible to be readmitted.
This lacking of love goes back to the days when HWA ran WCG. Today, it has developed into a dysfunction that is now ingrained in the very DNA of so many of the offshoots of Armstrongism.
Matthew 5, 6, and 7 are occasionally read but seldom implemented.
submitted by "Anonymous"
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"...most people here leave the church for one tiny supposed error on the part of the Church "
It is sad how many people here sit behind their computers and spew lies. What is even sadder is that most people here leave the church for one tiny supposed error on the part of the Church and before you know it, they're no longer attending any church.This was a comment made on the following story: The Living Church of God Needs 377 Page Manual To Tell Ministers How To Behave from April 7, 2015.
For most people who have left the church, it is certainly more than some tiny "supposed" error on the part of the church. Errors do not necessarily drive people away from church, but spiritual, sexual and mental abuse certainly does.
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UCG's Winter Family Weekend Draws More People Together Than A Feast Does
It is that time of year as various Churches of God start taking reservations for their annual Christmas celebrations at various locations around the country. It is striking to see UCG admit that their annual Christmas celebration draws more people than any of their Feast sites do. After all, it is held in a resort all decked out for Christmas with Santa, holiday foods, Christmas music and glorious Christmas decorations. The amazing thing is that not one single UCG member or teenager ever sees, eats, or hears anything related to Christmas while at the resort. God certainly performs miracles!
“The Winter Family Weekend in Lexington, Kentucky has helped change the culture of the Church of God. Twenty years ago God blessed us with an event without borders. People quickly learned that it is what you believe — not the name on the church door that makes the difference. It’s an environment where friends can meet as equals to worship together and celebrate the Faith that is common to us all.”
The United Church of God will be having a Northwest Family Weekend in Portland, Oregon, but its main WFW will be at the Great Wolf Lodge in Mason, Ohio. Viktor Kubik has commented that, “It is the largest gathering of United Church of God members in one place – larger than any Feast site.” COG News
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Here Today, and Gone Tomorrow - Idolatry in the Churches of God
Today, I want to focus on an aspect of the Church of God splinters - particularly one splinter - that is so evident, so blatant, so strong - but one they seem to completely ignore, explain away - or simply do not care.
That subject is idolatry.
Here's the definition for idolatry as is in the dictionary: (source: Google)
"nounnoun: idolatry; plural noun: idolatriesworship of idols.
synonyms:
Over the past few years, we've seen many of the leaders of the Splinter groups of the Armstrong Churches of God go practically nuts over created objects or people. Consider the following objects that have turned into or have been idols in the Armstrong Churches of God over the years.extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone."
- Ambassador Auditorium
- The Ambassador Campus
- Objects in the Ambassador Auditorium
- Objects that have been a part of the Ambassador Campus
- Church-owned fountains
- Church-owned sculptures
- Herbert-owned items of any type
- The College Seal (or variations thereof)
- Items that have been associated with Herbert Armstrong
- Items that have been rumored to have been associated with Herbert Armstrong
- Church literature (Plain Truth, Good News, Youth, Envoys, Booklets, Bulletins, Etc.)
Prophecies, doctrines, and dogmas of Herbert Armstrong that have overwhelmingly and conclusively been proved wrong.
What is the evidence that these have become idols?
- Obsessive desires to own such materials, and pay exorbitant prices to obtain such materials
- Extreme emotional attachment and expression on seeing, using, or owning such items or materials
- Excessive desire to emulate as closely as possible either items or individuals
- The belief that such materials are closely related or somehow linked to God's blessings
- The idea that even though false they somehow have to be true, because they came from the mouth of the idol.
- The complete absorption of delusions and falsehoods believed in the name of Jesus
- The complete extortion of finances in the name of God for the purchase of items, or the dissemination of falsehoods.
- The detachment of emotions and personal responsibility while funding the idolatrous behavior of their ministers.
- The absolute obedience of the ministry, dismissing common sense, rationality, and reason for the belief that their commands come from God, even though the evidence refutes the supposition.
- The loss of friends, family, relatives for thinking such associations are false, worldly, and contaminating.
- The ongoing belief that a short study by their founding leader started a wholly Godly and truthful ministry.
What is it that allows them to continue to enable an idolatrous and wicked religion?
It is their belief that the core elements of their religion - Armstrongism - are what defines the True Church. Namely, Sabbath keeping, Holy Day keeping, and the name of the Church. Since they are hard pressed to find other groups that practice these doctrines, believe mainstream Christianity is a false Babylonian and pagan religion, and are very hesitant to go elsewhere - and because their entire social and family life is wrapped up there - any movement could crumble their whole life's house of cards. To them, for many, leaving is not an option. It is better to continue in the support of an idolatrous and oppressive religion, then to step out into the great unknown - where they have been convinced the demon world is ready to pounce on them once out of the boundaries of HerbertLand.
You will find the same things happening in other mainstream churches, too. Idolatry is rampant in other religions - in many forms, styles, and manners. Cover-ups, as well. Fear? Happens all the time. Immorality? Surely you can remember a few high-profile stories about this. Church splits? Even with the big ones. Charles Stanley, Robert Schuller - and many others have had their share of issues. In fact, the reality is, sometimes if you step into a mainstream church, you will find it in some areas no different than Armstrongism!
What's the common denominator in all of this? Two words.
Corporate Christianity.
Whenever one begins to believe the Church is a physical organization - you've already submitted yourself to the world. Business is entrenched in the methods of the world from top to bottom. Money at the top, to pay for insurance, buildings, salaries, executive expenses, and so on and so forth. Yes, in corporate Christianity, the proper use can be beneficial - pooled money used the right way can go far for the right reasons. But this isn't the Church. The Church as Jesus defines it.
The Church has always been from it's inception spiritual. Because it was the Holy Spirit that founded the Church. The Church is comprised of people who have the indwelling of God's Spirit. And though this may cause shackles to rise throughout many people when I say this - God's Spirit can be in anyone. Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Anglican, and the non-churchgoers. You can not limit the Spirit of God within physical walls and physical limitations. Actually, you can not limit the Spirit of God - period.
Yet, many in the splinters continually quench God's Spirit by focusing on the physical far and away above anything spiritual.
What is important is what is in your heart and your soul - loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind - and loving your neighbor as yourself. Doing everything you can to help others in the spirit of Matthew 25. Being a light shining to the world. Being in the world - but not subjecting yourself to the sins of the world like debauchery, idolatry, immorality, hatefulness, lying, deception, or greed - but showing the fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, longsuffering, self-control, gentleness, kindness, and mercy - not just to those who subscribe to Armstrongism - but to everyone and anyone you encounter in all walks and situations of life. Armstrongism stifled and shackled their members against so many opportunities to do just that under the excuse of "paganism".
Have not they read that against the fruits of God in love there is no law? That love is the fulfilment of the Law? That nothing you do in love - regardless of time, date, or season - with full regard to your neighbor - will be held against you no matter what time, day, or season?
It's time for the splinters to begin to focus on the Spiritual and see how steeped in wickedness it is when one focuses so greatly on the physical. Once that happens, they will then see Jesus for all He is and can be in their lives. There is more to Christianity then Armstrongism, Protestantism, Catholicism, or any other physical organization you can name.
Because God is Spirit. And His worshippers must worship in Spirit - And in TRUTH. And Jesus said HE is the way, and the Truth, and the Life.
Not the idolatry of the things of the past and of the physical, or of any man.. "Here today, and gone tomorrow." It is all about who He is, and what He has done, And who we are - in Him.
This post is an Opinion Editorial. The Views expressed are solely and exclusively that of the author...SHT
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Brethren, I have no intention of trying to humiliate United Church of God but I am going to anyway because I am doing this out of "love and concern"
It is another fun day in the land of self-serving, self-appointed Church of God leaders.
The official Church of God Pharisee is hypocritically posting today that he is preempting the United Church of God's official paper on who the God of the Old Testament is and who the God of the New Testament is. Brethren, rest assured that he is doing this out of 'love and concern." UCG has not even released anything, yet this self-serving fool knows more than they do.
We are going to need a big manure loader in order to clean up this pile of steaming hypocrisy!
Brethren, I have no interest in hurting the UCG CoE by waiting until they approve their Paper and then analyzing it. Quite the contrary I have felt moved to compile and publish this study before the CoE approves a Paper in December. This Paper is published in love and concern, and in the hope that they will consider these points as they produce and approve their own Position Paper.The end result of approving what they have been discussing is a drift into the Evangelical concept that the Mosaic Covenant was with the Father and the New Covenant is with Christ.This potential new position, and yes it is a radical change of existing teachings; establishes the foundation of the evangelical concept that the Father was the God of the Old Mosaic Covenant with its laws, while Jesus Christ came to establish a New, different and much better Covenant where the laws given to Moses are no longer obligatory.This potential heresy is the foundation of the gross error that the laws that God gave to Moses are optional and not obligatory in the New Covenant!Once the CoE adopts their final Position Paper they will send it to the elders instructing them to teach it.If they adopt anything similar to what they have discussed; over time as the heresy is accepted, it will do away with the obligatory nature of God’s instructions through Moses, just like the adoption of a similar position did for Joe Tkach.Brethren, please ask your elders to read this Paper and carefully consider before crafting and approving a final Position Paper on the subject.The following message has been sent to the UCG CoE.For the Chairman and all Council Members
Chairman Ward
Members of the CoEGentlemen
Today I published a Paper on “The God of the Old Testament.” This exhaustive Paper was published in advance of your own deliberations, out of sincere love and concern, and in the hope that you will consider these points as you produce and approve your own Position Paper on the subject.
This is for Chairman Ward to use to clean up the Chief Pharisee's "love and concern"
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Yes, The Church was Aware of the Harm Their Sermons Were Doing to the Little Ones
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