Hello Banned,
I wanted to share this with you and your audience.
I then later received a comment from TW. We were exchanging comments and I thought we were having a good and respectful exchange about what the Scriptures actually say and mean, but then they blocked me. So I decided to send them a direct message through Instagram saying, "Really? You delete my comments and then block me. If you guys really have "the Truth" you wouldn't block me. Let's keep the conversation going on public forums or even privately. You're not going to get rid of me."
Maybe I shouldn't have said "You're not going to get rid of me." But really??!!! C'mon! LCG makes big claims in an absolutist fashion and then doesn't like to be challenged on their forums or anywhere regarding those claims or their behavior. If this gets posted on your blog, there is something that I would like to say to those from LCG that may read this.
LCG Members - Go back and read the weekly update on your website from July 18th, 2019. In it Dr. Douglas S. Winnail wrote the following:
Prove Your Beliefs: Many today assume that simply “believing in Jesus” and “accepting Him into your heart” are all that is required to be a Christian. However, the Bible teaches differently! The Scriptures warn us that false teachers will also talk about believing in Jesus and will deceive many people (Matthew 24:3–5; 2 Corinthians 11:1–4). The Apostle Paul advised Christians to “Test [examine carefully] all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Luke writes that the early Christians’ belief in the resurrection of Jesus was based on “many infallible proofs” of many witnesses who saw Jesus alive after His crucifixion (Acts 1:1–3). Josephus, the famous Jewish historian in the first century AD writes, “Jesus…[was] condemned to the cross…[yet] he appeared alive to them on the third day” (Antiquities of the Jews, 18:3:3). Peter emphasized that the apostles were eyewitnesses to the things they were teaching (2 Peter 1:16) and that Christians should be able to give sound reasons for their beliefs (1 Peter 3:15). Paul confidently provided a defense for his beliefs (Acts 26). If we take time to carefully prove what we believe and understand the evidence upon which our beliefs rest, we, too, should be able to confidently defend and explain what we believe to anyone who asks. Have a profitable Sabbath, Douglas S. Winnail
For the past seven years, I have been asking you all at LCG to thoroughly explain and defend what you believe. Instead what you do is you suppress what you all believe to be "the Truth" in public and in private by using loaded terminology and twisting Scripture. Why are you ashamed of what you believe to be "the gospel"? If you believe that you all are going to become God, then say that and say it loudly and clearly in your telecasts, your publications and in your sermons each Sabbath. Don't block those of us who disagree with your theology, especially those of us you regard as "Counterfeit Christians" that follow a "Counterfeit Christianity" and are destined for the lake of fire. Truth matters and Theology matters, so why do you reject following through with your own comments to "Prove your Beliefs" and to "confidently defend and explain what we believe to anyone who asks"?
It's because you don't really believe what is actually written in the Holy Bible. Instead, you choose to believe what Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, John H. Owgyn, Gerald Weston, Douglas Winnail and many others tell you should be written in the Bible and what they say it means. In other words, you believe man rather than God.
I love all of you in LCG, I really do, but I challenge you all to finally step up and let's talk. Don't block me or shun me and say things like, "don't cast your pearls before swine". I am not scoffing or ridiculing what you all believe to be the gospel. I believe that you all are sincere people, but are sincerely wrong theologically. All I'm asking you to do is to thoroughly explain yourselves, and allow for those of us that disagree with you to engage you in dialogue regarding our disagreements and why we disagree. Additionally, I'm also asking you to look within your organization and stand up to the spiritual manipulation and abuse that often comes from your own leaders and laymen. If you want to talk, send me an email through my website. I won't bash LCG or its leaders, but I will speak the truth in love.
Kind Regards,
Mario Espinosa
Kind Regards,
Mario Espinosa
Social Media: about.me/marioespinosa