Sunday, July 2, 2017

Gerald Flurry: Descending Into Madness




From Exit and Support, regarding Gerald Flurry's descent into madness:

June 26, 2017
I have a friend who has left PCG. This person became skeptical back in November when Flurry spoke about Trump being the Jeroboam and then his mentioning about buying a plane. Then in January he gave the sermon about HWA's prayer stone replacing the stone of destiny (a.k.a. Jacob's pillar stone) and Flurry saying HWA was a type of Jacob or Israel. And how he, Flurry, is the chosen man on this whole earth privileged to bring the prayer stone to the Place of Safety where Christ will meet up with them and take his rightful place on the throne after Flurry, who is representing the house of David for 2 l/2 years, since he says he is a descendant of David through his genealogy. And finally, once this person got the letter about pledging funds to purchase a plane and then finding out they bought it in April during Feast of Unleavened Bread, this was the final straw. I am not sure what this person will do next. They are looking at other offshoots that follow the Sabbath, but feel that all of them try to control peoples' purse strings to suit their own agenda by using end time events and the Place of Safety to control them. --[name withheld]  
Another posting had this about the Philadelphia Church of God:
June 29, 2017
I don't even know where to begin. It's so difficult to summarize my experience and sort out how I'm feeling about everything that this so called "church" has put me, my family, and countless others through. The abuses that we undergo are covered up kept hush-hush and resolved through gossip started by who knows. I started becoming very skeptical when my own family began to be ripped apart by the ministry, who were not to be questioned ever! Every problem was pushed back on us not having it all together, or not praying and studying. No biblical proof was offered, just the opinion of a man who thought he spoke with God's authority--although certainly not with God's LOVE. It's so clear to me now why no one was ever allowed to compare stories or talk about counseling sessions. They did not want us comparing notes on our interactions with the ministry. 
But my last service was when our local minister aired all my family's dirty laundry in front of the congregation, blaming everything on my father's inability to lead. Taking no responsibility for his own interference and meddling. FURIOUS. I left knowing I'd never be back. I told no one and refused to talk to anyone after. A clean cut was the best resolve for me. I was so sick of being dragged into everyone's drama when I had no part in it. And I was certainly tired of feeling beaten down--not good enough and chastised every week at services. Also, if I missed a week, I felt like a child being scolded. I wish I'd left sooner. No, I wish I never would have attended at all.
Since I've been out, I've been happier than I thought possible. I'm happy to let God judge me. At least it will be true justice. If anyone is considering leaving, do it now. I waited years and regret it deeply. I will mourn family left in and pray they leave. --Raised in WCG; joined PCG as adult 


9 comments:

Byker Bob said...

I saw this, and then was perusing msn for the weekend's headlines. Of course, I noticed that there had been demonstrations across the US in favor of impeaching the president. I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if the horrible leaders of the ACOGs could simply be impeached?"

BB

Anonymous said...

any preacher that is not reminded of Daniel 11:21 when referring to donald drumpf is in denial...

"And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries."

John Cafourek Is A P.O.S. said...

Gerald Flurry Reminds Me Of Jim Jones And David Koresh.

Anonymous said...

Going to services is only a tool to help one in their Christian walk. Salvation comes from Christ's sacrifice rather than attending church. If going to services proves a destructive experience, one should stop going.
If a tree doesn't bare fruit, chop it down.

Dennis said...

They can BB. By voting with feet

Anonymous said...

Gerald Flurry is the next Charles Manson!

Anonymous said...

Gerald Flurry Reminds Me Of Jim Jones And David Koresh.

That's just irresponsible crazy-talk. Neither Jones nor Koresh had a son being groomed to take over Daddy's cult. Jones had a son from whom he was alienated, and Koresh had many children with various wives, but none were deemed to be on Daddy's level as successor cult-leaders.

Stephen Flurry, though, has from almost the beginning of PCG been set apart by his father as a vital figure in God's end-time plan. Stevie's baptism date was established as the last possible date you could be baptized by a WCG minister and not need to be re-baptized in PCG. Stevie read MOA (supposedly, this seems fudged a bit) a biblically significant number of days after HWA died.

Nobody in PCG associates Wayne Turgeon or Dennis Leap with the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Stevie, however, has been made into such a prophetically significant figure that when his father dies it is clear he will inherit his father's corporation sole. That gives Gerald a very good incentive not to suicide his flock or to die in a fire, as this would mean his grandchildren couldn't have their Irish dancing paid for by thousands of duped members anymore.

Byker Bob said...

I guess what remains to be seen is what Steve does with it once Gerald passes. Will he clean it up? Will he make it more mainstream, or will he descend further into his father's madness.

What is his status right now? Is he being held at bay, a paper tiger, being held in limbo as was GTA by Herb? Or, does he have actual power that he's being allowed to develop and exercise?

Can he make PCG grow? Do they have anyone with media savy who can be an effective and magnetic youtube speaker?

Actually, Flurry is probably the envy of Dave Pack, was the envy of Rod Meredith, and perhaps any other "leaders" who subscribe to the HWA one man version of church government. It just remains to be seen what is actually done with it, and what role a twenty year old dancing/cultural phenomenon might play.

BB

nck said...

BB,

It is difficult what to hope for.
GF staying alive and spouting more stuff like "king flurry" being completely unacceptable mentally for anyone. Creating mental rifts between members and the leadership. (NOT the church mind you)

OR

A quick departure of such lunatic and a successor "cleaning up". Creating new loyalties and modernizing lunacy.

What would you prefer?

It seems any choice would be the better of two evils.
For the old timers I prefer the mental rift scenario because of wackyness they cannot accept.
For the young ones I prefer a modernizing style more in tune with contemporary adequacies. In the end these are not the reasons for people to leave anyway. That is only caused by profound insight into ones own psychology, personal experiences or perceived purpose in life. Not by any external cause like church updates one way or the other.

nck