Monday, September 24, 2012

E. W. King Says He Knows How You Think



God's end-time leader of the Worldwide Church of God (WCGCOGSR) says that he knows how those of you that have left Armstrongism think.  He also knows what those of you that have left Christianity think and the reason you rejected HWA's magnificent insights.

He writes:

Sadly, many who once claimed Christianity as their faith have turned to speculative-science and New Age thought because they felt unsatisfied with their Christian understanding. Jesus told us that we would “never thirst again” if we studied His word. [John 4:13] God’s word is reach with deep understanding. [Daniel 2:22] The problem is with all the false denominationalism. False theology has left people spiritually dry. The teachings of WCG theology agree with sound science.

People left Armstrongism because of all the lies, deceit, corruption and false teachings.  After spending a life time  being abused by abusive ministers who laid down restrictive laws and regulations while some of them  were living  lives of debauchery, people have had enough.  Also, since the entire belief system of Armstrongism is based upon false theology it left the people spiritually malnourished.

I have news for Eeeeew King, Armstrongism does NOT agree with sound science!  There is nothing scientific in the COG.  Scientific reasoning, thought processes, and theory's have no place in the church.  Claiming that certain nations are genetic/biblical descendants of the 12 tribes is not scientific.  Preaching certain versions of creationism is not sound science.  Even if they try to cozy up to the "old earth" theory, they jump off the wagon on other areas.  Even the COG historical timeline is filled with error and blatant lies.  From lying about how the current church is practice original Christianity to claiming the church is descended from the Waldenses, the list could go on and on.

Eeeeew continues:

Christians approach everything by a proper understanding of God’s word. What is a proper understanding of God’s word? The Bible proclaims that only those who have the Holy Spirit can truly and properly understand God’s word. Christian comprehension of truth relies on intervention from God himself. [Philippians 2:5] In this article I will rely on God’s Holy Spirit to articulate the meaning of Truth in human thinking. [1 Corinthians 1:18] From this perspective I cannot prove to anybody what I am saying is true. I must rely on the Holy Spirit. [Proverbs 3:5-6] This approach is from a factual understanding of static or absolute Truth from God himself. Only those who are called of God and or who have the Holy Spirit shall comprehend. [Romans 8:16]

What Eeeew fails to state here is that when he says "Christian" he is referring ONLY to COG folk.  Armstrongism has never considers "worldly christians" to be real Christians.  Eeeeew is only speaking here about COGgers.  Only COGgers have the mental capacity to understand God.  No one outside Armstrongism has the Holy Spirit in them.  Therefore, anyone who is not part of Armstrongism, or has left the church is incapable of understanding the god of Eeeew King.

The yellow highlight below is mine:

As Christians we are commanded to “prove all things”. [1 Thessalonians 5:21] We do this by testing our thinking against what the Word of God proclaims. [Acts 17:11] I have studied many religions and philosophical ideas but without a foundation to base it all on I am simply “blown here and there by every wind of doctrine”. [Ephesians 4:14] God is not the author of confusion. [1 Corinthians 14:33] The Bible asks us to use our intellectual capabilities but to keep them in ‘check’ with absolute and revealed revelation from God. Christian thinking is therefore a disciplined practice. [James 4:10]  It goes against conventional ideas of thinking. [1 Corinthians 1:25] This does not mean we cannot be critical in our thinking. As a matter of fact Christians are more critical in their thinking process than other people who are not Christian. Christians can look at what is called “the bigger picture”. They can learn to broaden their scope when looking at an issue. Where this becomes a paradoxical issue is in the idea of error-free thinking. Many can listen to what you are saying and then try and find a logical error. But based on whose logic? [Colossians 2:8] Logical thinking in and of itself is only based on mans five physical faculties. With only these limited tools man can come up with numerous if not infinitesimal amounts of conclusions to even simple questions. Please do not misunderstand me, God wants us to be creative but not without His static revealed truth as the foundation. There is no error in God’s understanding. God has given His children solid and foundational blocks of absolute truth. All of mans understanding should be built around these blocks! Jesus himself being the “chief cornerstone”. [Ephesians 2:20]
 It is laughable if Eeeew thinks COGgers are more critical thinkers than the rest of Christianity or unbelievers.  I have heard more uneducated and poorly thought out sermons than I can ever dream of, all by men who thought they had some special insight into God's Word.

King continues:

Christians are not closed-minded, they are open-minded. Christians are those who have broadened their mere human intellect into receiving pure revelation from God himself! 

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One reason why most people who attend a fallen denominational church do not really read their Bible’s is because when they do read their Bible’s they find that their church is teaching something or doing something completely different from what it says. Those who do read their Bible’s from fallen churches are very selective in what portions they read. Here at COGSR we use the whole Bible!

Actually Eeeew should realize that many people who are in liturgical churches read and hear the entire Bible every three years is because of the lectionary.  The advantage of this is that verses before and after the point being look at are used.  This is so far unlike Armstrongism which find specific verses to suit their needs while ignoring other verses.  Proof-texting is the basis for Armstrongism.

Eeeew then gets into Christian faith.  He writes:

To live God's way we need the Holy Spirit power. So is it possible to practice Christianity in your own way and whatever church you choose? The answer from Christ would be, “no”. We either worship God's way and do things his way or we worship our way. How do we find out God's way? We read his word, study his word and ask for Holy Spirit help. We thus find the one and only true Church of God.

I love how the simple minds of these men think that when a person reads the Bible they will automatically be driven into the Church of God.


The Bible proclaims “one faith”, not many. [Ephesians 4:5] Just because true Christians are people of faith does not mean that we are blind. We do have to open our eyes! Please understand, there are not many ‘faiths’ to a true Christian. There is only one. There is only one ‘faith’, one ‘church’, one ‘body’ [church], etc. [Ephesians 4:4-6] And believe it or not, there is only one true God and one true Jesus Christ! Would it be wrong to say that there is only one true “you”? No. It would not. There is only ONE true God and only ONE true understanding of that God. We find it in and through God’s word through and by the power of the one and only Holy Spirit! There are not many denominations to true Christians! 

It's pretty hypocritical for an Armstrongite to be condemning Christian churches for division considering there are well over 600 splinter groups now with 600 different opinions, doctrines and ways of interpreting HWA's words. None are doctrinally unified.  Just look at the nastiness that went down when COGWA back-stabbed their own brethren.  Obviously there is NOT a "one true understanding" in the Churches of God.

Many people today really no longer contemplate the True God of the Bible. Many just go with the flow of “traditional Christianity” accepting the religious concepts of their forefathers. They comfort themselves with emotionally accepted pictures like angels that guard their life and the life of their family. The basic understanding of the world’s Christianity is a God, who as a kind father forgives you your sins, who guides you in times of doubt and insecurity, and who finally takes you into his kingdom of heaven after you die, to a place where there is eternal peace and harmony and where you will be with other loved ones who have died.
All of these beliefs are accepted by most all people who attend different denominations. You see, the relationship is not really with a personal God but with an idea full of traditions. To understand yourself the world teaches psychology. The guide under the false Christian traditions becomes psychology and the false science of an evolving human that will eventually overcome sin simply by understanding his biological makeup.
 
There is a large percentage of COGers who are just along with the flow too.  I can't tell you how many I know in various COG's that tell me they only stay because their kids have friends in the church, or that they would miss the Feast.  Others are afraid to leave because their only friends are in the church.  So they comfort themselves with false friendships that are in truth only acquaintances. (Leave the church and you will quickly see how many "true" friends you actually had.) They find comfort in large Feast gatherings because it brings back memories of the "good old days."  It's comforting being around people of like minds who never challenge each other do deep thinking or have even deeper conversations.  It's comforting being around people who never question why things are.

Christianity's view on God as a kindly father who forgives is certainly more comforting than the god of Armstrongism that is sitting there with an itchy trigger finger ready to zap humanity for being a bunch of rebellious children.  Death, destruction and stern judgement is the only thing that Armstrongism's god offers.

Armstrongism does not allow a personal relationship with it's god.  How can it when it is a god filled with so much vengeance and violence.

He writes a whole lot more gibberish here:  True Christians, Thinking and the Human Mind





Ron Weinland: Certain Salutations Are Restricted To Ministers Only




Mike has a short entry about Ron Weinland's latest sermon delivered in God's appointed place, a basement.

Ron seems to be ready to disfellowship a member of his cult, probably a minister, for causing division.  He has been blabbering on for several weeks about "going to your brother" first. With Ron harping on this week after week, it will not cause too much trauma if he decides to publicly mark and disfellowship one of his top lap poodles.  The members will think Ron went to the "brother" first and after repeated attempts now has to publicly kick the offender out.

Ron is also making it clear to church members that they are not to sign letters "In Christ's service".  Only ordained men in good standing and who are loyal tithe payers can even dare to sign a letter that way.  Members apparently are too stupid to ever do anything in Christ's service.

Ron seemed to be winding up his series on “going to a brother”, titling this one as “Gaining a Brother”.  He discussed the mechanism for confronting an offending fellow member.  Boiled down to confronting them first in private, but it that doesn’t work to turn it over to an elder.  Only ministers are allowed to sign letters “In Christ’s Service”, as they have authority given them by Christ. It's About The Relationships Stupid

Sunday, September 23, 2012

"Are You Special to God, Because You Keep the Sabbath?"




Are You Special to God, Because You Keep the Sabbath?


In reality no one keeps the Sabbath, even when they think they do.  If you think you keep the Sabbath, then let me recommend to you the article penned by former Seventh Day Adventist Robert K. Sanders, who penned "Renouncing The Sabbath After 47 Years as of 2002."  Also see his website at Truth or Fables?.  The "Sabbath" day of the week is a great bondage to many human beings, who think that by not working on the seventh day, they will be favored in the eyes of God.  NOT SO!

The religious world is overrun with religious people who think they are favored for one reason or another.  In some religious circles, the women wear long drab dresses to the ankles and a net-bonnet on their head, as if this signifies some form of virtue.  NOT SO!    Going to church on Sunday does not incur some special status in the eyes of God either.    Religious minded human beings have always thought in terms of rituals, legalistic rules, sacrifices (animal and such) and no end to "laws" attributed to God.

No doubt God the Creator is much smarter than the religions of men, give Him credit for.  There is NOTHING more profound than simply LOVING others and God is no fool.  Keeping the Sabbath is nonsense.  LOVING others is what makes sense.  You can go church every Sunday or every Saturday and it means nothing.  Want means something is LOVING others.  God is NOT STUPID and what pleasure would God, who is more intelligent than all human beings combined and exponentially so, have in rituals, as if such rituals are "important?"  Why would keeping the Sabbath be important to God?  Why would going to church on Sunday be important to God?

I would venture to say that far more important to God, than tithing, church going, feast-keeping or submission to fake religious authority, is to LOVE others as you love yourself and blessed are the peacemakers and blessed are the merciful and blessed are the meek.  The real reason for church going is not for the benefit of church goers, but for the $profits in the pockets of pastors.  Causing people to live in FEAR of not going to church on the Sabbath and observing annual "Holy" days, guarantees $income for the cult church rulers for the rest of their lives, and that is the real reason for more religious nonsense than Carter has liver pills.

You are never special in the eyes of God because you keep the Sabbath or go to church on Sunday, or grow a beard, or wear ugly dresses to your ankles.


Van Robison