What an interesting topic to pop up on Bob Thiel's blog today after he has been publicly rebuked by Rod Meredith and ripped apart on various blogs by people are who are disgusted with him. Was Meredith's letter "persecution?" This blog? James Malm's deep seated disgust with Bob? Readers comments on various blogs?
The world's most renown authority on prophecy writes (bold highlights are Bob's)
COGwriter
Jesus taught:
20 If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you (John 15:20).The Apostle Paul taught:
29… Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time–houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions–and in the age to come, eternal life (Mark 10:29-30).
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matthew 5:10-12).
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)
What should a Christian do when persecuted?
43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matthew 5:43-44).
10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. 14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. (1 Corinthians 4:10-14)
The most faithful to the word of God often are amongst the most persecuted.
Remember also that Jesus said:
32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)Persecution is not fun, but it is expected.
10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer (Revelation 2:10).
He ends his screed with this:
All the faithful will be subject to persecution and being betrayed by professing believers (Matthew 24:9-13, Mark 13:12-13; Luke 21:16-18; Daniel 11:32-35). Persecution has taken many forms throughout history and a deadly time of persecution is coming.
There is not a single COG out there that has been persecuted for their beliefs. They still are able to assemble freely, write absurdly ridiculous books, maintain blogs critical of the Catholic church and it's beliefs, ridicule other churches, races and sexual orientation. On and on the list could go.
Christian are being persecuted in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Indonesia, and other places. But according to Bob those are not "TRUE" Christians so their "persecution" is irrelevant. Only the members of the Living Church of God will suffer "real" persecution. However, the "Dr." apparently senses he is suffering it now.
Since Bob apparently does not understand what persecution is I suggest he check these sites out:
Voice of the Martyrs
Persecution: International Christian Concern
Persecution Project Foundation
Please Note:
The pictures below are of persecuted FAKE Christians,
at least according to Bob Thiel,
the world's foremost authority on
Christianity, prophecy and persecution.
the world's foremost authority on
Christianity, prophecy and persecution.
The only real Christians on the face of the entire earth
are part of Living Church of God,
at least according to Bob Thiel,
the world's foremost authority on
Christianity, prophecy and persecution.
at least according to Bob Thiel,
the world's foremost authority on
Christianity, prophecy and persecution.
I saw that post be Thiel today and thought the exact same thing. You are right in pointing out Thiel's persecution complex. I wish Bob would keep his fucking mouth shut! Yes Bob, I swore! Yes Bob, I am an LCG member who thinks you are a jackass.
ReplyDeletePersecution in the COGs usually consists of "wah...they don't agree with me!"
ReplyDeleteSomewhere in the Bible it says, "All those who write goofy speculative stuff or who spend the money of others on buildings when Jesus is coming 'soon', shall suffer persecution."
now now annon. We KNOW "blessed is he who is found so doing before the son of man comes."
ReplyDelete"So doing" can be anything you, as the grand poopa can come up with to do including auditoriums, colleges or delusional thinking.
What should a Christian do when persecuted?
ReplyDeleteStart a blog?
Gee, I wonder if Rod will punish Thiel by exiling him to Hawaii?
ReplyDeleteBB
In a sense, persecution is in the eye of the persecuted. Some have a very low threshhold for this, and for others, activities do not rise to the level of persecution until they become unbelievably cruel and savage.
ReplyDeleteThe Armstrong movement was myopic, elitist, and dismissive with regard to sincere Christians from outside of WCG. I've read much about persecution throughout the Christian era, and believe me, it is nothing one would wish for oneself! I don't see how anyone could get through the pain, torture, and eventual death with the exemplary attitudes these folks displayed without the Holy Spirit. Their testimony, dark and macabre as it is, was very effective in building the Christian church. God help us if any of us actually end up going through this sort of thing for our beliefs!
BB
When Herbert Armstrong was persecuted, if you want to call it that, he took 'em to court with that battery of lawyers he kept at tithe-payers expense. Litigation is a major characteristic of Armstrongism
ReplyDelete