Yesterday a reader posted a letter reportedly from Rod Meredith discussing the concerns that some LCG members are having with Bob Thiel speaking as if he was the voice of the Living Church of God. When I read it, I thought this really does sound like something Meredith would write. Then the original poster responded that it was authentic and a couple of other people also agreed that they think it is authentic. Is it real or a hoax? If it really is a hoax then someone really knows how to impersonate Rod Meredith to a "t."
I know several LCG members who are quite concerned about prophet Bob's latest book critical of President Obama. Add to that the use of sources that have traditionally been looked upon by the Church of God as pagan or demonic and you have even more concern by Church of God members
Thiel is now bragging on his blog that he has been cited as a credible source on end times prophecy on MSNBC and the Washington Post. Prophet Bob is still the face of the Living Church of God when he does this.
Below is the letter reportedly from Rod Meredith:
From the Presiding EvangelistSeptember 6, 2012 8:13 PM
Dear Fellow Servants of Christ,
An important matter has just come that I want to alert all of you faithful servants of Christ about. It involves Dr. Robert Thiel. While Dr. Thiel has declared himself to be a loyal member of the Living Church of God and has helped us in many ways with interesting ideas, suggestions and personal help, we do feel it is important for all of you to know that he is not our official “spokesman” in any way. He has written a number of things with which we do not agree.
Dr. Thiel has just published a highly speculative book about President Obama much of which we do not agree with. So it is important that all of you realize that—although I love Dr. Thiel personally—it is vital that each of you brethren check out carefully and prove to yourself whether any of his writings are valid if you read them. Although he has not stated it as such, some of our brethren may have assumed that Dr. Robert Thiel is an “official” spokesman for the Church on many matters. We want you to fully understand that this is not so. He is not in our employ, nor does he officially represent us in any way. So although we continue to wish him well, we do want everyone to know that when it comes to some of his unusual writings or concepts, they must stand on their own and not be represented as something from the Living Church of God. If you have questions about this matter, please counsel with your own local faithful Living Church of God minister.
In these difficult times, let us all be careful to “prove all things” and be sure where we stand before God. Also, we certainly want to love and forgive one another and keep working together in every way we can to accomplish the great mission Christ has set before us. Thank you for your understanding, your prayers and your loyalty.
With Christian love,
Roderick C. Meredith
I do have to hand it to Rod Meredith in distancing himself from prophet Bob's books. They are all highly speculative and about as useful in understanding prophecy as Ron Weinland's 2008 God's Final Witness and The Prophesied End-Time are. We have all seen in the last year how well those books have worked out for Ron Weinland and his church. Prophet Bob's books have the potential to actually cause Living Church of God undo "persecution." The track record of the Churches of God in bringing trials and tribulation upon themselves are legendary.
I noticed a post by Thiel on his Living Church of God News page. To me it just shows the arrogance of the man.
ReplyDelete"09/07/12 p.m. Some have asked me about my position on the "falling away" matter. At this stage, let me state that on May 13, 2012, when it looked like a change in formal position may be taking place, I contacted the HQ evangelists and urged them to reconsider certain points. Dr. Winnail ended up contacting me late the next month and discussed his idea to come out to see me. Before I played his "Falling Away" sermon, I was told in July 2012 by two LCG ministers that I would probably not have issues with that sermon, so I played it and watched it. After watching it, I contacted LCG and produced several documents stating my concerns which were sent in July and August 2012.
Today, Dr. Winnail informed me (orally and via email) that while one can disagree with the Council's primary current interpretation on the falling away matter, which I do, one can still be part of the Living Church of God while holding a different view."
I can't imagine anyone else to be permitted such freedom expressing opossing views on doctrinal issues. Certainly not any random member.
I love the way various COG missives are written as though people are sitting around breathlessly waiting the next decree from the powers that be.
ReplyDeleteThose days are long gone. NOBODY CARES. UCG members don't, COGWA members don't, LCG members don't, and, more and more, PCG and RCG members, don't, either.
It's an inevitable by-product. The only one who held that kind of sway was HWA. Not even GTA did. Eventually, as it became more evident that the emperor had no clothes, the mystique disappeared. With HWA long gone, even his self-appointed successors know it's only a matter of time. They pretend they can still pull it off, but they know better.
Most LCG people probably made up their mind about Thiel's bizarre diatribes long ago. RCM is just now catching up. That says it all, right there.
And if anyone has any concerns about anything anyone says in any of the churches of God, they can just leave.
ReplyDeleteIt's all rubbish.
Do a search on COGWriter for the chapter titles, and you probably can assemble the main points of his book for free anytime you wish.
ReplyDeleteFurther down on that Living Church of God News page, Dr. Thiel notes Dr. Winnail flew out to see him a week or two ago. He makes it sound like it was a personal visit -- but don't you wonder what led up to it? Who "invited" whom? And what "final phase of the work" is he talking about there?
P.S. Is it mere coincidence that no LCG commentaries have been posted on that LCG News page since mid-July?
Ho hum. I really don't care what Rod did or did not write.
ReplyDeleteThe Herbert mindset is still alive and intact. They imagine a great work and everything they personally do is the greatest and most stupendous when they only reach a smattering of their own whose minds went to sleep decades ago.
IF by chance they attract some new mentally asleep person, it only means a few extra dolars and another unthinking sycophant who might perchance add to the hodge podge of deluded writers and commentators no thinking person takes seriously.
Those days are long gone. NOBODY CARES. UCG members don't, COGWA members don't, LCG members don't, and, more and more, PCG and RCG members, don't, either.
ReplyDeleteThis is not quite correct. PCG and RCG members are required to care about the pronouncements of their prophet/apostle/poobah. Once they stop caring, they stop being PCG and RCG members, and they move onward to join the great multitude who just want to keep the Sabbath peacefully with decent people who won't lie to them or rob them blind.
Annon noted:
ReplyDelete"This is not quite correct. PCG and RCG members are required to care about the pronouncements of their prophet/apostle/poobah"
Who would ever have guessed that "knowledge shall be increased" in the latter days as not so much a sign of the end, but the sign of liberation .
ahhhhhhh........
M.T.Poobahs
This is yet another good thing: A threat to Armstrongism.
ReplyDeleteMay apathy and entropy do its work!
Long ago, I came to the conclusion that Bob Thiel's primary audience is (gulp) us. Well, us and the people who are members of other ACOGs. It's a classic "nose rubbing" exercise, directed primarily to agitate and shake people up. And, even at that, it is sophomoric.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Rod letter, it sounds to be crafted as if it had come from the human resources department of a Fortune 500 company. Probably Rod has changed somewhat since 1975, but back in the day he simply wasn't capable of the tact displayed in that letter.
BB
"Add to that the use of sources that have traditionally been looked upon by the Church of God as pagan or demonic and you have even more concern by Church of God members."
ReplyDeleteThat should actually read,
"Add to that BOB THIEL'S use of sources that have traditionally been looked upon by the Church of God as PAGAN or DEMONIC and you have even more concern by Church of God members."
The idea that uncalled, unrepentant, unconverted, demon-influenced pagans have had the inside scoop (true prophecies) revealed to them by the demons appears to be irresistible to Bob Thiel. He needs to stop and consider that Satan and his demons are the original LIARS and the source of FALSE prophecy.
Running around looking to Catholic superstition, and Mayan superstition, and Kenyan superstition--instead of looking to the Bible--is a serious and fatal doctrinal change.
Roderick C. Meredith is absolutely right to see that something is wrong with Bob Thiel and to try to distance his church from him.
Of course, Roderick Meredith is making his own doctrinal changes, and people would be absolutely right to distance themselves from his church.
"Running around looking to Catholic superstition, and Mayan superstition, and Kenyan superstition--instead of looking to the Bible--is a serious and fatal doctrinal change."
ReplyDeleteReally? Please, somebody, enlighten me about all these non-superstitious things from that bronze age collection of superstitious drivel you still insist on bowing down to reverently. I haven't found them. It aint fair to keep such monumental knowledge all to yourselves.
Ante up, already.
"He needs to stop and consider that Satan and his demons are the original LIARS and the source of FALSE prophecy."
ReplyDeleteNot to mention Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the crazy book of Revelation
Satan and his demons are the original LIARS and the source of FALSE prophecy
ReplyDeleteReally?
Where does that put Herbert Armstrong and his ministerial followers?
It looks like the letter from Meredith has hit the fan, so to speak. Again on Thiel's Living Church of God News page,
ReplyDelete"09/08/12 p.m. Attached to the Weekly Update from the Living Church of God, Charlotte (LCG), that is being read today in congregations throughout the world, was a letter from Dr. Meredith related to me, the Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States book, etc. FWIW, I was unaware of any LCG concerns about this book prior to seeing Dr. Roderick C. Meredith's letter, so this has come as somewhat a surprise."
He writes further, but I think that captures the essence.
Can we all spell "difellowship?"
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeletePainful Truth said...
"Can we all spell 'difellowship?'"
Nope! YOU certainly cannot.
Finally Mr. Meredith is doing something about this guy. We are getting sick of his arrogant all knowing attitude. He is not a legitimate source for information.
ReplyDeleteBut then again, neither is Rod Meredith. Not too sure about the bible either...
ReplyDeletedifellowship is defined as "different fellowship"
ReplyDeleteWill he join Packs group?
"Dr." Bob Thiel claims to have a "double dose" of the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteI'm especially wary of Christians who claim to know things by virtue of the "Christian discernment" their alleged Holy Spirit tells them.
(After all, these people are ALL OVER THE PLACE when it comes down to what their Holy Spirit allegedly leads them to believe.)
But, I like "Dr." Bob's little trick of claiming he has a double dose of the Holy Spirit. That must put him a cut above all the other Christians who only have a single dose! Of course and sadly, I jest.
Personal experience has led me to realize that the more strongly a person states he is Christian, and the more a person mentions having the Holy Spirit, the less trust-able they are.(And the more likely they are to be liars and act as total sleazebags in business dealings, so I've learned the hard way to avoid business dealings with such people.)
Anyhoo, what if someone else from LCG should come along, who has a TRIPLE dose of the Holy Spirit?
Sadly and of course, I'd have to abandon my "Thiel-love" in favor of a new-found love!
Norm
I went to his site for the first time and read one of his articles. It was just a rehash of Herbie's ancient talking points! It's arguments would have sounded good to someone in 1950, but in 2012? Not so much...
ReplyDelete