Received this today in a comment:
LCG Headquarters is in crisis lockdown mode over the truths being publicized on this website!
The panic button has officially been pushed and the alarm has been sounded. The troops have been assembled for a damage control conference.
My money is on the "it's right before the spring holy days and we are God's only true church, so Satan is attacking us more powerfully than ever" excuse. It's an oldy but a goody and it completely negates the possibility that LCG leadership might actually be bring this on themselves by their un-Godly behavior.
LCG is not happy that members of the group are not too happy with the state of affairs in the church. How dare these members express an opinion contrary to the happy-clappy-never-more-unified church that LCG attempts to portray.
Alas, it is Passover season which Satan HATES! It is his attempt to cause the LCG persecution at this time of year.
30 comments:
I have to confess to a certain amount of amazement over the drama which we see unfolding. The open discussions normally found on blogs have been credited with many things in their short life span, whether it involves bringing certain conditions or knowledge into the open, or finding, as a blog community, solutions to some very perplexing problems. Years ago, I had thought that perhaps simple, open discussion could bring at least a few fundamental improvements into the lives of those participating in the Armstrong family of church groups. However, up until about a week ago, it seemed as if the gag order which the splinter leaders impose regarding internet usage in general, and on the reading of or participation in specific blogs was largely respected and obeyed by the majority of the members. In a way, that would be totally compatible with the church-wide practices of separatism, shunning, and censorship. For all intents and purposes, it meant "Access Denied".
What changed this? The people involved changed it! Like the peaceful, good-living town folk in a Clint Eastwood or John Wayne movie, the citizens have suddenly realized that when good people say nothing about undesirable conditions, bad continues to happen. Each one of us, as individuals, have at least some power to make a difference, to speak up for the common good when the situation demands it, regardless of the consequences. We do have the power to hold others accountable. That is one of the checks and balances inherent within all civilizations. It is not the dominant amongst us who are truly in control! It is the passive ones, the governed, who make cost-benefit evaluations each day to determine whether continued acquiesence to dominance is to their benefit or to their detriment.
We can't know how the current situation will shake out, be dealt with or resolved. There is always the law of unintended consequences to deal with. One would hope that by shining a little light on certain practices and conditions, life will improve for as many people as possible.
BB
We're confused: What is this conversion thing again and where can we find a good example of it?
Im sure that the official office memo policy at LCG HQ will be ...
BANNED IS BANNED!
The comment received read - My money is on the "it's right before the spring holy days and we are God's only true church, so Satan is attacking us more powerfully than ever" excuse. It's an oldy but a goody“
MY COMMENT – Once again, Satan is given more credit than is deserved.
To any LCG members who might be reading this blog and might be from the old WCG, I would remind you that Herbert Armstrong first used “the Satan is attacking us” excuse when he first put his son Garner Ted on leave from the Church and suspended him as the voice of the World of Tomorrow. I believe Herbert went as far as saying that Garner Ted was “in the bonds of Satan”. We were also told that Garner Ted had personal emotional problems. Lo and behold, when the truth finally came out, we found out that Garner Ted was about to leave his wife Shirley for the Church jet stewardess Gail Weber with whom GTA was having an affair when he wasn’t busy gambling in Lake Tahoe or bedding other Ambassador College coeds – up to 200 coeds have been reported. Yeah, right - Satan was attacking us more powerfully than ever, lol!
The Worldwide Church of God and its splinters including LCG have no credibility whatsoever for anyone who cares to take the time to do the due diligence. I first heard the Rod Meredith preach in the 1969, and notes from his sermon which I still have to this very day records him saying we have 3 to 5 years left in this present age before the Great Tribulation and the return of Christ. My understanding from others on this blog is that he revises this statement every 3 to 5 years, and thus he has been saying the same thing for 45 years. At some point, one has to consider that he might not be credible. If it is fair to blame Satan, is it not also fair to blame God for the Wonderful World of Tomorrow that never comes and is always a moving target of 3 to 5 years away? That would only be true if God was with LCG, but time and its bad fruits show otherwise. Therefore, Satan cannot be blamed either.
My money is also on the "it's right before the spring holy days and we are God's only true church, so Satan is attacking us more powerfully than ever" excuse. My experience with WCG was that it was always a three ring circus. As Circus showman PT Barnum would say, “You can fool the dumb sheep tithe slaves” ALL the time! Yes, blame Satan, it ALWAYS works in Armstrongism!
Richard
The odd part is this "LCG Member" posting all over this blog seems no closer to being an xlcg member, which doesn't say much about his character... or they just have too much time on their hands and no real purpose in life. Is it an employee? riding out the paycheck? Just doesn't seem to be any better - or different than the ones he's so proud to expose. Just looks like their angst isn't new. So what's their point?
California now has a proposition circulating to kill gays -- put a bullet in their head -- effective for anyone touches another of the same sex with intent to have sex (does this include hand shaking?).
Perhaps, instead of this proposition (which is certain to be killed), laws should be put into place to execute false prophets. Since the Bible is non specific about "the false prophet shall be put to death" using bullets would be fine, although, hanging, stoning, burning at the stake, poison injection -- all good.
After all, if gays are to be executed on Bible say-so, then we certainly need to respect the killing of false prophets, lest the nation be punished for ignoring God's Law.
But we'd better hurry: Roderick Meredith might die of natural causes before the government can carry out his execution....
Satan was invented by church for just such times as this. It's blameshifting when reality becomes uncomfy
"Whenever an important event, a revolution, or a calamity turns to the profit of the church, such is always signalized as the Finger of God." —Voltaire
To this we can add another case:
Whenever an important event, revolution, or a calamity turns AGAINST the fortunes (and I do mean fortune) of the church, such is always signalized as the "persecution of satan."
Is it safe to conclude we have a violation of the law of non-falsifiability yet?
When Gutenberg introduced the printing press, the Catholic church attempted censorship by requiring that all books be approved by the church before publication. We all know how that worked out.
Telling people what to do is not the role of a church. Churches leaders, of course, have often thought otherwise, which typically leads to a clash of wills over time. Armstrongist churches take it to extremes, and that has backfired so often over the years that it's amazing that the leaders of most groups don't recognize it.
And so it appears that Banned, while sometimes banned, isn't regarded as banned by most COG parishoners, after all.
What's crazier than having an imaginary friend?
Having an imaginary enemy!
This makes me happy. It's very satisfying to watch petty authoritarians thrash and flail helplessly as it all slips away from them.
Do the Armstrongists even have one shred of respect for God?
I attend in Charlotte and, from what I have seen, it is business as usual at LCG headquarters; people there seem unaware of the existence of this blog, much less any of the imaginary drama the "fed up" LCG member is lying to you guys about (makes me wonder what else they are lying about, and why). No crisis or "lock down", no nicker-twisting, no damage control and no conference. They simply seem to have better things to do with their time. From what I can see, the people there have lives. Maybe you guys should get one.
Connie said:
"Im sure that the official office memo policy at LCG HQ will be ...
BANNED IS BANNED!"
Time to change the blog name to "Banned by RCM" ... ? :-)
Anon 7:34...
"I attend in Charlotte and...people there seem unaware of the existence of this blog..."
...except you're here. Funny how that is.
7:34: Probably most of us have been expecting that sort of comment. Time will tell the tale.
BB
Anon 7:34...we do have lives, and part of our life now is proving all things to see if they are so, and if we here it on here then we can go further and prove if that is so. You don't seem to want to do that, you reject what is being said about LCG and or it's leader, deceived you are just like the others with you. Like someone said after your rant, "funny how it is that you are here right after you said no one in Charlotte even knows about this blog, what did you do ask every one of them, maybe they are just keeping you out of the loop. Something tells me you are no where near Charlotte and have no idea what's going on.
Seriously why should anyone give a hoot about this website when it has one of the highest alexa rankings in the world, you people think very highly of yourselves lol when you are nothing. You exagerate everything just to get a few measly comments from people who come here just for therapy because they think they have been so hard done by, man you all are such a sorry depressed lot. Grow up and get a life the lot of you and stop crying over spilt milk.
Regarding Annon 7:34
I would bet a million dollars that anon 7:34 IS ON DAMAGE CONTROL AT LCG HEADQUARTERS as part of their "action plan" to solve the Banned by HWA problem that is growing to epidemic proportions.
It is so obvious. My guess is that anon is Jim Meredith, Wyatt Cicelka or Rod McNair trying to mitigate the damages incurred by the truths being exposed on this website!
If they are "unaware" of it, why did RCM mention it last Sabbath? Why are you here now?
If you aren't aware of the numbers of members on this site you must have your head in the sand. Everyone is talking about it. You should put spies throughout the fellowship/snack room after church to confirm what I say is true. Or check out the map on this website on any given day and see how many visits come from Charlotte, Waxhaw, Indian Trail and Mooresville. Or better yet, don't. Maybe if you tell your lie loud enough and long enough you will get some of the sheep to believe it.
Your denial is amusing and transparent. Thanks for the laugh!
Annon 7:34 I also attend in Charlotte and so do others who have posted on this site. Are you denying that the houses pictured belong to the Meredith's? Mecklenburg county tax records would prove otherwise. Are you denying that Jim takes the best Feast sites for himself every year? History would prove otherwise. Are you denying that there has been a purge of members who dare question the ministry? You must be crazy.
May your denial comfort you like a cozy blanket. The day you wake up and realize that you are idolizing wolves in sheep's clothing will be a painful one.
Local LCG Member, Not disgruntled, Not Anon7:34 (although, i agree with 7:34's perception of local goings on).
Can't speak for others, but I've been on this site for years - it has served a purpose.
I think the disgruntled LCGr might want to consider where he/she belongs and put their energy in getting there. Don't like it there, don't respect those that do? There are many here on this site that could give you some recommendations on where you might be happier, since you seem to be a little gun shy.
Hey, Anon 2:17 AM --
I'm wondering what the old spilt milk phrase has to do with anything, but you seem to think we who stand together here are a bunch of simplistic malcontents who just "couldn't cut it," whatever "it" is. We had a "problem with government," in another classic phrase.
No, we are people who WASTED, and wasted YEARS, believing in something that only a few of you still cling to, and cling in spite of all the MOUNTAINS of evidence piled up EVERYWHERE about what a vain pursuit it is. And speaking of waste, I remember all that TITHE AND OFFERING MONEY I invested and got almost NOTHING in return for. (And remember the stories of families DESTROYED, which I should've listed first.)
Did you think you somehow put us in our place with your smug, I-still-believe attitude?
This is so funny...2 people who "attend in Charlotte" get right on here and refute what is being said. "But no one even realizes this blog is here". Then how did they know to get on here? Got to get the spin out there right? LOLO
Anon 7:34...
"I attend in Charlotte and...people there seem unaware of the existence of this blog..."
MY COMMENT - Thank you little Jimmy Meredith - born with a silver spoon in his mouth paid by the dumb sheep tithe slaves. Since you have a life living on the income stream provided by tithe payers, you can go back now to your life of NCIS and Law and Order: Criminal Intent reruns.
Richard
Yes, there is a Flurry of exchanges as the excitement of some new thing comes to light, but 6 months from now, everyone will have forgotten and the blog entries with the comments will be buried and forgotten.
It will all blow over and the victims of the Cult of Herbert Armstrong Mafia will continue on their way, locked into a stupid crazy system, abused by their leadership but tolerating it because, well, they just got used to it.
It's confusing.
Why would Satan persecute his own synagogue?
People in the COG's don't follow a man, seriously wake up. You keep pushing that deceptive line. We follow Jesus and all God's laws as the bible teaches. Just because HWA or any other leader made mistakes like every human does, including all of you I'm sure, why blame the rest of the congreagation for wanting to follow God's laws. Their not stupid and know the leaders are imperfect just like we all are.
You were all part of the WCG at some time and just because you decide to leave for whatever exagerated reason or lack of real faith doesn't mean what you believe now is the gospel truth.
Most people are still loyal to God's teachings and just because you all are easily mislead and want the easy road don't think you can convince the majority who stay loyal, to be disloyal. It won't work as the numbers will always confirm/prove and the church continues to grow and peoples lives are changed for the better.
Sure not everyone will stay because like most of the people who post on this blog would rather an easy form of religion where they do as they please and not as God wants and they then drag everyone down with them. Sorry but we're a lot wiser than that!
Annon 11:05
You have completely missed the point. We aren't critisizing LCG for preaching the Word of God and keeping the Sabbath, Holy Days, etc. the Pharisees also outwardly appeared ike they were in submission to God. The problem is that your ACTIONS are so unbelievably un-Christian. You lack the humble, kind, loving, forgiving hearts that Christ requires of us. You rule with fear like harsh dictators. You have no regard for the wake of destruction you leave behind you. Your leader is a pathological and historical LIAR.
Our issue is with the egotistical, tyrannical, homophobic, hateful character of LCG's leadership. You're right, we are all human and fall short. No one is perfect. But LCG leadership appears to be incapable of admitting ever being wrong. RCM says that he's "commited no major sins since baptism". What's a major sin? The Bible I read says one sin is equal to another. That statement exemplifies the boastful arrogance that fills RCM. There isn't a humble bone in his body. What lead to the exodus of nearly 2 dozen members (with more to soon follow) was a direct result of the ministry and their un-Godly actions and self righteousness. You show me in the Bible where it says you can kick someone of of church for not tithing or not regularly attending or reading books or opening a Bible on Friday night without an LCG minister present. God says not to add to or take away from His Word. LCG are masters of both adding, as in the examples above, and taking away, as in disregarding every scripture about grace, love, mercy and forgiveness.
Mainstream churches are more "Chistian" in many regards. If you talk the talk but don't walk the walk that makes you liars and hypocrites.
You can protest and deny all you want but we have witnessed your hateful actions for years. Your words don't have the power to make us all dismiss our first-hand experiences.
You say you don't follow a man but that simply isn't true. You do. And what's worse is that you're folliwing a man who is not following Christ. He's following his own will in the best interest of his family business.
No one's asking people to be disloyal to God. Just asking them to realize that they are personally responsible for working out their own salvations. Folliwing Meredith ain't gonna get you there people. Wake up before it's too late!
" Just because HWA or any other leader made mistakes like every human does..."
Raping your daughter for 10 years IS NOT "A MISTAKE"! Not every human rapes someone for 10 years! Are you raping someone? Have you raped them for 10 years yet?
In the first place, these are crimes, in the second, it reveals a deep and abiding pathology, and in the third, it means he couldn't have been the mouthpiece for any god I'd be interested in worshiping.
Don't bother. Our anon had to invent his own reasons for people leaving "gods church" just to keep the charade in his mind making some kind of sense. Don't confuse him with difficult things that might interrupt his self-hypnosis.
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