April 08, 2015 LCG Weekly Update
God Is Faithful: One of the striking themes of the Exodus story is the extreme negativity of the Israelites. They complained when they were in Egypt (Exodus 3:7). They complained when they were coming out of Egypt (Exodus 14:11). They complained when they had no bread (Exodus 16:3). They complained when they were given bread (Numbers 11:6). They complained against the authority of Moses, and tried to incite a revolution (Numbers 16:3). Others complained when God struck down those who had rebelled (Numbers 16:41). And they even complained when God told them to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 13).
Were they especially bad sinners? Of course not. The Apostle Paul shows that a spirit of negativity is a trap for all human beings—even those with God’s Spirit! And thus, he wrote to the Corinthian church: “Nor let us... complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:9-11).
Paul then continued his instruction with one of the most encouraging passages in all of Scripture: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
As these Days of Unleavened Bread draw to a close, it is good to remember God’s care and love for us. He does not condemn us for having difficulty with an obstacle. He knows what we’re going through! And because He is faithful, He will always help us when we cry out to Him and seek His strength, mercy and deliverance. That is one of the enduring lessons of the Exodus.
Have an inspiring Sabbath,
Rod McNair
From a reader here:
MY OBSERVATION:
Me thinks Rod McNair protesteth too much. It's interesting that in addition to all the sermons on obeying and submitting (to LCG government) McNair is now chastising the unhappy LCG members even in the weekly update which is read as an update from headquarters in congregations worldwide each Sabbath. Notice how he tries to scare them about complaining against the authority of Moses and those that tried to incite a revolution. It's sickening that he would even try to draw a parallel between the corrupt, completely absent of humility, tyrannical LCG authority, himself included, and Moses. Translation: "You stupid sheeple need to sit down and shut up. Quit complaining about the fact that we are changing church doctrine, ruling unjustly, spending millions of dollars on university expansion and prying into your private lives. We have been given this authority over you by God Almighty and we can rule however we see fit. To question us is to show a lack of faith for which you will be punished".
Interesting how he completely leaves out the part where God punishes Moses for not following His instruction and for exalting himself before the Israelites in Numbers 20:8-12
“Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” 9 And Moses took the staff from before the Lord, as he commanded him. 10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. 12 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”
McNair must is either stupid or counting on the fact that his audience isn't all that familiar with scripture. Either way, it made for an entertaining read.
12 comments:
I think "stupid" is the key word here. Can he truly be that naive?
I used to always "love" the Korah rebellion sermons and how it pointed out the same type of rebellious attitude in the people (including all of us Korah types)....that is, until I realized that Korah came from the Levitical tribe, as did all his fellow rebels and even the many who were swallowed up by the earth were all the leaders.
Makes one wonder if the COG ministry could ever correlate their own current behaviors, rebelling against each other, against a Korah type attitude??
The Israelites seem to have just expressed their concerns in many cases, which, let's face it, is often the only way in which things get better. Funny thing, people who have lived their entire lives as slaves would have had one heck of a long time to develop a bit of negativity, and the habit of feeling sorry for themselves. What would a slave have to look forward to?
One of the things that were never emphasized in WCG sermons is that as the Israelites memorialized Moses, they praised him for his fairness, and leadership. If memory serves me correctly, that's from the opening chapter of Joshua. It either indicates personal growth, or the effects of freedom and better examples of leadership on the next generation.
BB
Herbert Armstrong rebelled against the Church of God Seventh Day.
What's the problem?
The fact that Moses was probably just a minor warlord who was later aggrandized and given mythical status by later leaders is not too relevant here.
What's interesting is how Herbie (and countless other Christian preachers) pulled this out of an old old hat to lay an old old guilt trip on them for control purposes.
Modern-day manipulators use tried and true tactics for the most part.
As evidenced by a plethora of scumbag Christian preachers, the Bible is a gold mine for finding ways to get control over people's minds and money.
" used to always "love" the Korah rebellion sermons and how it pointed out the same type of rebellious attitude in the people (including all of us Korah types)....that is, until I realized that Korah came from the Levitical tribe, as did all his fellow rebels and even the many who were swallowed up by the earth were all the leaders.
Makes one wonder if the COG ministry could ever correlate their own current behaviors, rebelling against each other, against a Korah type attitude??"
Did HWA commit the sin of Korah when he left COG7D?
Did RCM commit the sin of Korah when he left WCG?
A smart and good business never blames the customer, but rather listens to them and attempts to remedy the problem.
Its time that LCG congregations had a literal "YELP" page!
There's a program called "Bar Rescue" on Spike TV. Jon Taffer comes to struggling bars on the verge of extinction and saves them from extinction.
What the ACoGs need is someone like him, or maybe Gordon Ramsay... perhaps Robert Irvine. Could be that Charles Stiles could help -- after that incident in Vancouver, BC with that deacon stealing cash from envelopes sent in to the Canadian Headquarters of the WCG and claiming the Grand Piano he bought was from blessings from God when he was really a thief (because he certainly couldn't live his lifestyle on the salary he got), many of the sects could stand a good investigation (but the founders of the cult would be exempt because, as we know, they are scammers in it for the money and they cheat).
Yes, we need Church Rescue -- bring in the expert who has experience and success in turning around failing churches.
The problem with this is that these arrogant potentates living in their own bubble, would probably go back to the way they were after the rescue and continue failing, just like the various reality TV series.
Rod McNair concludes by writing: "...As these Days of Unleavened Bread draw to a close, it is good to remember God’s care and love for us. He does not condemn us for having difficulty with an obstacle. He knows what we’re going through! And because He is faithful, He will always help us when we cry out to Him and seek His strength, mercy and deliverance. That is one of the enduring lessons of the Exodus..."
What is that one enduring lesson of the Exodus? Rod's comments are too vague. Can we imagine some enduring lessons of the Exodus and be specific about it?
For example, if one is going to be "hard" like Pharaoh was and bring the rod upon the Israelites by treating them like slaves, a judgment day is coming: Pharaoh died!
For example, one can expect to encounter lots of complaints if God concludes the people's thinking to be handicapped as follows:
"Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day." Deut 29:4
Rod further wrote: "...One of the striking themes of the Exodus story is the extreme negativity of the Israelites..."
Why the emphasis on "extreme negativity?" Was there anything positive about the Exodus?
Did anyone mention the excitement of the Israelites when they totally finally came out of Egypt on the 7th day of UB? Why is the 7th day a Holyday (7th day of the Feast of Tab. isn't a Holyday)? Why was the 1st day of UB a Holyday? Are these shadows and patterns of something God would do at a future time?
Perhaps Rod McNair is just letting us all know that the Living Group is filled with too much extreme negativity and isn't as "deleavened" as it could be, that the Living Group needs to become more unleavened...
John
Yelping wouldn't be helping...
at least not to them.
The days of unleavened bread have come and gone and it's obvious that Roderick Meredith has not examined himself.
Why should he?
He's never committed 'a major sin'.
Maybe the problem is that he's been committing colonel or general sins, or maybe should go down in rank and has never committed a sergeant sin or a corporal sin.
For sure he's committed private sin.
McNair is a moron but he faithfully executes Meredith's orders regardless of conscientious objection so he has risen to the assistant CAD.
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