Thursday, April 21, 2016

Philadelphia Church of God On Cleansing Your "Temple"



As some Church of God members scurry about cleaning our the leavening in the homes, cars, toy boxes and businesses, those fun folk at the Flurry compound in Edmond Oklahoma have some further words of wisdom for you.

While some few in the church actually focus upon Jesus Christ during this time of year, the broad majority are focused solely upon their physical selves and on what they do.  People beat themselves up for all of their sins and promise to be good the following year; then sin right out the door the very next day, just like Rod Meredith does.

The Philadelphia Church of God takes it a step further. During this time of year your focus should be upon Gerald Flurry, God's channel for redemption.

We learn so much from obeying the biblical command to deleaven our homes, cars, offices and personal spaces (Exodus 13:6-10). Physical deleavening certainly helps us in looking at our own lives spiritually—searching out every corner, nook and cranny in order to truly remove any spiritual dirt, filth or sin. 
This process harkens back to a wonderful example of restoration found in 2 Chronicles: “Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the Lord, and repaired them” (2 Chronicles 29:1-3). 
The richly ornate and costly temple God had built by King Solomon in Jerusalem had fallen into disuse and disrepair. We witnessed the same tragedy in recent times: After Herbert W. Armstrong’s death, perversion of God’s truth began. The Church had become a church within a church—the synagogue of Satan (Revelation 3:9). God then used one man to begin restoring the truth and the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). 
Malachi’s Message was given to God’s Church. The opening sentence of the preface of that book reads, “This is a story about God’s Church gone off track, and what God did to correct the tragedy.”
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Just as the Levites anciently began the task of cleansing, repairing and restoring, so our current commission to “raise up the ruins” must begin with a cleansing of the spiritual temple. The Philadelphia Church of God started small, but it has grown large and raised up the ruins of Mr. Armstrong’s work. 
One would assume that PCG staff would weave Jesus Christ into the picture, but no.  Hebrew Scriptures are more important.

King Hezekiah wrote letters to those who had drifted from God. He asked them to turn again to God (2 Chronicles 30:6). But, like the Laodiceans today, not everyone was responsive (although ancient Israel did not have God’s Holy Spirit).
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For those who responded, this was a great cleansing and it brought great joy. Read verses 13-27. Notice verse 21 in particular: “And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the Lordday by day, singing with loud instruments unto the Lord.” Of the word singing, Moffat says, “sang praise to the Eternal day by day with all their might.” This all is happening during the feast of Unleavened Bread. 
Look at verse 26 now: “So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.” When we get back to God’s ways, what is produced is “great joy.” Joy and rejoicing—the Israelites held the Feast with great delight. This must be our goal every day—to rejoice with great delight, especially during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 
When the king commanded the people to get back to tithing, they responded beautifully. “And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered” (2 Chronicles 31:20-21). 
God truly will bless His Church as we seek to truly obey Him in every way and cleanse our personal temple—getting rid of any filth or uncleanness in every area. 
Its typical for a Church of God to claim that its members are filled with filth and uncleanness in every area of their lives.  When you like under the law that is what is expected.  Vile filthy sinners that have so pissed off God that there is scant hope for making into the kingdom, unless of course you re one of the privileged elite.

At this time of year the focus need to be entirely upon the Philadelphia Church of God and its "witness" to the world.  Otherwise you  temple is NOT clean.  Filthy heathen Laodiceans!

We must ensure that we truly are up to our task of cleansing ourselves and responding to God—His government, His law and His love. We must be dedicated to the spiritual commission before us—prophesying again (Revelation 10:11). The last hour is closing in—time is of the essence to finish this Work, but also for each of us to be ready to marry the Son of God!

Salvation is only accessible through worshipping the government of the PCG.  Salvation only rests upon believing and reading the words of God's only true prophet and of his son Stevie.   Salvation will come when your full financial resources are given over to the church.  At that time Jesus Christ will be pleased and just MIGHT let you into the kingdom of Petra where peace will reign with Flurry, Pack, Theil and Malm in all fighting to see who is in charge.



21 comments:

Ralph said...

and businesses,

and I ask, "Why businesses"?

cheers
ralph.f

Ralph said...

oops! I guess the answer is found here:-

"Exo.13:7....and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee,...."

cheers
ralph.f

Ralph said...

"When the king commanded the people to get back to tithing, they responded beautifully.... (2 Chronicles 31:20-21."

I see no mention of tithing in:-
"2Ch 31:20 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.
2Ch 31:21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered."

cheers
ralph.f

Anonymous said...

"Physical deleavening certainly helps us in looking at our own lives spiritually—searching out every corner, nook and cranny in order to truly remove any spiritual dirt, filth or sin."

That will NOT get the job done!
Deleavening kind of reminds me of crucifixes and rosary beads.
Time and time again it has been proven over and over that deleavening DOES NOT work! Why do they only want to do it symbolically?
It's easier. They will put on a show for other people to see them as being righteous and that they obey God. And that is where they stop. Convincing others is the only goal. They only point to the road and never go down it themselves. Is that what God truly wants? False advertising?! I believe God would prefer to be approached with "honest humility" rather than some meaningless man-made ritual.

DBP

Byker Bob said...

I remember a discussion a Catholic buddy and I had about a Jewish guy who was in our same profession. My Catholic buddy was pretty harsh regarding Jews. His opinion was: "You can't trust them. They only have their confession once a year!"

BB

Ralph said...

on April 21, 2016 at 10:05 PM
DBP wrote:-

"That will NOT get the job done!"
then
" They will put on a show for other people to see them as being righteous and that they obey God."

The second part could well be the reason why 'it doesn't work'.
For some it is only for show and their heart is not in it. There is nobody but nobody who sees, or hears of, my deleavening process, there is no need for that. I only mention it because it is topical/relevant to this thread.

cheers
ralph.f

Anonymous said...

Is Ralph Catholic?

Ralph said...

on April 22, 2016 at 10:48 AM
Anonymous wrote:-

"Is Ralph Catholic?"

NO!

But with a lower case 'c' I'll go for Merriam-Websters definition #2.viz

Main Entry:cath-o-lic
Pronunciation:*kath-lik, *ka-th*-
Function:adjective
Etymology:Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French catholique, from Late Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikos universal, general, from katholou in general, from kata by + holos whole— more at CATA-, SAFE
Date:14th century
1.........

2 : COMPREHENSIVE, UNIVERSAL; especially : broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests

cheers & LOL
ralph.f

Anonymous said...

How does one know if their "heart" is sufficiently "in it" or not? Can we measure how much someone's "heart" is "in it," say, with an fMRI, CAT, or PET scanner? What units would we use? What's the standard for someone's "heart" being sufficiently "in it"? What's the threshold? How many units minimum must a person measure out at in order for their "heart" to be considered "in it" sufficiently?

Let's say, just for argument's sake, that someone's "heart" was measured above the minimum threshold for being considered sufficiently "in it." Would this make the relevant transaction in question any less for show? Would it make it any less of a bribe, intended to appease?

Any rational exploration of the nature of worship always winds up showing it to be a the chasing of one's own tail at best, and morally questionable at worst.

Anonymous said...

Ralph said:"There is nobody but nobody who sees, or hears of, my deleavening process, there is no need for that. I only mention it because it is topical/relevant to this thread."

Keeping and holding on to the ways that work, while letting go of the ways that don't is learning. If your deleavening process actually works for you Ralph, then keep doing it! As to HOW it works, I am ignorant.

DBP

Ralph said...

on April 23, 2016 at 3:30 PM
Anonymous wrote:-

"As to HOW it works, I am ignorant."

I'm persuaded of that old adage "If it works, don't try and fix it".

cheers
ralph.f

Ralph said...

on April 22, 2016 at 6:12 PM
Anonymous wrote:-

"How does one know if their "heart" is sufficiently "in it" or not? Can we measure how much someone's "heart" is "in it,...."

Since you're asking, I would say by two straightforward elements, persistence and results.

cheers
ralph.f

Anonymous said...

Like Ralph I believe in the de-leavening processes. Through the removal of leaven and the replacing of it with unleavened bread God uses a simple physical element to teach a profound and complex spiritual truth.

Sadly extreme interpretation and absurd legalistic application of this elegant and beautiful doctrine, especially as taught by corporate COG entities seeking to control, intimidate and dominate their membership, has essentially robbed many people of the simple joy found in a balanced obedience to this command.

Dennis Leap’s article is a classic example of this.

Retired Prof said...

“Sin lies only in hurting others unnecessarily. All other 'sins' are invented nonsense.”
― Robert A. Heinlein

Ralph said...

on April 24, 2016 at 9:51 AM
Retired Prof wrote:-

"“Sin lies only in hurting others unnecessarily. All other 'sins' are invented nonsense.”
― Robert A. Heinlein"

Obviously quoting another naysayer who refuses, out of hand, to accept the true Biblical definition of the word 'sin'.

cheers
ralph.f

Retired Prof said...

Ralph, let me add another quotation that hints at why both your comments and mine are worthwhile.

"A difference of opinion is what makes horse racing and missionaries."
Will Rogers

Anonymous said...

If only they'd clean Gods House and the John Amos Field house as well physically as they want us to clean. Seems every Fall just before the Feast there's a Lice outbreak! It was so bad one year that the whole orchestra section was infected, but Turgeon assured us that Lice won't get us in the balcony.
There's also the problem of the students having parasites. Most church volunteers won't eat their lunch at the FH because too many of us have gotten so violently sick. Cleanliness is not a concern to the Kruegers though. It's common knowledge that the church makes the students do parasite cleanses because it's such a problem. One young man wouldn't shake our hands one Sabbath because he had ringworm.
The church preaches health and diet, but no one follows it, have you noticed how big Turgeons gut is now? Also, Mrs Krueger is often mocked for being the fattest vegetarian at HQS.

Ralph said...

from April 25, 2016 at 11:00 AM

Retired Prof

Yes indeed. LOL x 2

cheers
ralph.f
ps. Is that quote missing the word 'worthwhile' at the end? LOL again.

Anonymous said...

Ugh! The Lice! I sure remember that! Why I didn't jump up and run out of the Auditorium when that announcement was made! Pat Malone (Ryan's mother) worked at the MPC at that time and she was furious! She was spitting mad that the Lice infected students were using her headphones when she wasn't there! Lol!
We should keep a special journal of all the local announcements that aren't allowed to go out into tape land. We sure hear some doozies! Lol!

Anonymous said...

"The church preaches health and diet, but no one follows it, have you noticed how big Turgeons gut is now? Also, Mrs Krueger is often mocked for being the fattest vegetarian at HQS."

Pictures, please!

Retired Prof said...

Ralph, I copied and pasted the Will Rogers quotation as-is from a collection of them.

Rogers was an excellent stylist who knew when to stop a sentence. It would not do to add "worthwhile." Many people consider horse racing or missionaries--or both--a waste of time and resources, and for them the adjective would spoil the effect. Better to let readers insert their own own opinions. If I were to annotate the quotation for an edition of the Gospel of Will Rogers, I would explain that a difference of opinion is the thing that makes them what they are, no more and no less. But you see, all those extra words spoil the effect.

The reason the holy scriptures of all religions provide their adherents so much material for fascinating arguments and consequent hurt feelings, altercations, shunnings, beheadings, stonings, bombings, and other entertainments is that all texts in all languages leave similar room, whether writers intend to or not, for readers to inflict their own opinions.