We knew this was coming......
July 12, 2016
Dear Brethren and Fellow Ministers in God’s Church,
I need to write you this personal letter in a relatively quick manner. Events in the world and Work are speeding up, and our entire future is being impacted more and more every day as the world turns further away from God. With incoming administrations in various nations, it is very obvious that it is going to be more difficult to obey God within the next few years. Definite persecution will begin to occur and we will need faith and courage as we have never had before. I really mean this, brethren, and I hope you will pray fervently with me that God will help us do everything we can to prepare for this real future.
A number of our leading ministers have talked about having a Church fast this summer, including myself. But we had not really set a time as it seems there are always so many summer camps and activities going. But I received a very heartfelt note the other day from one of our leading younger ministers here which sort of brought the thing together and made me realize we need to fast now. This young minister referred to an office meeting we recently had—and he appreciated my comments in that meeting. He writes:
I was pleasantly surprised when you referred to Jehoshaphat today. I read his story again in my personal study this week too and was again struck by 2 Chronicles 20:3 when Jehoshaphat ‘feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.’ As I reread about his proclamation of a FAST, and in the context of recent events at HQ and other situations I am aware of in the field, I was reminded that it has been ‘a while’ since we have had a Church-wide fast. I know that in the past, our Church-wide fasts are often in relation to an ‘event.’ However, as you have noted, it seems that we are under ‘spiritual attack.’ In addition, it seems like many of God’s people are ‘letting down’ spiritually and are more sensitive to offence and rumor. Perhaps this is because God’s people are just ‘distracted with life.’ Might it be time to call another Church-wide fast as a chance for us as a ‘body’ to draw closer to God collectively? We certainly need more unity in the Church and we need to spiritually refocus as a group and stay focused on the Kingdom and on personally overcoming. One of the results I have noticed with Church-wide fasts is that they tend to unify the Church and help us come together with ONE focus."
As usual, it's the members fault that issues have arisen in the church due to THIER "spiritual malaise." Why is it always the members fault and never the minister and leadership? The current issues in LCG are directly the fault of the leadership. Its not the members fault. It's not the Scarborough's fault. Its Rod Meredith and Rod McNair's fault, plain and simple! LCG is not being spiritually attacked by the Scarborough's or the world right now. Bullheadedness and hard heartedness is the game plan for the day, unfortunately.
Brethren, this minister states the matter very well. Several of our ministers in the field have mentioned that, although people are not “falling away” or anything serious, yet there is a sense of spiritual malaise, a kind of a “take it easy” Laodicean attitude that is certainly creeping in. Our people are not “on fire” as much as they have been in the past. And we are certainly going to be under “spiritual attack” more than ever in the future as I have indicated. After talking to a number of our leading ministers here and in the field, I feel it is imperative that we have a Church-wide fast very soon and begin to genuinely seek God as a Church more than we have done for many months or years!
LCG ministers now have to cancel all church events because of this fast. What little joy LCG members have in activities gets put on the back burner once again, all because it is THIER fault LCG is having issues right now. They are not praying enough, giving enough money, etc.
So as the Presiding Evangelist, I am now calling a Church-wide fast for all of God’s people and ministry in the Living Church of God. The time we have selected is the Sabbath of July 30, 2016—beginning, of course, the previous sunset. I hope all of you ministers will cooperate in every way as I know a number of you will probably have to cancel or postpone various picnics, activities, etc. For there is always something going on. But the need for a fast and for all of us to truly set ourselves to seek God as Jehoshaphat did when he “feared and set himself to seek the Eternal” is very vital for His Church and His Work at this time. I hope that all of you ministers and brethren will truly be “on board” with this as it is one of the most important things we could possibly do at this time.
Meredith is asking the membership to meditate on their weaknesses and short comings, since they are the ones with the issues, not him. Will Meredith and McNair examine their own hard heartedness and vengeful attitudes and repent? Will they have the fortitude to say, "Brethren, Forgive us! We have sinned against God and you. We are truly sorry and humbly repent." What do you think?
Why in the hell do they need to "beg" God? no where in scripture does it ever say that Christians need to "beg."
Brethren, let us all take time during this fast to study, to thoughtfully meditate on our weaknesses and shortcomings and Laodicean attitudes and literally “beg God” to stir us and bring us closer to Him than ever before. We need to cry out for the “gifts” of God’s Spirit. We need to cry out for more zeal and for more power in this Work! This very sick world is going down the tubes pretty fast and the nations need to be shaken so that at least they have had a powerful witness from the true Church of God of what is about to occur and why.
So I will appreciate all of your total cooperation and your zeal in following through and joining with all of us in setting ourselves to fast, to meditate and to pray fervently that God will intervene and bring us closer to Him individually and as a Church. May God be with you and guide you in all of this and let us pray for one another as we undertake this important activity at this time.
With Christian love,
Roderick C. Meredith
As usual in the Church of God, Meredith and the ministry cannot look to the New Covenant for direction, but have to rely upon Hebrew hero's. Jesus teachings and New Covenant beliefs are still shuttled to the back burner as usual.
P.S. I want to ask all of you to carefully study 2 Chronicles 20:1-34 during this time of fasting. It will help you understand what God’s true servants have done in the past and it will help and inspire you to understand God’s power when we seek Him in this way.
Why is it that Rod Meredith can never look to the New Testament for solace and comfort? Perhaps the LCG members should focus upon these scriptures:
Romans 8:31-39New Living Translation (NLT)
Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”[a]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Or Jesus' words in Luke 10:28-30
28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Here are a few things that fasting does not accomplish:
- Fasting doesn’t make you more righteous, acceptable or pleasing to God
- Fasting doesn’t make you more Christ-like, spiritual or holy
- Fasting doesn’t make you be closer to God (you are one with Him)
- Fasting doesn’t get you cleaned up, straightened out and dried out to receive from God
- Fasting doesn’t help you to “press into” God more (He has “pressed into” you)
- Fasting doesn’t help you “to get hold of God” (He got a hold of you)
- Fasting doesn’t make God start to smile on you or enjoy you more
- Fasting doesn’t make God release more love, power, blessings or anointing
- Fasting doesn’t make God give you more favor, faith, honor or wealth
- Fasting doesn’t make God move or (finally) do something for you
- Fasting doesn’t make God (finally) pay attention and listen to you more attentively
- Fasting doesn’t make God answer your prayers
- Fasting doesn’t make God show up more in your prayer closet or meetings
- Fasting doesn’t cause any spiritual or physical victory or breakthrough (only faith does)
- Fasting doesn’t change God’s mind to finally step in and do something
Almost like a quote from Maxwell Smart in the 1960s sitcom "Get Smart", "the old Church wide fast routine".
ReplyDeleteRichard
That "let's beg God" stuff always gave me pause. And what does a God get out of humans going without food anyhow? Does it give them more time to beg?
ReplyDeleteFasting on the Sabbath is a biblical no, no, unless that Sabbath is also the Day of Atonement. What kind of activities are keeping people so BUSY on the Sabbath, that he feels complied to ask the people to put these activities on the back burner?
ReplyDeleteObviously LCG is not keeping the Sabbath as they should. Fasting should never be used in trying to force Yahweh into anything.
What is the real purpose of the fast? From comments by members here, it would seem that the church-wide malaise affecting the LCR is due to a leadership crisis, caused by and centered upon the ministry, and their abuse of power. Unless and until that specific condition is repaired and changes, having the membership fast is not going to accomplish anything except to make them hungry and thirsty. Starvation at Auschwitz or Dachau didn't energize the Jews for the mission of the Third Reich.
ReplyDeleteBB
Isn't the Sabbath a feast day?
ReplyDeleteBob said, "it would seem that the church-wide malaise affecting the LCR is due to a leadership crisis, caused by and centered upon the ministry, and their abuse of power. Unless and until that specific condition is repaired and changes, having the membership fast is not going to accomplish anything"
ReplyDeleteDing, ding ding!!! You are the winner of the $2 million dollar question.
Too bad the administration at LCG headquarters is too stupid to figure that out.
And yet again "Leading ministers" , "Leading younger ministers" as opposed to the bottom of the barrel loser ministers who don't count a whole lot.
ReplyDeleteI will not be fasting, neither will my husband or children. The church is in the position it is in because of Mr. Meredith and his HQ gestapo. I hope the Scarborough's prevail and make the leaders publicly humiliated. They take no responsibility for anything. All some if them do is treat us like unconverted garbage. They live lives of privilege and keep asking for more and more. Nothing pleases them anymore.
ReplyDeleteRCM wrote:
ReplyDelete"Events in the world and Work are speeding up"
ROTFLMAO::::
"Events" have been "speeding up" for over 70 yrs now for COGdom.
Methinks that old phrase has lost most of its punch, but I see they're still using it.
Also, beg God to draw us closer...? You'd think that's what "God" would fervently want and do anyway, but no, he wants to see his minions beg for it.
Byker Bob asked:
ReplyDelete"What is the real purpose of the fast? "
Probably makes the members tend to be more obedient. Going without food unavoidably makes anyone feel more mortal, aware how unstable physical life is, so for those bound under a leadership that promises divine guidance, it's bound to help make them a little more humble and docile.
Meredith professes that he was reluctant to implement this fast but he just had to listen to this particular minister (who works for him) who talked about II Chronicles 20.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I have a hard time buying that. He made the decision. No one else.
I'm wondering here. Mr. Meredith, in his letter, seems to be prefocusing the brethren's attention on "God's work", "God's ministers" as if it is a foregone conclusion that those are only found at LCG. The cause of the malaise, is that based on recent conditions in LCG, chiefly centering on the ministry and their families, people are confused as to whether this may even be the case at all.
ReplyDeleteI would humbly suggest that members who might be on the horns of a serious dilemma ask God to reveal His answers on this matter to them, whatever these might be. Switch your mind into neutral so that God can reveal His answers! The answer to that kind of prayer will define the difference between resolution, and a temporary patch. If you go for the patch, the quandary and malaise will be a recurrent event.
This is just my opinion, but I believe a true spiritual leader would make this fast a fast of repentance from the sins of the entire church, including those of the ministry, with full confession. If there is any begging done, it should be for forgiveness of the entire church, so that God might return, and show you all His ways, and why the work is not growing, and the truth regarding the prophecies you have all been waiting patiently to see fulfilled.
While fasting and praying, it may be very guiding and inspiring to meditate on II Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land". I'm not saying that LCG members are especially sinful or wicked. The fact is we all sin. It's in our DNA.
At least make room for the possibilities. Let this be a God-guided referendum. Go for the deep, satisfying answers.
BB
How much you wanna bet "church-wide" means "peon-wide," and that Rod and his henchmen won't be participating.
ReplyDeleteRCM says, "This very sick world is going down the tubes pretty fast and the nations need to be shaken so that at least they have had a powerful witness from the true Church of God of what is about to occur and why"
ReplyDeleteWow, a fast from a tiny church hardly anyone has heard about will shake up the nations. Can't help but to enjoy RCM's downward mental fall.
I remember when in United President Kilough and Co called for a whole church fast over the cincinnati Hq moving to Texas. We all know what happened there. God's ways are not our ways.
ReplyDeleteFasting might be too dangerous for Rod given his current poor health, so it would not be in the best interest of the church for him to participate. Everyone else better do it though.
ReplyDeleteUgh! Not to be outdone, I'm sure Getald Flurry will declare an immediate fast as well! Flurry loves to have us fast over everything! He does it to punish us when he overspending or when his dumb ass ideas don't pan out!
ReplyDeleteComment was made by a man healed of blindness:
ReplyDelete"Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth." John 9:31
Those of Rod's group will be heard if they are worshippers of God AND DO GOD'D WILL, ...if those words are true. If those of Rod's group are sinners, then God doesn't hear them.
And "Fasting doesn’t make God" ...listen to any voices.
When will Rod and those of his group acknowledge the following verse's words?
"Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high." Isaiah 58:4
Rod needs to first end the strife and debates...the wickedness, etc.!
What if Rod's group has nothing to do with God's Church, composed of sealed Firstfruits? What if Rod's group is not recognized by God as anything legitimate for a Church?
What if those ministers, especially Rod, were all "fired" as says the following?
Ezekiel 34:10 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
Cease from feeding the flock.........God's flock?
Time will tell...
John
I am so glad to have been out of that insanity for many years.
ReplyDeleteIf there are any LCG members reading this (and clearly there are), instead of praying for LCG during your fast on July 30th why don't your pray for the truth to be revealed, for scales to be balanced and most importantly for God's will to be done.
ReplyDeleteWhen one fasts, one is supposed to study their Bible more and spend a larger part of the day in prayer. Perhaps that is just what the members in LCG need to help them realize that the Church of Rod is NOT the Church of God.
Maybe this fast will lead LCG members to the Light and give them the courage they need to walk away from this sham church led by power-hungry, abusive ministers who use and abuse the members for their own gain.
There are other options. Change is never easy but it's worth it. The peace and freedom that you will experience will re-fan the flames of your first love. I'm not suggesting that you stop keeping the Sabbath or the Holy Days. What I am suggesting is that you get out of that fake church.
I hereby call a Banned by HWA fast on July 30th.
ReplyDeleteOur fast will counter-beg God to continue exposing the corruption and tyranny in LCG and to open the eyes of the deceived members.
What will it take for Rod Meredith and other "leading ministers" (insert ministerial resume) to see that they are not under "spiritual attack" but that this is just what happens when you act like they act!?
Is it too late for them to find personal insight?
HWA's birthday, and wedding anniversary were both July 31st. They need to combine up the Fast Day on the 30th along with the 31st HWA days in some kind of twisted memorialization. Any suggestions??
ReplyDeleteAlmost like a quote from Maxwell Smart in the 1960s sitcom "Get Smart", "the old Church wide fast routine".
ReplyDeletePlus, Rod will probably be hiding: Eating Cheez Doodles in the Cone of Silence (so the peons don't hear the crunching sounds).
Rod asking members to "meditate on our weaknesses and shortcomings,' is a common evil ploy. Notice that there is no mention of the sin of failing to develop ones talents. Who ever became rich and famous by meditating on their weaknesses? Church leaders don't their members to grow, since it lowers their power level. So forget about growing as a person, Rather beat down the members by having them exclusively dwell on these short comings.
ReplyDeleteRod is always talking about persecution and Satan attacking LCG. He is constantly telling the members to "beg" God. Cry out to God. Drive them to their knees. Something is wrong with this picture. My God is my Heavenly Father Jesus is my Savior the Son of God. We don't have to work up some kind of emotion to get God to hear us. Rod brings persecution on himself. If he would stop the drama and lead by following Jesus the church would grow. Rod does not see God as a loving father. Nor does he see or follow Jesus. His God is harsh ready to punish. One has to beg and plead with his God Who would want to be a part of the church he RULES over?
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget: The 1975 start of the millennium was because the church wasn't ready. hwa and rod weren't wrong. It was the members. I heard that blather two months ago. They never change.
ReplyDelete"The old Church wide fast routine"
ReplyDeleteIt will probably be as effective as HWA's church wide fast in the 1970s when GTA was "in the bonds of Satan". Turns out, GTA was "in the bonds of Gail the church jet stewardess". A 100,000+ people fasting and pleading to God on empty bellies all to bring GTA back and release him from his emotional problems and from "the bonds of Satan". How effective was that fast? GTA was brought back for several more years only to be kicked out of the Church and excommunicated by his father in 1978.
Moral of the story - don't lose a day of meals or a pot of coffee over Worldwide Church of God and splinter church drama. The adage, "Not my drama, not my circus" applies here. In the end, fasting makes no difference. What will be, will be!
Richard
And how is the Sabbath a day of rest, if people are fasting on that day? The only reason Rod chose a Sabbath day is so that the Gestapo ministers and their minions, can ensure compliance. The SS will be looking for the tell tales signs of those not fasting. Brush up on feigning hunger folks.
ReplyDeleteMembers fasting for GTA, and Rods health problems, are examples of the ministers hijacking church fasts for their own personal benefit. What happened to the wicked get way? To the ministers, members are just a resource to be plundered.
ReplyDelete"In the end, fasting makes no difference. What will be, will be!"
ReplyDeleteRight you are, Richard. Years ago I composed my own version of the "Thy will be done" clause of the Lord's Prayer, and after uttering it once realized that was enough; it would never need to be said again: "Go ahead, God. Do whatever in hell you want. You're going to anyway."
Meredith 6:9-13
ReplyDeleteOur Father who art in Charlotte,
Roderick be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done
In earth as it is in Charlotte.
Deny us this day our daily bread,
And keep a file on our trespasses, despite the fact we forgive you when you trespass against us.
Lead us into temptation, and deliver us unto evil,
For thine is the church, and the power, and the money, for ever. Amen.
What's probably true is that the Scarboroughs fasted and prayed before filing the lawsuit!
ReplyDeleteLOL!
BB
Byker Bob said, "What's probably true is that the Scarboroughs fasted and prayed before filing the lawsuit!"
ReplyDeleteMY COMMENT - Now that is funny! What is the God of Rod to do?
I have a suggestion - How about a challenge? The BATTLE OF THE CHURCH WIDE FASTS!
Each Church of God splinter sees who can please God the most by inflecting the most belly pain seeing which group can fast the longest. Last group standing alive is the one and only True Church of God, and the only Church God is working through in these end times.
Finally, God's answer to the scattered sheep as to which Armstrong Church of God carries the true mantle of his end time Apostle Herbert Armstrong - THE BATTLE OF THE CHURCH WIDE FASTS!
Richard
The most egregious of all of Meredith's shenanigans was the fast he called for in January, 2010. He sent all his members to fast before God, asking that all of God's faithful would come into one group to do a really great work. Translated, Meredith was calling for the destruction of all the other COGs and the glorification of his own. In my opinion, this is the most evil act in the history of the church of God, and that is saying a lot. To send the members fasting before God for the destruction of the other churches of God is vile and despicable.
ReplyDeleteWhen we used to be in Living years and years ago and they called for a fast for an inane reason or a decision that (they already made), we would go out and have a really nice meal in protest for their false fasting requests. I do believe in fasting and for the right reasons, they do it to cover up previously decided items and forgiveness for things we didn't do but they did. I am not fasting for those reasons, but the ones Christ mentions.
ReplyDeleteConcerning fasting for a decision they had already made -- Rod Meredith called for a fast concerning whether LCG HQ should move from San Diego or not. Before the fast even took place, Rod had already decided to move, had already decided on Charlotte, and had already signed a contract for the property. He then called a hasty council-of-elders meeting to rubber stamp the deal. So much for looking to God for guidance. Maybe if they had, God would have guided them to a place that had a meeting hall so they wouldn't have to meet in a pagan temple. Maybe God would have given them a building with a studio. I envisioned God looking puzzled, "I was preparing to grant your request, but you went ahead and made a decision without even petitioning Me. You of little faith. Oh well, your loss."
ReplyDeleteIf Roderick Meredith were to die from fasting, at least one problem would be solved.
ReplyDelete