Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Living Church of God: Eighteen Year Member Asks...Where Is Your Love?



From a reader here:


Rod Meredith and company love to brag about LCR and claim that it is the "Only TRUE Church" - the only true remaining Philadelphia church on earth today carrying out "God's only true Work" (they always capitalize "work" as if their efforts are elevated to the stature of a God-being). Their proclamation is based on three basic ideas:

1.) The idea that they have an "open door" to preach the gospel - judging themselves to be the only true church preaching the only true gospel. Of course, these days, all of these "churches" claim to be "preaching (their version) the gospel" - so what makes LCR so special? The ultimate point of all of LCR's messages these days is to point lay members to themselves, and not to God. Furthermore, RCM and Co. think nothing of compromising scripture (creating "upgrades" - which is a stupid descriptor, btw) for political expedience. This is hardly the Gospel of God.

2.) LCR is the only organization with their interpretation of "God's" form of so-called "top-down" government with "no voting or politics." Anyone with half a brain cell can see that this organization is completely corrupted by politics - from every corner and cranny of the organization. One window into the political rancor existing in this organization observes the acceptable standard of conduct, and evidences that standard is directly related to one's relationship with RCM. After 18 years of attendance, I've observed the following:

RCM & Family (By Blood or Marriage) - Anything Goes.


Close Friends of RCM or Family Member - Almost Anything Goes Based on Loyalty to RCM.


"Leading Ministers" or Just Plain Old "Ministers" - Anything Goes Based on Loyalty to RCM.


Family Members and Close Friends of "Leading Ministers" or Just Plain Old "Ministers" - Almost Anything Goes Based on Loyalty of Related Minister to RCM.  


Suck-Ups and Wannabe's - Conduct Judged Case-by-Case Based on Individual Loyalty to RCM and Local Church Government.


Average Lay Person - You Suck and You're Stupid, But We Need Your Money & Someone to Blame. Your Attendance is Permitted Based on Your Loyalty to RCM.


Any Individual Who Refuses to Play Politics - You Suck, We Hate You, Please Drop Dead.


...You read it yourself - RCM thinks "murder" and "child molestation" are less evil than causing church division. It isn't too far of a leap to assume that he would allow a "loyal" person to get away with just about anything.

3.) The idea that that LCR members "love" each other. However, "loveability" is entirely based on a person's rank in the organization, their relationship to RCM or someone in "church government", their monetary worth, and their attendance record. As soon as someone falls out of favor, they are seemingly shunned by the entire organization, and are no longer worthy or deserving of love, or basic humanity. "Falling out of favor" is utterly subjective, and could either be based on serious issues, or entirely baseless (as evidenced by the Scarborough case).

How can anyone think this is a true church of God?

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ten warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader.

* Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
* No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.
* No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement.
* Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.
* There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.
* Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.
* There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader.
* Followers feel they can never be "good enough".
* The group/leader is always right.
* The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing "truth" or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible.


Ten warning signs regarding people involved in/with a potentially unsafe group/leader.

* Extreme obsessiveness regarding the group/leader resulting in the exclusion of almost every practical consideration.
* Individual identity, the group, the leader and/or God as distinct and separate categories of existence become increasingly blurred. Instead, in the follower's mind these identities become substantially and increasingly fused--as that person's involvement with the group/leader continues and deepens.
* Whenever the group/leader is criticized or questioned it is characterized as "persecution".
* Uncharacteristically stilted and seemingly programmed conversation and mannerisms, cloning of the group/leader in personal behavior.
* Dependency upon the group/leader for problem solving, solutions, and definitions without meaningful reflective thought. A seeming inability to think independently or analyze situations without group/leader involvement.
* Hyperactivity centered on the group/leader agenda, which seems to supercedes any personal goals or individual interests.
* A dramatic loss of spontaneity and sense of humor.
* Increasing isolation from family and old friends unless they demonstrate an interest in the group/leader.
* Anything the group/leader does can be justified no matter how harsh or harmful.
* Former followers are at best-considered negative or worse evil and under bad influences. * They can not be trusted and personal contact is avoided.

Ten signs of a safe group/leader.

* A safe group/leader will answer your questions without becoming judgmental and punitive.
* A safe group/leader will disclose information such as finances and often offer an independently audited financial statement regarding budget and expenses. Safe groups and leaders will tell you more than you want to know.
* A safe group/leader is often democratic, sharing decision making and encouraging accountability and oversight.
* A safe group/leader may have disgruntled former followers, but will not vilify, excommunicate and forbid others from associating with them.
* A safe group/leader will not have a paper trail of overwhelmingly negative records, books, articles and statements about them.
* A safe group/leader will encourage family communication, community interaction and existing friendships and not feel threatened.
* A safe group/leader will recognize reasonable boundaries and limitations when dealing with others.
* A safe group/leader will encourage critical thinking, individual autonomy and feelings of self-esteem.
* A safe group/leader will admit failings and mistakes and accept constructive criticism and advice.
* A safe group/leader will not be the only source of knowledge and learning excluding everyone else, but value dialogue and the free exchange of ideas.

Anonymous said...

It is quit obvious to most people that the LCG leadership have a credibility problem with their own members, yet they do noting about it. That should be quit telling to the membership. The sad part is that Meredith feels he is not accountable to anyone, and all of his lap poodles sit there and nod their heads in agreement. They know there is an issue but do not have the balls to speak up. The leadership of the LCG are emasculated men.

Anonymous said...

So very typical of an antisocial alcoholic cult devoid of decency, morals or ethics.

Anonymous said...

You missed a layer,,,,

Please add "Big Tithe Payers"... Ordinary Members in rank, they rank in between, just below the suck ups, but above the Average Lay Member...

They still are ordinary people, nobodies,.. It's their $$MONEY$$ that buys them a little more "case by case" slack. Sometimes their money buys them a little more favor, like they mean sometime...If they push too far, though, they can still get the boot...

Amazing what money can buy?

Anonymous said...

"How can anyone think this is a true church of God?"

It is THE one and only TRUE church of men, just like all the other churches.

Anonymous said...

LCG men are NOT emasculated! We went to learn to be a man camp to learn how to avoid your very accusations and it worked !

Anonymous said...

This can be said about PCG too. They are pretty much the same as LCG (except with a lot more twisting of scripture)

Unknown said...

SING ALONG TIME! -- Sing to the tune "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytOZgdySsgU

Oh, Rod, you had me several years ago...
When I was still quite naive

You said that the church and me made such a pretty pair...
And that I should never ever leave

But you hurt the things that God has loved...
And one of them was me

I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee...
Clouds in my coffee, and

You're so vain...
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain, you're so vain...
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you?
Don't you?

Well I hear your lawsuit went before the Judge...
And your case, naturally, won

It said you flew into a mini-ster-ial rage...
but you emerged from it, without evan a smudge

Well, you're where you should be all the time
And when you're not, you're with some Church spy
Or the wife of a close friend,
Wife of a close friend, and

You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain, you're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you?
Don't you?

Anonymous said...

Ten Warning Signs of a Potentially Unsafe Group/Leader

1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.
3. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement.
4. Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.
5. There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.
6. Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.
7. There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader.
8. Followers feel they can never be "good enough".
9. The group/leader is always right.
10. The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing "truth" or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible.

Ten Warning Signs Regarding People Involved in/with a Potentially Unsafe Group/Leader

1. Extreme obsessiveness regarding the group/leader resulting in the exclusion of almost every practical consideration.
2. Individual identity, the group, the leader and/or God as distinct and separate categories of existence become increasingly blurred. Instead, in the follower's mind these identities become substantially and increasingly fused--as that person's involvement with the group/leader continues and deepens.
3. Whenever the group/leader is criticized or questioned it is characterized as "persecution".
4. Uncharacteristically stilted and seemingly programmed conversation and mannerisms, cloning of the group/leader in personal behavior.
5. Dependency upon the group/leader for problem solving, solutions, and definitions without meaningful reflective thought. A seeming inability to think independently or analyze situations without group/leader involvement.
6. Hyperactivity centered on the group/leader agenda, which seems to supercede any personal goals or individual interests.
7. A dramatic loss of spontaneity and sense of humor.
8. Increasing isolation from family and old friends unless they demonstrate an interest in the group/leader.
9. Anything the group/leader does can be justified no matter how harsh or harmful.
10. Former followers are at best-considered negative or worse evil and under bad influences. They can not be trusted and personal contact is avoided.

Ten Signs of a Safe Group/Leader
1. A safe group/leader will answer your questions without becoming judgmental and punitive.
2. A safe group/leader will disclose information such as finances and often offer an independently audited financial statement regarding budget and expenses. Safe groups and leaders will tell you more than you want to know.
3. A safe group/leader is often democratic, sharing decision making and encouraging accountability and oversight.
4. A safe group/leader may have disgruntled former followers, but will not vilify, excommunicate and forbid others from associating with them.
5. A safe group/leader will not have a paper trail of overwhelmingly negative records, books, articles and statements about them.
6. A safe group/leader will encourage family communication, community interaction and existing friendships and not feel threatened.
7. A safe group/leader will recognize reasonable boundaries and limitations when dealing with others.
8. A safe group/leader will encourage critical thinking, individual autonomy and feelings of self-esteem.
9. A safe group/leader will admit failings and mistakes and accept constructive criticism and advice.
10. A safe group/leader will not be the only source of knowledge and learning excluding everyone else, but value dialogue and the free exchange of ideas.

Unknown said...

CHURCH OF GOD LIVES MATTER!

Unknown said...

20 Habits of Highly Unsuccessful And Ineffective Leaders (Especially COG Leaders!)

1. Believe They have All The Answers
They know that the reason that they have been put in charge is that they are smarter and better than everyone else. So when it comes to deciding strategy, solving problems, or resolving issues, there is no need, or point in involving anyone else.

2. React, Don't Respond
Driven by their emotions, they react quickly to situations without worrying about facts or the repercussions of their actions.

They can always show good emotional intelligence by apologizing later.

3. Take Big Risks, The Bigger The Better
They like to gamble and take big risks. Believing in the adage "Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained" and that Smart Risk taking is for wimps.

When I questioned a decision that one boss was taking his response was, "that's not your concern I get paid big bucks to take the big risks and make the tough calls."

Personally, I though he got paid the big bucks to take the right risks and to be successful, but what did I know.

4. Believe That Talking About It and Doing It Are The Same Thing
I always remember the first boss I worked for, when the CEO asked him how it was going, he said: "It's going great, we have been discussing the problem for two days now." The only problem was that was two days that the business couldn't operate, and we were no closer to finding a solution.

Unknown said...

CONTINUED....
5. Focus On Blame Not Solutions
It's better to know who's fault it is so that we can fire them and make sure this doesn't happen again.

6. Believe Their Own PR
There is a big difference between confidence and arrogance; the former helps build trust in the leader, the latter destroys it. As soon as you start to believe your own PR, then you are leaning more towards arrogance and starting down a path that is going to end in tears.

7. Don't Waste Valuable Time on Planning And Preparation
Sometimes you just have to dive and get it done. Don't worry about what's involved, or whether you're focused on the symptom or root cause, just do it. My favorite comment was "we can afford to spend time and money on planning; we just need to get started".

Which was interesting because we found the time and money to do it again correctly, after that first attempt failed badly.

8. Hire People Beneath Them
As a leader, it is critical that you are the most skillful and knowledgeable member of the team, that way everyone can focus on their job rather than working out how they could replace you.

I worked at one company where the boss told me that he liked to recruit from the bottom quartile because it kept the costs down. He then added, "the only problem with that was the results sucked."

9. Focus Instant success
It's all about results, and if we find that they are not coming, then we need to move quickly on to another topic.

They believe that a lot of short-term success will lead to long-terms success.

10. Focus On The Big Picture, Not The Details
Don't worry about the details, focus on the big picture, as that will keep you motivated. We all know the devil is in the details, but that could lead to concerns, a lack of belief and even worse de-motivation.

11. Focus on Weaknesses Not Strengths
As leaders we cannot have or show any weaknesses, so we need to work on eliminating them, or failing that, hiding them.

12. Confuse Stubbornness With Determination
"Winners never quit, and quitters never win" is a great approach to achieving results.

However you're bordering on stubbornness if your approach is failing but you refuse to change it.

13. Don't Play Well With Others
It's hard to play well with others when you adapt a command and control approach to leadership. People like to be led not managed.

14. Think Praise is For Wimps
It's ok to praise people once we have achieved success, but praising people just to keep them happy is not a good approach to building a strong, resilient team. We've got to be mean to keep them keen, and praising people too often makes a team soft.

15. Take Don't Give
The more we take, the more we have, that's how winners are made.

It's a dog eat dog world, and we have to fight for our share.

16. Quick to Criticize
If you want people to improve, you need to point out their mistakes quickly and clearly. It's also best to do this publicly so that others can learn too.

17. Easily Distracted
Never content with their current goals they are constantly looking for the next big thing that the get involved in. I think the reason for this is it's much easier to start something new than to finish something important.

18. Make Excuses
There are a million and one reasons why things don't work out as planned, so it's not always our fault, and we need to remember that so as we don't become too de-motivated. One boss told me never ever accept responsibility it could be career limiting, always have someone ready to blame or a good excuse handy.

19. Love To Micro Manage
It's hard to trust everyone, so by micro-managing your staff, you can keep a close eye on things, and look to offer advice or step in if things start to go wrong.

20. Practice Inconsistently
It's great to be inconsistent because it keeps your team guessing, which in turn keeps them on their toes. Predictability, on the other hand, can lead to complacency.

Anonymous said...

Do tell, 12:44!

Anonymous said...

As far as One True Church goes, the only selling point LCG has is that its serpent head RCM is likely the last living of Hitler's, oops I mean HWA's ruthless Field Marshals.

It will be entertaining to see what happens when the old man croaks.

Ronco

Anonymous said...

If I were a LCG tithe payer I would be royally POed at the sad excuse for the yearly audit that was released in the Jul/Aug 2016 Living Church News. Usually the audit takes up half the issue and goes into great detail everything money related. This year it was a measly 3 pages. Suspect much?

Anonymous said...

Obviously, they are choking on their own pollution, because they don't understand cleansing! You've got to wash your intestines, because if you don't, both the body and mind become toxic. Even if you avoid unclean meats and processed foods, a Christian can become subject to spiritual contamination as a result of poisons that naturally build up in the body, causing imbalance. In extreme cases, schizophrenia can result from chemical imbalance, especially following a fast! Armstrongite teachers especially are choking on their own toxins, and their behavior and treatment of people reflect this. It is important that we bring this truth to all who read here!

Cheers!
The Enema Guy

Anonymous said...

I read the list of safe/unsafe group leaders but was surprised that a important point was left out. A unsafe leader will teach give, help, serve, be generous etc. That is, slavery to the group.
But a safe leader will teach and affirm the way of trade. That is, no slaves, rather everyone having their own life. It's trade that presupposes boundaries, autonomy and critical thinking. These points want the consequence of trade, but hide it's source. A house divided folks.

Cheers YouKnowWho

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:23 PM - Since you've seen the Jul-Aug 2016 Living Church News, you should have read as well the two first paragraphs of the "audit". It says that the full audit is no longer available in print, but they give the link for the full PDF file of the audit: http://www.lcg.org/media/Living_Church_of_God_2015_Signed_FS-Electronic.pdf

Anonymous said...

That's right, EG, cleanliness is next to godliness. Everyone in the COGs thinks they're going to be saved, but what almost none of them know—knowledge of CRITICAL IMPORTANCE—is that without the MISSING DIMENSTION of detox cleanses, the mind becomes contaminated, which is what is being referred to in Romans 1:28 when it talks about the REPROBATE mind! Then we become not just physically weakened and sick, we also become SPIRITUALLY sick then the holy spirit cannot do it's saving work! God wants to save everybody, but each of us has to do our part, and if we don't, then we show him we're NOT INTERESTED in what he has to offer. But without cleansing, we become filthy in our bodies and our minds, and we leave God little choice! God cannot remain in the presence of such impurity! Think about it for just a moment—our bodies are TEMPLES (1 Corinthians 6:19), and for God to live in them, they must be kept clean and pure—and if they are left filthy and impure, how can God live there? HE CAN'T! It only makes sense! Most people in the COGs don't know this VITAL SECRET to salvation! Without detox cleanses, you CANNOT be saved! Many will hear, but how many will do what it takes—TAKE ACTION—to qualify? Narrow is the gate and few there are who find it (Matthew 7:13-14). Which will you be? You have been warned!

Anonymous said...

Love is the least understood component at LCG.

I had a period of time when I was struggling while I was a member of LCG. I didn't come to church for months. Not one person called me or reached out in any way. It would have meant so much to me for a single church "brother" or "sister" or "minister" to make a 5 minute phone call just to check on me. But nothing...

I still believe ACOG doctrine. They reason I left was because I couldn't reconcile that "God's Church" would treat each other like members treat members and ministers treat members in LCG. It often borders on hateful (which Christ says is the spirit of murder).

In LCG, there is plenty of conditional "love" IF you act enthusiastically about your loyalty to the church and RCM.

But all those people you think are your "church family" will disappear like a candle in the wind if you cease to attend or remain in attendance but lack zombie-like LCG ra-ra.

It's not only marked members who get shunned. Leave LCG and see how LCG members treat you. It's downright hurtful. One would think that if Christ were "living in them" they would extend compassion and try to help you sort things out in a kind and loving way (like a brother). But they don't. They cut you off completely. How is that letting your light shine?

Can you imagine if God treated people like LCG members do?

Anonymous said...

LCG finances are a clam shell game.

Their categories are so broad it enables them to hide certain expenditures under "preaching the gospel" which is obviously the most righteous expenditure of money in the eyes of the tithe payers.

If people knew how much money LCG executives were getting paid there would be a coup.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 2:51 wrote:

Since you've seen the Jul-Aug 2016 Living Church News, you should have read as well the two first paragraphs of the "audit". It says that the full audit is no longer available in print, but they give the link for the full PDF file of the audit: http://www.lcg.org/media/Living_Church_of_God_2015_Signed_FS-Electronic.pdf"

Found this in Note 7: The Church is subject to certain financial covenants under terms of this agreement and was not in compliance with all such covenants as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, but obtained waivers by the financial institution which waived the requirement for the respective periods.

Not in compliance? For two years? LCG had to get a waiver two years in a row to avoid foreclosure? That's serious mismanagement, and may explain why they are trying to downplay the audit this year. What happens to LCG if the bank changes its mind and forecloses on its loan? If an ordinary LCG member managed finances like this and then applied for assistance, it would be rejected by the ministry because the member was "irresponsible." Why is LCG setting such a bad example by violating the covenants into which it voluntarily entered?

Anonymous said...

2:51 How many of the old timers, which is a good chunk of the membership, have and use internet access? Even if LCG provided a link it's still very suspect. Not in print? Why the hell not?!? LCG owes it to their tithe payers to be accountable and by not printing the audit they are just being plain old sneaky. I don't know about you but I personally have the opinion that in life, if it's secret and sneaky it shouldn't be trusted.

Anonymous said...

the First Church of Blatant Nepotism

I realized the churches of God were bogus when I re=read Mystery of the Ages and saw that HWA said we were co-saviors with Christ. Ugly denial of the complete sacrifice of Christ and similar to Mary being co-redeemer with her son. They see the evil in that but not in themselves.
I also saw that becoming gods as God is god was exactly what Satan tempted Adam and Eve with in Genesis.. "you will be gods!"
No it is not God's church at all.

Anonymous said...

August 11, 2016 at 8:56 AM may notice another embarrassing detail in Note 7. The mortgage payment on the HQ building comes due in April 2023. Between 2016 and 2020, annual mortgage payments drop from $261K to $185K. Then, in 2021, 2022 and 2023, the annual payment balloons each year to $788K!

Considering LCG's fraught finances, does anybody here really believe LCG intends, or will even be able, to make payments of $788K for those three years when it has already struggled to make much smaller payments this year and last year?

Real churches usually work hard to pay down their mortgages as soon as possible, so they can spend money on helping people instead of servicing debt year after year. LCG, however, appears to be much more of a well-honed scheme for leveraging other people's money!

Anonymous said...

On the next to last page of the audit, notice the figure for accrued wages and other liabilities. The notes describe this category as follows: "Accrued liabilities primarily pertain to amounts accrued for compensated absences, salaries and wages."

The audit doesn't tell us how many people LCG employs, and doesn't tell us their salaries. What it does tell us, however, is the amount spent on "compensated" absences, salaries and wages. It's reasonable to assume that this number should be a similar proportion of salaries for both Living University and LCG. Although Living University accounts for a little less than 5 percent of LCG's total expenses, it accounts for more than 8 percent of LCG's salary expenses. Does this mean it has 5 percent of LCG's ministers but they are paid much more than other ministers? or does it have 8 percent of LCG's ministers receiving pay comparable to the non-LU ministers?

Either way, this should be an eye-opener to LCG's overextended field pastors, as well as to members whose main contact with the ministry is via sermon DVD. If LCG took the $790K it spent last year on LU and spent it instead on hiring field ministers, or if it took that money and spent it on actually preaching the gospel, would the membership and the mission of LCG be much better served?

Then again, maybe LCG members are tired of spending money on Rod Meredith's ramblings and would rather spend it on things like these Fall 2016 courses:

English 111
Nutrition 207
Business 223

After all, wasn't it Jesus who said, "I have come that they may have life, and Freshman Composition, and good budgeting, but that they may not have white sugar more abundantly?" He must have said so, because LCG counts the above three courses, and others like them, toward "Preaching the Gospel" in its audit.

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:33 PM - You didn't read well the document. It's $788K for the 4 years in total. In other words, $197 each of the last four years. So more or less the same amount.

Anonymous said...

Anon 1:17 wrote:

Anon 12:33 PM - You didn't read well the document. It's $788K for the 4 years in total. In other words, $197 each of the last four years. So more or less the same amount.

Good catch! However, your good correction only goes to point out that whoever chose to put the document online without explanation this year would appear to be a big fat idiot.

Anonymous said...

The Living Church of God is nothing like you describe it to be. I've been with them since 1995. You all don't know what you are staying. And that's the truth.

Anonymous said...

Actually 6:56 it's worse. Maybe your congregation is one of the good ones or maybe you're just blind to the abuse, not only from the ministry, but also the fellow members. It's a checks and balances kind of this. But either way I will point blank say IT'S WORSE.

Anonymous said...

If you spend 20 years swimming in a horribly abusive environment and either you SAY it isn't an abusive environment, or else you sincerely DON'T REALIZE it's an abusive environment...don't look now, but you're abusive.

Anonymous said...

Anon 11:51 AM said,

"...They see the evil in that but not in themselves..."

Why? They are blind, possibly because they probably cannot "see," perceive, what is said in Romans 7:21, which says:

"I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me." Romans 7:21

And as if that weren't enough, sin dwells within as well (:17, 20).

Anon also wrote: "...I also saw that becoming gods as God is god was exactly what Satan tempted Adam and Eve with in Genesis.. "you will be gods!"..."

The xcgs profess not to teach a trinity, but they do seem to be teaching some sort of a duality, or twinity, with their not believing in one God, because so often they think Jesus Christ, who said of Himself He could do nothing, was also God in the flesh.

And hence they really believe in some 2 Gods, both with immortality and both with no beginning...instead of only One God who only has immortality...and life continues on.

The Father has life in Himself, but Jesus Christ never had that life until it was first given to Him:

"For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;" John 5:26

John

James said...

The LCG is a model for Satan in how to run a church.

Anonymous said...

"The mortgage payment on the HQ building comes due in April 2023. Between 2016 and 2020, annual mortgage payments drop from $261K to $185K. Then, in 2021, 2022 and 2023, the annual payment balloons each year to $788K!"

When we bought our home, we were careful to get a FIXED rate.
We're not financial geniuses, but we knew enough to INSIST on a FIXED rate as opposed to a variable/changeable rate, in order to not have payments that may balloon in the future.

Just WHY would any church take out a loan that included such ballooned payments late in the term?
I can think of a few possible reasons-

1) They were stupid and/or extremely naive.

2) Their financial situation and outlook only qualified them for a predatory loan.

3) They wanted to look like the "old-timey WCG" and build stuff to impress and retain their tithe paying members.

4) Their delusions of grandeur led them to believe they'd have a great miraculous future growth- with 144,000 tithers who would easily cover their future outrageous ballooned payment obligations.

Anonymous said...

I just read a clarification, that will make some of my points moot.

I do agree, "...that whoever chose to put the document online without explanation this year would appear to be a big fat idiot."

The idea that they're engaging in building and speech to appease and retain (disaffected WCG) 'old-timey' members - and their tithes - remains true, along with their delusions of grandeur about future growth, which ain't gonna happen.

A smart person realizes that decline, entropy and splintering is inevitable.