It is almost Thanksgiving here in the United States as we can't let another year go by without mentioning the craziness of some COG Debbie-downers who have to find fault with everything in life.
Thanksgiving, a day to celebrate the gifts of creation and blessings. A day to gather with family and friends. A day that you would think most Armstrongites would be appreciative of due to its religious undertones. But no...it is a day for the bottom feeders of the church and society to go into demonic fits of rage over.
Take James Malm for instance. The self-appointed delusional legalistic Pharisee despises Thanksgiving. I guess the miserable little man needs to sit in his dreary little apartment on this day pounding the keyboard in a zealous rage to get out his personal message of the way he wants scripture to be understood.
If you thought the Almost-arrested Boob sitting in Arroyo Grande was nuts, Malm may surpass him.
The self-appointed Church Pharisee writes:
We must remove every sin and every pagan blot on our garments to prepare for the marriage of the Lamb.
The traditions of the Protestants including Puritans and Anglicans came mainly from Roman Catholicism, the Roman Catholic church is the ancient Babylonian Mysteries traditions were adopted from paganism.
Sunday, Easter and even Thanksgiving are very ancient pagan holy days.Why is it that everything that an Armstrongite come in contact with has to be pagan or evil? Why are they such miserable human beings?
Malm continues with this...Thanksgiving originated with the Indians as a time to sacrifice virgin women.
Actually the harvest feast was well known by these Indians and was a tradition practiced throughout the new world, as well as the old by the pagans. Thanksgiving is a universal pagan tradition descended and spread from Babel worldwide. Some of whom paid homage for the harvest by sacrificing young virgins.Those damn Babylonians! At it again trying to destroy an American and Canadian holiday!
Is it wrong to be thankful? NO, Definitely NOT!It IS wrong to cloak pagan traditions in the guise of being thankful to the true God. That is what Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving are all about; cloaking rank paganism in an appearance of something good; of making evil seem desirable, godly and good: Of deceiving people into sinning by exalting the pagan pantheon under the illusion and false cloak of pleasing the true God!The big question is: To whom are you being thankful? To some pagan god and traditions; or to the Eternal Creator who has given us his own Holy Days to rejoice and be thankful on?
We tend to think of Thanksgiving Day starting in the New World. But actually a thanksgiving for the annual harvest is one of the oldest holidays known to mankind, though celebrated on slightly [due to differences in climate and harvest dates] different dates. In Chaldea, in ancient Egypt and in Greece, the harvest festival was celebrated with great rejoicing. The Hindus and the Chinese observe the gathered harvest with a holiday.”
The deviate Pharisee fails to mention that pagans also wore clothing, went to the bathroom, had sex, built homes, ate food, got married, eat apples and pumpkins, and many more things we we do today that they also did.
The first two Thanksgivings in the present day United States [Another was an Anglican service in Canada] were Roman Catholic. The Pilgrims can only claim a third one, a correction I suggest should be made in school history books.The first Thanksgiving’s in the US were celebrated by Spanish explorers, not pilgrims. It is Florida that today proudly claims the first Thanksgiving, with a feast and celebration between the Spanish and Timucuan Indians on September 8, 1565, 56 years before the Mayflower landed at Plymouth in 1621. Therefore, St. Augustine – and not Jamestown – is the first permanent European settlement and oldest city in North America. Another correction for many history books.
pagan apples and pumpkins
Now what could some of the things you’re eating on Thanksgiving symbolized?(For all Our Kitchen Witches Out there!!!!) Turkey-– Native Americans–symbolized the Mother Earth and a shared Harvest. Apples–Celts–rebirth, healing and youth Pumpkins--Native American– was symbolic of personalized power (in some cultures) and symbolized the sun. Wishing you a Merry Pagan Thanksgiving!
God’s Thanksgiving is the Fall Harvest Festival of the Feast of Tabernacles!
You too can read this malarkey fest here: All About Thanksgiving: What You Were Never Told About Thanksgiving
ReplyDeleteThe American Thanksgiving holiday is in November, but the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday is in October.
One year, the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday in October fell on the Biblical day of Atonement (using the calculated Hebrew calendar).
Even the supposedly well-intentioned stuff that the World comes up with does seem to have a tendency to contradict the Biblical stuff.
i might be wrong,but didn't abraham lincoln instituted thanksgiving as giving thanks to God.don't see anything pagan about it....
ReplyDeleteThere you have it. It's man made not God ordained.
DeleteNo he didn't. The history taught in schools is myths. Do some digging you will surprised.
DeleteThanksgiving: A day in the United States when atheists gather with family and friends over a turkey dinner replete with mashed potatoes, stuffing (hopefully gluten free), cranberry sauce and gravy to demonstrate their thankfulness for all the scientists, researchers, technologists, physicists, chemists, mathematicians, engineers, medical professionals, farmers who provide the food and all the others who have banded together in society to make all of our lives better.
ReplyDeleteWe're sorry.
Technically, you can't call atheists pagans.
Happy Thanksgiving for all STEM Americans everywhere.
We are all on the same planet which is going around the same star(the sun) which gives everything on earth, the exact same calendar! That includes everything! At least from the sun's perspective. It doesn't matter what we choose to call it! Not one second of time has been lost, and this is called God's Science. The Truth behind any label given by man! Anything else is just wasting time........especially, if you forget to pull the curtain shut when you enter your little booth of Oz, ye 'olde wizard!
ReplyDeleteDBP
This is simply killjoy material from Malm. He loves to throw around theological hand grenades. All the attention and controversy they create. Weeee, it's so much fun. Look at all the fire and smoke I made, whippeeeeee!
ReplyDeleteAll this magnifying the history of thanks giving (I have heard different accounts), but never a magnifying of Gods laws. I have been reading Malms blog long enough to know that he relates to others from a topdog position ie 'I own you and you have no rights.' Try reading a book on assertiveness Malm i.e., I have rights and so do you. Try talking TO people rather than talking DOWN to them. We are not children Malm.
All religious holidays are inventions of men. None are either ordained by God or are evil. So party on!!
ReplyDeleteMalm forgot to mention that the feast of tabernacles has pagan roots.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I didn't read this post until after Thanksgiving Dinner.
ReplyDeleteMoving from Pilgrim to Puritan, I remember decades ago seeing a college production of Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible. The play, which recounted the Salem Witch Trial in 1692, was a satire of McCarthyism. I feel it could be seen as a satire of Armstrongism as well...
feast of tabernacles has pagan roots
ReplyDeleteAs does the English word "church" through its Germanic etymology. It would be preferable to use congregation or assembly.
Some other dumb ass that came out of that Armstrong crap teaches against Thanksgiving, a man by the name of Isryal Hawkins founder of the house of Yahweh.
ReplyDeleteWere the Israelites the FIRST to have priests, temples, animal sacrifices, priestly uniforms, holy days, or circumcision? No. They are ALL from pagan origins. God simply attached new meaning to these and gave them to the Israelites. So what's the problem with being thankful and attaching rituals to it?
ReplyDeleteall of these so called "leaders" trying to out righteous each other show's how shallow their understanding really is...
ReplyDeleteI guess HWA was right when he privately opined that 90% of the membership didn't get it.
When is Malm going to get serious and attack the real "pagan" issues that are distorting society and culture...
ReplyDeleteLike the TOOTH FAIRY and GROUND HOGS DAY!
Back in Biblical times, one of the problems of the day was the creeping in of customs and ideas that everyone knew about from surrounding nations who were not part of the theocracy that constituted Israel. The roots of all this were actually contemporary with Israel at various times, and were a very powerful influence to be cautioned against. They were a significant part of the pervasive Zeitgeist of those eras.
ReplyDeleteToday, nobody knows about such things as Asherah poles, passing children through fire for false gods, or the various customs of Nimrod, Babylonians, or Hellenists. Who imagines such things while celebrating of all days Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is today one of the last vestiges of the Christian era, not a day on which known evil customs of some our own contemporary nations are incorporated into worship.
Lack of relevance is probably the major reason why Armstrongism in all its forms is failing to galvanize people, failing to attract converts and believers. Constantly invoking ancient pagans, and attempting to correlate them with modern Christianity doesn't work in an era when most people have already secularized and commercialized what used to be major "Christian" holidays, and do not even keep them as a part of their worship, but as national customs. Generally speaking, people living today have for the most part neutered all gods. The ACOGs' challenge would first be to stimulate significant numbers of people back into worship and looking to God for their standards prior to being able to motivate them to consider the Armstrong method. It's just another explanation as to why the time and date stamp of Armstrongism has expired.
BB
Truth be told..Mall and Thiel are celebrating TG together and watching Football
ReplyDeleteIf Thanksgiving is the day when ancient pagans sacrificed virgin girls, then was Garner Ted Armstrong doing a great service for YHVH by reducing the supply of virgin girls in the AC student body?
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ReplyDeleteWill we need the bible in the millenium? Does 1955 Ambassador College Correspondence Course Lesson 4 tell us about todays Armstrong churches? How about James Malm's Thanksgiving ideas? What difference does in make? I will include my last comment since it explains my belief of postings here.
ReplyDeleteIn viewing the postings here I get the impression that anyone who was or is a member of an Armstrong Church of God is either an abuser, an abused, or an accuser rather than true Christian believer. This creates a serious problem for human beings. We see a world filled with people who are selfish unrighteous people who are killing the righteous people and the only way we can experience a better world is for the righteous people to kill off the unrighteous people. Of course this makes it difficult to determine who is righteous and who is unrighteous. When I see the things posted here I cannot shares the positive years I spent as a true believer in the Christian faith because no one will believe it to be true. I thank God daily for the written word that offers hope for those who reflect the belief in the resurrected person define as Jesus the Christ. AB
AB, Guilty Dog Barks First!
DeleteThis man has left earth orbit and headed for deep space.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 12:05 PM - GTA did virgins. HWA did daughters.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about what's wrong with not eating gluten free stuffing.
ReplyDeleteMystery religion. COGWA sent out a sermon played in all congregations about special music. They actually said much of the current Christian music is based on mystery religions, to be fair they pointed out repeated lines/lyrics as the indication, but I believe they are comfortable applying this to the majority of christian music. Very silly.
ReplyDeleteAB This blog was never meant to be a "recovery site" but one that exposed the "underbelly" of the COG that is filled with despotic men who are abusing members clear up to this day in 2018. I had many great opportunities in the church, many good times and have no hatred towards it as a whole. I do however despise the liars and frauds that pawn themselves off as Christian leaders of moral virtue and who actively destroy members lives. Also, in spite of those good times and things experienced, it still does not validate the terrible abuse that went on by the church towards members due to its aberrant doctrines/teachings and the unchristian behavior of so many of the men in charge.
ReplyDeleteThere are facebook groups filled with 700+ members of the church that talk about the abuse they suffered at the hands of the church and ministers. Some of it violent sexual assaults done to them as children and others as adults. Far too many back then and now want to invalidate those as if they invited it or are lying about it.
Please do not assume because people here pick on Armstrongism and its abuses that they have no Chrisitan virtues or are not active in churches. Many are and yet we still are willing to call out the abuse of the past. You may not have experienced abuse, as have some here, have described or as those on the facebook groups have written about, but that still does not invalidate those that have been abused.
If this site is so wrong then why have over 6 million hits happened here? Why do LCG members come here to talk about the abuse they experience in their church? Why do people from UCG, COGWA and others share here? It is insulting to label everyone here as bitter abusers, bitter because they were abused or are false accusers.
Plus, what do you mean by "true Christian believer?" That is a loaded statement that has been used in Armstrongism as a weapon to denigrate anyone not part of the COG or who were members in the past. True Christian believers are found in any church in existence today, and outside the corporate church and certainly outside of the COG.
AB
ReplyDeleteSo just who is a true Christian believer? Is James Malm? Is Bob Thiel? My Greek Ortodox neighbor? My other neighbor who is Foursquare Gospel? Am I, who now attends a local Luthern church? Sadly, I have a feeling that I know your answer.
I never suffered any sexual abuse in the church nor did my husband or anyone in my family. I do know brethren who were though. I was, however, spiritually abused by men who treated us like dirt and constantly told us our salvation was at stake if we did not hearken to their commands. My grandparents are part of Gerald Flurry's vile cult and will not speak to us because we left the church. They do not know three of their grandchildren because they have turned their backs on us. Is that true Christian behavior? I am very active in my church and am 100% sure of my salvation even though it is one of the "worldly" churches the COG loved to mock.
ReplyDeleteNews flash to Jimmy Malm: EVERYTHING that you could possibly say, think, or do was done by pagans! There is no bubble you could find to escape this. Many believe that Jesus purified mankind of this influence, so that we can live life without stressing over past wrong usages of things as an influence. If you fixate on paganism, even to elliminate it from your life, it will automaticsally have power over you.
ReplyDeleteBB
There is no pagans in the bible. The word is ethnos... Just means nations. So technically you are correct just not accurate.
DeletePISS Malm and Thiel both off at the same time! Enjoy some good food on Thanksgiving while watching the NFL football games with Uncle Howard!
ReplyDeleteMy first reaction on seeing this post was an incredulous laugh. What chagrins me is how I could have been so blind as to fall for similar crap for so many years.
ReplyDeleteComments made to AB, Guilty Dog Barks First! what do you mean by "true Christian believer?"
ReplyDeleteI see that few if any recognize that some of the things presented here are very distrutive to people who God may be working with in a verity religious organizations. I spent 42 years in WWCG and 25 years working with people in WWCG. Even though many of the doctrines taught may have been questionable the Christian Bible was excepted as the inspired word of God in both the old and new Testament. I believe that a true Christian believer must except that God's Word has the everything we need to build a life acceptable to God. I believe that God through the Holy Spirit will guide His people how to live by His written word. If we try to dig all the weeds (false things) we will destroy the wheat (God's people). In some ways I see this is what happened after HWA died. I withdrew my membership over 18 years ago to encourage family members to not give up on God when people disappointed you. I am disappointed on the lack of concern people have in some of the things posted here.
Every time I read this kind of crap from a ministurd of the COG I can just picture them spitting in the face of Jesus. They truly have no understanding as to what it means to be a follower of Christ.
ReplyDeletePagans worshipped the sun so don't go out in the sun.
ReplyDeleteHave you noticed that most of the writings of leaders of wcg splinter groups are negative? Paganism, demonism, stupid laws, chastisement, etc. The true gospel that is in effect today is very positive. The Holy Spirit is a very positive energy (I know. I've experienced it.) God is a very positive Being. He is Love. Love is positive. That's all I have to say.
ReplyDelete5.21 PM
ReplyDeleteChrist exposed and rebuked the Pharisees lawlessness. He said "beware of the Pharisees," so that eg, widows weren't robbed of their homes by these hypocrites.
So no, uncovering ministerial abusive behavior does not "destroy the wheat." Rather it protects it.
There's no such thing as a right to privacy when it comes to criminal behavior.
ReplyDeleteFriends,
HWA did not teach against Thanksgiving as far as I know.
Do you have any articles showing he taught against Thanksgiving?
We celebrated it every year when we were in WCG.
James
HWA never taught against thanksgiving. This is a deviate interpretation by James Malm to place further burdens on church members. The guy is sick in the head.
ReplyDeleteThis is where it thickens. My parents had researched Thanksgiving out as well, and believed it did have pagan origins. But, because HWA said it was OK, they always celebrated it. In many ways, it became their “Christmas”. A day to express their appreciation for God and Jesus Christ.
ReplyDeleteThe thing we must remember is that Armstrongism was always a pick and choose religion. Pick the elements of the Old Covenant that were supposedly still in effect, pick amongst good and bad paganism, etc. The winner of WCG arguments and discussions was somehow always the first one to say “Mr. Armstrong says.......”
The Laodicean era ministers want to insert their own names as ultimate authority in that statement, ie “Mr. Malm says” Dr. Thiel says. “Mr. Weinland says”. “Mr. Pack says”.
“Mr. Flurry says.” “Dr. Meredith said.”
BB
Great American President Abraham Lincoln during the middle of the American Civil proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day, to be celebrated on the 26th, the final Thursday of November 1863. President Franklin Roosevelt changed the national holiday to the third week in November during his administration. History doesn't document that pagans were consulted.
ReplyDeleteLike celebrating the 4th of July, celebrating Thanksgiving was NEVER condemned by Herbert Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God. This James Mal,m like so many other Herbert Armstrong wannabees, are majoring in the minors of non-biblical matters and have nothing to do with either gospel messages of salvation through Jesus Christ or the gospel of the Kingdom of God.
Does Malm think the song we use to sing in WCG services "Give thanks to God for he is good" is pagan? Why would he think a day dedicated to the message of this song is pagan?
Richard
Thanks for the clarification.
ReplyDeleteJames
I always thougt night to be much remembered etc was the wcg paralel thanksgiving and the feast christmas including gifts.
ReplyDeleteThanksgiving. HWA was extremely proud of the ancestry in the americas from the mid 16 hundreds. Never was it regarded pagan.
Although nowadays it might be considered savage now we know the puritans settled in the killing fields., a huge native cemetary in a once populous atea and stole corn to survive.
But pagan. Perhaps Lincolns version if he was a mason.
Nck
ReplyDeleteGod's own festivals that he made up and gave to his own chosen people the twelve tribes of Israel are listed in Leviticus 23:1-44. Jesus and his apostles observed these festivals.
Today, most people prefer to remember and honor their gods by observing Black Friday Sales at their favorite retailers.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Delete
ReplyDeleteDavidRickman4201@Yahoo.Com on November 21, 2018 at 11:09 AM said...“10:47 AM, I will be at the Black Friday Sale. My wife & I have saved up all year to buy family Christmas gifts.”
Aha! I knew it! I knew it!! I knew it!!!
Perhaps Lincolns version if he was a mason.
ReplyDeleteLincoln considered joining the Masons but as he was running for President he didn't as he thought it may have been seen as a political move. And I believe Lincoln actually called for a day of fasting.
HWA and Thanksgiving - yes, I remember it was supported and encouraged. There was even a short scene of a family Thanksgiving dinner in one of the WCG's GTA television program.
Well of course Hoss. National Geographic has an article on how "thanksgiving" in its most widely practiced and broadest sense included fasting. Most things in the USA are of course a renewal or improvement of the old. I wont worry about the DC temples with famed politicians anymore and all things Disney are better without the original gore.
DeleteNck
10.47 AM
ReplyDeleteSo the black Friday sales is honoring a false god, but Herb and his splinters endlessly extorting money from their congregations is not. Rod Meredith pleading that his members send in their "excessive wealth" for the never ending "final push" is not? Dave's "common" is not? Herb with his mansion and gold dinnerware is not?
Perhaps you meant your comment to be a joke.
ReplyDeleteHoss on November 21, 2018 at 3:27 PM said...“And I believe Lincoln actually called for a day of fasting.”
The real reason that people like Thanksgiving Day is because of the day off work and the great food. Now, they also have Black Friday Sales.
Nobody would want anything to do with Thanksgiving Day if it involved any sort of fasting.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous on November 22, 2018 at 9:32 AM said...“So the black Friday sales is honoring a false god, but Herb and his splinters endlessly extorting money from their congregations is not. Rod Meredith pleading that his members send in their "excessive wealth" for the never ending "final push" is not? Dave's "common" is not? Herb with his mansion and gold dinnerware is not?”
Some of the splinter groups are extremely bad. Supporting them is supporting false prophets, heretics, rebels, etc.