Dave Pack's mental breakdown as he continues to ignore the financial burden he has placed on his follower's with the "all things in common" teaching. Dave has absolutely no concern over what happens to members lives, marriages and relationships. All that matters is that he gets his money. His "all things in common" is one of the sickest lies that splinter cult leaders have come up with. Each one has their own unique lies, from Gerald Flurry to Bob Thiel, but Dave has turned out to be the most despicable when it comes to money.
Dave Pack Says Members Either Pay Common or They Have No Salvation:September 27, 2017
I am writing this so that maybe it might help another person and tell how this is the way I have been affected by the Restored Church of God and Pack's doctrine of Common. My husband joined last year. It has been the most painful year in the 24 years we have been married. We were married in WWCG in 1993. I think I remember the words, "What God has joined, let no man put asunder" and two become one in the eyes of God. I don't think I am the only one who has had these words spoken in a wedding. My husband has totally bought into the "common" doctrine if you can call it that and has decided he wants to split everything down the middle, in half. We have argued and fought every week, because if this happens, there will be no reserves left for emergencies or contingencies. I have two parents that I have to see to as well who are in their 80's and I need reserves for them as well as they have spent most of their lives following HWA and didn't think there would be any future. So they are at the bottom of the economic scale now.
On Monday of this week I went to see a lawyer and inquired about what splitting things down the middle would mean for me. I was told that in the eyes of the law, one can't do that and have it binding. In the eyes of the law, a marriage is a single unit and can't be split unless either there is a legal separation or divorce. Marriage includes all assets and debts. We live in a community property state. I went home and told my husband what I was told. I gave him the choice, either we separate legally or divorce. He chose separation. Yesterday was our 24th anniversary.
How can a "man of God" think it's ok to split a union that God has sanctioned and put together and still think he has the fruits of the Spirit? I liken it to trying to remove half an orange without disturbing the peel, it can't be done. I certainly would not want to be in his shoes or in the shoes of those that enforce these policies. What will their answer be when they have to account for the lives they have ruined? Does my husband have a choice in this? They tell the members, No, they either pay common or they have no salvation. Where is that found in the Bible, I can't find it.
Thanks for listening. --[name removed]Comment: It is always best to have separate checking and savings accounts in these situations. See: Exit and Support Letters
Growing up in the Chicago area I had a couple of friends in Worldwide church who suffered horribly from the type of abusive dictatorship inflicted by hypocritical ministers that never showed any compassion.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all my heart goes out to you for your current situation. I was a standing member of this church when the "Common" doctrine got pushed forcibly upon us. I read and studied the booklet about "Common" sent to all households and couldn't believe what and in what way it was written. Everything that was written for the first nine pages was the worst case of fraudulent narrative that I have ever read. I ran out of the house with the booklet and a match and lit on fire.
ReplyDeleteIf your marriage is worth saving, the "Common Doctrine" is easily proven not only horribly wrong but also a sin.
The reason your husband believes there will be no salvation for not paying "Common" is that Mr. David Pack stated in a sermon that not believing and obeying all things taught by him would make that person a heretic condemned to the lake of fire!
I hate to say it, but I'd recommend going for the divorce and suing for alimony. The worst part of Dave's common doctrine is that your money goes all for shit. Your husband "called", I'd up the ante and see if it brings him to his senses.
ReplyDeleteWorst part of this? From all the reports we read from ex-RCG members here, Dave taps his well-intentioned members out and then a year or two down the road, he either cuts them loose, or they realize just how intolerable conditions are in RCG, and do additional splinter-surfing or leave Armstrongism completely. Your hubby would probably end up losing both you, and the RCG.
This is a tough one. Most married guys in Armstrongism are too preoccupied with being in charge to listen to the wisdom their wives might offer. Unfortunately, that means you've got to either drop an A-bomb, or drink the Kool-Aid.
BB
Banned wrote "Wife has most Painful Period in 24 Years".
ReplyDeleteIve had a few bad "periods" too, menstrual cramps , PMS, moodiness, back ache, etc. , but never because of Dave Pack! LOL!
Thankfully, the letter stated "painful years" rather than "menstrual period" and all confusion has now been cleared!
Regardless, Im very sorry for this poor woman and the dilemmas that she is facing.
Good catch Connie1 LOL That would really be painful!
ReplyDelete@BB "Most married guys in Armstrongism are too preoccupied with being in charge to listen to the wisdom their wives might offer."
ReplyDeleteYup! Just like ole Cap'n Ahab and it's a terrible thing to endure the, "I'm gonna do this MY way and I don't want to HEAR NUTTIN' from YOU!
What a waste! What a sad, tragic, horrible waste!
I think that this account is copied from another site, so I doubt that the woman is reading the comments on this site, but maybe she is. If so, I second Byker Bob. The husband needs to not be left in control. Hit him a curve ball. I suspect that when jesus said turn the other cheek, his rationale was that a curve ball gets them off balance.
ReplyDeleteThe good thing, Gordon, is that in the past, some of the subjects of these posts have become aware of the secondary repostings, and end up being accessable for discussion. Hopefully, that will happen in this case. If the lady can know that she's not alone, and has some good moral support, it may make a difference in the resolution of what otherwise could easily turn into another Dave Pack travesty. We can only hope!
DeleteBB
I feel so sorry for both this woman and her husband. He's bought an avaricious lying message and thinks he'll be lost if he doesn't adhere to it, so he has to tough it out like I felt I had to for far too many years as I submitted to madness that wasn't quite as extreme as this, but still madness that was making my life a living financial hell. I couldn't even afford decent clothes. She sees the facts, but he cannot and his fear won't let him think rationally. We were constantly in fear of losing out on salvation and of that "unpardonable sin," one of the most damnable things ever put in that book by someone with basically the same mind control aims as Dave Pack. I no longer venerate Paul or anyone else in that book.
ReplyDeleteAllen C. Dexter
You guys ought to get Colon Kappernack to go to RCG Feast of Tab, and go down on one knee during the special music to protest common.
ReplyDeleteThis is the David 'filthy lucre' Pack's version of the Roman Catholics selling indulgences.
ReplyDeleteThe wife should tell the husband, "I will now be the common wife of both you and Mr. Pack rat." The husband might change his mind. Common for Mr. Pack rat means what is yours is his, but not vice versa.
ReplyDelete"The silver is mine and the gold is mine, and your little dog too, saith Apostle David C Pack."
ReplyDelete-Acts of the 21st Century Apostles
I'm very sorry for this very distressing situation you are in. The common thing is just a con.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteBoth Gerald Flurry (of PCG infamy) and David Pack (of RCG infamy) now claim to be what they call “That Prophet” of Deuteronomy 18:18-19. Both Gerald and David have rejected the idea that Jesus was That Prophet and that they should listen to him. Their teaching is that everyone now has to listen to everything they say or else God will be mad at anyone who doesn't. Of course, Gerald and David do not listen to each other. Gerald and David each correctly view the other as a raging false prophet that no one can ever possibly be saved while following. It takes one to know one.
Once someone carelessly believes that either Gerald or David is That Prophet, the person is doomed. Nothing but fear and plundering then await the victim.
Both Gerald and David each started off their satanic PCG and RCG imposter cults by pretending to be HWA's loyal and faithful follower and true successor. Then, both Gerald and David made such massive, satanic, doctrinal changes that they made going along with even the apostate Tkaches appear to have been a much more reasonable and safe thing to do by comparison.
Jesus said that a sign of his followers would be their love for each other, and elsewhere we are told that perfect love casts out fear. So when people are afraid of their church, it is not a church of that love of which jesus spoke nor of God.
ReplyDeleteSome, perhaps many in Dave's group are trying to buy their way into eternal life. They won't admit it, but it's what they secretly believe, with Dave exploiting this. If that's the case with the husband in this case, he's not going to back down.
ReplyDeleteMy condolences to the wife.
PS, this is a never mentioned drawback of following the church teaching of 'being equally yoked.'
Dave Pack needs to be put down. People that have done less than him, have been taken out.
ReplyDeleteI pray that soon, Yahweh would call him home, and soon.
To the lady who wrote this post, I am so sorry that you are going through this, Just know you are not alone. I don't say this to diminish your situation but this is a very common thing happening in RCG.
ReplyDeleteMinisters will regularly tell their members that you must obey God, that it is a command to give common, that you will lose family and houses but gain them. That you must loveless your brother or sister, that you must work out your salvation with fear and tremble.
They say: "Would you want to listen to your wife or husband and lose salvation knowing they will be raised up in the second resurrection and you will be raised up in the third?" "Your wife/husband will thank you when they find out you are now God".
Basically, they tell you that it will be worth it in the end because when the kingdom comes you will come to your senses knowing that your husband or wife is now God having made your life miserable.
It is a tactic they use to allow their members to make such justifiable decisions.
But on the other hand, if a man does not take care of nor feed his family he is worse than an unbeliever.
I honestly believe Pack is putting many people in a situation where, when the crap hits the fan these people will be left with no way to support their families and every blessing they've worked so hard for will have not much to show for then utter despair.
Man, I will not tell you what route to pursue, because I wish you no pain or harm. I hope you know people are hearing you out and we are critical thinkers who understand something is fundamentally wrong with this cult. We know they operate contrary to love and Marriages endure more restrictions and unhappiness in this cult than outside.
Your husband has refused to openly discuss giving common with you first, he refused to hear your voice first, he refused to uphold his marriage promise and treat you like Jesus loves the Church.
Instead, he blew you off, became critical, assumed you wouldn't agree anyway, shot down your say in this matter and told you his view of how he sees Jesus loving the Church is basically running over it and making it unhappy.
That man should be ashamed of himself, he should legally be stripped of half of your stuff and pay alimony, but I digress, do what you feel is best. Continue to share your story. Bring eyes on this matter. Pack will have to answer for this matter before the Throne of Judgement.
5.57 AM
ReplyDeleteThe world is full of little Satans. People have a responsibility to learn how to deal with these predators.
Re : this letter which was re-posted here. It IS ALL TRUE. As a close relative "semi-involved
ReplyDeletewith this" it breaks my heart to see & experience the damnable, utterly HEARTLESS attitude
shown not only by Most Despicable D. Pack but also by his Lackey in their "legal" dept as well. The term extortion is applicable here, which it undeniably is.
I've proven to myself more ways than one that "Pay Common" to be one of the most hideous, in
your face, damnable LIE I've heard coming from the "pulpit". The damage done here can NOT be
repaired. Trust NO longer exists. The writer of the letter does come in here & reads these comments. I KNOW "1st hand". The marriage is NOT the only casualty in this. G'kids got cheated
big time as well. The spin-off in this is incalculable. Not over yet either.Not by a long shot! What goes around-Comes around. the "Piper"must be paid & will. Good thing we live in
this age, not in years past when vengeance was dealt with on a personal level.