UPDATED: Video is back online:
Several United Church of God members sent me links to the sermon preached at their
UCG imagines itself as that purveyor of truth to a lost and desperately searching world. One of the reasons for the yearly Christmas Family Weekend is that it is a witness to the heathen Christmas observing pagans who worship Nimrod in the highly decorated hotel that holds their party weekend in.
When the various UCG members sent the link, it was available to the world to see as a witness to the "truth." One would think that the sermons of God's true ministers would be worthy for the world to hear, but no. UCG has restricted the access to the sermon.
The UCG members who have sent this link have all mentioned how the sermon was further proof that UCG was changing many of its current teachings to become more "palatable" to the general public. That was one of the big complaints when COGWA split off to start their own group. They felt the UCG big boys were systematically changing doctrines in order to become more mainstream, much like their previous organization had done.
Apparently, the fields are no longer ripe, or they just don't care. Or, the cat got let out of the bag and they are struggling to get it back in. Time will tell what actually UCG is up to. Just as many of them lied when they worked for WCG while denying that changes were coming, they are doing the same thing now. Can they really be trusted to tell the truth any more?Thought you might find this interesting! Here is absolute proof the UCG is going mainstream evangelical in order to attract new members. Bible Study given at their Winter Family Weekend. COGWA said this would happen and used it as a reason for their split.
22 comments:
No, they can't be trusted to tell the truth. Ever since the Romans invented Christianity to bring order to the empire and quell Judaism, all Christian organisations have been using every subterfuge they can find to attract and hold members. It's all a money and power game. Always has been. Always will be. "Leaders" come along determined to find some new doctrine or gimmick to attract big followings. Herbert did it and all the "reformers" of the past did it too. The COG splinters are desperately looking for some way to mirror what Herb did, and it has to get very frustrating to them. That ship sailed way back there in the middle of the twentieth century, and it's since lost most of its sea worthiness. Those spectacular old doctrines foisted on gullible people just don't cut it anymore. It's an internet age, folks. BI and similar doctrines just don't fly like they used to.
The only way the UCG will survive is if they become mainstream. The few churches that are actually growing are the nondenominational types who are well known in the community, and who preach a non-legalistic salvation by grace message.
One big problem, and this applies also to LCG, is that there is such poor training for newer and younger ministers that many of them supplement their ACOG training with whatever they can find on the internet that sounds like reasonable Jewish-Christian teaching. When their discernment is poor, they add to their ACOG message other teachings that have questionable evangelical/Protestant undercurrents.
LCG went so far as to send a couple of ministers to "Christian" schools like Jerry Falwell's Liberty University. Now, those Protestant teachings are finding their way into LCG. Living University spent ten years training the new generation of LCG ministers, so its Protestant influences will be felt for many years even after LU is gone. As for UCG, its one-year ABC program is just that, the "ABC" of ACOG doctrine and practice... and by the time you are a minister and need to give your congregation DEF and beyond, there's no support structure to prevent you from teaching WTF instead.
Yes, even when these people are TRYING to teach orthodox Armstrongism, and not to deviate toward Protestantism, the training and support is meager. It's as if the senior administrators of these church groups don't really care anymore.
They need to change the message and go main stream if these Jesus pimps want to keep getting a paycheck far into the future. The current generation is dying off and when they are gone the scheme collapses.
And if they change their message they lose the current blue ribbon tithe payers. They are truly damned. Perhaps this is the hand of God at work?
Jarrid Wilson’s “13 Qualities of a Legit Christian” could actually add a 14th quality:
14. “…The SPIRIT THAT DWELLETH IN US lusteth to envy…” James 4:5
But Gerald Flurry wrote to his members, in part: “…Satan’s nature PERMEATES HUMAN INTELLECT AND HUMAN REASONING.…”
Perhaps Gerald is making a valid point as James 4:5 is also applicable to all PCg members as well!
So, also, does I John 3:8 apply to all PCg members!
“…He that committeth sin is of the devil…” I John 3:8
Of course, as Gerald Flurry points his finger, and words, at his own members, he does have other remaining fingers on his hand pointing back at himself!
Comment was made saying: “…Only God’s Spirit can expose human nature.…”
There is no reason to expose human nature, b/c human nature was created “very good:”
“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31
I think: if Gerald Flurry would think more about this he might use the phrase “carnal mind” instead of “human nature.” The carnal mind is enmity to God…something the created Adam and Eve did not have until AFTER Satan was allowed to infest/infect their minds.
I am caught up in this creation with all of this (very good human nature PLUS those negative traits of having that carnal mind) too; I am no exception. What hope is there?
“For the creature was MADE SUBJECT TO vanity, NOT WILLINGLY, but by reason of HIM who hath subjected the same in hope,” Romans 8:20
What hope is there? Amongst other things, there is this:
“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, NOT IMPUTING their TRESPASSES unto them…” 2 Corinthians 5:19
The likes of a Gerald Flurry (or a Pack, a Malm, a Thiel, a Franks, a Kubik, a Weston…pick a name/group) will never reconcile us, but I am hopeful reconciliation becomes a reality for each of us.
And time will tell…
John
They will all change...probably sooner than later. The "blue ribbon tithe payers" as mentioned above are all growing older and soon will no longer be paying anyway. They won't care what they think then!
Gary, what sermon are "people" sending you? Andrew Lee, a CPA, senior exec/tax partner with Ernest & Young -- and an elder in the Cleveland Ohio UCG congregation -- delivered a remarkable sermon during the UCG WFW afternoon Sabbath service titled "In the World but Not of the World: Living a Godly Life in the Modern World." More than 1,000 people attended with numerous online connections
The full sermon, in addition to others by Andy Lee, are openly available here:
https://www.ucg.org/user/andy-lee/posts
Maybe these guys need to tap into the very successful Artois school run by COG7 and offering a variety of degrees, diplomas and certificates related to church work. All with high academic standards too.
The Armstrong version of a gospel message didn't deliver. How long is the human attention span? Except for a certain percentage of the people who have to internally justify voluntarily not having a life for perhaps decades, who has the patience for endless delays and postponements. The level of commitment that would require sacrificing up to 1/3 of one's pretax income to a perennial crier of "Wolf" is no longer sustainable. It's worn out. UCG (and all the other ACOGs) should go into animal rescue or assisting the homeless.
BB
UNITED - "the secret encoded message in a name" ..
its...
YOU- AND I- AND TED !
United!
Well said Gordon Feil at 10:51 AM. Did you write an article in the current issue of The Bible Advocate magazine? I have been a baptized member of the COG7 since 1995 and have learned more with them than I ever did in the 8 years I spent in WCG.
Byker wrote:
UCG (and all the other ACOGs) should go into animal rescue or assisting the homeless.
I wonder who will get the proceeds from the sale of Rod Meredith's home? Will it all go to LCG, the way Rod told his members it should be done? Or did his Will violate his own advice and give the money to his kids?
Meredith home for sale: $500,000
How much good could be done with $500,000? Or how many homeless could be housed? On the other hand, that's a lot of money for booze and smokes for the kids!
Yes on that article. It is the introduction to 5 more that will expand that topic.
The discredited church age theory has been used as a hammer to bludgeon COG7. It's a shame because many ACOG leaders and COG7 leaders could learn a lot from each other. The accusations based on Dr.Hoeh's assertion about a dead church have blinded some and destroyed the trust of others.
Anonymous said…
Jarrid Wilson’s “13 Qualities of a Legit Christian” could actually add a 14th quality:
14. “…The SPIRIT THAT DWELLETH IN US lusteth to envy…” James 4:5
But Gerald Flurry wrote to his members, in part: “…Satan’s nature PERMEATES HUMAN INTELLECT AND HUMAN REASONING.…”
Perhaps Gerald is making a valid point as James 4:5 is also applicable to all PCg members as well!
So, also, does I John 3:8 apply to all PCg members!
“…He that committeth sin is of the devil…” I John 3:8
Of course, as Gerald Flurry points his finger, and words, at his own members, he does have other remaining fingers on his hand pointing back at himself!
Comment was made saying: “…Only God’s Spirit can expose human nature.…”
There is no reason to expose human nature, b/c human nature was created “very good:”
“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31
I think: if Gerald Flurry would think more about this he might use the phrase “carnal mind” instead of “human nature.” The carnal mind is enmity to God…something the created Adam and Eve did not have until AFTER Satan was allowed to infest/infect their minds.
I am caught up in this creation with all of this (very good human nature PLUS those negative traits of having that carnal mind) too; I am no exception. What hope is there?
“For the creature was MADE SUBJECT TO vanity, NOT WILLINGLY, but by reason of HIM who hath subjected the same in hope,” Romans 8:20
What hope is there? Amongst other things, there is this:
“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, NOT IMPUTING their TRESPASSES unto them…” 2 Corinthians 5:19
The likes of a Gerald Flurry (or a Pack, a Malm, a Thiel, a Franks, a Kubik, a Weston…pick a name/group) will never reconcile us, but I am hopeful reconciliation becomes a reality for each of us.
And time will tell…
John
12.41 PM
A good point. Why didn't Rod give some of his own 'excess' wealth from his house sale to the work for that final 'one last push.' Presumably his understood better than most that church administration consumes over 80% of church income. So why should his minister pals get his money. After all, he knew how undeserving (diplomacy here) they are.
Where can I get a link to this UCG sermon anyone ? If the is nothing wrong anon 8:11 then why carn't I a mere UCG member get access from my own church website ?
The UCG actually went bad long ago when it welcomed all sorts of wicked and malicious unbelievers to attend its meetings, and pretended that it was “showing love” to them, while pushing out any true believers.
The fields are indeed "white" for harvest. Which means that as the USA becomes much more brown than white, a much more ethnically diverse nation with whites soon to become the largest minority group, the ACOG message to Ephraim and Manasseh becomes less and less attractive, less and less relevant.
I found and listened to this WFW Friday night bible study and it raises more questions than the speaker answered.
He clearly wants UCG brethren to witness to anyone who passes their path. He laboured in detail of Jesus talking to the Smaritian woman at the well yet did not utter a word of any helpful suggestions for UCG brethren who are supposed to be conducting this witnessing to perfect strangers.
Can you please post the link?
The UCG is not into behaving properly and growing.
The UCG is into behaving badly and splitting.
Anon 1:44 AM and any interested in that WFW Friday night bible study with listening to it, one may go to the following link:
https://www.ucg.org/file/686261
John
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