Disaster in California: This is Not the time to Judge. This is the Time to Help.
I can just see the scowl on the faces of fundamentalist Church of God members to the news. I can just read their thoughts. I can almost predict the posts that are due to come out, if they have not come out already. The hatred, the judgements, the "warnings" - they come out like roaring lions every time a disaster hits. They always roar out with snarls and hisses about what they believe the reason for the fire really was, and what they believe caused it. They do not hesitate to call it a judgement of God against those who blaspheme against His ways and His will. They show no empathy, no care, no concern, no heart, and most of all, no love toward anybody who thinks or acts differently than they do. To them, they've brought it all on themselves because of their rebellion and obstinate behavior towards God's Law. "Burn, Burn, you haters of God and his ways", they'll say, nearly drooling over the prospect of the wicked being subject to punishment - wishing for fire and brimstone, like with Sodom and Gomorrah. You can almost hear them say "Get 'em" to the fire. "That'll teach 'em", you can nearly see them say as they hunch forward in glee, as in watching their favorite runner with the football heading towards the End Zone. (Well, most of them. We know one who doesn't meet that comparison!)
What is wrong with this picture?
Everything is wrong with this picture.
First of all, and importantly - EVERYONE - you, me, your neighbor, your son, your daughter, your parents - have issues. EVERYONE deals with their own personal situations. EVERYONE goes through their own struggles and their own pain. It is not our place to judge someone else's pain and suffering when we all have our own issues to deal with. Speck vs. Beam!!
Church of God Members are vicious and quick to cast judgement on what they see as immorality and perversion among "the world" and are quick to condemn and cast judgement, using events as wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other natural events as proof of the judgement of God. Yet they refuse to see the blatant idolatry, the immorality within their own ranks, the hypocrisy, the abuse, the oppression, the extortion, and the financial theft happening within their own ranks. Who are them to cast judgement when they don't look in the mirror? The hypocrisy is beyond wretched and reason.
Who are they to sit there and cast judgement on those who are not meeting their standards when they are blind to their own nest of sin and evil - as they define it? Who made them holier than thou? Who gave them the gift of spiritual discernment when their own nest has been scorched by the fires of wickedness? Who are they to laugh and scorn at the loss and pain of others, when they oppress the poor, abuse the weak, and take gain for themselves for their own comfort and security? What gave them the right to be such arrogant and hurtful pricks? They cast judgement in the name of God while their own hair burns and they don't even know it.
Just as bad, they feel they don't have to do a thing to help them, or to "show them Jesus", to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Which COG Leader do you know of who will drop everything to go to California to help them? Anyone?
Which COG Leader will invite Caitlyn Jenner into their home? Which COG Leader will invite Allysa Milano into their home - or ANY person of different opinion into their property? Anyone? Hello!
Will a COG Leader open his property to the victims of the wildfires? Will he allow them to sleep on his rug in his palace? Will he allow them to worship God with un-laced shoes? Or non-white shirts? Will he bring in the unwashed into his closed gates? Will he permit the smell of scorched and burned clothes into his palaces? Will he comfort the hurting? Would he? Could he?
Will a COG Leader open up his headquarters to the wounded? Or would he make the excuse it's too far? Would he pay airfare for the displaced in California who lost everything, who aren't financially fortunate? Or would he only care about his own members - who were somehow supernaturally protected - or give those who were hurt "thoughts and prayers"?
Will local ministers in California do anything?
Will our self-appointed non-ordained minister open up his house or his vitamin house for any of the wounded or displaced? Will he use any of his money or proceeds to feed the firefighters of the police who are working day and night to protect and to serve? Will our crooked bookcase man give a sermon of hope and peace in Jesus to the victims - or will he do another horrible message on 50 topics while ignoring the state burning all around him? Or will he do a web post on how everything happening is God's punishment on a world that won't keep the Sabbath at Bob's butt-numbing church services - or go to his Feast of Tabernacles?
What COG minister will be moved to be there in this disaster? Anyone? What COG minister will tell people to keep their hands off of this tragedy because you can't interfere with God's judgement? Shall we name names?
What if we reversed the thinking?
What if this wasn't a judgement on the world - but a test of action of faith to people who profess Jesus?
What if these things were a test of love? Of how much those who profess Jesus would take action? Would help and serve? Who take in and show the love of God to those who think differently? Who act differently? Did not Jesus say to feed the sick? Or the homeless? Or the jailed? Or the widowed? Did he not say to do these things? Of course, the COG will just say "Well, that didn't mean THEM. He was talking about the Church."
God have mercy on those who spew such bull and vomit on the grace of Jesus Christ. God have mercy on them. Because these are the ones that Jesus would have ran to to help and to serve. Because God's love and God's grace and mercy know no boundaries. God's sacrifice knows no bounds. God is a God who is looking for those who give of themselves for the sake of others - ALL others - regardless of race, religion, disability, or mindset. God is a God of love. And his expectation is that his people put their faith into action, show Jesus, and love others. ALL others. Without prejudice, and with great compassion and healing hands.
California is burning tonight. But so are the hearts and compassionate care of hundreds of thousands who do not cast self-righteous judgement and Pharisaical condemnation against those who are not as righteous as their holier than thou saintly vessels of perfection and righteousness - whitewashed with soap and gleaming with sparkles in their oh, so magnificent splendor - are. There are thousands who are going without sleep, without eating, driving thousands of miles, taking care of displaced people, pets, horses, who have lost everything - to do the work of the Lord Jesus to all peoples - regardless of what they believe or who they are. These are the people who are showing the love of God. These are the angels showing mercy and love and compassion.
As far as the COG leaders - whoever may do what I'm describing here - you know, the ones who sit on their asses in their white shirts and pressed pants mocking those who have lost everything? Who sit there in self-righteous sneers as to how great they are and how wicked the world is? Who relish at the thought of the embers of fire and whipping destruction against those who despise and mock God's Law with drooling fervor, wishing the fire on - or worse, turning a blind eye?
Don't look at the specks in their eyes when a beam shoots out of yours. You make a mockery of Jesus, and spit, stomp, and reduce to ashes the word of God and the ministry of Jesus Christ. May God have as much mercy on YOU, as he shows on the world through the sacrifice and love of His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ - so that you, too, may see how great and how deep and how wide is the love of God, who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son for everyone. And once you open your eyes to THAT. May God's spirit convict you and WAKE YOU UP to the pathetic attitudes that have come from the false Gospel you've embraced through the false apostle Herbert Armstrong.
But God is not going to force you to change your stubborn and hard headed minds. That's going to be up to you.
42 comments:
Now THAT is an attack speech, and a good one at that!
The greatest expression of love is helping people qualify for the kingdom. It is not necessarily making people feel comfortable, or alleviating suffering. I suggest people read Amazon reviews of a book called Toxic Charity by Robert Lupton. He is a minister with over forty years experience, and explains how "helping" people is often harmful.
Being overwhelmed by pity to the point that justice is ignored, long term harms people. It's the way the world works. This is what should be considered in the case of disasters.
I noticed one reviewer asked whether soup kitchens will really harm desperate people. A good point. Not a easy topic.
James Woods - a conservative actor - who usually uses his twitter feed to bash democrats and promote conservative causes, has spent the past 2 days (with minimal sleep) using his twitter account to help those in need and being a hub for all those needing help without regard to political differences.
James Woods is being a light to the world and showing he cares.
Who is our neighbor?
Yes. There is institutionalized sickness deeply programmed into the ACOGs, and this generally manifests itself any time that disasters occur. Rather than joining into the solution, that culture exploits human suffering for its own recruitment purposes, and for the reinforcement of its doctrinal perspectives and world view.
The fires came on so suddenly that I was totally unaware of their magnitude until last evening when I spoke with one of my California colleagues. I’d been installing some new equipment for a church group this week in a city about 100 miles from home, and learned of the fires when I called him to report on our success in this very uplifting environment. What a contrast to what he had been going through. I still didn’t grasp the scope of the disasters even though he described it as a virtual plague or pestilence.
Language is very rich in the word choices offered to describe many things, including cultic behavior patterns. The best word to describe those of the ACOGs is a simple one: selfish. Armstrongism is a “save your own ass and screw everyone else” religion. Armstrongites have been led to believe that they can be selective about repressing normal human compassion and reserving it for their own fellow members. The truth is that you if you kill compassion for the majority of humanity, you’re just waiting for an excuse to kill it for your own. It’s an all or nothing pathology. So many of us, in our individual recoveries, have waged a lifelong battle to rekindle the natural empathy which has been killed off by our past programming. That has become such a natural part of who we have been that many probably don’t even realize that it can be a still active infection. It takes an occasional disaster and the reaction of the ACOG community to remind us and to trigger a bit of introspection amongst those who are relearning to think for themselves.
BB
the basic reason these horrible things keep happening in this nation, including the constant mass shootings, mega hurricanes, and the like, is because people keep ignoring Scriptures like 2 Thessalonians 1:8 and Romans 3:5, even becoming hostile, and yes, judgementa towards one what quotes them...
this blog loves to quote the Apostle Saul: quote him now...
fact is, our nation fits the criteria for meeting the Wrath of God like so many others before us:
what makes us so special that we shouldnt suffer the same fate as sinful nations of the past?? why should not we?
c f ben yochanan
PCG, RCG, UCG, LCG, COGWA and a bunch of other Armstrong sects left California years ago.
God must be delivering HIs fiery judgment on Bob Thiel. Each new California fire seems to be coming closer to the headquarters of the improperly named Continuing Church of God. If Bob does not repent, soon enough he too will get burned.
"Church of God Members are vicious and quick to cast judgement on what they see as immorality and perversion among "the world" and are quick to condemn and cast judgement, using events as wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other natural events as proof of the judgement of God. Yet they refuse to see the blatant idolatry, the immorality within their own ranks, the hypocrisy, the abuse, the oppression, the extortion, and the financial theft happening within their own ranks. Who are them to cast judgement when they don't look in the mirror? The hypocrisy is beyond wretched and reason."
and you, apparently, are quick to throw accusations....
Now I agree with much written on this blog, but regarding this post; not so much.
Yes, there are many within the ACOG's that behave as this posts suggests, but it in no way can be a blanket statement to include them all.
I am one who is a member of a ACOG and have came out of that judgemental line of thinking a long time ago, and I know many currently I attend with who have as well. In fact this has been a topic of discussion many a Sabbath.
Just wanted to inform the readers that we are not all A-holes.
Thank you,
Sam.
"When I was young, fires were just fires, hurricanes were just hurricanes and tragedy was just tragedy
But when I got older (and in Church) , fires were not JUST fires, hurricanes were not JUST hurricanes and tragedy not JUST tragedy.
But now that I am old, fires are just fires, hurricanes are just hurricanes and tragedy is just tragedy"
No God is "trying to get our attention" as Bob Thiel is wont to say. Life does what it does. One can be in the wrong place at the wrong time and there is no need to be God-Haunted over every last thing that happens between people or to people, places or things.
There was a supposed time where the OT God evidently had a voice like thunder and was very used to just speaking up to the tune of "And God said..." That was replaced in time by middlemen who now said "Thus saith the Lord", according to them as they reveled the dictates of the voice in their heads.. When we get to the end of the OT, God seems to have given up speaking up and only speaks with "a still small voice" to the point of the Psalms lamenting over and over, "why art thou so far off?" Humans were waking up and not hearing an obvious voice of God in their heads any longer. In effect, humans were becoming more conscious of themselves and less group think inclined. The individual was born. The perplexed were reduced to divining the will of the gods by casting lots, oracles, reading sheep guts and tea leaves. Woo woo and pookey pookey became a hallmark of the religiously lost.
In time the sheer charisma of a leader was enough to draw them in, or as in HWA's, Bob Thiel's, Ron Weinland's, Dave Pack's and Gerald Flurry's case, drive them away once and for all as their ideas about who they are and how in touch with God and Jesus, or Christ which sounds more serious than just being in touch with Jesus, become obviously mistaken and irrelevant
Today, minister types such as Thiel, Flurry, Pack and others are reduced to telling us what God is thinking, doing or wanting with absolutely no proof that any of what they feel is true. Dave Pack has made a fool out of himself speaking for God and what must be and why. Weinland has done the same.
Life just does what it does. COG types need to get their heads out of the unchangeable past and the unknowable future or the only life they actually have will also elude them with grevious regrets.
PS This is a compassionate, kind and honest posting on one of COG's greatest lifetime flaws in their understanding of the NT and Gospel Jesus.
They will read this and focus on the words "my brethren" as if Jesus meant ONLY those in the church, which did not exist then, or ONLY followed him then, and miss the whole point. For this lack of mercy I suspect in some way in life they will be shown no mercy.
Matthew 25
4 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
Sin destroys. Mercy for destroyers is helping Satan.
"Don't look at the specks in their eyes when a beam shoots out of yours."
What beam? Where is your evidence that I'm a far greater sinner than those in California? You are merely fabricating accusations against me.
I can almost predict the posts...
And the post hoc prophetic warnings from the COGprophets...
Sam
Topic of discussion during the Sabbath in a ACOG? The typical ACOG allows no discussion on any topic. The unspoken rule is that the minister lords it over members faith, with the minister alone determining what's right or wrong. Discussions are regarded as the work of the Devil. You are either in a unusual ACOG or beware of church snitches.
On the long road between cradle & grave, we travel alone. It is not the blind and random circumstances of our birth which determine the quality of our journey that is decided by the choices made along the way.
I'd rather be in a room with 10 Holy Ghost filled Christians than be trapped in a room with 5 atheists.
Is CA really burning, or just a few shrubs in the desert? Anyway, it's time to burn it down and build a better one. CA has gone to the dogs.
Oh, no!!! There were definitely discussions, 10:41! Those discussions were about how you totally agreed with the minister and were so glad to have some bew perspective. The sermon and sermonette today once again affirmed that God truly soeaks through “His” ministers!
I can still hear in my mind the thunderous condemnation of the LCG by Dave Pack when he found out they gave $10,000 towards some disaster relief effort. This and other doings by the LCG and other splinters were termed by Mr. Pack as squandering God's money down a giant rat hole.
These COG leaders were weaned on the condemnation of mankind by the "doom and gloom" gospel and therefore the unabashed indictment of mankind because of their actions is normal thought process.
When these men wake up on a Saturday morning they look in the mirror and see righteousness and confirm it with the putting on of the proper white shirt and the not too wide or too thin tie and the proper shoe always shined, and the slicking of the proper length professional hair cut. All of these thought processes and actions were condemned by Jesus Christ and attributed to the Pharisees or Sadducees or Publicans whether He commented about the "kingly robes" or the "phylacteries" or the sitting in the "high seats" of the temple. Jesus Christ went on to condemn the relational actions of His enemies by giving the account of the "good Samaritan" in (Luke 10:25-37) and asking "Which one was neighbor unto him". Jesus Christ further expanded on the relational aspect by stating in the "love your enemy" example (Matt. 5:43-48); "For if you love them which love you, what reward have ye"?
Which is it, the righteousness of the Pharisees/Sadducees or the righteousness of God that is to be produced as fruit? It doesn't take a hard look from those on the outside to see which fruit is evident.
I'd rather be in a room with one critical thinking atheist than with ten piously convicted yet marginally informed COG ministers
not sure what ur question means...its kinda vague...
Hey 12:39
Why don't you go out there and see? Maybe you can actually help someone.
Anon 1239 said " Anyway, it's time to burn it down and build a better one. CA has gone to the dogs."
That's about as shallow of a comment as we get here. I imagine the intent of the posting has escaped you completely.
Gal 6:10 Do good to all men, but especially (not exclusively) to the household of faith. James 1:27 True religion is taking care of those in need. Let's see if any ACOG reaches out. I wonder how many members volunteer any of their time and energy to charitable organizations (St. Vincent de Paul stores, soup kitchens, etc.) to help non members. Wouldn't that be a good evangelistic tool?
When I read a few of the comments above - like the one who thinks that charity/help to others can be wrong. Or the one who wants CA to burn because it's gone to the dogs. Or the one who thinks I am fabricating accusations against "him" when "he" doesn't even tell who "he" is.
It makes me think that the direct words of Jesus are consistently ignored, or reasoned away, or somehow watered down to fit the Armstrong Perspective. It couldn't mean that. It couldn't mean what it says it means. So people go to their bookcases (most I'm sure are actually straight!) and pull out the Armstrong material from generations past to reassure themselves of how correct they are.
Matthew 25 has the weight and authority of a flea to many, I'm afraid.
And Galatians, Corinthians, Ephesians, Collosians, Thessalonians, Acts, and Hebrews.
Pull out Leviticus and Deuteronomy though, and they'll read every single word and try to obey it as thoroughly and completely as possible, earning their way trying to "qualify".
What I’d like to know from the selfish ACOGs is this: How do you know that God isn’t calling more to Him through these fires? Assuming that God is even involved in any of the ACOGs, what if you were there, helping out at ground zero? What if your group contributed financially to the relief? Why wouldn’t you want your example and contribution to be part of God’s calling process for some of these people?
What’s this about “Satan’s people”? Weren’t all people “Satan’s people” before they became God’s people? In forbidding you to help, your ministers are speaking the worst double talk imaginable, and most likely because they want the money and efforts you would be contributing for themselves! What can’t you guys see that???
BB
SHT - what is wrong with Leviticus 19 v 18 love your neighbor as yourself? In Luke, Jesus explained in the parable of the good Samaritan that being a good neighbor is helping others even those you might not normally associate with. He picked the Samaritan because the religious Jews despised them.
The old testament flows into the new testament. The Pharisees (old and new) misunderstand the intent of the Bible plus make up their own layer of rules that circumvent the Bible - keeping the commandments of men instead of the commandments of God.
You are correct, these topics will not come up in a typical ACOG, one of which I left and no longer attend. I attend loosely with UCG but do not subscribe as a member as many do. I have witnessed factions I will call them within UCG such as the little local group I loosely attend with. They are war torn group of brethren who make up their own minds on topics and even the few ministers who tend to this area will jump in and talk with you about these topics openly. I agree, this is rare. Trust me, I have seen my share of arrogant judgemental behavior in decades past, and I will have no more of it. I am also not worried about snitches. I have encountered them in times past as well. If I spot this behavior and it becomes rampant in my area, I will simply leave knowing that I have the authority of scripture to do so. No bigee, no sweat.
SHT
No, it's not that Christ's words are ignored, reasoned round or watered down. Rather, they are not cherry picked, as you are doing. Do a bible study on the word pity. Many times in the OT, God said beforehand that He would show no pity when punishing certain evil nations. This is because God gives the highest priority to encouraging repentance.
If God followed your advice, people would lose their eternal lives.
The true significance of the California wildfires only surfaced to the entire world when the Kardashians apparently cancelled appearances.
Nck
"I'd rather be in a room with one critical thinking atheist than with ten piously convicted yet marginally informed COG ministers"
The pious ones are the atheists who think science is on their side and has all the answers. And if they could think critically they would know that neither is true.
Atheists have never built a successful country, which is why they always go extinct.
This article is NOT about atheism!!! You people that mentioned atheism are over thinking it!! LOL
A bit more significant for me, nck. One of my children escaped safely with his life, but has most likely lost everything including his place of employment in one of those fires.
I don’t place you into this category, but let’s see what some of the ignorant posters have to say about that!
BB
Possible prompted by this article, Bob Thiel assured us that he is no danger from the current fires. ut, as predicted, he has a short message for us, Fires and the Wrath of God...
Mine was a joke in relation to extra biblical interpretations.
I saw the parent singing to his child whilst driving through hell.
As a philosopher I see the perfect opportunity for your kid to become enlightened in an instant by losing all.
As a fellow human being I wish speedy recovery for him.
Nck
Let's not forget Luke13:1-5 where Jesus briefly dealt with the topic of tragedies and the tendency for people to associate them with sin. Are the people in california greater sinners than any other sinners in the World? As for those that think that just because God pronounced judgement on certain people in the scriptures,it somehow gives them the right to be judgemnetal and jump to conclusions, I just want them to remember only God has the righteousness and Authority to pronounce eternal judgement. It may be surprising to see that some of the same people who are condemned as sinners may end up repenting and being saved while those pronouncing judgement may end up with the same condemnation they pronounced on others. Natural diasaters and tragedies happen all over the world to all people regardless of race,wealth,age e.t.c, they are not neccessarily caused by the creator. Even Job and his friends made the mistake in assuming that the attacking winds and the consuming fire from heaven was from God, little did they know it was the evil one.The lesson of these tragedies reminds us of how mortal and vulnerable we all are and the need to be humble ,in other words instead judging other peoples salvation tickets we should check our own we are all perishable.
So, what are any of you COG critics doing to help those affected by these fires?
Red Cross seems to offer the best charity to donate to.
TLA-you're right about the Red Cross.They helped us when we lost everything in the big flood
of 1961 back in Waterloo, IA. Was unemployed, had 2 kids & I got "sicker than a puking dog"
while filling sandbags. For me...it's the Red Cross...too many of the other charities seem to
focused on the $$ they bring in rather than spending those $$ to really help those in need.
How much $$ their top execs are paid compared to where those $$ go tells a lot about the org.
I am praying for the safety of Doctor Robert Thiel. He is one of the few in California not living a life of sin.
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