BAN THE BIBLE
The COGs keep having problems with members reading the Bible and coming up with questions they do not want to answer.
Instead of being so negative, I would like to help them out.
The solution is obvious – ban the Bible.
It worked so well for the Roman Catholic Church for over 1,500 years, so try it out. Look at all the trouble the RCC had when people started reading the Bible for themselves.
The council of elders in each group have so much experience they can use to help and instruct the members.
Why confuse them by letting them read the scriptures for themselves.
When they read that Christ is the head of man, they really think that applies to them. It is obvious with our overwhelming knowledge and wisdom is that the head of the members is the local pastor, and the head of the local pastors is the COG president / presiding evangelist / apostle / prophet.
Even worse, when they read Timothy and see that Paul tells Timothy to rightly divide the word of truth – this only applies to the very top ministers, not the sheep.
The solution is clear.
Ban the Bible.
Provide the members instead with your well-written booklets, magazines, and sermons. Tell them this their bible study instead of the confusing Bible.
Excommunicate anyone caught reading the Bible.
If COGs will just do this, they can hang on to their members until death.
Submitted by TLA
11 comments:
Maybe a little tongue in cheek, maybe a little sarcastic …. BUT historically interesting! Years ago we were pushed to read every article, every magazine, and evened threatened with "tests" in spokesman club to see if we had been reading the church's literature.
Also warned against having any bible studies or discussions without at least an 'elder' there.
Waaaaay past that now, thankfully.
Heh. They don't actually need to ban the Bible. They've already banned all the independent conclusions the lay members arrive at through their own study and heartfelt prayer. Armstrongism isn't based on the Bible in the first place. It is a personality cult based on the opinions and edicts of Herbert W. Armstrong. It is based on the precept that HWA was God's Apostle, and was simply repeating God's perspectives. Once they've convinced you of that, it's all over.
BB
Ban the bible? If we did not have laws you could kill and steal with impunity. The people who are against legalism have already taken the meat out of the bible, so they are basically banning it while still paying lip service to it.
7:10 Wow, this post just flew right over the top of your head. You totally missed the point. What the hell does that have to do with those who are against legalism? Earth to 7:10! Earth to 7:10!
I can remember back in WCG when I was going to be baptized, the minister told me to re-read "Mystery of the Ages" but he never said anything about reading the holy bible. And also, a cousin of mine went to PCG and his minister told him before his baptism to study "Malachi's Message" but nothing said about studying the bible.
7:10 PM must wonder how China has managed to have a workable system of laws for more than 6,000 years without the Bible.
Many church-going people don't need a Bible ban. They do it to themselves, by not taking one to church.
I heard a mainstream preacher on radio this week bemoan that fact - not to mention people not taking notes on what they hear. This happens in COG's more often than ministers want to admit.
Few people read books of any kind. Reading is the gateway for all answers in virtually any topic.
Most live a life by accident, and happenstance. Seldom are lives designed, or lived in a very deliberate fashion. Thus , circumstances, and immediacy rule , which makes one vulnerable to pseudo-authorities, and in being controlled.
Connie: you said it! that's about the size of it. :-)
For many, it doesn't matter if they read their Bibles or not. The church culture and minister opinions over rides members personal understanding of the bible. This substantially negates the value of bible study.
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