It is that time of year when Churches of God moan and groan about the date of Christ's birth and how everyone goes into debt buying gifts. They are conveniently quiet on how COG members go into debt each year in order to travel to exotic Feast sites that many are still struggling to pay off. It is more important to malign Christians than it is to see their own excessive spending habits, but that is another story.
Richard Ames has written a letter to the co-workers where he chides them on buying gifts for family members when they should be sending on that money to the Living Church of God or sending all of that money in so LCG can do its ministry.
Most of this end-of-year shopping is supposedly done to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, even though we know from the evidence of Scripture that He was born several months before December. Imagine how powerfully we could reach the world with the true Gospel message if even a tithe of that misguided holiday spending went instead to God’s Work!
In our Tomorrow’s World personal appearance presentations, I often emphasize the sins of America, Canada and other nations, including the national sin of robbing from God. The prophet Malachi indicts our Western nations for their selfishness and covetousness, and their choice not to honor God for His abundant national and individual blessings. “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.” (Malachi 3:8–9).Another uplifting co-worker letter! it is more important to make his readers feel like the worthless worms they are instead of being grace-filled. Oh, wait. There is a reason for that...sigh. Damn inconvenient dude!
Notice that the penalty for robbing God is not only individual, but national! We have been warning our Western nations that there is a cause for every effect, and we will reap what we have sown nationally and individually (Galatians 6:7). We can be thankful for the time being that the U.S. economy has been healthy, even with a third-quarter slowdown and volatile stock market. While the European Union unemployment rate remains above 8 percent, unemployment in the United States earlier this year reached a 49-year low at 3.7 percent. Yet, we know from God’s word that the situation will be reversed, as social and economic devastation in the U.S. and British-descended nations contribute to a “famine” of the preaching of the Gospel. The prophet Joel records a plea for repentance during a future time of scarce resources (Joel 2:12–17). And eventually our work of preaching the Gospel will come to an end, leading to a famine of the word (Amos 8:11) just before the two witnesses powerfully prophesy during the three and one-half years leading up to the seventh trumpet proclamation, announcing the Kingdom of God on earth (Revelation 11:15). As our Lord Jesus Christ said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). So, we must fulfill the Great Commission while it is day! Many of God’s people are now being blessed financially and choosing to contribute generously to the Work, according to their means. Thank you for your continuing support in spreading the light of God’s truth!You worthless worms! Some of your fellow co-workers are sending us their money, but you are not, They are generous, you are not!
You dumb Christians! REAL bible scholars only reside in the Living Church of God! Everyone knows that but you!
As all reputable Bible scholars know, Jesus Christ was born in the autumn season and not on December 25. Many professing Christians do not know, or do not care, that the Christmas date was based on the celebrated birthday of a pagan sun god.When will these faithless Churches of God ever step out in real faith and stop demanding people tithe of their hard earned money? If people are truly blessed by their work, then they will freely give.
We all saw how well that worked when the Worldwide Church of God freed its members from the tithing requirement! They expect money to flow in from people who were richly blessed by its message. LCG and the rest of the tithe demanding COG's prefer to lay the unscriptural demand of tithing on their members as a requirement as they know that they refute the tithing command, they too will be bankrupt.
"If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ." 1 Corinthians 9:12
ReplyDelete"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." 1 Timothy 6:10
the apostle Saul understood that putting emphasis on tithing was a hindrance to the spreading of the gospel, and that the love of money is the very foundation for failure across the board, particularly as it pertains to the churches...
Saul, in his pittance, was more successful in preaching the gospel than the cogs could ever hope to be cuz he adhered to such principles, and as such was most Blessed of God...
c f ben yochanan
I will be giving, as I always have, Christmas gifts to my children & grandchildren. I have done the research on the origin of Christmas and it doesn't matter if Christ was born on the 25th of December or not, most evidence proves he was, we don't celebrate Christmas for the sake of "saturnalia"! We observe Christmas for family togetherness.
ReplyDeleteRobbing God? How about the ministers robbing church members of their natural rights by treating them as children. They need to look into a mirror before accusing others.
ReplyDeleteThese fucks think they are Gauuds representatives on earth? What a sick joke.
ReplyDeleteDo they really expect that the nations of the earth are going to give the lcg a tithe?
No they don't.
Propaganda for the blue ribbon bunch. Tithe slaves that is..
Besides that, there is no more priesthood.
Just how will they explain this to the membership?
They won't.
Ames’s script was written decades ago by HWA. This is the same old same old, regurgitated for the “faithful” for the umpteenth million time. I suppose that in and of itself, this missive is supposed to prove that LCG is the COG amongst the ACOGs. Most likely, similar things are being written and spoken in all of the little ACOGs, as they refer to themselves exclusively as being God’s Church and God’s ministers.
ReplyDeleteBB
ReplyDelete“Imagine how powerfully we could reach the world with the true Gospel message if even a tithe of that misguided holiday spending went instead to God’s Work!”--Richard Ames
Imagine how powerfully even a non-true splinter group like LCG could reach the world with the true gospel message of the kingdom of God if it had not perverted it with LCG's two-fold gospel message idea to try to put a different stamp on the church. RCM's crazy need to always have to compete with HWA and change what he taught is a real curse on the LCG--an apostle Paul type double curse. The LCG robs from God's tithe money to pervert the true gospel of the kingdom of God--bringing a Malachi type curse on itself too.
Richard Ames should know that Malachi isn’t talking about the people robbing God but rather the priests robbing God. Nothing has changed, the ministery takes care of themselves. They are doing nothing to change or help humanity. I am happy to be able to give gifts to my family members. At least my family appreciates what I am able to do. I don’t know when Christ was born. I am looking forward to being with my family on Christmas. A Christmas tree, lights, decorations don’t mean anything to me. I would much rather eat Christmas dinner with my family than listen to a boring sermon by Richard Ames.
ReplyDeleteJim
Perform a couple of genuine healings that are recognized by the public, or have an extraordinary "prediction" that comes true precisely on time, and there will be no need for these letters begging for money.
ReplyDeleteJesus sent his disciples into the world , carrying nothing with them. The tools and gifts of the Holy Spirit , were all they needed to produce lodging and food, through healings and miracles. Their message was also compelling enough to change the world... without the use of multiple millions of dollars, and without television/magazines.
Instead of spending money on junk, or on alcohol, cigarettes and drugs, use it to build something spread the message of the world tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteEnoch
It wouldn't be so bad if they were actually preaching the gospel of Christ.
ReplyDeleteThe mainstream churches do not agree on keeping God's Holy Days and unclean foods and do not have the focus on prophecy - which is a very small part of the gospels and the epistles - but they do preach love your neighbor and have the good works - hospitals, feeding the hungry, etc. that go with it.
If you are hungry - getting a meal really helps. Jesus even said doing small things like giving a cup of water counts. Whatever we do to help others is the same as helping Him.
Good principles to live by regardless of religion or lack of religion.
Instead of helping people when bad things happen, they instead use them to tell them how much worse it is going to be.
Imagine standing before Christ and having Him ask you what you did when you saw people suffering from fire and hurricanes, and your reply is - "I told them You were angry at them and more bad stuff like this was going to happen." And His reply? I told you in the gospels to help them - all my ministry was about helping people - why did you not understand?
If they believe in Jesus, then why don't they do what He commanded?
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteRobbing God? How about the ministers robbing church members of their natural rights by treating them as children. They need to look into a mirror before accusing others.
December 18, 2018 at 2:54 AM
ASB Comment: The problem is a minister uses Malachi to prove what he says he fails to recognize that Malachi is talking to Israel. as a whole and his point is that Israel is questioning God not God questioning Israel. Malachi starts out by making the statement from God " I have loved you saith the Lord". yet you say, Wherein hast thou loved us? The people were oblivious of being the chosen people and the blessing they had received. When they were accused of robbing God they didn't recognize all the blessings they had received as a nation. The whole message of Malachi was pointing out that human failings in the leadership was a lack of focus on what God had done and the fact that they were a flop in being a living example of the God's love and grace in forgiveness. That seems to fit today's people whether in the world or in a church.
If I sent a financial donation to a church it would NOT be to one of Armstrong's cult groups, but I would contribute financially to a local church in my area that is ACTUALLY doing something for the people in my community who are in need. In my area unemployment is at a dangerous high & the suicide rate here in my area is ridiculously high.
ReplyDeleteIf I collected money for a charity, then pocketed it, then I would be a thief. In the C of God, the real thieves are the ministers. They are not authorized to collect tithes, they are not Levites. Even Jews today do not teach tithing because there is no temple and no Levites. But, they do urge their members (not command) that they give (voluntary) not pay (mandatory) 10% to help "heal the world." Any pastor who demands tithing is a thief. Paul and other early church leaders NEVER taught tithing, they urged that people give (voluntary) to help others.
ReplyDeleteThey are conveniently quiet on how COG members go into debt each year in order to travel to exotic Feast sites....
ReplyDeleteTo which LCG and others would say the members aren't supposed to go into debt for the Feast. They should attend sites they can afford with their 2T.
Of course, some then would say you should send the extra 2T to the church - even though the Old Testament doesn't have that language.
Enoch
ReplyDeleteSpoken like a thug. The little people always squander their resources and freedoms on 'junk, alcohol, cigarettes and drugs.' Hence the wise big people should take these resources away from the little people, and spend their money for them. Why don't you go live in a country where your beliefs are fully implemented, ie, North Korea?
Your website is disgusting. You are an agent of satan. Mr Ames is a good man and has been dedicated to doing God’s Work. You should be ashamed of yourself. You are not helping people to follow God. You are like Alexander the blacksmith. Just know that judgement awaits you you son of satan.
ReplyDelete4:24 PM, Judge much? Or rather, misjudged much?
Deleteoh, so you call this poster judgemental, yet you dont call bs on this blog for being judgemental??? hypocritical much???
Deletec f ben yochanan
CFBY At 9:28 PM, I am a hypocritical & proud of it.
Delete4.24 PM
ReplyDeleteGet a life troll guy.
@ 2:28 PM, surely you know that many synagogues today charge admission to Holy Day services, and charge more for better seats as if people were attending a play or a concert. Many observant Jews lament how, on Yom Kippur, some wealthy couple who aren't particularly observant may purchase the best seats in the house, while the ordinary members who aren't so wealthy end up with lousy seats.
ReplyDeleteOf course, if the ACOGs charged admission to Holy Day services, attendance would plummet.
Troll guy is behind the times. This blog has had a lot of contributors both in articles and comments over the years by LCG members. There are probably more LCG followers than any other group. Besides, he is a funny guy with his comments...
ReplyDeleteHonestly when I used to drink the Kool-Aid I'd have said the samething if I had come across a blog critical of "God's true servants". The ministry keeps saying things like.."don't go on the internet and read negative things about the church","remember Satan is the accuser of the brethren","you'll never get in the kingdom of God if you criticize God's true ministers","be loyal to your leaders","submit! Submit! Submit! to your leaders","God works through human instruments","God's rule is top down","Government is everything","We have the truth and the world is decieved", e.t.c it can be quite hypnotic after years of hearing those phrases and similar over and over again.
Delete"... surely you know that many synagogues today charge admission to Holy Day services..."
ReplyDeleteThat would not surprise me. Read about the Kosher Tax. You are funding them even if you don't know it. You pay to have Rabbi's declare products you buy as "kosher" as defined in the Talmud (not the OT). Even dish soap and aluminum foil have a markup on them that goes to the Rabbis.
There is no evidence that Saturnalia predates Christmas. Saturnalia possibly was created in an attempt to take over or distract from the Christian celebration of Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI have found some of troll guys comments funny. But to me, calling BB, bicycle/tricycle Bob, and similar, is being rude. There are limits.
ReplyDelete9.28 PM
ReplyDeleteWe are told to "choose life." This is a ongoing responsibility of passing moral evaluation on everything and everyone around us. Much like evaluating other cars around us when driving. Never man nor animal can survive without this constant assessment of ones environment. To attack this responsibility with accusations of being judgmental/hypocritical is murder.
Why don't you practice what you preach by driving with your eyes shut?
... accusations of being judgmental/hypocritical is murder.
ReplyDeleteAnd murder is war, and war is nuclear war, and nuclear war is the destruction of the universe!
Jesus didn't teach giving Christmas gifts, but he did teach tithing.
ReplyDeleteMat 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
JRF, I'll stick to my previous comment at 1:48 PM! Or maybe you are one of those people who stayed with Grace Communion International...
DeleteAnon 1:48 pm where the tithe goes is the responsibility of the tither and part of being a good steward. Giving to a local Church sounds great. My point was that tithing is not unscriptual as stated in the original post and even supported by Jesus. None of us were forced by HWA or WCG to tithe. They did not garnish our wages, unless you were minister, not sure about them. Mr. Deihl would know since he was a minister in WCG at one time. As members we were encouraged but not forced to tithe. And second tithe covered Feast expenses to keep us from going in debt to keep the Feast. It worked for me.
DeleteAs one who left the LCG mess a couple years ago, I have to admit I much rather enjoy spending a Christmas morning with my kids seeing the joy on their faces than sitting in some dank Masonic Lidge listening to Richard Ames preach the same sermons I heard him preach when I worked in Pasadena back in the 70/80's. Why did he not ever dream of new things to preach?
ReplyDeleteI had the impression that LCG was preaching less of the Bible than WCG did. Maybe it was because all the rebels and interesting ministers left.
ReplyDeleteWhen was the last time anyone heard a sermon going in depth on the principles from Matthew 5 to 7?
JRF
ReplyDeleteAs brought up previously on this blog, members of WCG weren't forced to tithe, but tithing records were kept, and members approached if they failed to tithe.
JRF
ReplyDeleteWhen I attended services, there was a member who bought a average suburban piece of land which skyrocketed in value. In his joy, he told his church friends. Shortly afterwards, our minister from the pulpit, said that if a piece of land goes up in value, that member must tithe on its increase for that year. The laws of the land are that one only pays taxes on its increase when one sells it. This is because a investment bounces around over the years. The minister didn't care about this. He just wanted the members money. He gave himself the right to verbally bash and tear down members in order to bend them to his will. Tithing being voluntary is laughable.
Why not name this minister? I hear too many nameless ministers who supposedly did terrible things and yet the accusers won't even name them. I've never heard COG ministers teach such a thing. But that doesnt mean it couldnt happen in some congregations. No location, no time period, just another nameless accusation. Maybe these ministers get away with such things because they are never called out by name and held accountable for what they have done. To the credit of the one doing this blog he has the courage to at least name those he feels are guilty of problems.
ReplyDeleteJRF
ReplyDeleteThis blog had a article on this difficult minister. And he is still a minister with some group. But to name this minister opens the possibility of a legal challenge. If you recall, Liberace successfully sued a magazine for claiming his was gay, only for the accusation to be found true after his death.