Top 10 Church of God Deal Breakers

From an LCG source:

Top 10 COG Deal Breakers

If I see that a church has any of these characteristics, then it’s a deal breaker for my attending there. I’ve yet to find a COG that doesn’t have at least one of these characteristics.

1. Exaggeration of the authority of the ministry.
2. De-emphasis on the weightier matters of the law, exaggeration of the importance of ritual.
3. Callous view of the people in the world, minimization of human wellbeing.
4. Suppression of publicly preaching about the person of Jesus Christ and salvation.
5. Preferential treatment of certain members over others.
6. Demanding loyalty to the organization.
7. Exclusive club mentality.
8. Closed door policy.
9. Secrecy.
10. Tolerating abuse.

Here’s a recent example of #4, from this week’s LCG comments to the membership by Douglas Winnail. The below is illogical because what is supposed to be the action people are to take, other than accepting Jesus Christ as personal Savior, if they do heed the warning? How is a mission of a warning message separate from a mission of telling the world about Jesus and being saved??

The Church as a Watchman: Many churches feel their mission is to tell the world that God loves everyone and Jesus came to save sinners. However, there is much more to the biblical Gospel message! Jesus told His disciples to be alert and watch for specific events that will mark the approaching end of the age and the return of Jesus Christ: widespread religious deception and persecution, ethnic violence, wars and rumors of wars and numerous natural catastrophes (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21). Other end-time prophecies warn of a growing coarseness in society as people focus on selfish pursuits and pleasures (2 Timothy 3:1–5). On the world scene, trouble will erupt in the Middle East involving a European power backed by the Roman Church, Arab-Muslim nations and nations from the east and north (Daniel 2; 7; 11:40–44). This final conflagration will threaten the future of humanity—if Christ does not return (Matthew 24:21–22). Just as God raised up prophets to warn the ancient nations of Israel and Judah, the Church of God has a similar mission to function as a watchman to warn modern Israelite nations and the world of what lies ahead (Ezekiel 2; 3; 33; Isaiah 58:1). Delivering this powerful warning message must also accompany the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 24:14). This is the mission we have been given to carry out as the end of the age approaches.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail

PCG: Fundraising For God. After All, It Is Always About The Money

The Philadelphia Church of God Greed has an article up instructing their members how to bring in extra income to the PCG. As income drops because members are leaving, Gerald Flurry's purchase of a new family jet, the immense drain on income due to supporting a boondoggle concert series and financial nightmare that the "college" in England is upon the church, the PCG struggles to maintain income levels at a safe level. Never fear though, the Flurry family has a new opportunity for PCG members to raise money for the most important work the church has ever seen.  Dave Pack and Bob Thiel have been seen whimpering in the shadows in humiliation.

John Krueger has this to say in the article, "Fundraising for God: A way to not only earn money but also show God your enthusiasm for His Work":

God blesses us in many ways, and He asks for so little in return. Every year, we have opportunities to contribute to God’s Work through tithes, holy day offerings and funds for building, airplane and other projects. But there is another way we can give that has proven to produce much fruit: congregational fundraisers. These fundraisers provide great value to God’s Work.

Oh yes, it is a blessing to take hard earned money that your family needs in order to pay triple tithes, a tithe of the tithe, give regular and special offerings, contribute to the building fund, the upkeep of the Flurry family's private jet, AICF, Jerusalem dig, and more.  

There are more than 100 Philadelphia Church of God congregations spread across the globe. Most of these congregations have few members. I’ve heard people say, “Our congregation is too small for a fundraiser.” But that is not true! Even small congregations can make a big contribution through fundraising. One of the smaller congregations that I have served brought in $1,100 in two days. It takes hard work and dedication, but it can be done. Even when members are too scattered to do a group fundraiser, they can use their talents to earn money individually, then pool it together and donate it to headquarters to help the Work.

In spite of all of this, Flurry's god does not look at the money total, but in the attitude of the church members raising money. Obviously, anyone not raising money has a bad attitude! 

Chief financial officer Andrew Locher said that the Church received $200,000 in fundraiser donations in 2017. That is a great donation to God’s Work! But God doesn’t look at the amount that is given; He looks on the attitudes of those working the fundraiser.

So what are some practical fundraisers you can become involved in? Here are some ideas you can suggest to your local minister. One of the most profitable ways to earn money is to work concessions at sporting venues, which are always looking for people to staff their food and drink stands. Garage sales are another great way to bring in extra cash. You can use eBay, Craigslist, Mercari and other websites to sell your unwanted items and use your profits as a donation. You can also use your God-given talents and abilities to sell arts and crafts. Carwashes, clean-up projects, house painting and cleaning, flea markets, and bake sales can all be profitable fundraisers. When I was serving as a minister in Michigan, we had a bake sale where one chocolate cake auctioned for $150!

Did you know that one of the aspects of church membership is that it is a team-building exercise? Church members with bad attitudes are not wanted!

Working on a fundraiser together with your fellow PCG family members is worthwhile. Sharing fellowship and building teamwork and unity is worth more than money. Small congregations can make a difference. As you organize, prepare and hold your fundraiser, remember that the main purpose is not the amount of money you make: It’s your attitude of service that God is looking for. God loves to see His people work in a spirit of unity and fellowship, furthering His Work!

Now is the time to start planning a fundraiser. Show God how much you want to get His message out to the world by going beyond your holy day offerings and tithes. Work to send in additional congregational donations to support this Work and push closer to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ cannot come unless you hold a garage sale and sending in money! 

All of our congregations should have the attitude of the Macedonians and show our great God that we stand firmly and resolutely behind Him, Jesus Christ, His end-time apostle and His wonderful Work. Contact your minister with your ideas: Start fundraising for God!

jawohl, Herr Kapitän!

LCG: Gerald Weston Discusses Billy Graham

The May/June issue of Tomorrow's World is online. Unable to come up with a new name, LCG actually asked the Worldwide Church of God if they could use the name of the old Tomorrow's World magazine the church used to publish. The WCG gave the green light and Meredith had his new copycat magazine ready to go.  The only problem between the golden days of the WCG and the TW magazine and how is that the TW is the flagship magazine of the LCG and is rapidly losing subscribers. They have lost so many over the years that they now no longer include subscription counts in the magazine.

Part of the problem LCG has with its magazine is that it tries to appear mainline Christian in order to attract new readers.  It is still running Rod Meredith's error-laden series on the Protestant Reformation and a second article on how violent some of the Protestant reformers were. It has its regular monthly article detailing some issue going on in Canada. It has an article on abortion and one on the National Health Services (NHS) of the United Kingdom. and then closes it out with another slam against anyone who claims to be a Christian who is outside the Church of God realm.

Then there is Gerald Weston's "personal message" about the so-called Christian, Billy Graham.

Death of “America’s Pastor”

"Billy Graham has been called America’s we not evaluate that separately, analytically, against Pastor. He was a religious giant in America Scripture and without emotion? According to an ABC News report, he preached to more than 210 million people in 185 countries and territories through his “Billy Graham Crusades.” His largest crusade drew one million people in Seoul, South Korea."

Graham’s message has been summed up as, “God loves you and Jesus Christ came to pay the penalty for your sins.” He spoke of a coming Day of Judgment and the need to make a decision for Christ. His message was not different from many evangelical preachers, but he took his campaigns to new levels. Advance planning called upon churches to bring out the crowds when he came into town. They were always well-organized events, including reports of “seeding the audiences” with “repentant sinners” when the altar call came at the end. Hundreds and thousands were moved to walk down the aisle to the plaintive hymn, “Just As I Am.” 

Important Questions

As already noted, to all outward appearances Billy Graham lived a moral life, avoiding excesses, and living modestly with his wife and five children. We would all do well to follow that standard! However, when it comes to his evangelical message, should we not evaluate that separately, analytically, against Scripture and without emotion? Is it wrong to ask, “Is the message of the evangelical movement complete, or is something missing?” Is that question off-limits?

At this point, Weston enters into typical Armstrongite smear tactics against those so-called Christians, much like Bob Thiel does.  Weston claims Billy Graham preaches a false gospel about Christ and not the Kingdom of God as Weston thinks he does.

But, let us examine the exact nature of the Gospel that Jesus proclaimed. “Gospel” is a word thrown about loosely in religious and non-religious circles. We hear of “gospel music” and “gospel preaching,” but what, according to the Bible, IS the Gospel? Many think they know, but do they? The word gospel simply means “good news.” What IS that good news?

Many evangelicals rightly understand that a man named Jesus was, in a special way, begotten by God. He truly was the Son of God! The facts of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection ARE good news! So also is the fact that He lived a perfect life and died to pay the penalty for our sins. But much is often missing from the evangelical message. While sin is referred to, it is rarely defined, and when it is defined, does it match the Bible’s inspired definition? Many assume they know what it is. Drunkenness and adultery are sin in the minds of most, but there are other behaviors that remain controversial: dancing, card-playing, having a glass of wine. What about going to movies, or viewing violent sports (American football or boxing)? What about days of celebration: Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s Day? Is Sunday the day commanded in Scripture as the day for rest and worship, or is it Saturday? Are all days “holy time,” and therefore there is no difference? Is the question left to each individual to decide, and can you choose a convenient day of worship?

No other church on the face of the earth today thinks they know more about God, Jesus and SIN than do some of the Armstrongite  churches, particularly the self-righteous splinter groups who think they have attained "pure Christianity." Yet, it is also quite obvious that no other church on earth knows so little about the Jesus Christ they claim to know. and so little about what they think other Christians know.

“What Gospel did Jesus preach for the three-and-one-half years prior to His death, burial and resurrection?” A careful reading of the New Testament clarifies. The book of Mark starts in verse 1, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” and explains in verses 14 and 15, “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’”

What Is the Reward of the Saved?

Many assume the reward of the saved and inheriting the Kingdom of God means going to heaven right after death, but is this what the Bible teaches? It can seem that way on the surface, but a careful reading of the Scripture reveals heaven is NOT the reward of the saved, and that we are not changed immediately upon death! Jesus made two statements that appear contradictory, but are not. In what are called the beatitudes (beautiful attitudes) in the heart of His message, He declared, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” and “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”

Seriously? Weston talks about the beatitudes when he ignores everything else about Jesus.  He talks about the beatitudes when his ministry treats people like shit! Seriously?  Are we expected to believe that the "poor in spirit and the meek" are those in Charlotte? Well of course they are!  Everyone else is consumed by sin, but not the boys in Charlotte!  Weston's lip service to Billy Graham quickly eroded away into sin, the FAVORITE topic of the Church of God.

A further question that we should ask is when do the saved receive their reward? The Apostle Paul explains that the dead in Christ will be resurrected at the sound of the “last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15:51–52). Compare this with Matthew 24:31 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17. Note that Paul likens death to sleep, as Jesus does in John 11:11–14. Note also that the sister of Lazarus understood that the awakening from death would come “in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:23–24).

What is sin? What is the true Gospel Jesus Christ taught? What is the reward of the saved? These are only three of many questions we should ask when seeking the truth. Real Christianity is more than an academic exercise. How we live is all-important. No matter how beautiful the hymn may be, each of us cannot remain “just as I am” and please our Creator. We must know what sin is and repent of it. We must accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. We must also understand, believe, and act on the good news that Jesus proclaimed for three-and-a-half years prior to His death, burial and resurrection.

That last paragraph shows how little Weston knows about the man he claims to follow.  He Jesus Christ still seems to be left in the Charlotte Masonic Lodge after the Passover service. Only occasional lip service is paid to the guy and then only when Jesus Christ is so pissed that he is ready to wipe out all living creatures, animal and human.  All that is, except for the elect in Charlotte and a few other chosen ones around the nation.  Jesusless Christianity is what Weston consistently delivers. Law still trumps grace at every turn of the LCG members lives.  It is no wonder so many are burned out and feel unfulfilled in LCG. Keeping the law never saved anyone and never will.

So who really is worse off right now?  Billy Graham or self-righteous Gerald Weston?

Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher May Be Appointed As "Judges" In The Millennium

Just so you never forget how crazy some diehard followers of Armstrongism are:

From a Private Yahoo Group:

This is the most pro-HWA forum on the web. As such, we take seriously our beliefs and follow in his footsteps. This includes interpreting world events in the same way he did. Therefore we have leanings toward men and women such as Theodore Roosevelt, Thatcher, Reagan, Churchill because of their conservative stance. Both Thatcher and Reagan were promoted as good leaders in the Plain Truth and were regarded as possibly 'judges in Israel'.

We are also opposed to the Carters, Clintons and such like who have beliefs and policies dramatically contrary to the Bible. In other words, if one had to measure up the beliefs and policies of them, some were better than others, similar to the Kings of Israel and Judah.

Similarly, we praised the founding fathers of the USA despite their weaknesses and also Abraham Lincoln because of his achievements. Our publications were, as such, very Israelitish in outlook and 'connected' with leaders that were like that. Some say that HWA was pro-Republican Party and anti-Democratic Party. This is not true, however, on the balance, we praised good political decisions and trumpeted against bad ones. Thus, the appearance of Church of God magazines has always been conservative dating back to the 1930s.

A younger generation does not like that and makes all sorts of excuses for us to quit our stance as they are more liberal than most of us. I am shocked by the level of political correctness creeping into the Churches of God.

Adult Sabbath School: The Evolution of Jesus in Early Christianity

The Evolution of Theological Belief in the Gospels, Letters and Subsequent Church History.

...and why there never was "One True Church" or "Faith ONCE delivered" 

Bart D. Ehrman is an American New Testament scholar focusing on textual criticism of the New Testament, the historical Jesus, and the development of early Christianity.

LCG: Living Education For Young Women To Learn How to Be Submissive Wives

As Jonathan McNair promised last week, here are the reasons young women should drop over $3,000 and spend a year in Charlotte being educated on how to be a Proverbs 31 woman. After all, you will NEVER be allowed to speak in church or say a prayer, so learning to set tables for your future husband or working in the secretarial pool at God's ONLY HQ on earth makes your $3,000 dollar investment all the more valuable!

Please note that due to the incredible size of the Living Education "facility" only 7 women and 7 highly selected young men will be allowed to attend. The cream of the LCG stock, forever to be smirked at by their peers as HQ suck-ups.

Oh, and you will live 4.5 miles away from God's HQ where you will be trained on churchly and womanly things.

Update...

"Here’s an example of a question that we’re often asked: “Would the Living Education-Charlotte program be beneficial for young women?” The answer is “yes!” Young women who come to Charlotte for our on-site program will find a safe, welcoming environment to learn and grow. We have room for seven young women and seven young men in our program. This gives ample opportunity to make individual friendships, yet be part of a team of learners. Our young women will take the same classes as the young men, but also have additional training in topics specifically designed to help them fulfill their God-given role as women. The living arrangements for the young ladies are very comfortable, in a safe, quiet neighborhood. The classroom facility is part of the Headquarters office building, with daily interaction with other women and men working in and around our Headquarters. At this point, we are still taking applications for both men and women, and we have room for a few more. For any young woman or young man who wants to lay solid groundwork for a life of service to God, our Living Education-Charlotte program is a good starting point! Just go to lcgeducation.org to learn more and apply.—Jonathan McNair"

LCG Hawaii Feast Site Shenanigans

More fun in Hawaii with LCG's Feast of Tabernacles registration:

Hello,

I just want to put it out there that LCG acted unethically once again with how they handled the Hawaiian feast site registration.  It turns out people who did not pay the pre-registrion fee that registered a week or more after normal registration opened got accepted in a matter of hours. So basically folks shelled out the money when they didn’t have to. My issue here is not the $25 per person that I can easily afford, but rather it’s the lack of transparency and straightforwardness.  Faithful in little faithful in much hmm?

Lil'Jimmy needs extra money for scuba diving this year.



SaveSave

Why Are Church of God Prophets So Easily Mocked?

Over the decades the Church of God has had its fair share of self-appointed prophets, all proclaiming that their god had personally set them apart to warn the church.

One of our newest self-appointed prophets is, Almost arrested but not arrested Bob Thiel.  In his delusional mind he imagines himself the modern day equivalent of Habakkuk.  He bemoans how long he has to wait till people heed his words of The Great Spanking to come. After all, he IS the ONLY true minister, evangelist, prophet, and apostle, of the Church of God today.  He regularly quotes the following scripture, just as he did on April 26, 2018, to his African followers.

1 The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.2 O Lord, how long shall I cry,And You will not hear?Even cry out to You, “Violence!”And You will not save.3 Why do You show me iniquity,And cause me to see trouble?For plundering and violence are before me;There is strife, and contention arises.4 Therefore the law is powerless,And justice never goes forth.For the wicked surround the righteous;Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.5 “Look among the nations and watch —Be utterly astounded!For I will work a work in your daysWhich you would not believe, though it were told you.  (Habakkuk 1:1-5)

Bawana Bob goes on to tell his African followers just how evil his American detractors are:

Brethren, yes, we see evil all around us. We are not to be discouraged and give up. 

And a work is being done in our time, though many do not believe it:

40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:
41 ‘Behold, you despisers,
Marvel and perish!
For I work a work in your days,
A work which you will by no means believe,
Though one were to declare it to you.’ (Acts 13:40-41)

Bob, like all the hundreds of other Church of God prophets over the least 8 decades have been certified lairs than God had no hand in picking for any great purpose.  Becasue they are so easily mocked for their grandeous delusions, they all love to throw this verse at us:

II Chrinicles 3:15-17 God, the God of their ancestors, repeatedly sent warning messages to them. Out of compassion for both his people and his Temple he wanted to give them every chance possible. But they wouldn’t listen; they poked fun at God’s messengers, despised the message itself, and in general treated the prophets like idiots. God became more and more angry until there was no turning back.

First World Feast of Tabernacles Housing vs Third World Daily Living

Bawana Bob Thiel, the Almost arrested, but not arrested, doubly blessed and dreamy visionary of the improperly named "continuing" Church of God sent a letter out to all of his followers on April 26th.  It included a letter from one of his so-called evangelists in Malawi.  This man describes how incredibly poor some of them are with nothing more than a mat to sleep and sit on.  Then immediately after this report, Bawana Bob has pictures of the luxury hotels he and his tens of members will be staying at during the Feast of Tabernacles this year.  Talk about a slap in the face at his Malawi members!

The letter below also discusses deep issues in Bawana Bob's African members:

"...major issues concerning the work in Continuing Church of God and about the congregational leadership, satanic deception and his ministry, counterfeit Christians..."

Evangelist Evans Ochieng sent the following report from Malawi:

Pastor Dr Bob
Greetings from Malawi.
I arrived Malawi safe and the trip was good. the weather was good.

On Friday I had leaders meeting . The meeting was very good. I met with all leaders from Malawi and Mozambique, I touched major issues concerning the work in Continuing Church of God and about the congregational leadership, satanic deception and his ministry, counterfeit Christians and the shepherding of God’s people.

The brethren were very keen to understand every topic and good notes were taken.

On Sabbath we kept Sabbath in Migowi. I wanted to hear from the leaders what they are teaching so I gave one of them to give sermon late. I want to tell you that the work in Malawi moving on well.

Today I visited 3 congregations in Malawi Namely. Ngunda with 24 members, Funuzi with 95 members and Namangale with 18 members. I want also to inform you that Hosea is back in CCOG. We discussed with him yesterday night for more that 2 hours. He said that nowhere he can get the truth which is in CCOG {Continuing Church of God}

The problem I find here pastor is that, these people are rich in truth but very poor. I visited 3 homes when I was going round. I found no chair, no mattress, and very little food. When we reach in these homes, the chair that they could give me to sit on, is the mat which they sleep on. I will send you the pictures. It was very sad and painful. But I was very happy in one way that they are rich in faith.

I will go to Mozambique tomorrow early in the morning to visit all the congregations there, And I will give you the report when I am back in Malawi. I am here till Wednesday … I want visit every congregation.

Bawana Bob writes:

There is tremendous poverty in Malawi and it is one of the world’s poorest nations. We sent funds to aid the brethren there twice this month (cf. Galatians 6:10; James 2:15-18).

Then he immediately goes into publicizing his improperly named Feast sites:

Feast of Tabernacles Reminder

The Feast of Tabernacles (including the Last Great Day) will be here relatively soon: starting the evening of September 23rd until sunset October 1st in 2018.

As mentioned last week, the USA sites are Alexandria, Virginia and Wichita, Kansas.

We now have signed agreements for both of the two Feast of Tabernacles’ sites in the USA for 2018.

They are the Marriott Courtyard Alexandria Old Town/Southwest, located at 2700 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA  22314-4553, (703) 329-2323 and the Wichita Public Library, Evergreen Branch, 2601 N Arkansas, Wichita, Kansas.

 Marriott Courtyard Alexandria Old Town/Southwest

Bawana Bob's second U.S. location is a public library since his group is so incredibly small.

Wichita Evergreen Library

Since the USA sites are ‘finalized,’ please email me to tell me which of those sites you plan to attend. Some of you have already done so, but others have not yet.

LCG: As Charlotte Continues To Ignore Problems, LCG Members Look Elsewhere For Sustenance

The big boys in Charlotte have long been monitoring this blog and know full well what LCG members think of the shenanigans going on there.  Yet, it is quite obvious that they do not care.  Or is it that with so much negative publicity about the odious conditions in Charlotte they feel that if they made changes it would be obvious that those who have complained were right after all?  Humility has never been a strong point with any of the leadership in the Church of God particularly in the more legalistic groups like LCG. What??? Acknowledging something was actually wrong and say "we are sorry" is not a concept that is a quality of the church.  Never has been and will never be!

An LCG member wrote on another thread:

Anonymous said... 

I've been on the verge of leaving LCG for years now because of the atmosphere in charlotte. It's toxic. 

I've attended with COGWA when I travel for work because I can keep it a secret (they take attendance in charlotte at LCG so it's difficult to miss without an excuse). 

I wish COGWA had a charlotte location. If they did there would probably be a mass exodus from LCG people like me who want to keep the Sabbath and the Holy Days but don't want to deal with men like Rod McNair and Gerald Weston anymore.

While I think COGWA is just as corrupt as the Living Church of God is, it is a sad fact that if COGWA did open a Charlotte church, LCG members would jump ship rather quickly!  Yet, the boys at LCG don't care.  Status Quo needs to be maintained in order to look unified and the governmental structure secure.

COGE Jon Bisby: "[my] time is reserved only for those who believe in the teachings of COGE"

If you want to see how "loving" COG ministers are, take a look at Jon Bisby's response to a former COGE member who made a request of him.  One of the duties of any pastor who was a follower of Jesus was that they were to be agents of reconciliation and to always seek the "wayward" out and bring them back into the fold.

That is one of the interesting things that the church did through the ages with catechumens, who spent a year working with the minister and were then welcomed back into the church with great joy during the Great Vigil of Easter.  Of course, those are just vile pagans who don't know better.  COG ministers have a better!  Totally cut them off!  According to COG history, it is better to mark and destroy lives than it is to ever maintain some contact and continue to show love. The example of Jesus as the "good shepherd" is apparently lost on most if not all COG leaders anymore.

April 30, 2018

I wrote to you last time about two weeks ago. I have received a response from Jon Brisby of "Church Of God, The Eternal." Although I told him I would like to stay in touch every now and then (because I thought he and his family were kind people), he told me that his time is reserved only for those who believe in the teachings of COGE. He said that someday if and only if I return and fully embrace every doctrine and have complete belief in COGE and Herbert Armstrong's teachings, then he would befriend me again but until or unless that happens, then no, absolutely not! This is a tactic of mind control groups. Oh well, it is what it is. I will never go back. --Kandice Cunning (Former member of COGE)  Exit and Support

This is a companion post to:

Church of God, The Eternal's Jon Brisby Sinks To A New Vile Low

I wanted to write and thank you for helping people who have left or will leave the "Armstrong cult groups." I was born into the WWCG. It helped to destroy my whole family--my parents, my siblings, and up until this year, even me. We all made some mistakes and bad choices on our own but Herbert Armstrong and his ministers, splinters, and even some members, helped destroy my family emotionally, just with the judgmental attitudes, being made to feel we were in "hot water" with God, telling us that outsiders were of the world, etc. My most recent minister Jon W. Brisby (Church of God, the Eternal) has even told me that my lack of financial comfort is the result of my "not living in a pleasing enough way for God." I was also told that my family is the "church" now and no longer my kids, since they are not members. Luckily, my kids grew up against the Armstrong teachings and have their own beliefs. As for me, I am finally what I consider to be "out of the dark" of these Armstrong worshippers. I emailed my minister two weeks ago and explained my decision to leave. He has yet to respond.

Searching For Reasons Why I No Longer Attend A Church of God

A reader here had the following observations about why attending a Church of God is no longer appealing:

Hi, I went online feeling a bit down, my reaction was to listen to a sermon maybe it would brighten up my day a little. I found a 3 part mini-series from Gary Petty (UCG) on why people leave titled: "Fed up with Church?" I thought maybe this might be the series where someone would finally shed light on why people like me have stopped attending with the COG's. Maybe he might call out what needed to be called out. Maybe he might say "we have a responsibility too" maybe he might have a real talk with people and admit leadership/church failures on peoples lives. Maybe he might have gotten this survey from former members. 

Instead, from all the research he says he's done, this disappointing and anemic list is put together. No wonder this ended up a 3 part mini-series of about 2 minutes each. He gives three reasons and anyone who's been put through the ringer while attending any COG knows these reasons are not even close or major issues in those churches. This list was clearly not produced from reasons by former members. 

Gary Petty says: 

I’ve been doing some research on why people become         disillusioned or fed up with the church. It’s interesting to read why people, you know, they do these surveys, why people say, “Yes, I’m becoming fed up or disillusioned with attending church”. 

Reason #1 - I’ve been writing down these reasons that people give, is that the culture and values of the Bible seem bizarre in today’s world. 

Reason #2 - “The Bible has no relevance to my everyday life.”

Reason #3 - We usually think of younger people, millennials, and others, who are sort of disillusioned with the church. I read something recently where the people older than them in their 30s and their 40s and even early 50s are getting fed up with their churches for an interesting reason. It seems their churches change their style, adding certain kinds of music and certain kinds of teaching to interest them when they were in their teens and their 20s.

I say: I feel like he and others ALWAYS pass over the real issues. Hearing his reasons left me more disappointed and less trustworthy of these leaders. A quick google search for "top reason why people leave the church" landed me on this very first site up at the top of search (he would have seen this): 10 Reasons Why People Leave Church 

Now unlike Gary Petty, I will say this list is not compiled from reasons by former members, I got this off the first site on page one off a google search. Many people from many denominations could have been surveyed and yet these reasons below sound more relevant and I always here these reasons over and over again. Gary Petty, why won't you take the list below and address it? 

Reason #1 -  People leave the church when they don’t find Jesus. [some cog's try to minimize sermons about the person of Jesus, should focus on the gospel, not Jesus] 

Reason #2 - People leave the church because they feel lonely. [being part of a cog can feel more isolating than you think, expect isolation from family, friends and in more common cases other members from within your group. Some cog's ruin marriages] 

Reason #3 - People leave the church because they’re looking for something authentic. [I felt most fake and not authentic while attending a COG, to express myself was prohibited, I once poured my heart out to another member telling them I hadn't prayed for almost a year only to be judged and seen as scum. I explained my shame while praying while not doing what I was supposed to was making it hard for me to continue praying]  

Reason #4 - People leave church because they are tired of being told how a “good Christian” will vote. [Although i was taught Christians shouldn't vote it was clear from sermons at the COG i attended that there was a disdain for the left because of their progressive policies and how many of them went against biblical views.]  

Reason #5 - People leave the church when they feel like they need to become a carbon copy of an individual or ideal in order to be fully included and appreciated. [Some COG's expect you to talk, dress, act, and think the same claiming they are one body, one mind, one spirit. This can be dangerous especially when a leader has a narcissistic personality disorder, such leaders will continually use themselves as a measure of how others should be] 

Reason #6 - People leave the church because they get turned off by social climbing, cliques, and nepotism. [An experience that turned me off was seeing the ministers of the HQ I attended drive in with their model of the year leased vehicles while members who contributed 3 tithes, offerings and other contributions were having to carpool. Furthermore, these ministers and wives rarely had lay members over for dinners or hung out with non-ministers. These same ministers preached about being hospitable Christians. I had a beat down, high-mileage car and was constantly told to do airport runs. Putting more miles on an already falling apart vehicle] 

Reason #7 - People leave the church because of controlling leaders and unskilled teachers. [David C. Pack, say no more] 

Reason #8 - People leave the church because of unresolved conflict. [I left worse than when I came in, fact!] 

Reason #9 - People leave the church because they need less drama in their lives. [The COG's are a thriving cesspool of drama, internal fighting for recognition, members ratting each other out, members fighting over dating because the dating pool is so small, sins being exploited from the pulpit, control struggles, church correction over not sending in your money, people living one paycheck away from total collapse.]

Reason #10 - People leave the church when they can’t find community. [10 & 9 go hand in hand. No one talks to me now.]

LCG Member Asks: Where Is Michael Germano Now That His Pet Project Has Been Shut Down?

A Living Church of God member writes:

Now that the church has defunded the Living University (which we were told God had established) where has Michael Germano gone?  We never hear anything about the guy anymore?  If you look at the Living Education site, Germano's name is missing and Jonathan McNair and thee others are the new grand poo bahs.  Many of us in the church always had suspicions about the guy on how loyal he was.  It is amazing how fast he and his wife changed when they left WCG after praising the changes and new doctrines.  They were celebrating Christmas, birthdays and New Years with a passion. Bam!  Just like that, they were in LCG and starting a new college.  It always seemed sneaky to many of us. Germano presided over three failed COG colleges.  Big Sandy, Pasadena - the college being accredited version and then HWA's back on track school. Some of us were joking recently that he will soon jump ship and head to Wadsworth to start David C Pack's college, or move to Edmond and destroy HWA College there.  Everything he seems to touch ends up being ripped down. Look at how fast this call came to an end... Living Church of God News

He is clearly aligned with Republican party now and posts stuff like this on his Facebook page. where he  rails against Democrats all the time

Mt Pocono Feast Site Wasteland

double click to enlarge.

If you ever attended the Mt Pocono Feast of Tabernacles site you would remember over 10,000 people, huge parking lots that seemed miles away from the tent/convention building, spanking tents, trams, food stands stocked with donuts and all beef hot dogs, briefcases, long dresses, freezing cold, walking in huge rainstorms back to your car, surviving an almost direct hit by a tornado that sent the tent bouncing and flapping in the gale force winds, and so much more.

Above you see the depressing remnants of the old feast site.   The large parking lots are to the left, the Administration building is in the center and the tabernacle site was right where the road leads into the Administration building lot.  There are lots of dead trees, denuded landscaping.  Just like the Church of God as a whole, it symbolizes a dead church slowly being eaten up by decay.

Herbert Armstrong, The Scientist?

Did you know that Herbert Armstrong had a scientific mind and was so advanced that modern-day Creation Science folk believe what they do because of him.  Not only was he a great theologian but he was a scientist too!  This is from a COG blog I was on in 2007 that helped formulate this blog three years later.

This is from a group that idolizes everything that HWA did.

The church was in such sad shape by the 1920s with much truth lost, that God needed to revive it. What HWA was - was intellectually honest. As HWA researched, information came from many different sources, not just religious groups...but science journals etc. He was one of the first men I've ever seen publish the idea that the geologic column was based on circular reasoning (in his Autobiography). That is now a widely publicized belief of the Creation Science crowd.

Someone actually believed that Herb was ahead of his time regarding scientific research! 1880-1940's research as scientific, up to date and modern? Not a chance! When Herb got his sex education material out of books from the late 1800's and passed them off as new and relevant it shows that he was not scientific by any stretch of the imagination. Besides that, the Creation Science crowd are not scientific and still rely on mythology and silly reasoning to come up with its teachings.

The person who called HWA a scientist also said this:

We have all seen very clearly that when someone dismantles the truth (as the Tkach's did) it was like pulling a thread that kept unravelling more truth.

If Armstrongism was the truth, it would have never unravelled when Tkach pulled the plug on all of the heretical teachings. The greatest thing about the unravelling is that it can NEVER recover into anything meaningful!

I have seen people debate, tear down, and set themselves up as biblical scholars and they never arrive at the solid building HWA was able to build.

So where exactly is the solid building that HWA built today?  With hundreds and hundreds of splinter groups trolling society with sheer nonsense, how can any of them claim they rest upon a sure foundation?