Monday, July 22, 2019

From Christian to Christian: Standing Strong

Christianity in the Worldwide Church of God was relatively simple and actually contained in three simple words: Obey Your Minister. Regardless of how many may challenge this supposition, there's really no other way around it. If your minister was your link between you and Christ, of damnation and salvation, of in the Church and Out of the Church, then this statement is truth. The critically thinking individual was not regarded competent enough to understand the mind of Christ like your pastor. Members of the Church were admonished about this time, after time, and after time again, sometimes severely. 

The concepts of Critical Thinking were intentionally not developed within the Church. Any questions you had? Ask the minister. Any doubts you have? Don't discuss it with anyone else - lest you sow division and discord within the Church. Ask a question to the minister like you are supposed to do when you disagree? Find yourself on the bad list - at the least an "unconverted" , to a "bad attitude", to a "rebellious spirit" - and on the shortlist to discipline, up to and including disfellowshipment. More often than not, thoughts, opinions, doubts, and questions by many were pushed way back to File 14 (Not 13 - that's garbage, but 14, the Storage Area!). If you dared share them with anyone in the Church, you ran the risk of a ratter outing you to The Minister - which is worse than if you told him yourself - nearly guaranteeing you being labeled as one "Sowing Division" and risking immediate disfellowshipment for speaking out against Church Doctrine. 

This is why many believers on this blog react so strongly to posts on this blog that foster critical thinking. In the Church, we were not encouraged to use our heads and think. We were not ourselves allowed to "prove all things". We weren't confronted with hard questions - those were for the ministers to handle. We did not converse deeply and with prolonged debate (or were not supposed to anyhow) with those who thought different than we did - whether it was a Mainstream Christian, a Street Hoodlum, a Buddhist, a New Ager, or an atheist. 

Years ago, while in the Worldwide Experience, I would have reacted in the way most probably would have expected. I would have immediately blasted any contrary opinion as - well, lost. You know, shake the dirt off your feet and don't even give a contrary person (derisively labeled a "dissident") the time of day. The biggest and most important function in the Church to keep it together was the appearance and misnomer of what we called "unity", in a religion where reality shows us that we were never truly unified. We were master illusionists. 

These days, in this generation of knowledge, information, history, and science, it's not only good to understand the opinions of other people - it's imperative. The approach we had of "don't look at this, throw it in the trash" these days simply fosters an attitude of ignorance. To understand how another person thinks, we have to understand what they think! And this is exactly what many who are Christians are afraid of. That deep down, they may fall victim to convincing argument and fall into what they perceive as "strong delusion". 

Truth is, every part of every religion - whether it's Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Muslim, or Evangelical Christianity - and yes, even Armstrongism - has a certain level of truth within. This is why all religions have massive numbers - because something clicks with somebody as true, therefore, it all must be true. This isn't so - as nobody has the "lock" on all truth as long as humanity is involved. This is why, in every sect of every religion, you will find literally hundreds and thousands of diverse opinions about how this is so and how that is so. You can be as sincere as you wish - but you can also be "sincerely wrong" - and no one has gotten it completely right. Not Herbert Armstrong, not Charles Stanley, not anyone of mortal flesh. This is why a personal relationship with a personal God is the basis of true and authentic Christianity. 

It shouldn't be scary to acknowledge and to hear other opinions. Rather, we have been given a Counselor, and a Teacher - the Holy Spirit - to help us personally where we are. In prayer, as we connect with the Heavenly Dimension, we can understand - personally. And with Christ in us, and working through us, we can stand and grow in both character and in faith, in the assurance of things unseen, growing daily in the assurances of what we know to be true by Him who works in us, and through us. Without the personal Christ within us, we are only as blades of grass blown by the wind. The danger comes when, in our zeal, we, as Christians, try to convince others of what we know personally to those who try to convince us of what they know academically. We will lose every time with this approach. They will blast us and rip us to shreds using academia against personal experience. This is not the way to go. 

The only thing that Christians have for proof are their fruits. The problem is that with many people who claim to be Christians, the fruits just are not there. Instead, there are the "Judgers" who condemn them. There are the "Angries" who blast them with vitriol. There are the "Pious" - the "I'm better than you's because I know the truth". There are the "Righteous Ones" who look down on anyone who believes differently than they do. And the only thing Christians have going for them - EVIDENCE of Christ - is dust in the wind, and then what is there? Absolutely nothing. 

The evidence of Christ - the only thing that shows who we are - and what we are - are the fruits of the Spirit. Gentleness. Love. Mercy. Self Control. Patience. Kindness. Meekness. Joy. This evidence is the only thing that is needed, and the only answer. It is the mind and the emotion of God in action. And as it is said in the Love Chapter - and in a song we all knew or know - we can talk in megaphones, as sounding brass and banging cymbals - but if we do not show genuine love in our actions, conversations and discussions with people of all belief spectrums - than our beliefs and our faith is as useless as bronze age encyclopedias. Because all of the knowledge in the world, and all of the knowledge of our universe, and science, and realms, and realities, and angels, and demons, and animals - and even, as scripture says, height and depth and all things physical - cannot compare to the power of one act of love and kindness. This - love and kindness - is more powerful than all of the knowledge in all of the internet. 

At the end of the day, The only thing that matters is exactly what scripture says - faith expressing itself in love. (Galatians 5:6)  It's the most powerful force and witness in the Universe. Everything else withers, but love stands strong. This is why, and how, we can make it and show Christ in this age of incredible knowledge and understanding. Because there is an abundance of truth in today's knowledge. Yet, there is unbelievable power in love. And that is the narrow road to the narrow gate that is often missed, and few are those who find it.

Submitted by SHT

11 comments:

jim said...

Nicely said.

Tonto said...

Interesting how "back in the day" that the "Ambassador Report" was called demonic, lies, dissident et al, and that reading it or subscribing to it was a disfellowshipable offense.

Yet , here in historic hindsight, its reporting has been shown to be virtually 100% accurate and spot on. Some of its speculations about the future of the WCG were just guesses, but hard core in the moment news had little to quibble with.

Trechak tried hard to be very accurate and it showed journalistic pride. Reading it back in the day help to immunize me against the Armstrong crazy "back on track" nonsense back in the early 80s, and allowed the opening of critical thinking and personal relationship with Jesus Christ, with a slow but steady progress away from WCG thinking to this very day. This blog acts as a bit of a catharsis for me in that process as well.

AND... I still remain a Sabbatarian and non pork eater, for any who would dare judge me!

Anonymous said...

John 13
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
I Cor 13 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

When I came into the Church 50 years ago the focus was on Prophesy (fear religion) the Sabbath, Holy Days, Pagan Holidays etc. Being a Catholic, the Bible was a whole new world. I didn't take me long to see the leadership of the church following the Pharisee's example of thinking we were special because we kept the Sabbath and Holy Days. Love is the core issue in Christ's message, but that wasn't "sexy" or different enough to make COG stick out. But without the focus on Love we missed what most of Christ's message and our leaders instead destroyed the Church from within and didn't give reason for God to bless it's "work"

Anonymous said...

Tonto said
"Trechak tried hard to be very accurate and it showed journalistic pride. Reading it back in the day help to immunize me against the Armstrong crazy "back on track" nonsense back in the early 80s, and allowed the opening of critical thinking and personal relationship with Jesus Christ"

You hear so often minsters from all churches talk about "having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ". Where in the Bible does it teach that? How can you have a "personal relationship" with someone you have never met, talked with or spent time doing things together? We are to "put on Christ" meaning trying to become like Him, following His examples, but "personal relationship"? I barely have a personal relationship with my wife. I never met or talked to Steve Jobs, but there's enough written about him, much less recording of him, that you could try to become like him if you wanted. But Jobs is dead and not available to have a personal relationship.

The apostles actually had a "personal relationship" with Jesus for 3 1/2 years. And yet, just before He was crucified, they were fighting over who was going to be the Top Dog. They didn't "get the program" until a miracle at Pentecost. To me
a personal relationship with Christ" is religious talk and not Biblical. No offense Tonto.

SL said...

I Wish we could meet all y'all.

Tessa said...

Love has never been a part of the message of jesus christ in the cogs. That is a huge red flag. the way of give and not get was designed to make you give what you couldn't afford and if you ever were in need you were to be too ashamed to ask for help, It was such a depressing, discouraging place. So wrong. People lording it over others, people trying to make you feel that you weren't as good as them and never would be. I never liked going there but thought i had to. Im glad I've seen through it all - seen what is wrong with it. Reading the letters to the seven churches in Revelation certainly backs up what we have seen. Christ isn't all that complimentary to many of the churches. Time to wake up and see where we have ignored Christ's instructions and not merely focus on sabbath, holy days and pork. That is just not enough, folks. If you haven't got love and compassion and you never help anyone else then you just haven't understood the kindness and goodness of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. If you are just a copy of herbert then you haven't got a clue. All the best to those who are working their way through the mire and looking at the good things of God and not remaining trapped in Herbolatry. Keep going and do good.

Anonymous said...

1:05pm That was pure ignorance. Jesus also said "If you love me keep my commandments". According to your illogical way of thinking, how can you love someone you've never met?

Loving someone is a "personal relationship". I won't even go into what that must say about you.

Kevin

Anonymous said...

Amen Tessa!

Kevin

Anonymous said...

@July 23rd - 1:05pm ... I feel compelled to respond because I was there too...

Short history of myself. I was born in PCG, then later went through RCG, LCG, and UCG (painful ride). I've seen a lot, was taught by Gamiliel himself (i.e. my Dad is still a staunch ultra-conservative Armstrong doctrine purist. And I do still have respect for his zeal in "holding fast" to the "Philadelphian standard" -- doctrines of HWA). Although misguided zeal.

About three years ago, I began a journey to prove all of HWA doctrines strictly from the Bible. Started with proving the "Gospel is only of the Kingdom of God" and searched every scripture that had the word gospel. I quickly learned that Armstrong didn't read his Bible... and I was Hoodwinked. (I Cor 15, Romans 1:9). The gospel was about Salvation through Jesus Christ sacrifice, and the reconciliation of all creation when he returned. I dived next into the new covenant (something that never was preached), and for two long years (my wife hardly saw me at times), I had a Bible in my hand and on my knees studying while God walked me through and systematically crumbled my entire belief system and rebuilt it... which was disorienting to me--the one who had all the doctrines memorized and proudly resisted "Laodicean compromise". Depression, confusion, "where's God's church"... struggled through all those questions and more, and I had to stay close and walk with God as he answered all of them. I'm now free from that crap and finally feel like I've found the relationship with God we all desperately wanted.

I say this because I read Galatians, Romans, John, and the entire NT and learned about the holy spirit, and how God has an intimate personal relationship with with us through the Holy Spirit. All of the Armstrong doctrines clouded my mind to him and his reality. God is very real, and through the holy spirit he makes himself known to us personally.

You don't have conversations through words with God. you don't hear a voics. it's more of him teaching you and guiding you to truth, and him speaking to your heart. (It sounds corny--and I used to mock it--until I actually experienced it... and still do). It transforms your prayer life.

Read these scriptures:

"Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me. "These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.
John 14:19‭-‬25 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.14.19-25.ESV

Anonymous said...

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
Acts 13:2‭-‬4 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/act.13.2-4.ESV

And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this chariot." So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?"
Acts 8:29‭-‬30 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/act.8.29-30.ESV

And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.' As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
Acts 11:12‭-‬16 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/act.11.12-16.ESV

And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days. And through the Spirit they were telling Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is how the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'" When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.
Acts 21:4‭, ‬11‭-‬12 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/act.21.4-12.ESV

I Cor 2:10
John 14:15-31, 16:5-15

and many many more...

God spoke to Adam, Cain, Abel, Elijah, Elisha, Noah, all the prophets, King David, King Solomon, the judges, the disciples/apostles. He doesn't speak to us like he did them in words, because we're now led by the holy spirit that searches the deep things of God, leads us into all truth, sheds love into our hearts, transforms us from within (fruits of the holy spirit), and Jesus dwells in us through the Holy Spirit--like God dwelled in the temple at Jerusalem. We are the temple now and he lives in us.

once you become sensitive to the holy spirit and let it lead you... that's when the relationship is dynamic and intimate.

we were made to be in relationship with God. and we can have a close relationship with our Father as Jesus did.

All that may not make sense to you. I mean it deeply from my heart that I hope you experience it one day if you haven't already. Because when you first experience God, it changes your life. And Christianity will no longer be a religion in your mind or a set of doctrines... Christianity is at the core an intimate relationship with your loving Father and Jesus Christ. And knowing him will transform you and your life forever.

Mario Espinosa said...

To SHT - I just wanted to say that I can relate to so much of what you wrote in this blog post, and I really appreciate everything you wrote about the EVIDENCE of Christ, as this is what spoke volumes to me. Thank you for sharing.