Look for the Helpers, He Said....
There are plenty of buffoons out there who like to claim they alone are the mouthpiece of God. All it takes is a simple youtube search to find all of the buffoons who truly like to claim that their knowledge is God's knowledge. Some of them seem rather tame and benign, while others go full out in apostolic clothing with a beard that would make Santa himself jealous. What is it that makes a person go so hogwild with their interpretations? What makes a person so special that they feel they alone have been hand-picked by God to carry out their message?
It really doesn't matter if it's the pastor at the local corner church, or some lone ranger on a youtube channel. They all think they alone are right. They've established their little piece of the religious pie, and are intent on getting anyone they can to take a bite out of it. These range from the scholarly to the absolute ridiculous - harping about on the latest thing that catches their eye that no one's doing, but they feel everyone must do. Yet, in spite of all of this, there is one thing that they all nearly universally agree on - tithing.
From the weird to the wacko to the strange and the destitute to the socially awkward to the pulpit pounder, you will find they all agree that you must fund their life so they can get their message out. Yet, in this day and age of free youtube and live broadcasting - why do they need your money to do it? They already have cable internet, or you wouldn't be seeing the message in the first place. They have a computer or they wouldn't have a way to broadcast the message. What they are really asking for is that you - as a watcher, or even a follower - would recognize the "calling" they recognize and then give them your money as agreement that they are God's mouthpiece for whatever it is they are so zealous about. Once you agree, whether it's a youtube "preacher" or a full on church member, you're in "the system".
Now, this isn't to say that there isn't good out there in the world of corporate Christianity. But the bottom line of corporate Christianity is very simple - it's the word "Corporate". The religious industry is big business. It's tax-free, supposedly charitable non-profit business which rakes in millions to even billions of dollars, often pastors and denominations benefiting the most from the deal with some notable and worthy exceptions. Many not-so-worthy individuals would love to get into that system with intentions that are not so good. And many already have.
From the background and experience of my life growing up in an Armstrongism Cult, many of these individuals have risen from the muck. Not of their own power, but because the muck has drained and their sorry heads pop out looking for whatever and whoever they can devour with their own pithy propaganda, believing they and they alone are God's Mouthpiece for "this end time" generation, joining the thousands and thousands of others who believe the same thing of themselves. Instead of getting out there in the business of love and service, as the hands and the feet of Jesus, they exalt themselves as whatever figure they see themselves at and dupe the fragile in the process. And the cycle repeats itself, over and over again.
"Look for the helpers", Mr. Fred Rogers would often teach. Perhaps his lesson was the best lesson - to avoid the pitfalls and snares of Corporate Americanized Christianity with all of its love of money - and rejoin what true Christianity is - the simple act of helping, of loving, of caring, of giving, of being a kind and good person. Because - to all those who think they are somebody and they really are not - it's not about you - it never has been about you - and it never will be. It's about how you show Jesus to others, and even the world in your life. It's not about buildings, or bank accounts, or trees, or calendars, or this thing, or that thing. It's not about what day you worship, it's about how you worship, in spirit and truth, or lies and deception. It's not about if you go to Church in a suit and tie, but if you're willing to be "a helper" when the need arises. It's about being a light. It's about being the one people look to not because you are yelling at them to look at you, but because you are one of the helpers - a good and bright example of Jesus.
In my background, we were taught not to be "helpers". We were taught to be inclusive. Introverted. Self-withdrawn. "Away from the world". The only ones we helped were ourselves. It is this introverted legacy that infiltrates cultic thinking and even corporate Christianity. There's much more to life than what's shallow. Living is being a helper. And you don't have to glorify yourself to be just that.
It really doesn't matter if it's the pastor at the local corner church, or some lone ranger on a youtube channel. They all think they alone are right. They've established their little piece of the religious pie, and are intent on getting anyone they can to take a bite out of it. These range from the scholarly to the absolute ridiculous - harping about on the latest thing that catches their eye that no one's doing, but they feel everyone must do. Yet, in spite of all of this, there is one thing that they all nearly universally agree on - tithing.
From the weird to the wacko to the strange and the destitute to the socially awkward to the pulpit pounder, you will find they all agree that you must fund their life so they can get their message out. Yet, in this day and age of free youtube and live broadcasting - why do they need your money to do it? They already have cable internet, or you wouldn't be seeing the message in the first place. They have a computer or they wouldn't have a way to broadcast the message. What they are really asking for is that you - as a watcher, or even a follower - would recognize the "calling" they recognize and then give them your money as agreement that they are God's mouthpiece for whatever it is they are so zealous about. Once you agree, whether it's a youtube "preacher" or a full on church member, you're in "the system".
Now, this isn't to say that there isn't good out there in the world of corporate Christianity. But the bottom line of corporate Christianity is very simple - it's the word "Corporate". The religious industry is big business. It's tax-free, supposedly charitable non-profit business which rakes in millions to even billions of dollars, often pastors and denominations benefiting the most from the deal with some notable and worthy exceptions. Many not-so-worthy individuals would love to get into that system with intentions that are not so good. And many already have.
From the background and experience of my life growing up in an Armstrongism Cult, many of these individuals have risen from the muck. Not of their own power, but because the muck has drained and their sorry heads pop out looking for whatever and whoever they can devour with their own pithy propaganda, believing they and they alone are God's Mouthpiece for "this end time" generation, joining the thousands and thousands of others who believe the same thing of themselves. Instead of getting out there in the business of love and service, as the hands and the feet of Jesus, they exalt themselves as whatever figure they see themselves at and dupe the fragile in the process. And the cycle repeats itself, over and over again.
"Look for the helpers", Mr. Fred Rogers would often teach. Perhaps his lesson was the best lesson - to avoid the pitfalls and snares of Corporate Americanized Christianity with all of its love of money - and rejoin what true Christianity is - the simple act of helping, of loving, of caring, of giving, of being a kind and good person. Because - to all those who think they are somebody and they really are not - it's not about you - it never has been about you - and it never will be. It's about how you show Jesus to others, and even the world in your life. It's not about buildings, or bank accounts, or trees, or calendars, or this thing, or that thing. It's not about what day you worship, it's about how you worship, in spirit and truth, or lies and deception. It's not about if you go to Church in a suit and tie, but if you're willing to be "a helper" when the need arises. It's about being a light. It's about being the one people look to not because you are yelling at them to look at you, but because you are one of the helpers - a good and bright example of Jesus.
In my background, we were taught not to be "helpers". We were taught to be inclusive. Introverted. Self-withdrawn. "Away from the world". The only ones we helped were ourselves. It is this introverted legacy that infiltrates cultic thinking and even corporate Christianity. There's much more to life than what's shallow. Living is being a helper. And you don't have to glorify yourself to be just that.
By SHT
35 comments:
Mat 7:21 - Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 - Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 - And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Iniquity - Strongs:
ἀνομία
Transliteration anomia (Key)
Pronunciation ä-no-mē'-ä (Key)LISTEN
Part of Speech feminine noun
Root Word (Etymology)
From ἄνομος (G459)
Greek Inflections of ἀνομία
Dictionary Aids
Vine's Expository Dictionary: View Entry
TDNT Reference: 4:1085,646
Trench's Synonyms: lxvi. ἁμαρτία, ἁμάρτημα, παρακοή, ἀνομία, παρανομία, παράβασις, παράπτωμα, ἀγνόημα, ἥττημα.
Strong's Info
Strong’s Definitions
ἀνομία anomía, an-om-ee'-ah; from G459; illegality, i.e. violation of law or (genitive case) wickedness:—iniquity, × transgress(-ion of) the law, unrighteousness.
KJV Translation Count — Total: 15x
The KJV translates Strong's G458 in the following manner: iniquity (12x), unrighteousness (1x), transgress the law (with G4160) (1x), transgression of the law (1x).
Outline of Biblical Usage
the condition of without law
because ignorant of it
because of violating it
contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness
Eze 33:31 - And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
Eze 33:32 - And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
Eze 20:12 - Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.
Eze 20:13 - But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
Amo 5:21 - I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
Liars want you to think that God hates the sabbath and feasts but he distinguishes between what he calls "my" days and "your" days.
It's that stubborn rebellion that so many have, yet they think they are showing so much love.
Churchianity has traditionally placed way too much emphasis on helping others. It portrays humans as helpless clods who need constant assistance. This is in contrast to the Bibles "be strong, brave and courageous." This brainwashing teaches people to be passive and dependent on a lording government.
Well, thats it. Great article. Im convinced!
How do I now send my "tithe" to "Banned by HWA"??
The statement: "It's about how you show Jesus to others, and even the world in your life". needs a little more said.
There is another thing that needs to be presented. Before we can show Jesus to others we need to have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Until a person grasps the understanding of who and what Jesus the Christ is it would not encourage a person be a follower of His.
SHT wrote, "From the background and experience of my life growing up in an Armstrongism Cult, many of these individuals have risen from the muck. Not of their own power, but because the muck has drained and their sorry heads pop out looking for whatever and whoever they can devour with their own pithy propaganda, believing they and they alone are God's Mouthpiece for "this end time" generation, joining the thousands and thousands of others who believe the same thing of themselves."
MY COMMENT - The irony is that the same cannot be said of the grandparent Church (grandparent to the ACOGS)- Church of God, Seventh Day. I keep some distant tabs on this church and they do not seem to have attracted the same type of weirdos and wackos that have come out of the splintering Worldwide Church of God. If I am wrong, and I just haven't picked up on it, I am sure someone will correct me.
For whatever reason, the Worldwide Church of God attracted more than its fair share of weirdos. In my local WCG congregation alone, I can think of two that immediately come to mind. There was a member who went on to become a tax cheat convincing himself that he didn't have to pay taxes even though the Bible says "render unto Caesar the things which is Caesars". Several days before his incarceration in State prison after his conviction, he committed suicide rather than "being a political prisoner of the State of Maryland" according to his suicide note. Yep, that sure showed them! I have provided his information to the Painful Truth WCG suicide list.
Another congregant, a woman, believed that a woman should not be attractive at all, and therefore did not shave her legs. Each week at Sabbath Services, you could see coming out from under her dress the hairiest legs that would rival any seen in the movie "Planet of the Apes".
SHT hits the nail on the head. Today's ACOG weirdos and wackos expect us to fund them. From the weird to the wacko to the strange and the destitute to the socially awkward to the pulpit pounder...all are expecting funding from the dumb tithe slave sheep. But again, the irony is that the Grandparent, Church of God, Seventh Day doesn't seem to attract these type of weirdos. Am I wrong in this perception of mine?
Richard
There actually is a fixed percentage of adult humans who are utterly incapable of taking care of themselves, or conducting their lives without some sort of assistance or being "in the system". I've heard figures ranging between 15-20%, but it may actually go higher. It includes the mentally deficient, with either subnormal intelligence or those afflicted with various mental illnesses, some of whom self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. These are frequently the homeless. There are also the mentally unstable who are incapable of holding jobs, many of whom end up with the state either taking care of them financially, or them being incarcerated. Some are known by their families to fall into these various categories, and are quietly cared for in their own family settings. However, that is a difficult road to travel, and many fight addictions throughout their lives.
That is fact, recognized by social scientists. Available programs are devoted to assisting these people in becoming "strong, brave, and courageous" as Anonymous has suggested above, attempting to mainstream them so that they can be productive members of society. A high percentage of these folks simply do not have innately within them whatever it takes to be functional. You would not understand this unless you actually had a person or persons such as this close to you in your life. The so-called Churches of God have ignored this problem and have typically used "one size fits all" solutions attempting to force behavior upon these unfortunate ones which they will never be able to execute or be accountable. This is the type of thinking that leads people to "leave your mentally disabled child at the mall". That was one ACOG minister's solution to keep such unfortunates from disrupting church.
BB
SHT wrote:
Living is being a helper.
That's either very generous or very naïve. Living has donated to charities or participated in community assistance programs from time to time, but it always seems to come down to something intended more to make LCG look good than to genuinely help community members. Or sometimes it's busywork for LCG's young people so they don't have free time that might allow them to think about what they're doing in the cult.
I like your style Anon 3:26. But beware the vipers on here will attack and show no mercy.
Will look
I just watched a movie on HBO - "Bad Education". It is based on a true story where the top district administrators embezzled millions of dollars.
When I read of stories like this, and I can't help thinking that these people screwed up by not picking the perfect crime - starting your own church.
A large part of the leader's expenses can be tax free - home, travel, meals for example.
If they are very successful, they can buy their own personal jet.
As long as they are not stupid, they can live high on the hog without breaking any laws.
Now some of these cog leaders may be sincere - just like any madman may be sincere, but it is hard to be convinced of the sincerity of those draining money from their followers to pay for a lavish lifestyle.
10:24am Thanks but I've been on here a few years, I can handle them.
10:03am Are you serious? He wasn't talking about the Living Church of God! LMFAO
10:24am by the way 3:26 was yours truly.
km
Makes no sense.
Be careful. "Look for the helpers" is exactly what the lazy and the manipulative learn to do. Why learn self-sufficiency and responsibility if you can mooch off of people who have been guilted into "helping" down-and-outers?
Christianity was invented by the self-appointed chosen people, the most bigoted, narrow-minded, and isolated group of controlling people the world has ever known.
According to Jesus the vipers were the Rabbis.
"From the weird to the wacko to the strange and the destitute to the socially awkward to the pulpit pounder, you will find they all agree that you must fund their life so they can get their message out...and rejoin what true Christianity is - the simple act of helping, of loving, of caring, of giving, of being a kind and good person."
The closest record of the original Jewish sect we call christianity, as it would have been under it's founder, the closest record to anything he would actually have taught, is only what survives in the texts, written decades later, and only in the annotated and redacted form of those that survive.
The historical Jesus, true christianity, is lost. We don't know what he actually taught. The Jesus Seminar has failed to reach any consensus three times.
Those who lived during the first 150 years are not much help either. It is generally conceded by textual scholars throughout the world that the most radical changes to the texts of the new testament were made during the first 150 years of their transmission.
The original texts are also lost. They cannot be reconstructed. We'll never know what they originally said.
That said, the Jesus as portrayed in the gospel texts we do have is apocalyptic in the extreme. He preaches to give away all your possessions and live as though the present age were coming literally tomorrow. For every possession you lay up on earth is one you did not lay up in heaven.
I don't know if that's true christianity or not. No one does. But it's likely the best guess.
So, who here is ready to give away all that they possess so that they can be true christians?
No, didn't think so.
Nor should you. The best indications we have is that Jesus would have been some type of a weird, wacko, strange, pulpit pounder. If he walked the earth today, every modern christian would undoubtedly assess him this way. He'd be a heretic for sure.
BB
It's not just people, but noble concepts that can be Pharisaic. "Helping the poor" has always been a justification of those who seek to dominate others. Portraying all people as in constant need of help is an attack on people's self image. It's the equivalent of Herbs "beware of the sin of self esteem." It's the policy of seeking to make people docile and submissive.
The Bible ideal is to train people into independence and maturity. The totalitarian ideal on the other hand, which includes today's churchianity, is to tame men, and make them willing tools in the hands of their leaders.
Yes, we were always keyed to find excuses to be separatists, and not to help others (outsiders) in need. So, you go your way, and I'll go mine, and that's the end of the discussion.. Personally, I've always found that because I do help others, whenever I've really needed help myself, there has always been someone there for me. And, in many cases, it has been the down and out people who understand what it is like to need help that have been my heroes.
There are people who help because they seek to dominate, and there are people who constantly take advantage of those who are willing to help. However, those are wrong or perverted applications of the precept, and are exceptions to the general dynamic, but I understand why selfish people point to them as rationale or justification not to help. You be you, and I'll continue to be me.
BB
"You be you, and I'II continue to be me."
BB, while I attended services, I spent dozens of hours driving members around, as well as regularly doing hall preparation. When I had a car accident and couldn't use my car, I asked church members for a lift to services. What I got was extortionist demands. Some were indignant that I even asked. As well, I was a mentor to young people, both inside and outside the church. Again, I experienced the same garbage. What I experienced is in keeping with the Bible describing this era as 'perilous times' and an evil generation.
Churchianities, including the ACOGs, emphasis is all wrong. Instead of self responsibility and hard work, it's all about "S-E-R-V-I-N-G" and similar, which is code for picking up after the irresponsible. My experience is what these churhes aim to reproduce on a massive scale, creating their fantasy world for the lazy and irresponsible. This is contrary to the Bibles "if you don't work, you don't eat."
OK, now I understand more completely the nature of the problem. You tried to do the right thing in an environment where we were all taught to ignore the plights of outsiders. As I've mentioned many times in the past, if you allow yourself to turn off your natural compassion to outsiders, doing that doesn't just turn it off for one carefully focussed group, it kills your empathy for all! Including the insiders. Watch to see how the "entitled" ministers treat the members to get a better idea of this. Those COGlodytes that you attempted to serve and to help had already had their natural human empathy killed, and they responded the only way they knew how! Most likely the people you sought to help felt guilty because of your kindness, or were suspicious of you because you behaved in an atypical manner.
My experiences over the past decades have been with people who never heard of Armstrongism, so their responses have been more typical of normal human behavior than that of Armstrongites. Obviously, there will always be people who take advantage, and who don't appreciate what we do for them, and others who try to take advantage. My experience has been that these are a small percentage of the general population, they are exceptions and not the rule.
The ancient Israelites who were farmers were required to round the corners of their fields when harvesting their crops, so that the poor gleaners would have sustenance. Third tithe was for the poor, the widowed and the orphans in addition to the Levites. The prodigal son actually did learn his lesson and received additional wealth from his father once he learned to appreciate it. And, then the big one, Matt. 25:30-45. Also Hebrews 13:2.
The problem is that HWA and his lackeys often emphasized the wrong scriptures (like "Let the dead bury the dead") and so blinded us as members to additional scriptures which revealed greater truths. I had a similar discussion either with you, or someone very much like you in this blog a couple years ago, and quoted the same scriptures. These scriptures are living principles that do work, and I don't know what more I could add. Charity, real charity, given from the heart, is not communism, and the vast majority of times, it does not enslave and is not wasted. In the cases where it appears to have been wasted, then having had the spirit of giving when there was no appreciation or reward will have benefited us, the givers, more than those who received and failed to appreciate. It's a win either way, just depends on your own attitude.
BB
PS: I'm not talking about "giving on command" or about "common". That is communism! For there to be a reward, the right thing must be done from the heart. Tyrrany removes most opportunities to do things from the heart.
BB
Over 70% of the federal budget is wealth transfer. Morally, it's stealing. So I fail to see how only "a small percentage of the general population" will try to take advantage of others. Most people today have a entitlement mentality and see nothing wrong with robbing others blind if they can get away with it. That's the real world. Since this is not your experience, there's something you are not telling us. There's something in the background that you are hiding.
Ok, now you are no longer talking about charity or Christians helping others, or the Bible, assuming (since you are anonymous) that you are even the same person with whom I've started. I am not going to turn and debate the federal budget with you. That is best addressed at the ballot box. You want to believe in the kinds of selfish practices that put you on the wrong side of Karma and make your life suck, go for it, Scrooge! I see nothing so profound in your rhetoric that it would make me change my beliefs or habits.
BB
Why is it that every time BB goes on the defensive he accuses others of having a life that sucks? I find that very, very, interesting!
BB
That over 70% of the federal budget is wealth distribution, is principally morality. Politics is secondary since all politics rests on a moral foundation.
There's no point trying to reason with you if you keeping responding with straw man arguments.
Easy answer, Buckwheat. Anyone who is arguing something from the Armstrongite perspectives automatically does have a life that sucks. If you practice the attitudes you just outlined towards the less fortunate, yours sucks big time, because you are robbing yourself. And, yes, it is very interesting that anyone living in 2020 could hold such horse crap attitudes.
I'm not on the defensive. I was just trying to share with you how you can have and enjoy greater blessings through one of the dynamics of life, ie helping others around you who are less fortunate. Coincidentally, while I was typing my responses to you yesterday, I was also on the phone with one of my customers who is currently less fortunate because of what the Covid pandemic is doing to his business. He had called to ask if I could help him by buying back one of his machines and then reselling it to him after the economy opens back up and he gets back on his feet. I agreed to do that in order to help him and his wife save their business, and preserve the livelihood of their employees. It is a greater risk than filling a homeless family's gas tank, or giving someone money for a meal. We are anticipating recovery, but things could go the other way.
BB
The name's anonymous not Buckwheat. Plus I'm not the one you've been debating, 5:11 was my first post in this thread.
I think I'm going to keep calling you Buckwheat. Works better for me.
So far as your disclaimer goes, well, so you say. Too many of the people who use the moniker "anonymous" use it to lie and play tricks. That's why I usually limit my number of responses to the anonomi, especially when they come off with broad, sweeping generalities like your 70% figure, cause we both know that that's based on you defining or establishing the criteria for "wealth distribution, and wrapping it all together into a percentage for the gullible types who rely on Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, or other radical conservative apologists for their "truths". Does that work as a straw man for you?
BB
I have no problem with your calling me Buckwheat as long as I can call you Darla. You do come across as a Darla most of the time anyway!
Have a good day, Darla!
70% was not my number Darla!
How Freudian of you, Buckwheat! However, I'd sincerely recommend that you keep your sexual fantasies out of your posts. I mean, this being a church-related blog and all!
😂
BB
Romyo and Jullet!
https://youtu.be/yXy42BjKXDw
Anonymous 5:14 declares, "Over 70% of the federal budget is wealth transfer. Morally, it's stealing."
If wealth transfer is stealing, then coprorations are thieves. Workers who, in the words of Bertrand Russell, "alter[..] the position of matter at or near the earth's surface relative to other such matter" are the ones who create wealth. The class of people whose work consists of "telling other people to do so" claim 100% of that wealth, give a little back (as little as they can get by with) in the form of wages, and transfer the rest to members of their own class.
The entire point of government is wealth transfer for the common good.
One cannot build a road by oneself or a power grid or railroads without an army to kill the natives living along the planned railroad.
Mostly government needs to regulate private business since capitalism is based on the worst of man's instincts.
Even with huge government support for businesses today managers do not compromise on bonuses. That's because capitalism is based on the selection of evil people or at least evil and low instincts.
Oh yes, true they hire good people too. But the grid is evil. A world held captive as hwa who witnessed the choice for this system and the demise of democracy in 1933 through bernays and the manufacturing of consent.
The transition from "the pursuit of happiness" to the deliberate choice by policy for "the pursuit of consumerism" and create consent in the media for that new narrative.
Even in the 16th century elites noticed that their daughters were dying in the cities because of the circumstances of the poor. This gave rise to the first social systems.
Let's just see how the USA's health system a working with soon over twice the Vietnam War casualties for a simple virus and more unemployed than the 1930 crisis and oh yes statistics show some interesting figures regarding who actually is dying in the USA and Britain. Let them eat cake. Or rather get your car in line to gather the cake from people who do get it.
Nck
Nck
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