Dave Pack, in his never-ending quest to control every aspect of his follower's lives, has laid out the rules for when a minister comes to visit. Lock the pets up, silence the children, and DO NOT give him any sugar-laden dessert!
Be sure to show proper respect. Remember I Timothy 5:17: “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.” And III John 8, “We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellow helpers to the truth.” In so doing, you actually serve the Church while the minister serves you!
You do not need to prepare an elaborate meal, or go to great effort to make something special. In many instances, your minister will have already eaten. It is fine to offer water, milk, coffee, tea or juice to drink and some type of snack. Healthful cookies, a piece of pie or cake are fine, but be sure they are wholesome—not laden with sugar. (Many of God’s people do not follow His principles of healthy living and it shows!) It is critical that a minister watches and takes care of his health. Traveling many miles and eating the wrong food can sabotage this. Do your part to help keep him—and yourself—healthy.
Do not be offended if he declines the refreshments offered; it may be that he has had his fill for the day.
If you have animals or pets, it is a good idea to put them in their cage or in another room of the house. This is not to say the ministry does not like dogs or cats—most do. But a pet nipping at or jumping on the minister or his wife is not good. This can be distracting, and since the minister will be wearing dress slacks, a tie and jacket, this could possibly soil or damage his clothes.
Also, ensure your children are well-behaved, polite and respectful. Young boys and girls should be able to sit or play quietly. Children of any age should not become a distraction or disrupt conversation.
Of course, you will want to dress for the occasion when receiving a minister. This is not the time for a T-shirt and jeans. While you do not need to put on your Sabbath clothes, and women are not required to wear dresses, you should receive him wearing nice apparel. Dressy casual is your best choice.
Think of it this way. When receiving one of Christ’s ministers, you are also receiving Jesus Christ and God the Father: “He that receives you receives Me, and he that receives Me receives Him that sent Me” (Matt. 10:40). While this does not mean you should “make a big fuss” over a minister, it does mean you should cordially and warmly welcome him. As always, remember to be balanced.
There is NO minister in the Restored Church of God that is representative of Christ and God the Father and therefore members do NOT need to worry that they are 'receiving" Christ and God. This is the stupidity that is used by COG leaders to instill fear and control over members.
And please please, no fornicating rabbits in the living room.
ReplyDeleteNck
"When receiving one of Christ's ministers, you are also receiving Jesus Christ and God the Father."
ReplyDeleteHa, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
So remember folks, when talking to Dave or one of his ministers, you are also talking to Christ and God the Father.
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
Father.
LMAO! This is ridiculous.. Normal human interaction has no place in the COG. Let’s only talk about Godly things on the Sabbath.. Let’s pray that God blesses the conversation..
ReplyDeleteSpontaneity MUST be approved by a minister before fully implemented.
The most upsetting thing is his remarks about children. Silent or not speaking.. Suffer the little children to come to me versus be good little props for the nice pastor.
RCG truly is a cut I mean cult above the rest of the COG.
And you in other groups may scoff but you’re how many degrees of separation from this exact scenario?
So Dave Pack and his ministry consider themselves as Catholic Popes do.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, I've of two minds about the patronizing advice. People shouldn't be treated like children, but then again, I've been to members homes and some behaved like social barbarians. Total twits.
ReplyDeleteI Double Dog Dare one of Dave's Double Honored and Biblically ignorant pastors to stop over for a chat...
ReplyDeleteHe wants the dog caged or in another room - for one reason and one reason only - dogs are such a great judge of character.
ReplyDeleteMuttley would take a bite-sized piece, given half a chance. Heh heh!
Rules to Prepare for Ministers' Visit:
ReplyDeleteClean the house before he comes.
Do not pass gas in his presence or within 30 minutes of his arrival
Do not pick your nose or scratch your butt.
Do not scratch his butt.
Mow and edge the lawn so that it looks more like AC campus in Pasadena, not trailer park with car up on blocks.
Flush and clean toilets
Brush your teeth and use mouthwash
it's sad when "the church" has to be instructed in common courtesy....
ReplyDeleteI've always treated ministers as I would any other guest, but then, the ministers I've interacted with have all been normal down to earth people.
maybe Dave's think more highly of themselves than they ought?
If you have DAVE PACK as your minister , it is a good idea to put him in his cage or in another PADDED secure room of the house.
ReplyDeleteOver 50 years have passed, and thanks to Dave's declarations I see where I went wrong!
ReplyDeleteBut... when I had meetings and counseling in the minister's car at discreet locations, he didn't offer me anything. Now I see I was supposed to bring the refreshments.
What a Joke!!!! This sounds like the description of the religious pharisees (Matt 23). Sorry what you see is you get.
ReplyDeleteWhat a Joke!!!! This sounds like the description of the religious pharisees (Matt 23). Sorry what you see is you get.
ReplyDeleteI can only conclude by this posting is that Pack and his crew are the devils servants masquerading as angels of the light.
ReplyDeleteThis post reminds me of the infamous WCG Visiting Minister program fiasco which resulted in an exasperated Garner Ted blasting the brethren for refusing to open the door, hiding behind couches and basically not complying to orders.
ReplyDelete"The most upsetting thing is his remarks about children"
ReplyDeleteAnd so is the treatment of pets: "it is a good idea to put them in their cage", "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and I know why the caged dog howls. Meet the minister in a room devoid of life forms.
I seem to recall hearing a similar sermonette on this topic when I was growing up in the R/WCG. The acorn of the Splintered ACOG doesn't fall far from the tree. This R/WCG traditional practice and teaching continues.
ReplyDeleteRichard
So how did we stray so far from Biblical guidelines and principles of actual service here?? How did visiting the sick, widows, orphans, and others in need of help and comfort turn into the preacher showing up on one's door step dressed in the compulsory suit and tie to be ushered into an immaculate house where everyone is wearing "dressy casual" and tries their best to put on a performance out of Stepford Wives? How is this helping or serving anyone, except someone's ego, and perhaps feeding their own messed up idea of some sort of alternate reality?
ReplyDeleteIf I was going to set out to truly get to know someone, in order to be of service to them, I would first of all do what I could to make them feel comfortable enough to actually talk to me if they were having a problem. I would not show up at their home dressed in formal attire, and make them sit nervously in their living room and offer me "wholesome" cookies. This isn't anything like how we see Jesus Christ interacting with people. I might show up though, with cookies in hand and sit and visit with them. I might offer to run an errand, or help them with some other chore they are doing. I might offer to pray with them or give them a hug, or show some compassion for them if that is what is called for, and if they were ill or otherwise hurting, they would not be expected to get up and serve me. This is what comes of turning service on it's head and expecting those who are supposed to be servants to be the ones who are served.
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27
"... For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
"Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’... " Matthew 25:35-40
Concerned Sister
PCG did the EXACT same thing
ReplyDeleteSo how did we stray so far from Biblical guidelines and principles of actual service here??
ReplyDeleteI remember a PT article by a minister (who stayed with Tkatch) about his visit to a poverty stricken family outside the US. He described how with their meager means they made him welcome, down to the "tastefully folded" toilet-paper napkins.
In contrast, I saw some WCG report on a plea from someone in Africa to come to his village to help. He felt that HWA's message would offer hope and improvement to their lives. No - not worth the expense. Leave African safaris to photo ops with Jomo Kenyatta and praise for Ian Smith. The people were left behind, and to be looked after by Bob Thiel.