It is another day in the Living Church of God and men and women in the church just cannot do anything right. From fighting over who gets to lead hymns to the proper placement of pickles on the table, LCG members are constantly doing something wrong. In his Feast of Trumpets/pre-Feast of Tabernacles love letter to the few remaining faithful, Gerald Weston discusses how enlightened LCG members are over the rest of the COG's and Christianity.
...the Apostle Paul explains that the body of Christ is made of many different parts (1 Corinthians 12), and we know it is human nature to desire to be one of the comelier parts of the body (1 Corinthians 12:22–25). How many men have striven to hold an office in Spokesman Club or to be in front of the congregation leading hymns or speaking? And it’s not just the men. We’ve seen ladies get into what we sometimes call “coffee pot wars,” fighting each other over where best to place the pickles on the serving table. This may sound humorous and even preposterous, but those of us who have been around for any length of time know that these things really do happen!0
Notice that Paul tells us it is Christ who determines where each of us fits within the body (1 Corinthians 12:11, 18). A body will not function properly with two mouths and one ear. As Paul explains, “If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body?… If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?” (vv. 15–17).
As Paul explained, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4). Then, one of the clearest passages of Scripture—yet one of the most difficult for most people to accept—is found just after that. Christ has placed in the body positions of responsibility so we can have unity and, “speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (vv. 15–16).
To those who really get the big picture and faithfully hold on to it until the end, God will give a great reward. The current spirit ruler who directs the course of this world, along with the angels who fell with him when he “got the big head” and thought he knew better than God, will be removed and replaced (Revelation 12:4; 20:1–4). His removal is emphatically shown in the Day of Atonement. And the fact that we will replace him and his minions is stated in numerous scriptures in both the Old and New Testaments (Daniel 7:27; Matthew 19:27–29; Luke 19:16–19; Revelation 20:4, 6).
Weston goes onto mock Christians who believe in heaven and how mistaken they are and then whitewashes the LCG belief that church members will literally become God, so much so that they are co-equal with Jesus. The power trip that COG leaders need to have so that they can rule over others is mind-numbing. To be co-equal with Christ is to have dominion over all creation as they sit side by side with Jesus.
Further, we are not to become angels or some kind of super-humans in the resurrection, as so many professing Christians mistakenly believe. You do not need me to remind you that we in God’s Church have been called to become sons and daughters of God, the very children of the living God—brothers, sisters, and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:14–21; Hebrews 2:10–18; 2 Corinthians 6:18). Can there be a more glorious future for such flawed beings as we now truly are?
Can Gerald Weston EVER write a letter to his followers that does not discuss anything wrong he perceives them doing, that does not bad mouth the rest of Christianity, and that does not discuss sex? Is he capable of writing a letter filled with grace, compassion, and mercy? No bitching and moaning, just a heartfelt "you are loved for who you are" letter? Can he? Will he?
16 comments:
If you all think he writes badly then you should listen to his sermons! Oy vey! It is even worse when headquarters send out his ridiculous DVD's and then we have to sit and listen to them. Many of us have learned to skip that service.
To gain true happiness, skip all services.
If you don't want to listen to dear leader, why stay?
One thing most religions have in common, is that your reward comes after you die. So put up with the abuse and neglect now, because it will be so much better when you are dead.
And if there is no life after death, you will never know you were wrong, but you can die happy.
It seems to me that dealing with what appears to biblical conflicts causes more confusion than they do sollutions. I spent a lot of time reviewing biblical writings many years ago, but my current religous living today focuses on Faith, Hope, and biblical love (Charity). When WWCOG went though a large number changes that caused hundred splits here in USA and worldwide I recognized any effort to contribute to the true faith God desires would be impossible.. The Christian faith has always had many differing organizations and true faith is reduced to what and how each person reads the bible and applies it to their life. At least that is my opinion. Hopefully those who have faith in God the Father and Jesus the Christ and the Holy Spirit that will guide our life if we let it will be able to live a life that is worth living..
It seems to me that dealing with what appears to biblical conflicts causes more confusion than they do solutions. I spent a lot of time reviewing biblical writings many years ago, but my current religious living today focuses on Faith, Hope, and biblical love (Charity). When WWCOG went though a large number changes that caused hundred splits here in USA and worldwide I recognized any effort to contribute to the true faith God desires would be impossible.. The Christian faith has always had many differing organizations and true faith is reduced to what and how each person reads the bible and applies it to their life. At least that is my opinion. Hopefully those who have faith in God the Father and Jesus the Christ and the Holy Spirit that will guide our life if we let it will be able to live a life that is worth living..
"Who then can be saved?" "With men it is impossible." Truely a word to the wise.
If anyone has any doubts that mankind is insane, all they need to do is to look at the CoG today.
The scripture, "Jesus wept" comes to mind.
The CoG has laid heavy burdens on their membership.
But Jesus came to give us a life more abundant. Religion has driven man insane. Stay safe out there folks.
"I wanna be the Head!"
"No no no, you're more like the little toe!"
"Like hell I am, you are the ass!"
"Actually, I would rather be the rod, like GTA."
"Would that make Ronald L. Dart, the brain?"
"Since the heart, HWA, died...is Flurry's "pet rock" now the heart or the head?"
Armstrongism is transgendered Christianity. It serves no purpose other than its own ego.
If I was a member of lcg, I would be wary of going to a place where I would be beat upon. Why is it I never hear anything good about the members. How can anyone step out in faith, if we're going to be reprimanded. I though a place like church should be uplifting.
How can people grow, if we never hear the good things we do?
Weston is compelled to pump his minions up with their beliefs that they will become God - and this is a truth others don't have. He does this to try to keep them in his control. If the people really did experience what other Christians teach about how the saved will spend eternity knowing and worshiping Jesus, who is God, they would see the errors in COG theology.
Most ACOG members figured out years ago that the power of the holy people has been scattered and that the rebellious "shepherds" are mostly to blame. Most members by now have friends in several groups other than their own, and they see for themselves that these members are more serious about their Christianity than most of the bickering hirelings in any of the groups. When Weston causes a division, he instantly creates a bond between LCG members and the divided group. Very few LCG members anymore are particularly loyal to LCG, it's just that LCG is their primary loyalty and convenient social network. As Weston is starting to learn with the Monson fiasco, every division strengthens the loyalty among brethren while weakening individual loyalties to splinter leaders. It is getting easier and easier for LCG members to feel comfortable shifting their primary loyalty away from LCG. Eventually, Weston will find that his whining won't bring the sheep back once they've found a pasture where the Good Shepherd's voice isn't being muzzled by hireling men playing at being shepherds.
Has it ever occurred to Weston that in a church culture so dominated by tyrannical power-hungry deacons at the local level, the local women are eager, even desperate, to find an acceptable outlet for their Christian gifts and service? Truth be told, the women can usually figure out a serving table among themselves. It's usually one Deaconess who decides that she's the queen bee and ruins the serving opportunity for the other women.
Proper pickle placement and the desire to brew coffee for the brethren could be valuable sources of encouragement for local church ladies. For Weston to treat this as a matter of ridicule says a lot about his inadequacy as a real pastor and helper of ordinary members' joy.
Jerry is just repeating an incident that happened decades ago that RCM had to handle.
You would think from his comments that it happens all the time.
At the local level, people are friendly and easy-going.
At the local level, people are friendly and easy-going.
At the local level, the ass-kissers and social climbers pop out of the woodwork when an HQ bigwig shows up, and the average member breathes a sigh of relief when it's back to being a normal local congregation again.
7:50 AM said... "It's usually one Deaconess who decides that she's the queen bee and ruins the serving opportunity for the other women."
This describes a situation years ago that involved a deaconess whom Weston ordained. She was pretentious and pushy in dealing with many of the other women, including another deaconess, and should never have been placed in the position she was in.
Weston complains about people wanting to be "comelier parts" and equals that to wanting to lead songs, speak, or place pickles on a table. First of all, the entire passage of 1Corinthians 12 is speaking of "spiritual gifts" (1Corinthians 12:1), and placing pickles on a table is not a "spiritual gift". While it could generally be viewed as part of a service, since it would be part of organization or meeting a physical need, the act itself could be done by almost anyone. And while meeting the physical needs of others in a loving way might be generally included among spiritual gifts, it doesn't take a deaconess to dictate where said pickles should go, and most people who have organized and served a meal could figure this stuff out, regardless of what their "spiritual gifts" might be.
Context has been bypassed here in order to drive a narrative. Weston also ignores what Paul says about the parts of the body that are seen as less presentable, weaker, or less honorable being vital to the functioning of the body, and should be given special treatment and honor, while the more presentable parts need no special treatment. 1Corinthians 12:15-26
It is those who consider themselves "duly ordained" deacons, ministers(Why are these seen as different tiers of hierarchy, since both are translated from the same Greek word diakonos,and simply mean servant?), and others who are responsible for creating this situation by ignoring Paul's instructions within this passage, and flipping what Paul says upside down. If the less honorable are bestowed with "more honor" by God(vs.24), and those who view themselves as the bearers of higher profile gifts need no special attention, then why is it that those who view themselves as being higher on the totem pole of this supposed hierarchy are always demanding special respect, attention, and honor? Why are the "less honorable" not given more honor among the body, since Paul tells us they are the ones who are truly indispensable, and the body does not function well without them?
God disperses spiritual gifts to all within the body as He sees fit. (1Corinthians 12:4-11) The COG view is that spiritual gifts are given and used primarily by those who are ordained into church hierarchy, while the rest of the body assumes a much more passive and consequently less valued role within the body. It is only when this idea is corrected and all members of the body are shown the respect and honor God expects, that things like coffee pots, pickle trays, song leading, and even speaking can be placed into perspective, and will become a lot less of an issue.
Concerned Sister
Concerned Sister
Thanks for filling us in. I had no idea that the placement of pickle trays on the tables was an issue. Perhaps Weston can mention pickle placement in one of his sermons or letters.
4:22AM...
My observations were specifically in reply to Weston's comments in a letter as quoted in the above post regarding "comelier parts" and his charge of women fighting over pickle placement, etc.
"...and we know it is human nature to desire to be one of the comelier parts of the body (1 Corinthians 12:22–25). How many men have striven to hold an office in Spokesman Club or to be in front of the congregation leading hymns or speaking? And it’s not just the men. We’ve seen ladies get into what we sometimes call “coffee pot wars,”fighting each other over where best to place the pickles on the serving table..."
Concerned Sister
😂😂
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