Various Churches of God regularly have members who question the "authority" of some of their leaders and ministers take upon themselves. These churches continually lash out at those people. How DARE they QUESTION God's anointed!
The United Church of God, who claims to be a better, more sanitized version of Armstorngims, still seeks to control members in every manner possible. They are not COGlite any more.
Here is part of a letter sent to UCG members in Australia a few months ago:
Those ordained to preach the gospel are ‘sent’ – therefore, those who ‘send’ these ‘teachers’ must have ‘authority’ to do so. Where does that authority originate? From the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ, as He has appointed these ecclesiastical roles and responsibilities within the Body of the Church, (I Cor. 12:27-28; Eph. 4:8, 11) so that the Body would be edified by the “truth” being preached “in love” (Eph. 4:12-16). Within this environment the members of the Body ‘learn Christ’ (V20), in a structured way, that is they learn how to think and live like Jesus Christ, as they are ‘taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus’ (V21). The truth is ‘in’ the Body which Jesus Christ leads and directs (Col 1:18). Paul’s SPS statement in I Timothy 3:15 captures one of the great purposes of the Church of God: “…I write so that you may know how to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
COG leaders and ministers are guardians of the truth, allegedly. Given the diverse track record of beliefs that the various COG's teach, none of them are unified in any core doctrines and teachings. It's every leader for himself. They also assume that since they are COG ministers they have a divine right to a special truth that the rest of Christianity is apparently too stupid to understand. Given the lies we have seen out of Thiel, Pack, Flurry, Weinland, and others and the complete mishmash of idiocy they promote, how can anyone believe they preach the truth? None of them are certainly guardians of truth or even of 1st century Christianity.
The boast that UCG makes in that the church has a "special" exegesis demonstrates the arrogance and bullying nature of the leadership. Go against them in any way and you are insulting Jesus Christ! they are all special and called out! Never forget that!
Consider our connection with ‘the Truth’ this age. Where did you and I learn the truth - about God, about God’s plan of salvation? We learned it from the Church. No other church denomination – nor indeed any other belief system in the world – other than the Church of God - understands, upholds, and preaches the truth of God, as it is revealed in, by, and through, Jesus Christ! Outside of the ‘Church of God’, no other church denomination preaches with clear Biblical exegesis, that the Holy Days and Festivals of God reveal precious hope-giving insights into the Plan of God! We all found out about that hope right here – in the Church of God.
Then UCG does what all other COG's do in order to discourage members from studying on their own. God reveals nothing to an individual but does so only through the church. Bollocks!
It is also important to remember ’how’ God revealed that truth to us - God did not reveal it to all of us ‘individually’, and then we somehow ‘found’ each other. No! We learned it from the Church – when God opened our minds to understand the truths taught by the Church and drew us into that structured Body.
In order to control members and not let them think on their own, the church has always produced hundreds of books, booklets, and reprint articles that cover every imaginable topic a person wants to know. God forbid if you happen to study something and reach another conclusion, which most of the time will be right!
Over many years, information on various Biblical topics was presented in ‘Booklets’. It is quite interesting then that this same information is now called a ‘Study Aid’ or a ‘Study Guide’. This extensive range of material is intended to be an aid and a guide to our study of the Bible – to give us guidance and insights into understanding the truths of the Bible for that is one of the great purposes of the Church. In the spirit of Paul’s instruction in Romans 10:14 (quoted above), this ‘preaching’ is ‘sent’ in the form of ‘Study Aids’ and ‘Study Guides’ – and various other mediums including sermons and bible studies from the ministry of the Church. All of this comes from and through the Church of God.
The COG has always had its own special versions of "exegesis" that it uses to claim doctrinal truth. All of that stems directly back to a man who had no theological training other than reading some books in a public library for 6 months while not taking care of his family by working.
It is also worth noting that the Church promotes – and itself practices – certain rules of exegesis – rules by which to study God’s word faithfully – to ensure we all “rightly divide the Word of truth”.
Following these rules – and recognising the central role the Holy Spirit plays in revealing truth (John 14:17, 26) – the Church of God has produced clear and sound “Study Aids” for more than 80 years on a range of Biblical doctrines that only the Church of God understands and has consistently taught in the modern era.
It is our way or the highway. Truth only resides with us. Do no even presume to understand things on your own, through diligent Bible study and a good examination of scriotures. Only WE the church can tell you what to believe and how to believe it.
Did you or I come to this depth and breadth of Biblical truth and understanding apart from the Church? No – and we didn’t, because that is not how God works. These ‘study guides’ enhance and provide direction for our study of God’s inspired Word – helping to bring us to completion – helpful to understanding salvation through Christ (II Tim. 3:14-17). They are not ‘God’s Word’ – but they are important in helping us understand God’s Word more fully.
41 comments:
UCG said: "Where does that authority originate? From the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ, as He has appointed these ecclesiastical roles and responsibilities within the Body of the Church,"
One would have to first assume and accept that the apostate ucg was gods church. A extremely hard thing to accept looking at their fruits.
I went to a Christian school from Primary and onward toward to secondary and I learned a lot there. That school taught all the basics from the Bible. I learn nothing new from UCG unfortunately.
Well then shouldn’t HWA have stayed in COG (Seventh Day) then? And by this logic HWA’s actions stands condemned since he and so many others who’ve followed his example have left various groups they supposedly learned “the Truth” from to start their own COG. And, so here we are in 2020 now and from the “mother church” has been born 100s n 1000s of baby churches from nigh 100 years ago. And ironically HWA would use the excuse God revealed to him “the Truth” not any church too. eyeroll
..information on various Biblical topics was presented in ‘Booklets’..this same information is now called a ‘Study Aid’
Not all the information..many booklets have umm, how shall we say, quietly disappeared!
Would be interested if you could post the letter in its entirety, or a link to it.
What is your objective in putting down churches of God trying to do the right thing? Makes you feel superior?
Good luck trying to find a way to attract new members and keep present members happy. The teachings of the UCG are unattractive and strange to the outside world and appear watered down to hardline armstrongites. This does not bode well for the future of the UCG!
That was a letter emailed to the southern region of UCG in Australia on 8/19/2020.
"Where did you and I learn the truth - about God, about God’s plan of salvation? We learned it from the Church."
yes, The Church is very good at teaching the basics, but if you want to know the deeper things of God you have to study, and make use of the Spirit that He gives you....
"just do what the minister says" is not a valid way into The Kingdom...it is idolatry, actually.
"Where does that authority originate? From the head of the church, Jesus Christ, as He has appointed these ecclesiastical roles and responsibilities within the body of the church."
The big lie in the above is that "roles and responsibilities" equals tyranny. To out siders, the statement might seem reasonable, but to members, these are trigger words for ministers lording it over members.
While all organizations have a formal and/or informal hierarchical structure, what these church leaders hide is that organizations can have a flat pyramid or steep pyramid striction. This is commonly taught in management books. In a flat organization structure, there are few layers of management, with employees given high levels of responsibility. In the high pyramid structure, there many levels of management with employees tightly supervised.
Communes are a good example of a flat structure. They have minimum organizational structure, and deflate or expel power seekers. And unlike cults, which create fortified boundaries, communes have permeable membranes through which can come and go relatively unimpeded.
A multitude of scriptures point to a flat organisational church structure. For example, church leaders are told not to lord it over members like the gentiles, they are told not to lord it over members faith. Christ says in Revelation that He hates the doctrine of the Nicolaitans (ie dominating others), Christians are told to workout their own salvation with fear and trembling, to exhort one another using scriptures, to do personal bible study, etc. And finally, in the parable of the talents, Christ compares Himself to a nobleman going to a far country. There is no mention of leaving chief stewards behind to "administer God's government." That is a add-on by a power hungry ministry, despite warnings of not adding to God's word.
‘Churches’ of God Anon11:42??
There are no ‘churches’ of God. All of them are CULTS.
A number of years ago, maybe 2017, a number of UCG pastors presented to UCG "authorities" what they had been seeing in scripture, where their teaching in certain areas had been incorrect. The pastors hadn't even been discussing it among themselves and then it all came to a head. When those "in charge" at UCG were told what they (these pastors) were seeing, they were told you can believe it but you can't teach it here. The pastors refused to teach what UCG required them to teach, so they departed, and their paychecks/retirement checks were taken from them. So, if ministers begin to see things in scripture and growth begins, it isn't allowed. All ministers are humans. We had better be sticking close to the Father and his Son, studying, praying, fasting and asking for the Holy Spirit. We're heading into heavy times in this world.
Once you start looking at the "provenance" of the lineage of authority in a church, (frankly any church) you realize that they all go back to thin air.
What are the rules of the "burden of proof" that Jesus Christ appointed someone to be over you? Because 60 years ago, HWA ordained someone, who then ordained someone, who then ordained some local elder to be your ruler? Lots gets lost in the transitions for sure, and what is the "proof" that HWA was the ordained oracle of truth and authority on Earth?
There are some shaky legs in all of this reasoning. Hierarchy is not brotherhood.
How can anyone in any Church have authority over any baptised or not, old or young, established in faith or a newbie, when the church landscape, especially UCG has been shattered by church splits?
And if the UCG Australian letter is correct then what about all the previous UCG ministry that have left, pushed out, walked away from wars ? Wouldn't previous UCG ministry have had that authority then? It's confusing.
the doctrine of the Nicolaitans (ie dominating others)
Please show me from a non-COG source the idea that the Nicolaitans' doctrine was to dominate others. Respectable scholarship shows that the Nicolaitans were antinomian, and considered the OT laws against various sexual practices to be abolished under Christ. Rather than dominate others, they had lots of free sex as peers with each other.
I think you are peeling back a truth Anon 10:48 that many dare not reveal.
Jesus Christ will make sense of this modern day confusion with one or two sentences. He will bring light to the darkness that the present day ministry instill upon the church.
Oh dear, Oh dear!! If UCG members believe this then they are in for a bumpy ride. It is so illogical.
So we have a situation that “Those ordained to preach the gospel are ‘sent’ by the authority of Jesus Christ”. If UCG members who were around in 1995 believe that, then they are truly asleep. Was Tkatch, ordained by none other than “God’s apostle” himself to lead the church, “sent”? Follow this logic then they all should be in WCG/Grace International, not UCG?
There are many warnings in the Bible about false prophets. Is the antidote to false teaching to follow the ordained ministry? In Acts 20:30, Paul speaking to the elders of the Ephesus church, warned that the some of the elders would become false prophets.
So members learnt the “truth” from the church. I thought the Bible said that God the Father calls (John 6:44) and the Holy Spirit gives understanding. (1 Cor. 2:10-12).
How do they define the “church”? The Greek words means “called out ones, assembly, congregation.” Yet they typically take it to mean the ministry. They mistranslate the Bible to suit their own ends. Is that a sign of true shepherds?
So they say to read their study aids. Which ones? Those written during the Tkatch era? The infamous “God Is?” booklet? The 1939 HWA article on church government? You choose!!!
They claim to have been writing booklets for over 80 years “that only the Church of God understands and has consistently taught in the modern era.” Are they saying that the church only began 80 years ago? Did the church exist between the time of the Apostles and then? What about Christ’s words that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church? (Matt 16:18) Could they be the true church if they started only 80 years ago?
As someone else commented, they are turning their definition of “church” into an idol.
Are you referring to the cogs that treat other Christians as fake and without the holy spirit? The COGs that smugly deride and mischaracterize the beliefs of other Christians?
The COGs that believe their warming a seat once a week justifies them, but those actually making a difference in the lives of hurting people are deceived and will get their chance in the lesser resurrection?
The COGs judge others as being real or fake Christians while not lifting a finger for the lost or the widow and orphan; this is against the clear teaching of the new covenant so i also question the COG desire “to do the right thing”.
10.48 AM
The etymology of the word Nicolaitan means 'conquerors of the lay people.'
The COG’s doing the right thing?
LOL! Give me 3 examples of ‘right things’ the COG’s do..
I don’t think people posting here are trying to make themselves feel superior. I know the COG ministers do. And I also know that a lot of COG members feel superior because they ‘know the true church’ and they ‘hold the true faith’.
But that ‘true faith’ consists of bullying and shunning people and lying and lording ministers. Judging everyone that is ‘in the world’
Start practicing what you preach COG members! And then we can have a meaningful discussion about ‘true faith’!
Troll.
Yes Tonto you are correct here, but all forms of Church government, even a brotherhood one, can all lead to corruption because humans are corruptible.
Brotherhood rule can lead to cronyisim and that can lead to families aristocracy rule within the church.
Many Christian churches, of many stripes testify ebulliently to the fidelity of their interpretation of the Bible. And many churches in the Christian Movement differ but not significantly. Hence, they now maintain a more inclusivist view concerning the salvific validity other Christian denominatons.
Armstrongism, however, has always maintained the "we're the one an only true church" perspective. This means that their interpretation of the Bible must also be the "one and only correct interpretation." This is the view that the posted article excerpts advocate with some self-congratulation.
To the average person, this may seem like a lot to sort out. And it requires a plunge into the dry topic of theology. In my view, then, a good place to start is, pre-emptively, at the top with the pivotal Doctrine of God. (I am not sure that Armstrongists have ever published a booklet focused on this foundational doctrine. I was an Armstrongist for 30 years and I don't remember one. If none yet exists, so much for exegesis by little booklets.)
What you find, in the last analysis, is that the vaunted exegesis of Armstrongists has led them to overt polytheism. Not binitarianism but bitheism. Full stop. Period. End of story. The rest of the debate is just arm-waving.
******* Click on my icon to view my Disclaimer
Not wanting to click on an icon link where the post begins with, "testify ebulliently to the fidelity of their interpretation of the Bible." Too complicated of language and takes to long to sort out what they're trying to say. 🤔
I will say that Armstrong's teaching, and a number of the split offs (not all) lean towards binitarianism, not polytheism, imo.
NEO, the COGs are even more polytheistic than you point out. They firmly believe in Satan, who fills the role of Trickster God in other polytheistic religions. So that's three at minimum.
In this pantheon It is forbidden to worship the Trickster but mandatory to keep him in mind at all times.
An someone post the entire letter. Are any doctrinal deviations mentioned specifically. Or is it just a general statement to establish the authority of the ministers? If there are specific heresies to address then they should do that.
CAn someone post the entire letter. Are any doctrinal deviations mentioned specifically. Or is it just a general statement to establish the authority of the ministers? If there are specific heresies to address then they should do that.
Retired Prof.
Is the trickster god a created being?
I should read Stephen Fry books more (like Mythos)
Nck
“UCG tells a whopper of a tale on why their ministers are guardians of the 'truth'”
The UCG “ministers” are guardians and protectors and supporters of godless perverts and stalkers.
“UCG tells a whopper of a tale on why their ministers are guardians of the 'truth'”
The truth completely escaped from those sleepy UCG “guards” and went somewhere else.
As the limit is 4096 characters here is the first part of the letter:
Dear Brethren
Am I approved of God? This is a life purpose for the people of God. Being approved of God means everything to us.
It is common to hear someone express a desire to not hear these words: “I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness”. The fuller context of that statement is given by Jesus Christ in Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to Me (to Christ Himself – at the judgement), ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied (taught) in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many works in Your name.’ And then I (Christ – our Judge) will say, ‘Depart from me you who practice lawlessness (traders in lawlessness)’” (Matt. 7:21-23).
The saints desire is – with all their heart, mind, soul and strength – to be approved of God – to be, as Christ stated in v. 21, ‘(doing) the will of My Father in heaven’.
How do we ensure we are doing God’s Will so that we are approved? Paul gave this instruction to Timothy: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Tim. 2:15 KJV).
If we put Christ’s teaching with Paul’s, we see that we are to be ‘workmen’ who – through diligent ‘study’ – ‘rightly divide’ God’s word to know ‘the Father’s will’ so as to be ‘approved’ of God – rather than being ‘shamed’ at the judgement. This is also how we avoid the risk of becoming ‘workers of iniquity’ – ‘traders in lawlessness’.
The words of God to Israel ring in our ears and resonate in our hearts: “Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Deut. 8:3). We know that Christ quoted this verse in resisting the temptation of Satan (Matt. 4:4). Therefore, we understand the importance of God’s Word to our lives – not only in growing in righteousness but also in identifying and resisting the devices and the wiles of the Devil (II Cor. 2:11). The best way to recognise the ‘strategies’ of the Devil in this ‘spiritual warfare’ is to be armoured with “the belt of truth” and “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Eph. 6:14, 17).
This begs the question: How do we “rightly divide the word of truth”. To ‘be approved’ of God requires this ‘work’. But how do we do this ‘work’?
In recent weekly updates we have discussed “the formula”. It is a tried and true formula. It is the framework of our daily walk with God. Building a relationship with God for eternity must involve prayer, study, meditation and fasting. These ‘works’ are fundamental if we are not to be ‘ashamed’ – if we are not to fool ourselves that we are ‘doing works in Christ’s name’ that are nothing more than ‘trading in lawlessness’. Getting this formula right is vital!
But when it comes to this second step of ‘the formula’ – diligently and ‘rightly dividing the Word of Truth’ – coming to a fuller understanding of the ‘will of the Father’ – is it just ‘me’ with the “Holy Spirit” and the ‘Word of God’ – the Bible? Is that ‘enough’? Is that all I need?
Next part of the letter:
God’s Holy Spirit is powerful. God created all things by His Spirit and by His Word. Look at what God’s Spirit did in the New Testament Church in leading the Apostles all around the known world, preaching the Gospel. Look at Acts 2 and the miracles performed by God through His Spirit. Given that ‘with God all things are possible’ (Matt. 19:26), is it not ‘possible’ that God - if He so chose - could lead each one of us individually to ‘the truth’ by the power of God’s Spirit alone, with our personal ‘diligence’ in ‘studying’ His word? It would seem that God probably could - if He so chose. But the question is - is that how He has chosen to do it? Well, no! Not only does God not want us to cloister ourselves away on some mountain or retreat or backroom with a candle and a Bible, but He knows it is not a sound approach. There can be a “zeal for God” that is “not according to knowledge” (Rom. 10:2). There is nothing wrong with spending time alone looking diligently into the Word of God, but that must be understood in the context of the process – the ‘system’ – which God established to bring us to the Truth.
Paul outlines this in Romans 10:13-15: “For ‘WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED’ (quoted from Joel 2:32). How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, WHO BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS’ (quoted from Isa. 52:7)”.
Under the Old Covenant, the Priesthood was responsible for teaching the people God’s Law (Levi. 10:11; Deut. 33:8-11). The Temple was where the ‘Word of God’ was preserved and preached (Deut. 17:8-13: II Chron. 19:8-11). The Prophets were also to teach the people – to correct them and bring them back to ‘the Way’ (Isa. 6:8-10; Heb. 1:1).
Under the New Covenant, God the Father has appointed Jesus Christ as the Head of the Church (Col. 1:15-18; Eph. 1:22-23). Jesus Christ established His Church (Matt. 16:18) and initially appointed and sent the Apostles to ‘preach the gospel’ (Matt. 28:16-20; Acts 1:7-8; Acts 26:14-18) and ‘feed the sheep’ (John 21:15-17). Paul instructs Timothy and Titus to ordain and appoint elders for the same purpose – to perpetuate the dissemination of the truth of God’s Word (I Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9). This is the process that was established and has been followed in this modern era.
The extract starts after this.
The letter ends:
The Church is likened to our ‘spiritual mother’ (Gal 4:26) – its role is to nurture and feed and protect us. We are blessed and privileged to have this precious calling to understand this precious truth as a part of this precious Body.
Bible Study is essential to the growing of our relationship with our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has established the Church to be the “pillar and ground of the truth”. May we all receive the nurture from the Church as we commit to looking into the Word of God – being committed to “rightly dividing the Word of Truth” – to continue to faithfully follow the “Formula” as we draw ever closer to God. May we all seek to be “approved of God”.
Like their sermons they like to waffle a bit.
These ACOGs have one official "truth" on their web sites, and another in-house "truth" such as the right of the ministers to abuse members. Which truth is the real truth?
No, the church is not our 'spiritual mother' (Gal 4.26). Gal 4.26 "But the Jerusalem which IS ABOVE...is the mother of us all." It's God the Father and Jesus Christ who is our mother, NOT some highly flawed physical church. This is another example of the ministers usurping the title and responsibilities of God Himself.
These groups still hide that Jesus directly leads individual Christians. Rather they keep insisting that they are the middlemen between man and God. This makes the ministers thieves and crooks.
Galatians 4:26 is a poor scripture to quote to try to justify the church being our spiritual mother. The problem is, that scripture simply doesn't say what they wish it to mean.
UCG's web site quotes that same scripture with the same interpretation, in an article "God's Church Is Like a Loving Mother".
https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-study-course/bible-study-course-lesson-10/gods-church-is-like-a-loving-mother
Telling from my own experience with the RCG: the in-house abuse the members is the real truth.
FALSE ADVERTISING in the disUnited Church of Godlessness
The disUnited Church of Godlessness, an International Abomination (UCGaIA) is where unrepentant, unconverted, unbelievers go to behave very badly while playing church.
One is supposed to believe that the UCG leaders are God's ministers even though they are just there for their paychecks, and the power to support perverts and stalkers and kick out their victims.
One is supposed to believe that the UCG has all the answers to life even though the old ministers, and the newly-credentialed fake ministers, and many of the people, raise their own children to marry completely outside of the UCG and other so-called COG groups.
One is supposed to believe that the UCG has the truth of God even though the place is full of gossiping liars, and young and old weirdos each spouting off their own heretical ideas.
One is supposed to believe that the Holy Spirit is in the UCG even though it is full of a bunch of malicious perverts and stalkers.
One is supposed to spend their time reading the UCG's literature and listening to the UCG's sermons even though the UCG is full of nothing but evil continually.
Anon 12.29 Has a unique comment style but doesn't read well or read real.
Is this a 'opposite attack'. It would not surprise me if it was.
Anonymous at 3:57 AM said...“Anon 12.29 Has a unique comment style but doesn't read well or read real. Is this a 'opposite attack'. It would not surprise me if it was.”
Feel free to go to the UCG for a while and find out for yourself just how real it really is.
Thanks to anonymous for posting the letter.
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