Some things never change with Dave:
Dave Pack: "I was wrong, but I'm still right..."
Now that Mr. "We don't set dates" is laying out his own template for blaming and backpedaling, how long will it be before he realizes that "If I build it, no one will come..."? How long before he has to come up with new tactics in order to reel in tithepayers who don't even remember HWA much less believe he was the "final Elijah"? How long will Mr. "Sixty is the new thirty" be able to convincingly threaten his members with Tribulation and Lake of Fire if they don't give until it hurts and then give more? How long will he be able to bash from the pulpit any unemployed members who don't go out and "collect cans" in order to not "appear before the Lord empty" on any given "holy day"? How long will he continue to berate his members for not exceeding the previous holy day offering? (That particular mandate isn't even in the book. Maybe the Hebrew for "give as you are able" really means "Fork over every last red cent.") How long will he continue to threaten members who dare to take it upon themselves to determine whether or not they should pay "third tithe"? (At least he is gracious enough to extend the ministry's "guidance" to anyone who is "confused" about the terms of "eligibility/exemption"...) How long will he continue to promote his idea that "Heresy = sin, and sin = heresy" while defending HWA's alleged indiscretions? (He actually stated that even if he knew that HWA were guilty of everything he was accused of -- even incest -- he would still follow him. He loves to shuffle the deck of "doctrine vs. conduct" at his convenience.)
How long will Pack preach that his biblical heroes' mistakes are recorded in order for his members to learn from them (and not make the same), while condoning his and Herbert's date-setting (false prophesying) by pointing to the "apostle Paul," etc.? How long will he continue to promote the idea (in regards to other false prophets) that "If a man predicts an earthquake for Friday, and it happens even a minute into Saturday, the man is a false prophet"? (paraphrasing, but that's basically what he wrote) -- but come up with excuses as to why that doesn't apply to HWA or himself? How long before he acknowledges that he is no different from Flurry when it comes to title-grabbing, lying, stealing, and just blatant hypocrisy? How long before he acknowledges that the term "servant leadership" is the greatest oxymoron he has ever pronounced, and that it in no shape, form or fashion describes his position? How long before he admits, from the pulpit, behind-the-scenes facts that prove HWA's double standards? (Many will be tempted to argue that those things don't matter -- but if a man's own actions contradict what he thunders from the pulpit, then he himself does not believe the words coming out of his own mouth, so why should anyone else?) How long will Pack get away with preaching, "Prove all things...except the things you can't prove -- just take my word on those"?
How long will Pack (and all those like him) get away with such things? As long as there are enough people willing to close their eyes and believe...
This was written in 2013. Eight years later and Dave is still pulling the same crap and his foolish followers sit there and lap it up as new truth.
11 comments:
David C. Pack should take responsibility for his actions and admit he was wrong instead of pretending he is always right a Christian should follow the Bible nothing more and nothing less Christians are supposed to copy Christ. David C. Pack is an asshole who claims he is an apostle but he gets prophecies wrong like a false prophet.
Even if his members are spiritually struggling, and are attending services for the encouragement, they still have the option of going to a less evil ACOG.
It's sadly obvious that the members of the remaining splinters of the WCG are near brain-dead. These folks, like myself and others, who left the Empire in the late 70's and early 80's, seemed to have better cognitive abilities than these poor folks. I suppose being exposed to hard-core Armstrongism over the last 50 years, without any outside data that could offer alternative views could limit your ability to think rationally.
Phinnpoy
Exactly. I recently read of a study about the differences between Christians and atheists. The atheists came across mentally healthier. It came out the atheists react adaptability to situations, whereas Christians don't. Their responses are more limited and often inappropriate. I believe that Douglas's recent letter where he states that "a soft answer turns away wrath" while ignoring context is an example of this mis programming of Christians minds. Atheists are also more individualistic and less group oriented, which I believe are pluses. People pay through the nose by being a church member, including having their minds twisted.
Even if his members are spiritually struggling, and are attending services for the encouragement, they still have the option of going to a less evil ACOG
That's not as easy as many independent/church-hopping Armstrongists think it is. Dave has perfected his old mentor Rod Meredith's technique of demonizing other church groups. He'll admit that RCG isn't perfect, but since he's convinced you that RCG is the least-worst of the remnants, your only move out of RCG is into the Lake of Fire. Also, to make matters worse, Dave has by now conditioned his membership to believe that his brand of intensity is a sign of the true church. A Victor Kubik, Jim Franks, or Gerald Weston is visibly lukewarm compared to Dave, so there's no way an RCG member will go to those churches.
Any so called "leader" who is not willing to "eat the same food as the troops", is not fit for leadership, especially when they call for sacrifices to be made by their followers to support their lifestyle.
Anyone who is living off the followers, and living high, better take a good look at themselves.
Someone who has made their own money, through legitimate means, such as a business, and who supports himself obviously is in a different category. Pack, obviously, does not fit that mode.
"eat the same food as the troops"
HWA sometimes gave the impression he was doing this. In one of his "urgent need for cash" letters, he said he would lead the way by donating the first $100. He wrote that this was the money he and Loma had been saving up -- for emergency, or a rainy day or whatever.
Returning from an FOT, a friend told me the story of HWA's response when the collection plate came around. He said HWA would ask how much money was in his bank account, and write a check for that amount. That really sounds like a Gerald Waterhouse story...
Lewis VanAusdle he is a pastor serving the congregations in New York City, New Jersey - North, and Hartford, Connecticut. Lewis Van Ausdle from UCG justifies his fellow ableist members the extreme discrimination that took place should not have been allowed.
Hoss
HWAs mansion, gold and silver dinner ware might have been in the churches name, but it's he who consumed this wealth. Meaning, the money he had in his bank account was meaningless. It was accounting gimmickry and public relations.
HWA lived like a king while preaching to give until it hurts, then give some more. One standard for me, another for thee.
It reminds me of when scarface said " me I was always tell the truth. Even when I lie."
Anon 916 - yes, that's why I wrote that the FOT story sounded like a Waterhouse Whopper.
HWA had his way of using manipulative methods of motivation - where the supposed gift of $100 was the "widow's mite". Dave did get close in a sermon where he imagined himself being alone with only a pittance to live on (likely in his on-campus home). But Dave prefers to induce cheerful giving out of fear - in his infamous Clarion Call sermon he praised HWA's "Loma letter" (as Loma lay dying, he threatened non-givers with the Lake of Fire) and wished he could write letters like that.
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