It's that time of the week for the weekly Profitable Sabbath beat-down message. As LCG gears down for Passover, Winnail is asking the faithful to "focus on the big picture." What exactly is the "big picture"?
Is it Jesus? Nothing was mentioned about the dude below.
Considering the fact LCG's version of Passover is 2 nights away, there is no focus upon Jesus. It's more important to condemn LCG members from spending time on the internet reading Banned, watching TV, or doing things that are actually fun with one's own family.
Followers of Jesus don't let the cares of the world "choke the truth", they never have. They can enjoy life and be totally at peace with their standing with God instead of fretting about it day in and day out, especially at this time of year, nor do Christians walking with Jesus need to fret over “because the days are evil” or whether or not one is "qualifying " to become a god in the kingdom to come.
Adjusting Your Focus: Prior to the Passover and during the Days of Unleavened Bread is a good time to evaluate how we spend our time and where we focus our energies and concerns. Jesus admonished us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Are your thoughts focused on this big picture—of doing the Work and building the character necessary to function in the Family of God? The Apostle Paul advised Christians to “walk circumspectly” (live purposely) and to make the most of our time and opportunities “because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15–16). Paul also instructed Christians to treat each other with respect and to avoid interpersonal bickering and arguments over doctrinal issues that shift our focus away from the big picture (Romans 12:9–12; 14:20; 1 Corinthians 1:10). Jesus warned that “the cares of this world” can choke the Truth and cause us to be unfruitful (Matthew 13:22). In light of these Scriptures, we need to periodically evaluate how we use our time, what we watch on TV, what we read, how much time we spend on the Internet, and what we post on social media. If we really want to focus our minds on what is true, noble, just, and pure (Philippians 4:8), let’s use the Holy Days to focus on the big picture.
Have a profitable Sabbath and Holy Day season,
Douglas S. Winnail
"avoid interpersonal bickering and arguments.."
ReplyDeleteThat's always been a ACOGs stable. How dare church members defend themselves against church thugs. Bullies can do and say whatever they please, and members are expected to keep their mouths shut. Douglas is certainly being consistent. Last time it was "a soft answer turns away wrath" (since a soft answer does not deter bullies) to this.
I'm familiar with the ACOG church culture. Thugs and bullies are the master race, and are like the mafia made men.
The Worldwide Mafia. Less reputable than the Corleones.
ReplyDeleteI wonder who the minister is that keeps leaking these announcments.
ReplyDelete"avoid interpersonal bickering and arguments.."
ReplyDeleteIt has ALWAYS been the ministry , from the top on down, throughout the history of the COGs, including HWA, that have been the worse examples of this.
Well you should know.
DeleteHey Banned....don't know if you've received the latest update, but LCG Pastor of the Kansas City congregation and Regional Pastor Rand Millich has been diagnosed with severe congestive heart failure. They're awaiting test results and a conference with his doctors to see what he will do next..hopefully, he steps down. The guy has been putting his congregation to sleep for years. The prayer request has been posted on all places.....social media site, Facebook. So much for social media being evil, guess it's okay for ministers and their families to be on Facebook, just not the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteWho is likely to take his place of he did step down?
Delete1.41 PM
DeleteExactly. I stopped responding to prayer requests back in the 1980s when it became obvious that the ministers, elders and the irresponsible had hijacked prayer requests in the same manner that they had hijacked the church in general. Elders asked their congregation to pray for their children's petty problems, while members with severe medical problems or those who were struggling not to be crushed by persecution were ignored. So it's pray for the big people, but the little people can go eat cake.
Poor Winnail and his starving flock - I feel sorry for them missing out on the beauty commemorated by this season. Therefore, below, I've taken the first verse Winnail wrote about, Matthew 6:33, and re-fashioned a more uplifting and season-appropriate message to edify his people.
ReplyDelete___________________________________________________________________________________________
Jesus admonished us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Today, let us focus on the "HIS righteousness" part of this verse.
It's easy to get discouraged when we focus on our own righteousness. We are prone to failings like treating others harshly or frittering away too much time on trivial entertainments. However, righteousness is required to enter the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 5:20, Jesus tells us "unless your righteousness surpasses that of the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven."
If we focused only on our righteousness, we would feel hopeless. However, the God News is, there is always hope in Jesus! Romans 3:21-22 tell us "apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe."
This passage in Romans 3 tells us we can know God's righteousness and his righteousness is given to us through faith in Jesus. This act of God giving us his righteousness through Jesus is often referred to as the Doctrine of Justification.
This beautiful seasons pictures how the sacrifice of Jesus provided our justification. Roman 4:25 states Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Verse 24 of Romans 4 defines justification as God crediting us with righteousness for believing in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
Justification is often referred to as the "Double Imputation" or the "Great Exchange" - whereby the sins of people were put to Jesus' account and he paid the price, and also the righteousness of Jesus' obedience to the Father in life and death were credited to the account of those who believe, as demonstrated by Romans 5:18: Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.
As we are seek HIS righteousness, I encourage you to do a Bible verse search for all verses that contain each of the words justify, justified, and justification. Today, I will leave you with Romans 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Have a profitable Sabbath (or Easter),
(Note to Doug: please feel free to insert your name and publish the above to bless your people)
4.00 AM
ReplyDeleteThe 'righteousness,' in Romans 3:21-22 should be translated as moral standard rather than character. So God gives us His standard. It's called the ten commandments.
Anonymous March 27 at 5:07 AM has stopped responding to prayer requests. That's reasonable.
ReplyDeleteBut for those who feel better if they show their concern by uttering a prayer, here's a suggestion: "Hey God, go ahead and do what you've been planning all along. Who am I to stand in your way?" Sort of like "Thy will be done," except ditching the outdated language style.
To 10:21, don't confuse the matter even more, as the righteousness referred to in Rom 3:21-22 and in many other places is about righteousness, not about the moral standard or code of conduct, which is the law, against which Paul is making a contrast in order to show that the saving faith of Christ is what makes us righteous before God, for this faith makes us to believe in Christ and obey Him (Rom 3:31) for salvation.
ReplyDeleteMake no mistake about it. You can strain every nerve in your body to keep the law but you won't be able to keep it perfectly or be forgiven through doing a good work, or by covering it up yourself (which many are doing today). It is only through believing in Christ that you can be accepted by the Father.
That's been the plan from the beginning.
To 10:21, don't confuse the matter even more, as the righteousness referred to in Rom 3:21-22 and in many other places is about righteousness, not about the moral standard or code of conduct, which is the law, against which Paul is making a contrast in order to show that the saving faith of Christ is what makes us righteous before God, for this faith makes us to believe in Christ and obey Him (Rom 3:31) for salvation.
ReplyDeleteMake no mistake about it. You can strain every nerve in your body to keep the law but you won't be able to keep it perfectly or be forgiven through doing a good work, or by covering it up yourself (which many are doing today). It is only through believing in Christ that you can be accepted by the Father.
That's been the plan from the beginning.
Hey Anonymous of 10:21 AM: thanks for your contribution to the discussion; it's indeed useful in the debate!
ReplyDeleteSo, you feel that justification in Romans 3:21-22 does not refer to the righteousness of Jesus making the believer righteous – despite this literal translation being made in dozens of Bible versions.
Okay, let's assume that you are correct, in your assertion that this verse was translated erroneously; so in your understanding, were all other verses mentioning justify, justified, and justification - also likewise mistranslated to conform to your understanding?
There are many verses containing these words and I see no reality where your interpretation prevails; but, I remain open to hear your thoughts on the matter, if you care to show any proof of translation errors, beyond your un-verified say so.
Hey Anonymous of 10:21 AM - continued: This debate reminds me of a debate I had with a LCG friend over the biblical mention of the word cross.
ReplyDeleteTo describe the fatal failing nature of LCG, to my friend, I quoted 1 Corinthians 1:18: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.
My LCG friend haughtily, indignantly retorted, "Cross is mistranslated; instead of cross, the word should be stake!"
So, it doesn't matter whether the word should be cross or stake; Christians need to deal with the whole volume of the verses on the subject.
Is LCG perishing because the message of the STAKE is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God?
Can LCG apologist deal with the whole volume of verses on Cross or Justification? There is no proof I'm aware of that any COG can do so.