An Open Letter To My Father’s Tormenters
Every time I post something about Armstrongism, the Church of God International, or Bill Watson my poor father is subjected to numerous incredulous phone calls and/or e-mails from his “friends” in the Church. “How can your son disparage Bill or the Church in this manner?” they demand. “Why must your son be so disrespectful of you and your religion?”
For the record, I stopped sharing most of my posts and other writings with my father long ago, because I know how vehemently he disagrees with me regarding most religious and political topics. In other words, I discerned long ago that there wasn’t any value in underscoring my profound differences with a man I love and respect – why rub his nose in it? Moreover, I am very much aware of the fact that my father is devoted to his church and best friend, Bill Watson (and I have no desire to disparage, disrupt or disrespect any of that). Finally, as his son, I have been very cognizant of the fact that my father is suffering from debilitating health issues and have no interest in placing any additional burdens or stresses on him on account of that fact.
However, feeling this way, I have often asked myself: “Why would my father’s Church friends insist on bringing these things to his attention?” “Are they trying to rub his nose in this stuff?” “Are they trying to hurt him or my relationship with him?” “Do they think that he actually agrees with my positions on these issues (despite the large body of sermons and writings which clearly suggest that he doesn’t)?” In short, what could possibly motivate folks to bring these things to my father’s attention and cause him such distress/upset/misery?
The only answer that makes any sense to me is that they are somehow hoping to use my father to bring pressure to bear upon me to stop criticizing the teachings of CGI and Bill Watson. In fact, I can think of no other logic that would motivate an otherwise decent person to resort to such cruel and discordant means to achieve some end – the belief that they were defending/protecting their faith and minister(s).
To be clear, however, it is deceitful and manipulative to use an innocent person in this fashion to exert pressure on the one whom they perceive to be the guilty party. In other words, if anyone has a problem with anything that I write, they should directly confront me with their issues – NOT my father! And, for the record, I will NEVER be dissuaded/deterred from expressing opinions about teachings which I consider to be erroneous or harmful to others by such despicable methods! If anyone has a beef with me (or anything I’ve written), bring it to me (I’ve been an independent adult now for many years). As Scripture plainly teaches, the father shall NOT be held responsible for the deeds of the son, and the son shall NOT be held responsible for the deeds of the father (see Ezekiel 18:20). In other words, leave my father alone!
Miller Jones
24 comments:
I have seen and have been the brunt of COG gossips over the years. The church over to shame nonCOG people as being vicious gossips and lairs, but if you spend any amount of time in the COG movement you will quickly see it is filled with gossips and liars who are more vicious than anyone in the so-called world will ever be.
I've posted anonymously on line and had a similar experience. Some church members worked out who I was and complained to a difficult relative. And this was years after I left the church.
They plaster their behavior with bible verses, but it's always school yard bully morality that's dominant in the ACOGs.
Mr. Jones, I hope you don't stop posting your insightful understanding of scriptures. I have enjoyed them like a breath of fresh air. There was a time when I was a newbie in the faith and I appreciated the teachings of your father and other ministers in CGI who helped me get started in studying my bible. By the way, your father is a worthy evangelist! I've met him several times and had some excellent discussions.
But as I have studied the scriptures over the years, I agree with you, that there are errors in some doctrines of the COGs. But it shouldn't have to stay that way, especially at the Passover season. This is the perfect time to search for the leaven of false teachings and doctrinal errors and throw them out. Brethren have been told year after year to throw out the leaven in their homes as they spiritually de-leaven themselves individually. This should also apply to the ekklesia as a corporate family of believers. If this had always been the practice of the church, we would be more Spiritually mature today.
The only way to see error is to expose it. This is the right thing to do as we are told in Prov 18:17 "The first to put forth his case seems right, until someone else steps forward and cross-examines him." ISV
All lies. "Miller Jones" is not the son of Bill Watson.
But i suppose it's to be expected as Passover is approaching.
Miller:
These people seem to be involved in a tribal action rather than a church action. My guess is that they see themselves as Grand Inquisitors at large. They could have served well on Torquemada's staff. They cannot access you directly so they are trying to recruit your father to their partisan cause. Also, this provides an aperture through which we can see "theocracy" that is governed not by God but by hominids. Makes me appreciate the separation between church and state. I developed an appreciation for that during the Trump administration when evangelicalism became the State religion for a while. The events you recount underscore the need for that separation.
Good job of deflecting, making yourself out to be the victim.
Anonymous 3/19 @ 12:02,
WHAT? Who said that I was Mr. Watson's son? As far as I know, he has 2 daughters (and I'm not one of them). I said that he was my father's best friend.
Hey, its one thing to bring to the "attention of a father" the actions of a six year old son.
Once kids hit 18, hey the onerous of accountability is on them. Take any disagreements directly to them!
UCG is full of liars and the other groups also lie a lot too.
Thanks for the positive comments, and I will continue to post things when moved to do so.
Amen to NEO's and Tonto's comments.
Anonymous 3/19 @ 8:07,
Sorry I wasn't clear - the thesis of the post is NOT deflection! I want folks to leave my dad alone - As for me, bring it on (I'm always ready and willing to discuss my views with folks who disagree with me).
9:44 AM
Nail well and truly hit on the head with that comment.
The are sadly also UCG liars on here pretending to be what they are not.
Very sorry and sad situation.
You are a liar.
As Scripture plainly teaches, the father shall NOT be held responsible for the deeds of the son, and the son shall NOT be held responsible for the deeds of the father (see Ezekiel 18:20)
Yes the scriptures are clear as long as you cherry-pick them and ignore the contradictions. The whole world is suffering because of the sins of Adam and his feminist wife. There are many other cases where innocent people and whole nations paid the price for other people's sins. When David sinned, how many thousands died from God's punishment?
It amazes me that people still believe that primitive book.
Your father's friends should watch this entertaining video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aYH2YNev3c
The same fake authoress behind "Concerned Sister" and other fake names is behind this "Miller Jones" fake name. No such person exists. It is a wooden spoon stirring to cause trouble, timed to go worse, just before Passover and UB Holy day season.
Them that know, know.
You are grasping at straws. There is no "authoress" that is behind all three of these people. They are all individual people and not one person. None of them are deliberately stirring any pot before Passover in order to deceive people.
You, that think you know, don't know!
Although it is certainly entertaining to reimagine traditional narratives (like the writings of the New Testament) with plausible alternatives, it is unwise to dismiss/abandon/ignore the more familiar ones simply because the newer interpretations appear to be more appealing/titillating/scholarly. Moreover, the notion that Jesus Christ (and the religion which bears his name) is the product/creation of Hellenized Jewish elites who cooperated and/or collaborated with the Romans is absurd. Philo and Josephus were proud Jews who were devoted to the traditions and writings of their Jewish forefathers, and both men appeared to eschew religious and political fanaticism (as evidenced by their writings). In other words, neither one of them demonstrated much or any interest in promoting a new sect which did not accord with their own interests or the interest of their sponsors.
This narrative also conveniently ignores the widespread acceptance of the personalities and writings of the New Testament by the generations of Christians which immediately followed the founders of the religion. It also ignores the fact that those writings portray the Roman Empire as persecuting Christ and his followers. Moreover, the secular historical accounts of the first three centuries of the Christian religion are replete with references to subsequent Roman persecutions. I know that we all love conspiracy theories (Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code is a great read), but common sense and Occam's Razor argue against tossing the more traditional narrative in favor of such an elaborate and improbable conspiracy.
Finally, to dismiss the Judeo-Christian Scriptures as irrelevant, primitive and unworthy of our attention in the present does not seem very objective or wise to this commentator. Yes, I have acknowledged contradictions, errors, cultural and historical anomalies and a host of other problems with those writings. Nevertheless, to suggest that those problems negate any value or benefit which we might derive from those writings is ludicrous (especially in light of the fact that so much of Western Civilization has been influenced by them - law, art, music, literature, etc.). And, although the principle which was quoted above about individual responsibility is contradicted by other passages, that principle is supported by even more passages (and it makes more sense from a philosophical, moral or spiritual perspective). I've said it before: Yes, Melville's great novel is loosely based on actual events and is full of now "irrelevant" technical information about the 19th Century whaling industry, but there is also good reason to regard Moby Dick as an outstanding novel (and still worthy of our attention in 2021).
12.54 PM
And not forgetting that in 2Sam 21, seven of Sauls sons were put to death for Saul breaking his country's covenant with the Gibeonites by killing them.
Grasping at no straws. You allow outrageous liars to post long posts I.e. concerned sisters post about attending a WFW when it was all lies.
Miller Jones is a complete fake and liar. As no one who was brought up in CGI even mentions HWA as Miller Jones does. From reading the many posts of Miller Jones he does not even know the CGI basic teachings. The are differences between WCG and CGI yet Miller Jones fails repeatedly to know of any.
CGI had it's own flavour, talk and style that Miller Jones is completely devoid of.
Anonymous 3/20 @ 1:54 and 3:57,
You never address the responses to your accusations. You just repeat the name calling. Where is your proof that we are fakes and liars?
For myself, there is a whole body of written work to draw upon (from my own blogs, comments on this and other ACOG related blogs and numerous articles published in The International News and Dixon Cartwright's The Journal). There are a few folks still standing in CGI who know who I am - in Medina, Ohio - Fayetteville, Arkansas - Tyler, Texas. If you really want to know the truth of the matter, ask them. I'm not asking you to agree with me or endorse my views - just asking that my father NOT be dragged into whatever problems you have with me!
12.54 PM
The occasion of king David sinning and thousands of his countrymen dying is not a simple case. Reading the account, I get the impression that it was his countrymen who were at fault. But because of legal complications, David was incited to sin in order to morally allow God to act.
'We' Jones ?
3/20 @ 12:47,
Really? You may want to reread this thread. The original comment referred to myself, Concerned Sister and "other fake names" - Hence, the "we."
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