It's Friday in the United States and time for the weekly Sabbath smack-down on things LCG members are doing wrong.
Apparently, the motives of LCG members are wrong.
Some are ensnared by Satan's devices.
Some have doubts.
Some are causing divisions.
Some rebel against authority.
Some are tuned into Satan's wavelength.
Some have clever thoughts.
Some have clever ideas.
Some have bad attitudes.
Some complain.
Some criticize.
Some question decisions of church leadership.
Some harbor animosity.
Some are resentful.
Some make hurtful comments.
When LCG members do this they are guilty of SPIRITUAL MURDER!
LCG members are being asked to examine themselves to see if they have the mind of Christ in them.
That's pretty hard for them to do since most of the year the inconvenient dude is never discussed.
It is no wonder so many COG members feel so depressed anymore when they are bombarded with such negativity on a weekly basis.
Here they are after Passover when their slates are wiped clean and they have another opportunity to make a new year more joyful and appreciative of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. That thankfulness and joy are already gone since it is time to hammer the members once again for being such failures.
Who needs that inconvenient New Covenant? LCG sure doesn't seem like they need it.
Anyway, always remember to have a "profitable Sabbath", Doug's God expects that.
Satan’s Subtle Devices: The Days of Unleavened Bread provide us with an opportunity to carefully examine the motives in our own heart (1 Corinthians 11:29–32). Are we truly motivated by God’s Spirit or by the attitudes of this world? Unfortunately, after years in the Church, we can still be snared by Satan’s devices (2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 6:11)—even without realizing what is happening. Satan, who is the accuser of the brethren and the source of doubts, divisions, and rebellion against authority, can cleverly beam thoughts, ideas, and attitudes into our minds (Ephesians 2:2), stirring us to criticize, complain, and question decisions, actions, and guidelines of those around us and over us in the Body of Christ. When we remember that Satan tempted Jesus (Matthew 4:1–10) and then stirred Peter to rebuke Christ (Matthew 16:22–23), we should realize that we are not immune to Satan’s devices. Jesus warned that harboring animosity and resentment against others and making hurtful comments is the equivalent of spiritual murder (Matthew 5:21– 22). At this time of year, we need to ask ourselves if we have the mind of Jesus Christ to esteem others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:1–8)? If we spread doubts and division among others, we have been snared by a device of the “accuser of our brethren” (Revelation 12:10). Let’s strive to be real Philadelphia Christians who show love and promote peace among our brothers and sisters in the Church of God.
Have a profitable Sabbath and Holy Day,Douglas S. Winnail
DW quote from an LCG source, comments mine.
15 comments:
And some, I assume, are very fine people!
Surely this was meant for the ministry. We all know the only one's who harbour animosity, resentment and utter hurtful comments at others are ALWAYS the ministry.
It is sad but true and to see that being "promoted" to a leadership position usually brings out the worst in people,and after 25 years I have seen this first hand many times over. Including family that has been "promoted " the self righteous attitude arrogance and their inability to fellowship with those who are not "Ordained " shows after HQ tells them they have to distance themselves from friends and family now that they are "ordained ".
I have seen a certain minister and his wife ignore her sister the whole Feast and then after it is over and all the important people are gone they want to fellowship and get together. This started when the guy wanted to be a deacon and it just got worse from there; only talking to or spending time with the unordanied family when No one of Importance is around. After the minister's wife told the sister what they were told they needed to do now that they are being ordained.
WOW! Really Sad! This same minister and wife actually told her Sister that they are not family and their first duty is to the Ministers and to warn them of people who think for themselves.
The relationship has not been repaired as you can imagine it did a lot of damage.
I was at the Feast and a minister and his wife were more concerned about their grown daughter not being there on time even though she and her family were having to move rentals for the 3rd time; because the hotels didn't have enough days available for them to stay.
Their original place was canceled last minute as the landlord said he needed the rental for himself because he was having family issues. The couple understood and was awaiting their refund and trying last minute literally to find a place, and ended up having to stay in 3 separate places by the end of the week.
All the parents cared about was they weren't there on time and had to miss service a few times.
Talk about love and servant leadership!
You think they asked her if she was ok or needed any help? NOPE but she cried to me for weeks and even months later. That cut deep they were only concerned about themselves and what it might look like that their daughter wasn't there on time and missed a few days.
Good job parents that shows love doesn't it?
"Spread doubts?" Dictionaries define doubt as "uncertain of the truth or fact." With only limited information, it is appropriate to doubt people's assertions. Religious leaders accuse their followers of doubting as a means of intimidating them to blindly accept the church's beliefs. This is hardly "proving all things." The ACOGs are morally compromised. Their teachings and church culture deserve to be doubted.
For instance, Douglas's "those over us." I remember hearing that as soon as I started attending services. That expression is a code word for ministers lording it over their members. My first minister would look at me as if I was stealing food from babies mouths because I did not accept that he owned my life, a psychopathic trait.
Do these Bozo's ever ask themselves why their churches are shrinking, and don't appear to be blessed by God?
More clever mind-control. Thought stopping techniques. So anytime a member thinks negative thoughts about the church and or the ministry (whether valid or not) they will assume it is Satan putting those thoughts in their heads, all because the ministry preprogrammed them to think this way.Notice only those in churches that claim to be the true church believe they are in the true church, why? BECAUSE the leaders constantly teach this.
8.58 PM
Exactly. The bible teaches to "be angry and sin not." This applies to all emotions, drives, eg, curiosity, and biases. The ACOGs by contrast teaches it's members to suppress the natural negative emotions that result from being abused by a power hungry ministers.
The COG playbook includes tactics of constantly reminding the people of the power of Satan and insisting that Satan has control over them. This tactic is fortified with admonition to look to the COG for protection, without any reliance on the Victorious Jesus.
I pray for the poor people who are beat down weekly but continually look toward their oppressors for hope, encouragement, rest - but receive only condemnation. I also pray that the minister-oppressors would be awakened to grace.
Therefore, to instruct Winnail and bless his starving people, I’ve refashioned his piece to be more biblically "big picture", more appropriate for the season, and more encouraging to those in need.
Winnail starts by asking the readers to examine their hearts - which he goes on to assert are hearts under the influence of Satan. Below, I will start with beholding Jesus, the one who has cleansed our hearts.
____________________________________________________________________________________________Hebrews 12:1-3 Tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus. For his joy, for our future joy, Jesus endured the cross and then victoriously sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider the Author and Perfector of our faith who endured such opposition so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 10: 19-22 instructs that we can live with confidence that the blood of Jesus, a new and living way, grants us access to the Most Holy Place. Jesus, our High Priest, grants us full assurance that our hearts are cleansed from a guilty conscience.
Romans 8:1 assures us that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rather than seeking cleansing and relief from our own efforts, Hebrews 10:23 encourages us to hold unswervingly to the promises of Jesus, for God who promised this is faithful to deliver.
When we take our focus off Jesus, we lose sight of these promises - we forget that Jesus has cleansed our hearts. Romans 8:38 tells us that s us that nothing, no evil powers, can separate us from the love of Jesus. Roman 8:37 declares that we are more than conquerors through Jesus.
Additionally, Romans 8:32-34 states that no evil power can condemn us because it is Jesus who has justified, made us right, in the eyes of God. Further assurance can be taken from the fact Jesus who died for us and who was raised to life – is now at the right hand of God and is interceding for us - we should also be doing for each other.
In closing, rejoice in 2 Corinthians 13:14: may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Have a profitable Sabbath (or Easter!),
(Note to Doug: feel free to insert your name and publish to bless your people. Furthermore, please consider that a minister of Jesus Christ usually starts a message with Jesus, ends a message with Jesus, and sprinkles a little bit of Jesus throughout.)
Wondering if LCG services were empty today on U.B. 7.
After all, if there was any "leaven" (as in sin) in the membership, don't those members have to be cut off from the camp based on Exodus 12?
Hypocrite.
It is mind-blowing to see a Christian group that is so completely disinterested in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!
What makes you think they are Christian?
Since LCG in general, and Doug Winnail, in particular, do not write or preach about the resurrection of Jesus, it’s logical to conclude that this epic event, in their estimation is somewhere between unimportant, unremarkable, inconsequential, and dubious.
What do you think the unabridged volume of COG preaching on the resurrection says about the importance they place on the event?
Making a big fuss 3:12 over accusing others of not doing this or that, in regards of Jesus resurrection. What did Jesus himself tell his followers and disciples to do 3:12 ? He said over the Passover do this in remembrance of me. So why don't you 3:12 stop the stiring and whining and worship God yourself the way you want. Quit complaining. Get on with it.
Hey Anonymous of April 6, at 1:35 PM: I'm 3:12, and I'm in awe of all that the death and resurrection of Jesus means to the Christian, so I can’t stop talking about it. I can't understand why Winnail, LCG, and the rest of the COGs ignore the resurrection – or – why you seemed to be displeased with me commenting on that quirky COG enigma that would confound 99% of Christians.
You have a right to feel and believe any way you do; but I'm hoping you could explain your seeming defense of the COGs ignoring the resurrection. The reason I made posted that earlier comment is that I have a silly hope that my LCG family and friends will wake up and take a realistic look at the oddities of their church, if their challenged to examine why the believe what they do. So, I offer you the same challenge.
Actually, your post sounds so much like the response I got from an LCG minister on a similar topic. He got extremely angry with me but never really addressed my questions. Whether you are or are not an LCG minister, I hope you can explain yourself better than that minister who yelled at me.
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