CGI’s Civil War Over Covid-19
Heretofore, the loudest voices in the Church of God International have minimized the pandemic, disputed the numbers and the science, hinted at hoaxes and conspiracy theories and ridiculed public health measures instituted by local, state and federal governments across the United States. In The International News (Summer 2020 edition), Mike James wrote an article entitled “No Need to Panic Over This Pandemic.” And, after going through the numbers from other historical plagues, he declared “this present virus is not as significant.” Another article by James in the same paper decried the fact that humans themselves are causing these pandemics and warned that bigger plagues are on the way.
In the next edition of their paper (Fall 2020), Pastor Bill Watson wrote: “thousands of convicted felons are being released from prison under the guise of ‘jeopardy to their health,’ due to the Chinese Communist Party’s virus (CCP virus). And California Governor Gavin Newsome has recently reversed his opening of the state and began to close down bars, gyms, restaurants, and churches across California again! All of this is an effort to continue keeping the state and, by extension, the nation, from restarting its economies.” And, in open defiance of the folks in Tyler, Mr. Watson hosted his own Feast of Tabernacles in Medina (mask-wearing was optional).
In a May 2020 “Coronavirus Special Report,” Mr. Watson attributed the virus to a decision by the Obama Administration to give a grant to a virology lab in Wuhan China (the clear implication being that the virus originated in that lab). Indeed, a large part of Mr. Watson’s presentation was concerned with blaming the virus on China (what that contributed to our fight against the virus was never explained). As usual, Mr. Watson’s sources were the standard right-wing outlets like Fox News and Breitbart. Like James, Watson went on to compare the current pandemic to the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. He even questioned whether or not Covid-19 was responsible for all of the deaths attributed to it, and then said that the chances of dying from the virus were minimal and did not justify the measures taken to fight its spread. He went on to suggest that the impact of the virus was being exaggerated to hurt Donald Trump’s chances for reelection. In other remarks on the pandemic, Mr. Watson openly ridiculed mask-wearing and fumed about how it was infringing upon his freedom.
Finally, however, someone in CGI had the intestinal fortitude to push back against Mr. Watson’s war on the science related to the pandemic. In a May 25, 2021 post entitled “Pandemic Lies,” Mr. Jeff Reed wrote: “In the past year, we have seen many new lies originate and spread regarding the coronavirus pandemic. In my life, I have never witnessed this amount of widespread deception spread so quickly. The pandemic was a unique situation in that none of us were prepared for it, and many became so easily deceived. The danger in believing these new lies is that they could lead to your immediate death or the death of someone close to you. For many thousands, they unfortunately have. Satan is a deceiver, and he loves death.”
Mr. Reed went on to cite the horrible statistics associated with the virus and pushed back on the narrative that those death tolls had been “overly inflated.” In fact, he went on to make a compelling case that the death toll from Covid-19 has actually been underreported. And, on a note of optimism about the future, Mr. Reed remarked:
“As I write this, there is hope that things will soon return to normal. God allowed one of the most outstanding scientific achievements in modern history. Humanity developed several highly effective coronavirus vaccines in the last year using new technologies. Two prominent mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna distributed in the United States have proven safe after hundreds of millions of doses.”
Even so, there was immediate push back from the Bill Watson camp within the church. One commentator even pushed the now thoroughly discredited hydroxychloroquine as a potentially effective treatment for the virus. Indeed, my own nephew (who attends Bill’s congregation) suggested that the Pfizer vaccine had caused his father-in-law’s recent stroke! This, despite the fact that his father (my brother) and his fiancée (who also attend with Bill Watson’s congregation) are currently battling Covid-19! He went on to write: “Jeff, this article is only going to serve to divide the church even more. I received no edification from it but had what I know to my core attacked by it. I disagree with what you have said whole heartedly. Do you think Satan can’t influence information put on a government website? He can, he does, and he will. As your brother, I am offended completely by what you’ve said.”
Unfortunately, if past remarks and the present commentary on Mr. Reed’s post are any indication of what’s to come, my nephew is probably right about the division within the church. It appears that members of CGI currently have two options relative to the pandemic: Support Bill Watson’s narrative or keep your mouth shut! Hope springs eternal though, someone in Tyler did have the intestinal fortitude to post Mr. Reed’s remarks on their website!
For those who are interested in viewing Mr. Reed’s post in its entirety, you may do so here: Pandemic Lies
Miller Jones
40 comments:
If they had an outgoing concern, they would care enough to encourage their members to wear a mask to protect themselves from the virus.
HERE AT BANNED BY HWA...Because I wear a mask while viewing , and never touch the screen, and I read banned while at least 6
feet away from my wife, I can hereby testify and witness THAT I DID NOT CATCH COVID 19 while engaging this website!
The Church of God International has just deleted Jeff Reed's article! My own father (a CGI minister) called to inform me that he was furious over the article and demanded that Tyler remove it from their website. He went on to say how disappointed he was over this comment posted there by me:
Lonnie Hendrix 17 hours ago · 0 Likes
I want to commend Mr. Reed for speaking the truth in this matter. He may save some lives both within the Church and outside of it by sharing this message. I pray that God will bless him for this message, and that the Holy Spirit will inspire CGI members to take advantage of the help which God has provided for us in this dark time.
This comment prompted my father to threaten to cut me off permanently. He said that, if I wanted to have a relationship with him, that I would keep my mouth shut about his church! Apparently, the Civil War was short-lived. It appears that Bill Watson owns the narrative at CGI!
wear a mask to protect themselves from the virus
They could tell members to wear a mask to protect others. Love thy neighbor.
Jesus taught His followers to be willing to lay down their lives for a brother, and to obey Caesar when such obedience doesn't violate God's law.
By that measure, in their response to COVID 19 guidelines, many in the ACOGs are demonstrably not followers of Jesus. As a matter of fact, the average Buddhist in Southeast Asia, wearing a mask willingly to be part of an overall national safety effort, is being more Christlike than the average ACOG member.
If these nutty ACOG people ever do meet Jesus, I expect they'll be hearing "I never knew you!" a lot.
I suspect people in the CGI respect the words and research of Alex Jones. Austin is not so far from Tyler.
I'm getting whiplash. It appears that CGI has just posted a modified version of the original article (Pandemic Fiction). An excerpt from the article by Jeff Reed follows:
"The pandemic was an unprecedented event in our lives. None of us were prepared. All of us could be easily deceived because we were presented with so much conflicting information. However, in the past year, we have seen many new myths originate and spread regarding the coronavirus pandemic. In my life, I have never witnessed this amount of widespread deception spread so quickly. The danger in believing some of this new fiction is that it could lead to your death or the death of someone close to you. For many thousands, it has.
In 2020, 3,387,985 deaths were recorded in the USA. It was an increase of 535,150 (15.7 percent) over the previous year. Over 384,000 deaths are directly attributed to COVID-19. But this considerable number fails to show the actual damage done. COVID-19 deaths classify as part of respiratory deaths, including influenza and pneumonia. In 2019 there were 49,783 deaths in this category. In 2020 there were 563,743 deaths. Removing the identified COVID-19 casualties leaves us with 129,856 more than the previous year. It would be reasonable to assume that many of these additional respiratory deaths may have been COVID-19 related. These numbers would be magnitudes higher without the mitigation efforts employed by our society. Fortunately, it was in the capitalistic interests of businesses to protect their employees and customers.
I provide these factual numbers to underscore one of the biggest deceptions that people in the United States embraced last year. One-third believed that the deaths in the pandemic are overly inflated, fake, or part of some grand conspiracy labeled the "Plandemic." The chances are that many of you reading this article believe or formerly believed in that untruth. Following deceptions can lead to death, and in the case of our country, it did. Many influential people in media promoted this myth on their websites, shows, and social media. They did this even while thousands were hospitalized, with a high percentage of fatalities overwhelming much of our healthcare system. This myth enabled many not to take the imminent threat seriously, leading to the unfortunate and unnecessary death and suffering of thousands. We should not, however, assign blame or accuse those of sin who get sick with COVID. But we must understand that as a society, our collective actions matter.
As I write this, there is hope that things will soon return to normal. God allowed one of the most outstanding scientific achievements in modern history. Humanity developed several highly effective coronavirus vaccines in the last year using new technologies. Two prominent mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna distributed in the United States have proven safe after hundreds of millions of doses. There are no officially recorded deaths from their use and only some allergic reactions in very few people. I am not sharing these facts to encourage you to get a vaccine. That is a personal decision between you and your doctor. I understand that many people may have objections to being vaccinated. I share these facts to point out the danger in the next round of falsehoods spread by many of the same media influencers..."
There are a lot of us in CGI that consider Watson to be a pompous ass. He thinks of himself as the new GTA of the church. He has neither the charisma or the knowledge to be a de facto church leader.
Does Watson have a theology degree or any training other than reading HWA and GTA booklets?
As usual, Miller Jones is pushing the main stream media left wing narrative. The "cure" for the disease being a left wing dictatorship that strips it's citizens of their state and federal rights.
Secular society is becoming like Herbs toxic, tyrannical church culture, yet Miller Jones is defending this. Please explain?
From Medina website
ATTENTION!! SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
5-26-21
Over the last couple of weeks, an increased amount of sickness has moved within the congregation. The number of people has continued to grow as others are in different stages of recovery. In light of the fact that the Church building may be in need of some good disinfection, it’s been decided to go-ahead and do that as soon as we can. Arrangements have been made to conduct this service this week. However, doing this will cause us to cancel services this coming Sabbath. We will play a prerecorded sermon for the internet webcast.
As of now, Sabbath services will resume live on June 5th, Sabbath after next, unless otherwise noted. Thank you for your patience and do keep our brethren in our prayers as they go through these difficult times.
Thank you
Bill
I work in the medical industry for 30+ years. Hydroxychloroquine is used in some Covid patients effectively. Although not all is credible, Alex Jones has said posted many things that have turned out later to be spot on. Too many people think that they have the right to "cancel" someone just because they don't like to hear someone else with a different viewpoint. If you have someone who has a history of cardiac issues they should be careful in getting a covid vaccine. Many people who have had CABG surgeries in the past, many have had cardiac issues after receiving covid vaccines. If you don't believe it, go ask a cardiologist.
2:57 PM
"Anonymous,said...
As usual, Miller Jones is pushing the main stream media left wing narrative. The "cure" for the disease being a left wing dictatorship that strips it's citizens of their state and federal rights.
Secular society is becoming like Herbs toxic, tyrannical church culture, yet Miller Jones is defending this. Please explain?"
Great common sense post! I think this is the narrative Jeff Reed wants to push. The others mentioned ..... whatever! (I may be the only level headed person commenting here). LOL
GTA with his sexual promiscuity must have had every venereal disease under heaven.
And yet.... the mainstream media reports these days are leaning toward the "lab leak" theory. Even Dr. Fauci suggested today further investigation is necessary.
What CGI and other groups need to do is tell the brethren whether God or Satan brought the pandemic - and why. They've had more than a year to analyze this.
'If only' some people in COG practised socially distancing...
I started tuning out Bill Watson's sermons and political propaganda several years ago. He needs a job working to reelect Trump instead of pretending to lead a church. Those that support him in this stuff are just as guilty as he is. Leave the politics at home with your other books of conspiracies. We are tired of it! SICK AND TIRED OF IT! Use this as your wake-up call otherwise you will soon see a split in the church and you will be left high and dry!
Miller Jones has NO nephew in CGI. The name concoction is a complete fabrication of the truth. The is no internal conflict within CGI. Miller Jones namesake thinks CGI is like UCG ...
What wife ?
Lies all lies.
No it is not 12:05. Either prove it or shut up. Is this Bill?
It is lies because why are you answering comments in the dead of night ??????
GTA died age 73, so one has to wonder whether his venereal diseases shortened his life.
Bill Watson is more right than Jeff Reed.
For starters, the death numbers have been inflated, that has already been admitted. That fact does not negate the number of people that have died from COVID. Further investigation will reveal that the great majority of deaths occurred in those with serious health conditions.
Masks offer no protection from any virus, and in fact increase one's chances of contracting COVID, along with a number of bacterial infections of the mouth, airways, and eyes.
HCQ has been very effective in treating COVID, along with other medications already available.
mRNA is unproven (an unapproved), and very well may lead to complications in the future for those injected with it. A rise in auto-immune diseases is a likely complication to the vaccine.
Time will tell.
Watson reminds me of a country hick trying to impress the city folk. His bible skills are atrocious!
GTA, and many other ministers, should have ALWAYS practiced "social distancing"!
Desperate 4:25 A.M. ?
GTA frequented expensive brothels with STD tested prostitutes. If you'd been from CGI branch of the tree you'd know that already and a whole lot more.
But you gotta keep scratching that itch right ?
A little fact checking is in order relative to a few comments posted here and elsewhere:
The Covid-19 origin conspiracy theories advanced by Watson and others attempted to ultimately place the blame for the virus/pandemic on Obama and China for political reasons. Hopefully, most of us have NO problem with pursuing the evidence regarding the virus' origins wherever it may lead. Among the many theories now being investigated, an accidental release from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (which was very deliberately and meticulously covered up by China) seems entirely plausible (given the track record of the Chinese communists).
Relative to masking, if you're not interested in the extensive scientific information posted online regarding its efficacy relative to reducing the spread of the virus, then may we simply appeal to your own common sense. Why do all of the frontline workers dealing directly with Covid-19 patients wear masks if it doesn't offer any protection for them? Why have the infection and death rates been so dramatically lower in Far East countries where mask wearing is near universal? Compare our Covid-19 stats to those of places like South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and China where mask wearing is culturally acceptable and widespread.
As for buildings, our public health institutions have always advocated for sanitizing places where disease outbreaks have occurred. The evidence suggests that Covid-19 can survive on some surfaces for a few days, but those who have pointed out that this is primarily an airborne disease are also correct. It is, however, a bit disingenuous at best not to even acknowledge the reason you are sanitizing your building!
Finally, a great deal of anecdotal evidence relative to vaccines and treatments has been put forward by folks with no medical expertise. All of the evidence (scientific studies) posted on reputable sites, suggests that mRNA vaccines are safe and effective. Likewise, the overwhelming majority of studies demonstrates that hydroxychloroquine is efficacious for treating things like malaria, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus; but that it is NOT efficacious in treating Covid-19. Nevertheless, for the sake of those who prefer anecdotal evidence, Darlene and I have both received the Moderna vaccine; and we haven't experienced any lasting negative side effects (physically, mentally or spiritually), and we have immensely enjoyed being able to see our grandchildren again whenever we want to (which is just about all of the time). And, although it hasn't been mentioned here, from what I have been able to glean from online sources, it appears that the three individuals most responsible for the development of this mRNA vaccine technology hail from the Judeo-Christian tradition (two are Jewish and one is Christian).
I approved the posting of Jeff Reed’s blog and for its reposting after it was revised. Jeff sends all blogs to me for editing and for my approval before he posts them. I made a couple of slight edits to his original blog (no changes in content, though) and sent it back to Jeff for posting on the website. I could have disapproved it, and Jeff would have complied, even if he disagreed with my decision. I knew when I approved it that a small number in our audience would have objections, though I admit I was surprised by how strongly one or two objected. Jeff and I spoke about it, and I made some recommendations on how he might revise it so as to keep people from thinking he was saying “If you disagree with me it’s because you’re under the influence of Satan the Devil, and you’re not as Spirit-filled as I am.” I knew Jeff was not suggesting such a thing in his original post, but I also knew it was likely that some few would take certain of his statements to mean just that—and they did. (My recommendations pertained ONLY to that concern, not to the primary content of the blog, which I agree with.) So I offered some recommendations on the points he might consider revising so that his statements would not be misinterpreted, as they already had been. I made it very clear to him that I was only offering a recommendation, not making a demand. Jeff agreed with my recommendations and made revisions accordingly, and then posted the revised blog.
I am also responsible for what goes into The International News, but I do not include only the articles that are in full agreement with my opinions. I don’t agree with everything in the articles by Bill Watson, Mike James, et. al, but I run them anyway because I have always thought it was the best policy to permit different writers to present differences of opinion on various topics (of course, there are limits when it comes to core doctrinal positions). I get the impression that some think I should be like their favorite apostle by running only pieces that fully align with my views.
Vance Stinson
Anonymous Garry said...
I suspect people in the CGI respect the words and research of Alex Jones. Austin is not so far from Tyler.
I'm sure there are some people in the CGI who take Alex Jones seriously (just like in any other church you could name). But there are also a lot of folks in the CGI who dismiss him as a goofball conspiracy kook (as I do), and probably a lot more who have no idea who Alex Jones is. You know more about Jones than I do, as I did not realize he was in Austin until you informed me of it.
Vance Stinson
Mr. Stinson,
Thank you for posting here and offering some clarification and transparency regarding your criteria for giving voice to different opinions/perspectives within CGI. I would also like to thank you for supporting Mr. Reed's post (it may save lives, encourage folks who tend to support public health measures and persuade a few folks away from the rabbit hole).
I would also like to acknowledge that anyone who is even remotely familiar with CGI knows that you do NOT have the kind of centralized administration and control which was the practice in the old Worldwide Church. Even so, I believe we are justified in wondering why someone who is so overtly partisan and has embraced so many conspiracy theories and extreme views has been permitted to appear as the spokesman for the entire group - Doesn't providing such individuals a Tyler sponsored and endorsed platform suggest that their views represent CGI?
For instance, it is reassuring to know that you do not endorse everything in Mr. Watson's presentations; but do you support his overall approach to political/biblical/prophetic commentary? Since you have acknowledged that some of this messaging doesn't appeal to everyone within CGI, what is your view of its potential appeal/interest to the general public?
Thanks again for your comments,
Lonnie Hendrix
I suggest that all those who are vehemently against masks and disinfectants and do not believe that Covid is as bad as it really is, should do us all a favor and volunteer in christian love, in a Covid unit for a week, with no masks, hand disinfectant or protective gear. You will be showing love that you so desperately need to show and empathy while proving your theory to the rest of us instead of parroting Conspiracy theorists.
I suggest that all those who are vehemently against masks and disinfectants and do not believe that Covid is as bad as it really is, should do us all a favor and volunteer in christian love, in a Covid unit for a week, with no masks, hand disinfectant or protective gear. You will be showing love that you so desperately need to show and empathy while proving your theory to the rest of us instead of parroting Conspiracy theorists.
WWJD???????????????
No one has said that Covid is harmless. Your argument makes no sense from a scientific point of view.
“As I write this, there is hope that things will soon return to normal. God allowed one of the most outstanding scientific achievements in modern history. Humanity developed several highly effective coronavirus vaccines in the last year using new technologies. Two prominent mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna distributed in the United States have proven safe after hundreds of millions of doses.”
Apparently Mr. Reed has consumed mass quantities of the Gates Flavor-Aid.
STD tested prostitutes? I still recall a newspaper article about a doctor certifying as STD clean, male prostitutes that he knew were STD ridden. If you believe that prostitutes are STD clean, I have some cheap bridges for sale.
Btw, one in five people have herpes. That's a generality. So what are the chances that a prostitute or sexually permissive person doesn't have it?
And it's GTA and people like him who do all the scratching on their STD itches.
1000 Doctors formed an organization to expose the LIE that is covid. But of course, the media totally ignores them. No surprise there.
My Brother Lonnie has lost his mind!. Watching the main stream media will rot your brain and steal your intellect! Sincerely, Steven Hendrix
Unfortunately, Armstrongites are predisposed to reject anything mainstream, scientific or intellectual in nature. Add to this their right-leaning disposition in politics, and they are twice damned in this regard (folks on the right tending to display the same proclivities). This makes them vulnerable to conspiracy theories and illogical narratives, and it may be the death of them both physically and spiritually!
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