As usual in Living Church of Godland, members apparently are incapable of deciding where God has placed his name so that LCG can hold the Feast of Tabernacles. The wonderful and amazing GOVERNMENT of the LCG is the only one who can decide where God has placed his name. Though many times LCG members have had to wonder what was God drinking that day when he decided on certain Feast sites!
The fact remains is that humans beings in Charlotte decided where they wanted a Feast site that would have the widest appeal possible for their small group of members. God is not behind that decision-making.
It also seems that with every passing day that LCG members are getting more and more rebellious!
The year 1961 was the first year the Church opened a Festival site in Squaw Valley, California—the second in North America in addition to the one in Big Sandy, Texas. I was absolutely brand new in God’s Church at the time and it seemed that there had been some controversy over the subject of how God places His name for the Feast, and I remember hearing a full sermon on the subject while on my way to the Feast. God has never left it up to the individual to determine where He “has placed His name.” God works through the government of the Church to make these decisions.
Now this is important, dear brethren: Last year was obviously a difficult and disappointing year when large meetings were not always possible. In Mexico, Mr. Mario Hernandez and Mr. Cristian Orrego arranged 13 small in-home groups and tied them together with services electronically. I had the privilege of giving one of the sermons to all our Spanish-speaking brethren throughout Central and South America, as well as some who were there in person in New Bern, North Carolina. This is how and where God chose to place His name for His Spanish-speaking people last year. This was arranged by the Church under exceptional circumstances, not only to comply with government mandates, but also to guard the health of our members. Sadly, some self-willed individuals may have a problem with this, as they do with other decisions the ministry makes dealing with controversial issues.
We are talking here of obvious exceptions, but we must not make the exception the rule. There does appear to be a trend among a few to think that where they keep the Feast is solely a matter of personal preference. If a Festival site is more than two or three hours away, some may simply think, Let’s keep it at home this year. Every year, we have members of other Church of God groups who want to attend with us because we are closer to where they live, and we know a few of our members think similarly—but is it the mind of God to just do what is convenient?
I’ve talked in this letter about exceptions, but we must not fall into the satanic trap of thinking it is okay to decide on our own where God has placed His name, especially staying at home for mere “convenience” when there is no compelling reason to do so. And the same goes for attending Sabbath services. Let Us Come Together by Gerald Weston
How can anyone blame a COG member for staying home from a Feast site when they have heard the same canned sermon for decades at the Feast. Nothing new is ever spoken about by a truly inspired speaker. Just the same old COG shtick.
49 comments:
I read this before the Feast. Pathetic!
No COG leader or minister can tell me where I should or should not attend.
Flurry and some of these wannabe Stalins think by proclaiming themselves as "the Philadelphia Era" church that they make themselves more special and as the chosen group. That title, which I really think is a misinterpretation any way, if true, that would be up to Christ to designate, not some self important false leader such as mustache Gerald. Seems like fellowship and friendship between different members would be something to be sought out.
Sorry folks, God hasn't placed His name at ANY of these various sites! According to the Scriptures (which they all claim to follow), there was ONLY ONE PLACE that God chose to place His name (and it wasn't anywhere in North America).
The truth of the matter is that Yahweh has chosen only one feast site and that is the city of Jerusalem. Scriptures are very plain on this as one can see by the fact that if one cannot make it into Jerusalem for a feast they were to keep it the following month, as is laid down for the Passover. We also see this example for the feast of Pentecost where people traveled from all over the world to attend the feast in Jerusalem.
This point is also brought home when we read scriptures concerning the feast during the 1,000-year reign of Yahshua when it is stated that those that don't come to Jerusalem for the feast are punished. So it is obvious that those that are observing the feasts today in various cities other than Jerusalem, are not keeping them according to the strict guidelines as laid out by the Most High. It can only be in a spiritual sense that they are observing the feasts when they pick sites other than Jerusalem.
Do a search for “tabernaculum”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auguraculum
The augurs performed their sorcery in a tabernaculum.
As LCG leaders as in other groups decide where they want to go, no matter what the total cost. As an older member. we decided to travel to the nearest site. We even travel to different sites during the feast, if possible.
No more will, I? let them lord it over us. Matt 20:25-26. We might visit 2 or 3 sites if we can.
As I answer only to God! Not men.
" but we must not fall into the satanic trap of thinking it is okay to decide on our own where God has placed His name, especially staying at home for mere “convenience” when there is no compelling reason to do so. And the same goes for attending Sabbath services."
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What this means is that we must not fall into the Satanic trap of questioning where we, the humans over you, have divined out of thin air where God places his name. God actually did not directly indicate a preference. But we know God loves the coast, country western music and generally the South. Dayton, Ohio not so much.
It's like being accused of using "human reasoning" as if the accuser has another kind which I assume they think is more the reasoning of God.
The only place God has placed His name for the Feast of Tabernacles is Jerusalem.
Well, if "God works through the government of the church to make these decisions," how do they explain all these splinters? Did God tell them to splinter? Which is the true splinter?
It boils down down to "do what the ministers tells you cause it comes from God, and if you disagree you are from Satan." Do I smell child psychology?
On another level does this letter tone suggest the has been a thaw in the LCG COGWA friendship ?
Living allowed "outsiders" to attend Feast services in Branson, as long as they passed the COVID-19 screening and wore masks.
Sweetblood777@2.52 AM,
What is this with Yahweh and Yahshua?
The Dying Church of Rod wants to decide for itself and for everyone else where to put God's name.
All the WCG splinter groups want to decide for themselves and for everyone else where to put God's name.
Maybe they all are misusing God's name.
Well, if we go by the literal meaning of "Placing His Name", then why doesnt CORPUS CHRISTI have a FOT site? (name translates as Body of Christ)
The fact that a letter such as this has gone out is further proof that members of the splinters have the same question all of us have been raising since Armstrongism began to be discussed on the internet: "Who has the conch?" There is no one breakaway, vibrant and blessed group active today. If there were, then one could discern. It appears that members know this, and some take advantage of the additional insurance involved in not putting all of their eggs in one basket.
Agreement with Miller Jones et al who wrote that God placed His name on Jerusalem (after Shiloh) and specifically the Temple Mount (His House). Not Belknap Springs, nor the "House for God" nor any other place any self-proclaimed spiritual leader may decide.
In the absence of His House (Temple) observant Jews will stay at home for the Festival days, and meet at the local synagogues.
The splinters are so divided that worshipful COG people may pick up "dangerous error" if they go to the wrong service. Aren't those guys taught enough to know when they hear error in a "wind of doctrine"? Obviously not.
"Who has the conch?"
You can't discern by when splinters broke away, why they broke away, and who they broke away from. GTA was booted out, first from WCG then from CGI. GF was (apparently) fired from WCG. The rest came in due time - RCM, for one, waited for the right opportunity, then formed Global, then LCG; Bob Thiel went on Rod's ride, then broke away. Dave Pack was (apparently) fired from Global, formed RCG, and Michael Venish broke from RCG.
The order of leaving doesn't (necessarily) show correctness, nor does breakaways from breakaways. Doctrines are marginally different, with some gone wild - like PCG, RCG. Some just claim being the correctest of the correct of minor matters -- CCOG stands out like a sore thumb. A lot of personality cults. Or, again with CCOG, a lack of personality cult.
Today God's name is where His obedient followers are: Mat 18:20; also John 14:23. Paul was in Rome 2 years - Acts 28:30. Did he, where did he, observe feasts?
Miller Jones wrote, "...God hasn't placed His name at ANY of these various sites!"
This illuminates a problem inherent to Armstrongism. There is a tension between the Armstrongist view of the Law of Moses and Armstrongist praxis. The FoT has been retreaded for modern usage by Armstrongists - no brush arbor, now it will be the Doubletree for those who can afford it. And other OT events of the FoT were dropped.
But nowhere do I know of does Armstrongism justify its authority to morph the Law of Moses. Instead in their theology they readily reference the fact that Jesus said not one jot or one tittle shall drop from the law. Apparently, in Armstrongist eyes there are many, many requirements that do not rise to the level of a jot or a tittle. Because they have dropped these requirements with abandon. Then they promote the idea that these ideas are written on their hearts and that is what the New Covenant is all about. And, finally, Hoeh promoted that the Law of Moses was God's eternal, moral law. Yet, Armstrongism has futzed extensively with this eternal, moral law of God.
GTA wrote an article in The Good News Magazine of September 1961. Apparently, members of the WCG had some heartburn over Squaw Valley being the location where God placed his name. The article is titled "How Does God Place His Name." God had placed his name earlier at Gladewater (I think this was actually Big Sandy) and now the leadership was saying that it was at Squaw Valley. An Armstrongist dilemma. GTA identified that God placed his name in several ways in a section of the article titled "How God Reveals His Will": by direct scripture, by scripture principle than can be generalized to other cases, and by circumstance. In the case of Squaw Valley it was by circumstance. GTA wrote:
"Yes-brethren-GOD HAS PLACED HIS NAME IN SQUAW VALLEY FOR BRETHREN WEST OF THE ROCKIES
FOR THE FEAST THIS FALL! God has woked directly through circumstances!"
I kept the words in all caps just for the sake of nostalgia. The trouble is, this is not based on Biblical principles. GTA has said that circumstances trump direct scriptural revelation. This may have inaugarated a precedent used over and over by the Armstrongist administration in other cases. But this is a radical liberal policy. It is what the left-wing wants to do to the U.S. Constitution through the courts. And the Law of Moses becomes what radical liberal Armstrongism says it is.
The fact is, God placed his name in Jerusalem just as Miller pointed out. After the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, the pro-Roman Yohanan ben Zakkai established the Academy of Jamnia with Roman sponsorship and with the prupose of re-packaging Judaism to operate without the Temple where they Holy Days were kept. This movement contributed to the development of Rabbinical Judaism.
Apparently, the Armstrongists of the last century felt they could follow in the footsteps of ben Zakkai and his Roman associates. God did not place his name in 1961 in Squaw Valley. A bunch of Armstrongist leaders made a business and logistical decision and thought they might try to cloak it with God's authority. That's all. No magic.
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Tonto: Corpus Christi WAS a WCG/UCG Feast site for years in the late 20th century.
UCG left the Selena Theatre after 2002, apparently because attendance was slipping. The "Texas site" has been in Galveston and other places ever since.
1.16 AM
I don't believe that the Philadelphian era existed in the twentieth or twenty first century at all. The "genuine outgoing concern" mantra encouraged a Sabbath service mask to that effect, but it wasn't real.
And where's the outgoing concern in ministers lording it over their flocks? It seems the rules are only for the little people. The rules don't apply to the big people ministers.
Hi, can you please cite your source? Thanks!
10:16 "Today God's name is where His obedient followers are:"
And just who are the obedient followers in the church today? Every single follower in every single COG is a grievous sinner who does not keep the law properly. They never have and never will. It is an impossibility. Of course, you could always pull a Bob Thiel and lie that you do.
That photo - is that Pennsatucky from Orange is the New Black?
She's so LCG!
Whomever wrote this letter is really saying that all the other COGS are Satanic.
He wrote:
"He must not fall into the satanic trap of thinking it is okay to decide on our own where God has placed His name"
Meaning:
Satan is trying to deceive you into going to his choice of COG sites - those sites Satan prefers must be satanic sites and satanic sites are run by satanic splinters.
I hope the other COGs will retaliate for this insult.
Of course he is also saying that LCG is also fowling Satan's lead by trying to place God's name anywhere but Jerusalem, but we don't expect the LCG to understand that biblical principal.
How does God choose in such cases? Direct conversation between Himself and Moses? Well, Moses has been part of "them dry bones" for millennia.
Urim and Thummim? Well, where would you even find one of those, today? Could they have borrowed one from the Mormons?
Casting of lots? Kind of pagan, don't you think? Also bad connotation. The Roman soldiers did this for Jesus' personal effects.
A council, invoking the primacy of Peter, asks God's blessing, and sits together until reaching an inspired consensus? That's the ticket! Always seems to work successfully for Dave Pack in validating his latest false prophecy!
The Armstrongs always asked a mouth-shutting rhetorical question as to where the New Testament example was of the sabbath being changed from Saturday to Sunday. Well, hold the presses, folks! Where is the example of the F/T being moved from Jerusalem?
"That photo - is that Pennsatucky from Orange is the New Black? She's so LCG!"
It is!
1.06 PM
They claim that God has placed His name in Squaw Valley or what ever in to order to perpetuate the lie that God is a micro manager. They then use this lie to justify their own micro managing of members lives. Did Moses, Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon, the elder system etc ever micromanage others lives? HWA and his clones decided to copy the gentiles on this one.
Anon at 09/30/21 at 7:27AM a lot of ACOG's are getting into what's called Hebrew Roots. A part of the HR is using the Hebrew names for God, Jesus, and Biblical characters. I think it's silly, because I don't see what great benefit comes from this practise.
One thing is for sure, God has not placed his name with Bob Thiel, the apostate wanna-a-be from Living Church of God.
4:02 pm. Hi, can you please cite your source? Thanks!
The link is at the end of the quote. For some reason it never posted. This was written by Gerald Weston.
No one has claimed to my knowledge that the Feast of Tabernacles has been moved from Jerusalem.
F/T is that a new code for Feast of Tabernacles ?
Agree 7:57.
10:52 ~ New code? Hardly. It was widely used in the '50s, 60's and '70s when we all had to put the little rhombus shaped bumperstickers the Festival Department sent us with our reservations on our cars. I think it was also on the deacon and assistant deacon arm bands that the deeks all had to wear at services.
They say that they worship 'god' but don't even know His Name? How is this possible? Elohim - the mighty ones have Names. Strongs has almost 3 full pages referencing how important it is to know His Name and His Son's Name.
God has not placed his name with Bob Thiel
Bob wrote about Jerusalem no longer being the "Headquarters" city. And to put off Catholics, he wrote that it wasn't Rome either. I don't know if he actually wrote it was Arroyo Grande, only something about where the "most Philadelphian church" was.
Maybe it is really about those Holy Day offerings? Make sure they go to the right place - that is my place.
Pennsatucky quote that demonstrates she's so LCG:
"I'm not crazy. I'm chosen."
Stop persecuting Bob Thiel. Has he told more false prophecies than Jesus did? Just persecute Jesus and be done with all of these characters who follow him.
Sweetblood777 wrote on 10/1 @4:44am, Elohim - the mighty ones have Names. Strongs has almost 3 full pages referencing how important it is to know His Name and His Son's Name.
Elohim -> Angels
H430), And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
Elohim -> Judges (human)
Ex 22:8-9 If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges (Heb elohim, H430) to see whether he has put his hand into his neighbor’s goods. For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges (Heb elohim, H430); and whomever the judges (Heb elohim, H430) condemn shall pay double to his neighbor.
YHVH's Son, YHVH's Firstborn
Ex 4:22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says YHVH: “Israel is My son, My firstborn."
Isa 49:13 Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For YHVH has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted.
Isa 49:14 But Zion said, “YHVH has forsaken me, and my Adonai has forgotten me.”
Isa 49:15-16 [YHVH's response], “Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I HAVE INSCRIBED YOU ON THE PALMS OF MY HANDS ...
YHVH's Son
1 Chr 28:5-6 And of all my sons (for YHVH has given me many sons) He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of YHVH over Israel. Now He said to me, ‘It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father.
YHVH's Sons
Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before YHVH, and Satan also came among them.
Notes:
1. Elohim is singular when it's used for YHVH - see 'With Singular Verb'.
2. Elohim occurs 2598 times according to H430.
3. YHVH occurs 6220 times according to H3068.
4. The title page of the printed 1611 KJV has the complete vowels - YeHoVaH (the very top, above the dove).
5. A young Rabbi Tovia Singer pronounces YHVH as Je-Ho-VaH (video of pronunciation starts at 16:35 and runs for 10 seconds). Notice that he got away with the Second Temple prohibition of pronouncing the name by saying 'Je' instead of 'Ye', and by pausing after each syllable. (There's no prohibition in Tanakh - Ruth 2:4 "Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, 'YeHoVaH be with you!'”)
Ex 3:15 (JPS) And God said moreover unto Moses: 'Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: YHVH, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you; THIS IS MY NAME FOREVER, and this is My memorial unto all generations.'
Joel 2:32a And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of YHVH shall be saved.
correcting my 4:51pm comment (errors in the html tags)
Ps 8:5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels (Heb elohim, H430), And You have crowned him with glory and honor.
Anon, September 30, 2021 at 10:16 AM, gave an interesting comment and concluded with a question:
"...Today God's name is where His obedient followers are: Mat 18:20; also John 14:23. Paul was in Rome 2 years - Acts 28:30. Did he, where did he, observe feasts?..."
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I suspect Paul observed Weekly Sabbaths, Passover and the Annual Holydays/Festivals for 2 years (Acts 28:30) within Paul's own lodging!
Acts 28:23 "And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening."
John
THINK FOR YOURSELF?? WHAT A CONCEPT!! WAKE UP WESTON!! You are a WOLF IN SHEEPS CLOTHING!! You have NO authority!! Grow a pair and go get a REAL JOB!!
Did the visitors have to request or ask
for permission to attend in advance?
Did the visitors have to get permission in advance in order to attend in Branson?
GOGlodytes should be free to search out feast sites until the discover one that is keeping the FOT according to the biblical instructions for the Feast.
However, that would be a futile endeavor, since the COGs only select a few items from the Old Covenant that interest them and reject the New Covenant.
I suspect Pennsatucky and Doug Winnail may be the same person.
Note the similarity in the teeth.
Has anyone ever seen the two of them in the same room at that same time?
The entire Pennnatucky quote was:
"I'm not cray. I'm chosen. There IS a difference!"
You know, some LCG members have family or relatives in another Church of God group such as UCG. So they can't attend with other family members?? This is one of the many flaws of the splinter group paradigm. Also they seem to always put the feast site around hurricane seasonal places. Strange leadership
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