Ah, the Church of God, never one to leave a subject go to waste without interjecting sex into it. Gerald Weston is all bothered by the different variants sweeping the world, rumors of war in Ukraine and elsewhere, and far too many people committing immorality in the world. Leave it to the gays and conspiracy theories to get the COG all riled up, so much so that regular church members are now calling for the LCG to proclaim a fast.
For a New Covenant Christian, fasting is not something mentioned as a requirement or an expectation of members. There is nothing in the epistles at all about fasting and when it is mentioned it is only in passing.
In the NT as a whole there is little explicit instruction on fasting; it is simply mentioned occasionally (and never in the epistles) as something Christians sometimes did. Jesus himself fasted (involuntarily?) in the wilderness (4:2), but there is no other record of his doing so subsequently, and indeed it was the lack of fasting by him and his associates which was commented on in 9:14, though in his reply Jesus does envisage his disciples fasting at a future date (9:15). In Acts we are told of prayer and fasting on two occasions as an accompaniment to important decisions (Acts 13:2–3; 14:23), but not of any regular pattern of fasting. . . . Not until Didache 8.1 (late first century?) that we find instruction on regular fasting for Christians—twice a week, like the Pharisee in Luke 18:12. (The Gospel of Matthew, 254)
Armstrongism has always looked at fasting as a way to influence its god into doing what they expect it needs to be doing to make the world right for COG members. Very seldom is a fast ever called for the introspection of members' own lives and shortcomings without drawing into the fast some church crisis or issues the church is facing. When those kinds of fasts are called it is because COG leadership is blaming the members for church troubles.
Dear Brethren,
The last two years have been inconvenient for many and difficult for others. Some of us have lost family and/or friends due to the coronavirus. As I write this, we are seeing another variant sweeping around the world. If South Africa and elsewhere are examples, while extremely contagious, Omicron may not be nearly as dangerous as the recent Delta variant. Time will tell.
In addition, 2022 holds out the specter of major wars. Rumors and actions indicate the potential for conflicts between the Ukraine and Russia, Taiwan and China, and Iran and Israel. Whether shooting wars erupt in any, or all, of these areas remains to be seen, but any one of these could draw other countries into the fray and things could get very messy.
Immorality is spiraling downward and our Israelite nations, especially, have lost all sense of biblical morality. Our nations are becoming more like Sodom and Gomorrah and the time before the flood with each passing year. In the Church, we must understand that we are not insulated from the course of this world—as guided by the prince of the power of the air—just because we have been baptized (Ephesians 2:1–2). Acceptance of immorality, rising anger levels, divisions, and getting caught up in wild conspiracy theories do affect some of us—perhaps all of us more than we are willing to admit.
Everything, including morality, has become political, and it is difficult to separate the two. Yes, we ought to be against abortion, the LGBTQ movement, and other woke ideologies, but we must stay out of the politics of it all. Members of the Living Church of God must come out of this chaotic world and remain focused on our mission—to preach the good news of Christ’s coming Kingdom and to warn mankind, especially the Israelite nations, of why our world is in so much trouble and how it will only get worse unless we change direction (Matthew 24:14; Ezekiel 33:1–7).
Rand Millich, one of our Council members, passed along the question from a member who asked when the next Church-wide fast might be called. Those of us here in Charlotte agreed that it would be good to call for one, given the turmoil in our world. Therefore, I am calling for a Church-wide fast for the Sabbath of January 22, 2022. If you are new to the Church, calling for a special day of fasting and prayer is supported by biblical precedents (Esther 4:16; Ezra 8:21; Nehemiah 9:1; Acts 14:23).
Members often ask what the purpose is for a fast when the Church calls for one. The purpose of fasting is to draw near to God by humbling ourselves and confessing our sins (Psalm 35:13; Daniel 9:3–5). It will do us well to pray and meditate on what is happening around us and evaluate how much this world of confusion is affecting us personally. It is a time to step back and focus on the purpose of our calling and cast aside the distractions that so easily beset us. Paul admonishes us to be circumspect, to look around and be wise. Please read all of Ephesians 5:1–21 as it certainly applies to us.
Since this fast is not the set-in-stone date of Atonement, a few congregations or individuals may have to choose an alternate day near January 22. We have a few Tomorrow’s World Presentations already scheduled for that day and it would be appropriate for members in those areas to fast on a different day. There may be other extenuating circumstances for a few, but most of us will fast that day and I will plan to give a special livestreamed sermon that Sabbath. In the meantime, let us meditate on who we are and who we should be and pray for one another, as many are going through difficult trials.
Sincerely, in Christ’s service, Gerald E. Weston
11 comments:
Fasting is mentioned in 1Cor 7:5; 2Cor 6:5; 11:27.
GW, when fasting (which might help you focus), reexamine very closely, word for word, Exodus 23:14-16 (this passage does not even have a translation problem).
Why does Anon 2:02 PM stop at verse 16? If GW enforced verse 17, his church activities would look VERY different than what they are at present.
This fails to compute. Members' entire lives have been based upon the soon coming culmination of events revealed in Revelation taking place, ushering in the return of Jesus Christ. This is a time in our modern history, much as was the late 1960s and early 1970s, when one could realistically argue (without being laughed at) that these events are kicking in. Aren't all of these church members supposed to be feeling vindication, much as did Noah as the first drops of rain began at last to fall? Why would they feel stressed? You'd feel more stressed waiting and wondering about your church and its leaders through numerous periods of "in 3 to 5 years", would you not?
If LCG is anything like the old WCG, most likely there is a secret undercurrent, in which members believe that we are living in the end times, but most are actually desperately hoping that the church is wrong.
In a way, this is hilarious, because ACOG members don't even believe in global climate change, even though it is a phenomenon which requires unified action to resolve, thus implying the necessity for one world government. It also closely mirrors the goat herders' crude descriptions from the ancient times in which Revelation was written. OK, not too funny, I guess. God's people, the Jews, missed out on Jesus being the Messiah because Jesus did not conform to their extremely narrow expectations for Messiah. Methinks the ACOGs have similarly narrow expectations of what constitutes the end times, and will most likely missread and react totally inappropriately if and when it happens.
Weston writes: "...Rand Millich, one of our Council members, passed along the question from a member who asked when the next Church-wide fast might be called. Those of us here in Charlotte agreed that it would be good to call for one, given the turmoil in our world. Therefore, I am calling for a Church-wide fast for the Sabbath of January 22, 2022. If you are new to the Church, calling for a special day of fasting and prayer is supported by biblical precedents (Esther 4:16; Ezra 8:21); Nehemiah 9:1; Acts 14:23).
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Calling a fast as something that "would be good?" Fasting sounds like an after-thought in the minds of Millich and Weston. Perhaps Doug Winnail may want to praise and thank that member for bringing up the notion for a fast. Should we be surprised Doug Winnail wasn't the one asking for a group-wide fast? Who's in charge there?
On the other hand, it would be interesting to know what/how any of the previous fasts have really accomplished? Does anyone really care?
Weston goes on to say: "...Members often ask what the purpose is for a fast when the Church calls for one. The purpose of fasting is to draw near to God by humbling ourselves and confessing our sins (Psalm 35:13; Daniel 9:3–5). It will do us well to pray and meditate on what is happening around us and evaluate how much this world of confusion is affecting us personally. It is a time to step back and focus on the purpose of our calling and cast aside the distractions that so easily beset us. Paul admonishes us to be circumspect, to look around and be wise. Please read all of Ephesians 5:1–21 as it certainly applies to us..."
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Why aren't the members already close to God? Why aren't they humble enough? What Gerald Weston wrote there is similar to the way Doug Winnail writes: it's all about self.
What might God think about the member, Millich, Weston fast? Here it is, but these guys won't believe it:
"Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as [ye do this] day, to make your voice to be heard on high." Isaiah 58:4
Does God want to hear the voices of member, Millich, Weston, focusing so much on self, sent to Him on high? Did God lie? Did Isaiah lie?
Want to do an "acceptable fast?" There is such a thing (Isaiah 58:5-11), and Jesus Christ did such a fast and set an example for that member, Millich and Weston....and Doug Winnail.
What happened to the Sabbath day designed to be a rest day, a day of rejoicing, picturing something very important to occur on earth after the second resurrection happens. There is no 3rd resurrection, and there will be no Mickey Mouse Millennium with another Jesus to very soon reign on earth for 1,000 years. So, fast for what, besides self?
God already has a plan to turn the world around, but it won't be the Millich, Weston, Winnail way:
Psalm 22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
:27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
:28 For the kingdom [is] the LORD’S: and he [is] the governor among the nations.
Despite all of today's ills that seem to frighten the likes of Weston, will God's Will be done such that "all the ends of the world...turn unto the LORD?"
Time will tell...
John
I've NEVER fasted for 24 hours, even when I attended WCG.
I fasted for 48 hours once. I really can't say that the experience provided any real seat-of-the-pants enlightenment. And, that's where the rubber meets the road, or rather didn't meet the road. I had imagined that the type of relationship with God which would hypothetically be fostered by being a member of His alleged church would eventually provide the type of enlightenment that all the wise men and philosophers throughout time had sought. But, it was all rituals, plus pay, pray, and obey. That routine of controlled behavior can never conjure up enlightenment. There was a missing ingredient, a sorely missing ingredient, if we can all be honest with ourselves. Whatever that ingredient is or was, based on what we read today from the contemporary leaders of Armstrongism is obviously still missing. They are all clueless, whether they are making their continuously failing false prophecies, patronizing their members and insulting their intelligence, or through their written materials which indicate that they are still in search of a greater concept.
Armstrongism was a defective product. It never delivered as advertised.
So the big daddy ministers are telling the children on which day to fast. Unless there's a crisis situation, I don't see why ministers should be picking such dates.
I do not see how fasting on the Sabbath makes it a day of rest. I assume this day is chosen so that the ministers and busybodies at church services can pressure the boys and girls members into compliance.
So a member had to ask when a church-wide fast would be called. Interesting that Millich or Westson weren't led by God to ask that question themselves. No, it had to come from a member. I'm guessing that member will be ordained in the future to an elder during the spring holiday season.
No, Weston or his decision makers won't call for a fast because they are blind. They can't see their hand in front of their face and recognize all the sin thats entered the church. All the lying, fornication, idolatry, ect., that stands before the people each Saturday. Wake up people and get out of that before it's too late!
A Christmas Miracle, at last Weston finally spoke one sure truth, with this statement:
"getting caught up in wild conspiracy theories do affect some of us—perhaps all of us more than we are willing to admit."
The entire COG movement is based on weird and wild conspiracy theories.
Herebie hooked 'em with his wild "Ezekiel Warning" lies of numerous catastrophes that were sure to hit the "Israelite Nations" in the next couple of years - when uttered anytime over the past ninety years.
Those prophesies that failed to happen in the prophesized time frame is the foundation of the LCG.
The false "Ezekiel Warning" is also the LCG's continued prediction for the future and sign that they are the true church.
LCG members should be challenged to dedicate this year's fast to identifying the historic utterances of prophesies that have failed, as stated, and determine what level of falsehood and wild conspiracy theories are acceptable to them in their church, going forward in the new year.
GREAT idea!! Maybe some of them will WAKE UP and realize how absolutely deceived they are!! God’s TRUE servants SELF correct and do NOT need a so called Minister to tell them what to do!! “I AM the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE”.
LCG under RCM used to hold an annual fast for God to grant them the gifts of the Holy Spirit which were present during the lives of Jesus and the Apostles. If I recall correctly, that annual fast was held close to Pentecost. I can honestly see the logic in that, because those gifts would attract many new members, as well as the attention of the world at large. What is very telling is that no Armstrongite church has ever had those gifts! Most of the members of the ACOGs would be very attentive if suddenly one break-away splinter appeared to be specially blessed over and above the others. Each has pretended to be that break-away at one time or another, although there really is negligible difference in status amongst the whole lot of them.
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