Tuesday, December 14, 2021

PCG: "God needs you to be a godly Renaissance man!"

 


When you look at the Philadelphia Church of God and what it teaches you are never surprised to see who their latest idol is that they have. For the last year or so, Winston Churchill has been the right example to follow, after Herbert W Armstrong, of course.

Brad McDonald has a new article up about how the youth of the Philadelphia Church of God need to learn to be Renaissance men.

He writes:

Any high school student has probably heard the word “Renaissance.” The term, which means “rebirth,” is used to describe 15th-century Europe—particularly Italy—at a time when art, literature and science were “reborn.” Most students have probably also heard a common phrase used to describe the men of that era: “Renaissance man.”

During the Renaissance, there was a revival in learning. Individuals were artists, musicians, scientists, inventors, philosophers. Today, the term “Renaissance man” describes the man who is competent is multiple fields—the man who has a rounded personality. A Renaissance man is an athlete and an academic, a warrior and a poet, an officer and a gentleman.

I think this is hilarious, particularly for someone in the PCG to be writing this considering how many of the Renaissance men of history were gay, which is pretty much like PCG today.

The Retrospect Journal had this to say about the Renaissance men in the "realm of carnal debauchery".

Renaissance Italy is popularly portrayed as a realm of carnal debauchery. One only needs to watch Tom Fontana’s Borgia (2011-2014) to understand common conceptions of Renaissance Italy as a realm of brutal acts, orgies, and affairs. Yet, is there any truth to these depictions? On the subject of sexual activity, Michael Rocke has argued that fifteenth century Florence was awash with sodomy. He suggests that two thirds of men were officially implicated by the age of forty. In the final four decades of the fifteenth century, 17,000 Florentine men had been accused of sodomy by the Office of the Night (an institution founded to investigate homosexual relations). These statistics seem to substantiate our popular conception of the Renaissance. However, sheer statistics undermine the complex dynamics of homosexual relations in fifteenth-century Florence.

This was not only a story of licentiousness. Men grappled with their “carnal” desires and scrutinised them through the intellectual tools available to them. One of these tools was Neoplatonism, the revival and re-interpretation of Plato and the Neoplatonic texts, most associated with Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499) and his informal Florentine Academy. Understandings of Ancient Greek thought provided a framework for Florentine men to engage with homosexual relations, creating a discourse that could both justify and condemn their actions. Homosexuality in Renaissance Florence: The Ambiguities of Neoplatonic Thought

McDonald quickly moves on to PCG's masculine hero-worship of Winston Churchill:

Many of the great figures of history could be described as Renaissance men. One example is Winston Churchill. He was an avid reader, an outstanding writer and an influential philosopher. He memorized poetry. He was an artist who loved painting. At the same time, he loved to build, to develop, to get outside and work with his hands. He loved polo and fencing. Even as he got into his forties and fifties, he still loved getting outside and working with his hands. In fact, he was a good brick layer.

Ask yourself: Is a godly leader a Renaissance man?

McDonald wants the men of the PCG to realize their true masculine potential:

The point is, godly leaders are well-rounded. They are balanced. They love reading and studying, art and music; they enjoy museums and the theater. But they are also not afraid to get outside and “get their hands dirty.” They play sports; they landscape; they hunt and fish. They work with their hands. They are intellectuals, but they are also warriors.

Now, does not this describe PCG ministers accurately or COG leaders as a whole?

When have we ever seen real godly leaders who were well-rounded? When. have we ever seen a balanced COG leader? They are usually so wildly crazy that they are off the charts. Balance is not a Church of God cherished word.

What about you, young men? Where do you fall on this spectrum of masculinity? Do you like to read, to think, to engage your mind? Do you like art, poetry, fine music? If so, do you also work hard, pushing yourself to your physical limit?

McDonald then trots out David as a shining example of what a renaissance man is:

To see what a godly Renaissance man is, we can look to the Bible and find one of the greatest examples in King David. 
 
King David, even as a teenager, was a tough, brave warrior. He lived outside; bathed in creeks; slept by the fire and under the stars. He hunted for his own food. He was absolutely deadly with a sling shot and sword. He fought lions, bears and giants. He was the ultimate tough guy.
And yet, at the same time, David was an absolutely brilliant musician. He played the harp, and probably other stringed instruments. He wrote poetry and songs. He loved knowledge and learning. He was a terrific public speaker. David was a Renaissance teenager!

Sadly the COG has had a lot of men like David. Some have spent years banging other men's wives, stalking women, molesting children, and eventually killing members.

After extolling the virtues of David, McDonald says this:

Mr. Gerald Flurry writes about this in his book The Former Prophets: How to Become a King: “Several times throughout his life, David said that God was with him. That was like the motif of his life. That’s the most important statement that you can make about a person: That God is with him.”

The ultimate source of David’s admirable character traits was God’s power working with and in him! 
 
What about you, men? When people look at you, do they see God? Do they say, “Wow, there is something special about that guy”? This is the characteristic that will really set you apart. The first five characteristics of a Renaissance man can be developed by anyone. Plenty of people appreciate culture; there are brave and strong men; there are men of action; there are men who love education; men who take care of themselves physically. You can develop these characteristics separate from God. But with God, and with the power of His Spirit working with you, these characteristics can become a hundred times more effective! In many instances, the power of God will actually empower you as you develop these characteristics! 
 
Young men: God needs you to be a godly Renaissance man!

 

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

"realm of carnal debauchery".

The best description ever of the current state of the Church of God today!

Anonymous said...

Interesting picture accompanying this post. Is this where Anita Bryant got her ideas for her "Adam snd Steve" comments back in the '80s?

Anonymous said...

The Renaissance was primarily about the rebirth of freedom. The explosion in science, literature, art, philosophy etc were consequences. The body of writings by Brad McDonald puts him in tyranny rather than the freedom camp.
Btw, the ACOGs have never encouraged their members to be avid readers. On the contrary, they rail against "worldly" literature and members having their minds "poisoned" by non church literature.
The article is Pharisaic window dressing.

Anonymous said...

When I was in the WCG last century it seemed like to me that broad class of young people were pretty much neglected. The WCG was all about prophecy, going to the place of safety and keeping malformed versions of Old Testament laws. Then it was like someone would happen to remember that scripture that says, "And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers." And, of course, "The Elijah Work" would have to conform to this.

So Ron Kelly would give a sermon at the Feast on how David would be the coolest teenager ever if he lived in modern times. He would play the guitar and be the captain of the football team, be the best dancer - that kind of stuff. This laid a thick varnish over the fact that if you were a young person in the WCG and were not a member of the select group admitted to AC, you were virtually non-existent.

I am not sure how the WCG classed non-AC young people - the majority - in its congregations. I think they may have fallen under the heading of "problems to be solved." Years ago I began to notice that when ministers spoke of "young people" from the pulpit, you could gather from context that they were exclusively talking about AC students. It was as if the "youth of the church" consisted of a few hundred AC students. It's the tried and true Caste System at work. My guess is that most ministers, AC students and generic members in the WCG were so out out of touch with the youth generation that this substantive neglect never registered on them. You ask them what is going on with young people in the WCG and, with the unctuous smile of facile salesmanship, they start automatically talking about Ambassador College.

Maybe this modern Splinter Group is not repeating the sins of the WCG. I really don't know much about them publicly and I know nothing about what they do behind doors. They may have a real driving concern for all young people. But then again maybe not. Just saying ...

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Tonto said...

"The Renaissance" era was primarily the emergence from the "Dark Ages" resulting from the resistance to, and the freedom from the overwhelming corruption of the exclusive dominating church, headed up by one man. In this case , the Pope and the Universal Church.

For that reason alone, I hope that PCG men, escape the dominance of Pope Flurry and his "One and Only True Church", and enter a new phase of "enlightenment" , inquiry, sola scriptura, with personal freedom and determination.

Phinnpoy said...

It's my understanding, after doing a lot of reading about that time period, a lot of the Renaissance men were deeply involved in the occult. I wonder if some of the ACOG leaders are likewise occupied with such matters. I remembered Herman Hoeh was drawn to it.

Anonymous said...

But PCG doesn't believe In Flat earth they believe in Satan's globe idol.

Anonymous said...

Flat earth is biblical truth that most pastors won't tell you.

Anonymous said...

If they really wanted to be well rounded they would examine both sides of the issues. They don't do that.

If they wanted to be scientific, they would examine all sides of the issues. They don't to that.

Pure bull-crap.

Just like 97% of the population, they are brain-dead TV controlled zombies. The lying TV does most of their thinking for them. That's why they think that pathological liar, Churchill, was a hero. The only difference is the PCG throws out anything the lying TV says that's not in the bible.

"History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it." --- Winston Churchill.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Spencer's can start making gag gift masks of Gerald Flurry,HWA or Pack as Santa Claus or Halloween masks with their likeness. Should be a big seller around FOT season.

Anonymous said...

Renaissance man

I want to be a Renaissance man……

Mucho Macho man…by the Village People

Every man wants to be a macho macho man…
You can tell a macho man he has a funky walk…….
I’ve got to be a macho man………………………………

This song by the Village People will I understand be incorporated into the Bible hymnal with ‘Renaissance man’ replacing ‘macho man’ in the lyrics.

Bring it on, lol.

Anonymous said...

If this had been a Jocko Willink or Jordan Peterson podcast advising young men (or young women) to become well rounded and pattern their habits and mindsets after some of the great inventors and philosophers of the time, it would be well received. However, if the PCG produces the content, all the sudden it's ridiculous. This blog loses credibility by criticizing teachings of the PCG that are commonly accepted elsewhere. There's good and bad in all organizations of people. Stick to pointing out their prophetic discrepancies, ministerial overlording, money-grabbing tactics and double standards.

Anonymous said...


The PCG cult might mention Herbert W. Armstrong and Winston Churchill, but it is really all about worshipping Gerald Flurry.

Phinnpoy said...

Nah, Archie McPhee should make and sell them. They proudly boast they do weird! mcphee.com is where you go for rubber chickens and other wacko stuff!

Anonymous said...

I see no reason not to beileve in a flat earth.

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:42:00 PM PST

‘This blog loses credibility by criticising teachings of the PCG that are commonly accepted elsewhere’.

Can you provide the evidence that PCG teachings are accepted elsewhere, especially within academia and especially within the theological community, that are commonly held and upheld by accredited scholars.

‘However, if the PCG produces the content,all the sudden it is ridiculous’.
A group as infamous and verifiably as abusive as PCG is indeed fair game for criticism regardless of the content it prints, whether one agrees with content or not.

‘There’s good and bad in all organisations of people’.
Correct, but the reality is as pointed out by this blog and many others, that the evidence is overwhelmingly negative and very damming against PCG as a whole. The fruit of this group is appallingly damaging and one only has to ask their victims if and where are the ‘good’ within.

Anonymous said...

The ungodly exposing the ungodly ... interesting. Is Phinnpoy comment laying a red herring?

RSK said...

BREAKING NEWS: Man invents fictional scenario to get angry about.

RSK said...

Had to go see Flurry's latest screeds after reading this:

"I have said since Biden’s inauguration that President Trump will come back. The radicals have a lot of power, and many do not believe he could get back into office. But God will intervene to restore him to power. God directly prophesied that He would use a modern-day Jeroboam to prevent “the name of Israel from being blotted out,” that Jeroboam’s rule would be interrupted, and that he would have to “war” to recover it."

Thats funny, because prior to the inauguration Flurry was prophesying that Trump was prophesied to win because he hadnt fulfilled his conflated Jeroboams role...

Anonymous said...

PCG doesn’t encourage education or being well rounded. Most of their youth and members suffer from anxiety and fear. But they wan them this way to control them. It’s all about the money they can get from you.

Anonymous said...

It’s all just a beat down, be a renaissance man cause what you are isn’t good enough. NOTHING is ever good enough! All week you wonder what fresh hell awaits you on Saturday. It’s always to whatever degree, a beat down!! Anyone who says other wise has never sat in the PCG seats before.

Anonymous said...

I don't understand Flurry's logic, RSK. Jereboam the son of Nebat was the rebel king who presided over the northern tribes after they seceded from what had been a united monarchy under David and Solomon. So, is Flurry calling Trump Jereboam because he was the most divisive President in the history of the USA, and is he forecasting that Trump will return to office to foment Civil War II? Or, is Flurry attempting to do makeovers on both Jereboam and Trump, making them out to be heroes?

RSK said...

Well, he wants to identify Donald Trump with Jereboam II, historically one of the most powerful kings of Israel, but he wants to retain elements of the original Jereboam. So Trump is a conflation of both in his mind - a powerful restorer (Jeroboam II) and yet also a wayward Other-God-Worshipper (Jereboam I) who will ultimately persecute PCG and force them out of the US.

If this sounds like rather nonsensical reasoning, that's a good thing, because I think the old man really is off the deep end with this oddball combination of two very unrelated men from different periods.

Anonymous said...

5.18 PM
There's another king Jereboam in the OT. Flurry is referring to the latter.

Anonymous said...

Flurry’s comments about Trump aka Jereboam is share malarkey.
No scholar is Gerry.
If Trump does rerun again and gains office just imagine ‘Flurries’ crowing.
The unbearable will become the insufferable.
And to his adoring followers this would be confirmation of Gerrys status as That Prophet.

And where does that leave poor Bob Thiel?

Anonymous said...

Flurry will croak and never go to Petra. How many prophecies will that invalidate? What will the PCG zombies do then?

Earl said...

PCG minister: I am paid well for the small amount of work I generally perform at my home. Because we ministers have extra time, we can go hunting with our minister buddies whenever and kill one deer a year making each of us a mighty hunter. I also have time to do little jobs around the house making me a mighty handyman, maybe even changing my oil making me a mighty mechanic.
I even have a bit of time to get on my treadmill while listening to classical music making me a mighty man, kinda like David's, and a virtuoso to boot.
In writing my sermons occasionally I like to quote Churchill (no slight to Churchill) and this makes be both a mighty scholar and historian. Sometimes I talk to my wife, it's a good life (Wow, I'm a mighty poet too).

Anonymous said...

I guess we should turn the PCG ministry in to PETA for hunting. Get some protesters and demonstrators picketing the Flurry campus.

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:42:00 PM PST

Can you provide the evidence that PCG teachings are accepted elsewhere, especially within academia and especially within the theological community, that are commonly held and upheld by accredited scholars.

No, and that wasn't my point. This isn't about academia or accredited scholars. This (self-improvement) is a secular topic that happens to be addressed by a religious group.