Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web of Corrupt Leaders

Friday, June 18, 2021

Crackpot Self-Appointed Prophet Has Another Melt Down Over Satan's Assistants Constantly Attacking Him


Right on cue our self-appointed prophet and Great Bwana to Africa and 299 Caucasians popped his cork today over the previous post about him getting kicked out of Living Church of God by Rod Meredith. Did you know that this bog is filled with "satan's assistants"?  Everyone commenting here is apparently in the bonds of his creature he calls "satan'. ROTFLMAO! This is sooooooooo predictable and sooooooooo funny!

The only people we know for sure that are emissaries of the evil one are these current self-appointed leaders of the Philadelphia Church of "god", Restored Church of "god", Church of "god" Preaching The Kingdom, and the improperly named "continuing" Church of "god". These spiritual despots have been wreaking spiritual havoc for years on venerable, gullible, and blinded COG members who think they're doing what God expects of them. God never intends for any follower of The Way to be involved in these sickening personality cults where their spiritual lives are being ruined by men with serious mental issues!

Anyway, let's look at the Great Bwana's doubly blessed brain in action:

06/18/21 a.m. Satan's assistants ("the devil ... he is a liar and the father of it," John 8:44) at the Banned by HWA site do not want people to believe my 06/17/21 p.m. post. 

So, let's look at some of their false statements and point out the truth. Here is a lie that Gary Leonard (its webmaster), started a post off with last night:

It's a hot day in California, and in more ways than one. Our favorite self-appointed dreamy prophet and Great Bwana to Africa and 299 Caucasians, who was kicked out of the Living Church of God by Rod Meredith  ...

No, Dr. Meredith did NOT kick me out. It was I who left because of broken promises by him and others to correct doctrinal, historical, and prophetic errors he and the then other LCG evangelists agreed to correct, as well as other integrity problems in LCG. (Plus I could not accept the falling away change, which Richard Ames agreed to look at with me on October 8, 2012).

Anyway, all the top leadership of the Living Church of God know full well I was not kicked out--but left 12-28-12 after receiving an outrageous and inappropriate email from Dr. Meredith (see Roderick C. Meredith's Accusatory Letter to Bob Thiel).

Gary Leonard cannot get over the fact that it was I who “kicked out” LCG, not the other way around. If he and others at his libelous site would stop repeating the lie I was kicked out of LCG, I would not feel the desire to sometimes comment about it.

Those naturopathic knickers are in a major organic twist right now!  Whoa Boy!

The Great Bwana goes on to post comments from two LCG men who apparently had no ability to discern liars in the midst of the brethren. If these two guys were actually men of God they would have immediately spoke out against the self-righteous wanna-be "prophet" who was trying to make a name for himself in the Living Church of God. But no, they did not. They like others in the LCG were so incredibly deluded that they joined in the chorus of fools, whom Thiel claims, called him a prophet. Using Jim Meredith as a source for support is not the swiftest thing to do, considering the track record that Jim Meredith has with LCG members.

Dear Dr. Thiel,

I am very sorry to see you... leaving the Living Church of God. 

In Christ's service,

Jeffrey Fall

Later in that same evening, even Jim Meredith (son of Dr. Meredith) emailed me and asked me to reconsider and come back. Here are some excerpts:

Bob, as you know, we have never really seen eye to eye. ... But now you have made a potentially fatal error; ... You obviously took no time to fast and pray about dad’s response  ...

Bob, please take the time to carefully, and prayerfully consider what you are doing, and where you are headed. You are a bright, intelligent man, with a great potential ...

If you rebel against the government that God has put in place on this earth, and the leaders He and Christ have chosen, you will not be there at Christ’s return. ...

In Christian Love,

Jim Meredith


Living Church of God

Office (704)844-1970

Jim Meredith, who was partially behind the 12-28-12 letter to me that Dr. Meredith sent, fully realized that I left, NOT that I was kicked out. As far as rebellion against God's government, I assert it is those in LCG that do not accept how GOD works. They are looking to men above God--that is something that Dr. Meredith himself warned about when he was part of the old Radio Church of God (Meredith RC. Second Commandment. Plain Truth, March 1960, p. 27).

Bwana Bob also popped a cork over being mocked about the nightmares he continues to have that he sees as proof of his legitimacy. Because the scriptures mention dreams, Bwana Bob believes that those scriptures pertain to him and legitimize his apostasy and rebellion against church government - at least the Armstrongite version of whatever "church government" means.

Gary Leonard's post also included the following:

Having nightmares and dreaming up fantastical stories to prove your legitimacy does not make on a prophet either.

Public/official 'prophet' recognition by LCG was NOT a factor in my choosing to leave--particularly since ALL the then LCG HQ evangelists stated that God might consider me to be a prophet. This was also directly confirmed to me by Dr. Doug Winnail in September 2012 and after I left in January 2013 (and that 2013 time was in writing).

It is a FACT that not ALL LCG evangelists thought Bob might be a prophet. If any of them thought that then it is proof that these guys were not real ministers.

As far as the "nighmare" crack goes, the word of God says that God speaks to prophets in dreams in Numbers 12:6 (for more on that, check out the article: Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God).

I can state for a fact that God is no more channeling dreams and visions into Bob's mind than he is into Dave Pack's mind. The fact that COG members fall for this schtick is appalling and shows how little Biblical understanding they have about the New Covenant and the role of Christ in the church. But, why should they since they all deny the guy?

Bwana Bob ends with this as a direct rebuke to ALL who refuse to acknowledge him as a true prophet and the one true leader of the one true Philadelphia Church:

Consider that the Apostle Paul wrote:

20 Despise not prophesyings. 

21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21, KJV) 

Hopefully, you, the reader, take those scriptures seriously and have not despised prophesies and have truly PROVEN what you believe on this. If so you can actually be one who will "hold fast that which is good," which includes the truth about me and the prophet matter.

Of course, many will choose not to believe the truth or be sufficiently diligent to "prove all things," but will instead love and believe a lie--even though the Bible warns against that (Revelation 22:15).

You can read the rest of Thiel's hilarious, self-serving, "look at how important I am" temper tantrum here


Thursday, June 17, 2021

LCG: Friday Night Smackdown is back!

 

Well, it is close to LCG Sabbath and time for the weekly smackdown on things LCG members are constantly doing wrong. It seems some LCG members are not focused upon the "truth" that LCG claims to possess and instead are caught up in the "cares of this world." LCG members must constantly be building character in order to be admitted into the Kingdom of God. Members are encouraged to focus their time upon that which is "true, noble, just, and pure".

LCG members have posted here for years about watching leading ministers in Charlotte and elsewhere mistreating members. From Rod Meredith on down through his kids and other ministers; abuse, nepotism, and financial abuse have been rampant. LCG HQ needs to clean its own windows before constantly criticizing its members.

Staying Focused: Jesus admonished His disciples to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). However, the temptations and pressures of this world continue to pull us away from seeking God and building the character needed to be in His Kingdom. Jesus also warned that “the cares of this world” can choke the Truth and cause us to stumble and miss out on our calling (Matthew 13:22). This is why the Apostle Paul advised Christians to “walk circumspectly” (live purposefully) and make the most of the time and opportunities to grow “because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15–16). This is also why we need to check our focus periodically—what are we watching on TV? What we are reading? How much time do we spend on the Internet? Are we acting and treating others like a Christian? Are we using our time and talents to glorify God, or just doing our own thing? Let’s follow these biblical admonitions and focus our minds on what is true, noble, just, and pure (Philippians 4:8)—so we can be in the Kingdom of God.

Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail

Crackpot COG Prophet On Defensive After LCG Minister Spilled The Beans On Him


 

It's a hot day in California, and in more ways than one. Our favorite self-appointed dreamy prophet and Great Bwana to Africa and 299 Caucasians, who was kicked out of the Living Church of God by Rod Meredith over his crazy theological stances, got a major smackdown from an LCG minister who spilled the beans on why Bob Thiel left LCG, and boy oh boy, is Elijah steaming mad! Nothing infuriates apostate Bob more than having LCG ministers and members not acknowledge him as a prophet.

06/17/21 p.m. Someone told me today that an LCG minister wrote to him that the "main reason" that I left that church was because LCG did not consider me to be a prophet. That is untrue. 

As it turns out, the particular minister who indicated that never talked to me to ask why I left. So, how could he know the main reason I left?

The only way would be if I told him, someone I spoke with told him (or someone else who told him what I said), or he read what I wrote about it. For those interested in the truth, here is a link to an article about why: Why Bob Thiel Left the Living Church of God.

The Bible warns repeatedly in the Old and New Testaments about not bearing "false witness."

It is being a false witness to claim to know the "main reason" why I left when 1) it was not the reason at all and 2) the writer cannot read minds (cf. 1 Samuel 16:7). Yet, that is a false narrative which many in my former association have chosen to believe. 

Because they know the truth! 

In addition to bearing false witness, the Bible warns against "whoever loves and practices a lie" (Revelation 22:15).

As people who truly know me realize, I left LCG because its top leadership informed me it would not correct doctrinal, historical, and prophetic errors that it had--and had previously agreed to correct. It is a lie to believe otherwise.

For just one example of uncorrected errors, here is a link to LCG's 2011 Statement of Beliefs with my proposed corrections, December 2011 Proposed changes to LCG's Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs. Dr. Meredith originally promised to completely make these corrections by January 2012--but he failed to do. Then on 28 December 2012, Dr. Meredith made it clear he completely renigged on that promise and many others--I left LCG that day. The prophet matter was NOT why I left (though it was a factor in deciding I had no choice but to then declare a separate organization).

It's funny to look back at the day Rod Meredith posted his letter kicking Bob out of LCG. We had it posted here when he read it. He did not know at that moment. Bob threw a hissy fit and then officially posted about how he was starting his own splinter group. LCG members turned their backs on him, awesomely! 

The only 'prophet' recognition that matters is God's, who appoints prophets per 1 Corinthians 12:28 . Many act like they do not realize that, but instead talk against that which they do not want to accept (cf. Matthew 5:11-12; Acts 7:52).

Self-appointing one's self to prophethood status does not make one a prophet, particularly when it is one who has lied about the many reasons he is "chosen" to be a splinter group leader. Having nightmares and dreaming up fantastical stories to prove your legitimacy does not make on a prophet either.

Public/official 'prophet' recognition by LCG was NOT a factor in my choosing to leave--particularly since ALL the then LCG HQ evangelists stated that God might consider me to be a prophet. This was also directly confirmed to me by Dr. Doug Winnail in September 2012 and after I left in January 2013 (and that 2013 time was in writing).

It is a FACT that not ALL LCG evangelists thought Bob might be a prophet. If any of them thought that then it is proof that these guys were not real ministers. No one and I mean no one has any reason to believe Bob is a prophet. God expects no such things. No one needs to hear ANYTHING Bob says. 

Furthermore, as Dr. Winnail, Dr. Meredith, and Richard Ames were aware, it was certainly not my desire to start a separate church organization.

Yet, sadly, most with LCG have chosen to believe something about my departure that is not true.

The Bible specifically warns, "Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord deceitfully" (Jeremiah 48:10).

The above scripture is why I had to leave and biblically know why, without repentance, LCG cannot possibly lead the final phase of the work and CCOG can.

Those who believe otherwise are trusting in a lie.

The poor little guy just cannot get any respect! 



Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Quietly Dismissing Herbert Armstrong

 


ARMSTRONGISM 2021

 

Although folks like Gerald Flurry and David Pack have embraced Herbert Armstrong, many of the descendants of the Worldwide Church of God NEVER mention his name. They like to pretend that Herbert Armstrong and/or Garner Ted Armstrong have/had absolutely NOTHING to do with them. They continue to adhere to and preach many of their doctrines, but they act as if they have derived their teachings directly from the pages of the Bible. In effect, they have chosen to deal with the sordid history of their movement by pretending that it all never happened, or that they have somehow moved beyond those men and their failures.

It’s like saying that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had/have NOTHING to do with the United States of America! It’s like saying that Karl Marx had/has NOTHING to do with Communism in the Twenty-First Century, or that Colonel Sanders had/has NOTHING to do with Kentucky Fried Chicken! To be fair, Armstrongism isn’t the first religious movement to attempt to put some distance between themselves and their founder (e.g. Jehovah’s Witnesses and Charles Russell or Anglicans and King Henry VIII).

For groups like the United Church of God and Church of God International who claim to have moved beyond their founder’s failures, when pressed, they will almost always identify issues of government, administration and/or character as the principal failures of the founders of the movement (and the things which they have “corrected”). Unfortunately, even in these “liberal” organizations, the “core teachings” of Armstrongism are defended and preserved. And, while most of the critics of the movement would acknowledge problems in all of those areas, the elephant in the room is the flawed THEOLOGY of Herbert Armstrong. In other words, to pretend as if there is absolutely nothing amiss with those teachings is ABSURD!

Sure, we all understand how hard it is to invest so much of one’s life and energy in something that turns out to be a major mistake. The potential damage to our ego/psyche/sense of self-worth is frightening, and we are not without other examples of this very real phenomenon that all longtime Armstrongites have faced (or avoided facing). On the secular side, a great many Americans continue to support Donald Trump because the prospect of dealing with the consequences of admitting that they made such a major error in judgement are simply too horrific to entertain – let alone admit! Hence, it is much easier to live in a fantasy world that denies or ignores where the REAL problems lie. Sorry folks, whether or not you’re willing to confront them, the ghosts of Herbie and Ted continue to haunt everything you do!

Lonnie Hendrix

 

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Crackpot COG Prophet Claims His Writings Will Be Necessary Tools To Educate People With In The Kingdom of God.

 


God's most favorite doubly-blessed, self-appointed, and self-ordained splinter group leader to ever grace humanity in thousands of years, is back again today letting us know that his books, booklets, and sermons will be vital teaching material in the world tomorrow. God is apparently so pleased with apostate Bob that he is going to allow Bob and his 299 Caucasians and whatever number of church-hopping Sabbatarians in Africa that will be left at that time to be teachers in the Kingdom of God.

Yes, the true ministry helps people be able to speak the truth in love. 
 
Now that books are more widely available than in New Testament times, books from ministers can also assist in teaching end time Christians.  
    While we have many, the following look to be particularly applicable to the ‘instruct many’ prophecy related to predominantly Philadelphian Christians: 

    Note, what follows is the crap topics that NO ONE in the Kingdom of God will care about at that time. Not one single person, especially not any COG members.


    The Gospel of the Kingdom of God The Beast power will be promising a humanitarian utopia that he will not truly be able to deliver. Philadelphian Christians who understand the gospel of the kingdom will be able to better explain why God’s kingdom is the answer.

    The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You? This book answers some of the basic questions about the human life and what God’s purpose is. 
     
    Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation Most in the world do not understand the plan a loving God truly has for humanity. 
     
    Continuing History of the Church of God This is a short overview of church history and shows that it was the Church of God in Asia Minor and Antioch that stood up against many of the early heretics and that the beliefs of the early Christians are best held by the Continuing Church of God. 
     
    Who Gave the World the Bible? The Canon: Why do we have the books we now do in the Bible? Is the Bible complete? The end time Beast power will feign support of a religion that will be considered as ‘catholic.’ Since the Church of Rome claims it gave the world the Bible, it says it alone has the right to interpret it. This book helps explain where the Bible came from, what the correct books are, what the best manuscripts are, and the fact that it was the Church of God who maintained the chain of custody of the books–not the Vatican or the other Greco-Roman faiths. 
     
    Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The true Church of God is NOT Protestant. This book gives extensive details as to why that is so. Plus goes in depth to explain to Protestant and others that it is the Continuing Church of God, and not the Greco-Roman faiths, that best practices sola Scriptura. 
     
    Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church While the Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholic churches believe they have the original faith and that is backed up by the writings of those they call the “early fathers,” the reality is that they have deviated from the Bible and early Christian leaders–most of which they call ‘saints’ on many serious and core doctrines. The information in this book is well expected to “instruct many” in the time of the end.

    Now that does not mean our other books and booklets are not important to know–and they can also be referred to–and all are found at the following link: CCOG Free Books and Booklets.

    Non-Philadelphians will not know enough to instruct many in this age. Oh yes, they will teach people during the millennium. But, the lack of knowledge of church history, development of heresies, and proper prophetic understanding will prevent most non-Philadelphians from fulfilling the “instruct many” prophecy in Daniel 11:32. 

    If you are not a member of the improperly named "continuing" Church of "god" then you will be woefully ignorant on what to teach people in the world tomorrow. God apparently is only going to use cult members of Bob Thiel's personality cult (and his books) as educators in the world tomorrow.  Can you picture now what a complete hell hole of a world that will be! People will look at the flickering flames of the lake of fire and think that it would have been a better alternative than sitting and listening to Thiel or his followers teach them.

    Because some of what people in the world will be interested in will be a bit historical, and to them unique, the listed books were written. These books are part of the CCOG preparation for the short work. 
     
    If YOU are willing to be used by God and will support the true Philadelphian remnant leader, God may well have YOU instruct many. Either directly, or at least, indirectly. 

    This is an outright lie. God is not going to be using members of the improperly named "continuing" Church of "god"" to educate anyone in the kingdom of God. The stupidity in this claim is appalling and shows a complete lack of Biblical understanding of the role of Christ. 

    The improperly named "continuing" Church of "god" is NOT the remnant church and Bob Thiel, its self-appointed dreamed-up leader, is NOT a remnant leader. 

    With so many world events happening that are aligning with end time prophecy, isn’t this the time to be sure that you have the right goal and understand the meaning of life so that your education can support that?

    The meaning of life for a Christian does NOT involve any books, booklets, or teachings from an apostate such as Bob Thiel, who has assigned himself so many biblical names that it is now impossible to know what personification he is speaking under. Legion might be more appropriate though. 




    Love and Radio: The World Tomorrow Featuring Glynn Washington

    For those that have Apple Podcasts, you can tune in to the following program Love and Radio: The World Tomorrow:

    Glynn Washington and I go way back—I used to be a producer on his public radio show Snap Judgment—and I’ve heard him talk loads about his time growing up as a black child in a white supremacist cult called the Worldwide Church of God. But that didn’t prepare me for the whole story.

    Glynn's Luminary Original Podcast, Spooked features supernatural stories, told firsthand by people who can barely believe it happened themselves. It is available at https://www.luminary.link/spooked

     


    COGWA: Your voice doesn't need to be heard

    From a COGWA source.

    6/5/2021 Sermon Transcript. Caleb Froedge, Pastor Kansas City COGWA.


    I would like to start out today by talking about a riveting story introduced by Taco Bell. It is a commercial that I saw the other day on Taco Bell, and it was called chicken philosophers and it had philosophers arguing about what is the best chicken sandwich. I think maybe many of you have probably seen this commercial, but they're arguing back and forth. About pointless discussion, items that really don't make a difference about this chicken sandwich. Debating what is the best chicken sandwich? And they kept arguing chicken, mayo, pickle, bread. Bread, chicken, pickle, mayo, and every way with the same ingredients. It didn't make a difference; it was still a chicken sandwich. And then you have the wise come in with tacos. They didn't get into the debate, and I know there's things out there about those taco lovers and it's always going to be a taco over a chicken sandwich. But they stayed away from the pointless debate.

    Now philosophical debating is something that we can be trained in. There are debate teams. You can learn the art of the debate. There's a political science. There's a science of debate. There's a science of philosophical studies. And one can really try to make an impact with their knowledge and wisdom and a philosophical approach. But can debate and philosophical discussions, even of the Bible, just because it's the Bible, does that mean this is what God desires from his members? Could debate and philosophical discussion on biblical matters actually cause someone in God's church to be entangled to their own demise? How much time does God want US spending quarreling, debating on speculative details in the Bible? Of course, you know, we're all going to have different opinions on speculative parts of the Bible where there's really no conclusive determination, well why was this? Or you know anybody who's been to FI, you know you're going to ask those questions and sometimes it is, “I don't know.” You know, watching the FI online with Mr. Ken Giese on the most recent one on Joshua and Judges, you know there are really good questions and thought provoking. But then sometimes the answer is well I really don't know. And so, you know it's, it's fun to sometimes talk about those things and explore. And uh, but can there be too much where we don't actually focus on the trunk of the tree and those foundational truths that are so very important?

    It was funny, I saw a post the other day from a member, and it said which side of the paper clip, which side of the paper does a paper clip go? And of course, we know it's the left side, you know? So, I didn't know why that was really a question, but yeah, you know, everybody is going to have a different opinion, why? Well, I don't know why. Why is it the left side? It just seems right. It just feels right, but there's a theory for what is right and why we should do that, and it's fun to sometimes go over those different philosophies, if you will, arguments if you will. And it’s fun to kind of take silly things and get everybody's opinion. Again, another post I saw was let's end this lifelong debate. What is better, Coke or Pepsi? And then of course you have those rebels that put Dr. Pepper instead, they don't even get into the debate on that, but you know it can be fun to do at times.

    You know, but to what point are we to involve ourselves in debates, quarrels? How fruitful will that become even if it's in biblical studies? Again, we are not going to all come to the exact agreement on every single thing, but those core fundamental beliefs we are to be in agreement on. We are to be in agreement as a church and that is a very positive thing. But are we to explore all of our disagreements? Is this a positive thing for the church? Is this where we should put our time?

    Some have made their own religion about philosophical points in the past. They've looked for some obscure detail, and in studying a certain topic, maybe it's kind of a, it's not the trunk of the tree, it's a twig and, you know, they focus on that twig so much now it becomes, you know, “I have superior knowledge, I have superior intelligence and I've taken this idea and now it's become my baby.” Now it's become a pet doctrine and it is coddled like a little baby. You know, do some have some sort of superpower to understand speculative scripture? Is it a superintelligence or is it making one wise in their own eyes? But, you know, you can take a philosophical question in the Bible. or for anything for that matter, and you put in all this research into and come to your own conclusion, but should we really take it in and hold it tight to us? Those, you know, philosophical questions, the all-important, which came first, the chicken or the egg? If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around, does it still make a sound? Yeah, you can find little things in the Bible that we would also, uh, look into and try to figure out as well.

    What should we be aware of as members in the Church of God who study the Bible? One, we want to be aware of our own actions as we study the Bible. We study the Bible to look inwardly; to look at ourselves. You know, it is, God's word is to be a mirror to our path, a light to our path. And we look at and study the Bible as inwardly first we look how does this affect my life? How does it change my life? Do we study the Bible to feel superior? Do we study the Bible to correct others around us? Is that our, is that what God wants us to do? We have the knowledge, so now we can go sharpen one another with our words and tell everybody where they're wrong.

    Are we aware of false teachers of the Bible? Teachers who do not have authority from God but they’re self-proclaimed teachers. Now, they have put themselves up on a pedestal, and they've said, “I'm, I'm going to put myself in a position of superior intelligence and I'm going to judge the Church of God, and I'm going to make claims, this is the way the church should function. This is my philosophy. This is what the church should do.” Are we aware of false teachers? Really, there's nothing new under the sun, and there's those who have fought against the Church of God and the core doctrines over the ages, and many have done it in the name of theory and philosophies, superior knowledge, and philosophy. Men who have, came along with no authority to teach, but yet they claim superior knowledge and intelligence. And they, in turn, are drawing members away from the Church of God, where there are firm proven truths.

    Paul had to fight against such knowledge and philosophies such as Gnosticism and different things that stem from Gnosticism: Docetism, Gnosticism. And it takes the name of the Greek word, gnosis, G-N-O-S-I-S and it means knowledge, especially spiritual truth, and there's this great spiritual knowledge. And so many of the so-called gnostic groups are characterized by mythiology [sic] and distinguishes between the inferior created world - the physical - and the more transcendent god and the order of being. But in the book of First John, he wrote to reassure and to comfort the church members who were contending with dishonorable individuals, intent of shaking the faith of the members through false and heretical teachings. 1 John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not of us.” So, the indication was that they were once members with the church, but then they went, and they left. “For if they had been of us they would have continued with us, but they went out that they might be made manifest that none of them were of us. But you have an anointing from the holy one and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is the Antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either. He who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. Therefore, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning, that what you heard from the beginning abides in you. You also will abide in the Son and in the Father, and this is the promise that he has promised us – eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.” So, there is a deception. He was talking about some had come out from among them. There's sufficient internal evidence that suggests that certain people from within the church, likely former members, were expounding HERESY contrary to authentic and foundational doctrines.

    The Zondervian [sic] illustrated Bible Dictionary states, “The purpose of the author was to warn the readers against false teachers who are trying to mislead them and to exhort them to hold fast to the Christian faith that they had received.” What was the heresy in this particular case? According to David and Pat Alexander, the Lion Handbook of the Bible, “John’s letter was written to counter some of the early form of ‘Gnosticism’ being propounded by men who were once church members but had now withdrawn from the group. They liked to think of themselves as intellectuals, processing [sic] a superior knowledge of God. They made a complete distinction between the SPIRITUAL (which was pure) and the material (which was evil). In practice, this often led to immortality – because nothing the body did could tarnish the purity of the spirit. It also led to the denial of Christ's human nature – which was either ‘make-believe’ or temporary [in their mind]. The Christ – being spirit – could not have died.” So, this was where that superior knowledge LED them ultimately to rejecting Jesus Christ as a Savior. And you start getting out on the limb – superior knowledge – putting oneself on a pedestal and making judgments towards the Church of God, it leads to the denial of Jesus Christ.

    So today, I want to look at philosophies, a little bit about false philosophies that are out there, and philosophies that we should be aware of as the church. We need to understand what ideas are out there and what are being promoted so that we aren't straying from the church. And now, there ARE teachings that are just wrong, they're not biblically supported: Heaven and hell theory, Trinity, Sabbath is on a Sunday, that’s just strong philosophy, you cannot back them up biblically. But then there are those that may have an understanding of the truth but yet they have put themselves in a position to be a teacher, not by God's authority, but they put themselves in a position to make judgments on the church, “This is the way the church should function. This is the way this is the way the overall culture of the Church of God should be.” And they're teaching this is what should happen within the church. And it's based on philosophical wisdom and not biblical instruction, and it's very dangerous, and it's very hard to recognize sometimes that it's actually a false teacher.

    00:13:57

    So, let's look at some of the false philosophies that are floating around. I'm not saying this is from any particular individual, but these are philosophies that are out there and they're philosophies that are going. Some have put themselves into a position of quote unquote superior intelligence and it's a theory, and it's a philosophy and basically ADVISING and putting themselves in a position of being a church auditor, basically, and going to ADVISE the WHAT the church should be doing. That's called division, that's called discord. One is NOT going through the church to do this – away from the church putting themselves in this position, and now this is what the church should be doing out of discontentment – so, something we must be aware of.

    But one of the philosophical ideas that are out there is that the church needs to learn to disagree, the church needs to learn to disagree. We need to WELCOME disagreements, be brutally honest, speak your opinion, welcome criticism. Is this what we should be doing as a church culture? Would this help create unity? In the name of unity, we all need to have more emotional intelligence, if you will, to handle disagreements, to handle to handle conflict, to PROMOTE disagreements. Is this what our focus should be? As members, is it going to help create unity? Is this the right philosophy that should be applied to the Church of God?

    First Corinthians 1 and verse 10. What is it that brings unity? Does God want us to explore our differences? “Let's all focus on our differences.” Or are we to be in agreement? What is it that creates unity in the church? First Corinthians 1 and verse 10. If we look hard enough, we can find where we don't agree on certain details, but shouldn't we focus on what we do agree, and focus on edifying, and focus on encouraging one another as was brought out in the sermonette? First Corinthians 1 and verse 10? Is it disagreement that brings unity or is it agreement? 1 Corinthians 1:10,

    “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be NO divisions among you, and that you be perfectly joined together in the SAME mind in the same judgment.”

    Teach as we've been taught. This was also brought out in the sermonette. God does not want divisions; God does not want there to be disagreements among the brethren. That doesn't mean that we all don't have different backgrounds, different ideas, different thoughts about certain subjects. If that was the case where we're all yellow pencils and we all are exactly the same, you know, it's just not the way it is. There are disagreements in particular areas, but if we're all to be in agreement in that way, we all walk alone, but we know that, “can two be together unless they are agreed?” We are to WALK in agreement. That's a part of what brings us to the truth in unity. There is ONE Spirit, ONE body of Christ. There is a unity, one Father, there is a oneness. And we are to speak the same thing in love, there (are to) be NO divisions. You know, even though this was not a doctrinal issue, as you can kind of continue on, the contentions among them, “I'm of Paul, I'm of Apollos,” there's an issue there, and it was a people issue. But the same point in this is, “I plead that you be an agreement.” There needs to be an agreement here. There should not be the contentions. Can two walk together unless agreed?

    As the body of Christ, we are not of the world, we are not of the world’s philosophies. There is a world philosophy out there which does say, you know, we are to kind of be everybody’s auditor and everybody needs to buck up buttercup, and, you know, listen to the tunes. But if you if you want honest opinion you need to hear honesty and I'm going to tell you all your faults and this is going to be honesty. If you don't WELCOME that then there's problem, you’re not going to really have unity as you want, and that's a worldly philosophy that's found in worldly workplaces, it's found in corporate America. This is the body of Christ. This is not corporate America. It does not function the same way. You don't take the handbook of Google or Amazon and try to apply that to he Church of God. We are to be in agreement, it's the spiritual matters, and Bill Gates is not the head of the church, it is Jesus Christ. It isn't to function as corporate America where, you know, everybody needs to have a little more, a little thicker skin. You know, yes, we are not to be easily offended, that is what love is, but we are also not to provoke. We are also not to seek our own. Let's go ahead and turn here, of course I didn't have this in my notes, but it is worth looking at. Because you can have knowledge, you can have a certain amount of knowledge and understanding, it's nothing if you don't have the right attitude behind it. 1 Corinthians 13:1, this is what love is. So, are we to disagree in love? Is that our focus?

    “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, if I have not love, I have become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy (there's knowledge), and understanding all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, if I have not love, I am nothing.” What's the point if we can't have love, and what is love?

    “And though I bestow all goods and feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love is (patient) suffers long.” You know, if the first time we hear, see something we don't like about somebody, maybe we should just go up quickly and tell him about it, “Hey, you got a problem here.”

    “It suffers long, it is kind; it does not envy; does not parade itself, it is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, it does not seek its own, is not provoked, it thinks no evil; does not rejoice in sin, but it rejoices in the truth; it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” We are to be patient with one another. Our aim is not to see where we can disagree in love. We are to be in agreement. Our focus is not to go at each other and to stir up contentions. Could you imagine if that was our focus, and this is what we have prodded to do every week? We should come in here and we look at each other and we start telling people where they're wrong. That would really build a lot of unity within the body of Christ, wouldn't it?

    The apostle Paul had something to say about this too. Colossians 2 and verse 4. Colossians 2:4.

    “Now this I say lest anyone should DECEIVE you with *persuasive* *words*. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I'm with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the STEADFASTNESS of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ROOTED and built up in him and established in the faith, as you have been taught (again from the beginning, they've been taught these things) abounding in it with thanksgiving.” You know, our approach should be with THANKSGIVING and a content heart, very thankful for what we've been given, that we have been set apart and called into the body of Christ. What a wonderful gift.

    “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men….” There's always been, from the very beginning, there's been philosophies, there's been man’s ideas of what will work, and we should be aware of that. There is a philosophy of the world that does say, you know, it's your due diligence to go after your brother and they should, they should uh, they should just be more willing to accept that. Is that, is that really emotional intelligence? And if we could all come to this certain emotional intelligence, then we would be able to disagree more in love and have more unity. Well, that's foolishness. We would not… you know, emotional intelligence that is something that is taught in the workplace, and we need God's Spirit working in us, we need that we don't need this physical self-help book, emotional intelligence, that…YES, it is a great tool, we should respond to each other in a positive way, we should have tolerance, but we need to bear the fruit of God's Spirit that is love, and joy, and peace. Peace, not being full of contention or disagreement.

    “For in him dwells all fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in him, who is the head over all principality and power.” So, don't let someone cheat you with philosophies. Be thankful. Be thankful. Who was it that wasn't UN thankful? Who was it that were discontent? Who was it that was critiquing Jesus Christ all the time? Nitpicking Jesus Christ, critiquing, who was it? Who was constantly challenging through philosophical debate? It was the Pharisees. They were some of the most argumentative debating, contentious, quarrelsome people mentioned in the Bible, and God referred to them as a brood of Vipers and of their father the devil.

    What does a servant of God look like? What is the mindset that God leaders are to have? Second Timothy 2 and verse 23. 2 Timothy 2:23, “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate STRIFE.” This is something we avoid. We don't generate strife; we don't look for disagreement. We look to be IN agreement. Where do we share the unity through God’s Spirit? And a servant of the Lord MUST NOT QUARREL, but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition…” I don't find… well, I won't go there, “If God perhaps will grant them repentance so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” Satan is very crafty. He wants God, people to disagree MORE, criticize MORE. Constructive criticism is… if that's… if there's a time and a place, you know, I do understand, there are the scriptures, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend,” as was also mentioned in the sermonette, basically, you know, that we will. But if you're talking about sin here, you're talking about there's a sin that is noticed and you go to your brother and you let him know, out of love, is it would be better to let him know, “Hey, you're getting close to the cliff!” As a friend, you know, you're going to let him know in that way where there is SIN involved. That is where we should go to our brother in that way. But we aren't too… it's not going to bring a healthy unity to look for where we are in disagreement. But he's crafty, you know, he wants us to disagree to get into POINTLESS disputes, idle babblings. Foolish and ignorant disputes is a tactic of Satan the devil.

    Philippians 2 and verse 2. Philippians 2:2 (reads verse 3), “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in loneliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” As when we come to church services, our goal and our aim is to lift each other up to edify. That's what edification means it is to build up; we’re to strengthen one another. We are looking to encourage one another. “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus….” We are to be of the same mind, the same mind, a lowliness of mind, encouraging one another. You know, *swift* *to* *hear,* slow to speak. We are to be slow to speak and swift to hear. God wants us to encourage one another, edify one another. That is what a friend is for. That is what friendship is about.

    What about iron sharpening iron? Aren't we to go after one another? “I need to sharpen my friend.” Isn't that what a friend is for? (Mocking) We need to hash out some disagreements, open criticism. We have this emotional intelligence because of it. We're really becoming better by doing this. What? “Iron sharpening iron.” Let's turn to Proverbs, I think it's 27. Proverbs 27 and verse 17. Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the COUNTENANCE of his friend.” It’s encouraging the countenance of a friend. And that's the other thing, they're already friends, they're in agreement, iron, sharpening, IRON. Not iron sharpening clay, not iron sharpening something else. It's talking about they're in agreement, they're the same, that we need to have that, there needs to be that unity. And that is what will sharpen one another, and build the friendships, and edify one another. Again, we do understand that “Open rebuke is better than love, carefully concealed,” there's a balance, but that is, we're talking about sin, we're talking about, we notice a sin and it's a friend and we go to them and let them know is better than love that is concealed. But it isn't talking about our, focus is to go after each other and to sharpen one another, that our due diligence is to stir up disagreement, discontentment, discord. Playing devil's advocate, we've heard that before, there's always the flip of the coin. You know, you can say something: this water is half empty, you know, “Oh, I think it's half full.” OK, so that really accomplishes a lot, you know. We can be a devil's advocate. Who wants to be a devil's advocate? Doesn't sound like that's a good friend. It's called contention. In the Church of God, he has called us to be in agreement so we can be of the same mind so we can build each other up so we can speak the same things and love. We are to edify one another.

    I think we're all thinking about Larry Williamson and, I too, you know, didn't get with Mr. Anderson before, and we didn't talk about we were speaking on, but I thought about friendship with Larry Williamson. He was a good friend. When I think about the friendship that I had with him, I think about at services, you know, you come with him, you talk to him, and you walk away edified, you walked away encouraged. He would share stories of faith and how God's word was true in his life. And those words of encouragement, you know, he used God's word as a way to edify, to build up. He would offer advice, but it was how it worked in his life. And I remember, you know, there are certain things I’d talk to him about he said, you know, “This is what I would do; this is how it helped me in my life,” and it was really edifying. He used God's word to edify, to encourage, to build up. He esteemed others better than himself. He was a friend. You know, he did not… he was not one that sparked debate or dug up disagreements, he was not one that did that. He was very… he had a strong foundation, he was strong in the faith, and he sharpened the countenance. I would go over there wanting to talk to him and encourage him and I'd walk away encouraged. That was Larry Williamson. His focus, you heard it all the time, his focus was the Kingdom of God; it was always pointing to the Kingdom of God. You would talk to him about things, and it was when God's Kingdom comes it's going to be like this. He was focused on that future. He wasn't focused on the here and now. But we want to use God's word as a tool to edify one another, to encourage one another.

    Proverbs 13 and verse 12, you know, thinking about, you know, iron sharpening iron in agreement of the same mind as a friendship there, that's a part of that unity that's already there, which builds on the friendship. Proverbs 13 and verse 20. Proverbs 13:20. “He who walks with the wise man will be wise (you know, your wise? Walk with the wise), but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” We don't want to associate with foolish discussion, quarrels, foolish debate. What does it bring about; what's the fruit of it? That's not the sharpening that will help. It's not going to sharpen our countenance. Now, there's a safety, as we see here, a safety of being with the wise. We want to be in agreement from the beginning.

    Proverbs 11:14, “Without wise leadership, a nation is in trouble, but with good counselors their safety.” We want to associate where there is safety. There's not safety with wrong philosophies and self-proclaimed teachers.

    There is a philosophy out there that, you know, in judging the church, they've kind of taken a step back, put themselves in a position to judge and say, “We don't like the way the Church of God is doing dot-dot-dot, and as a result we are going to get it done ourselves.” Is this wisdom that is of meekness [that it’s] talking about in James? Is that a meekness and a wisdom that started with meekness? And there's also a philosophy you need everyone else’s opinion. Everybody has an opinion and that has to be… there needs to be an open opinion, everybody's opinion is needed. What if a family worked like this? “OK kids, we're gonna go out to eat today. What do you want? Every opinion matters. What do you want to eat?? Pizza! Hamburger. Tacos. Say, “OK, we're gonna do Italian.” Now you have a car load full of very happy content. Individuals, don't you? “I'm glad I got everybody's opinion. Thank you for sharing. Now we're going to Olive Garden.” Should we get everybody's opinion on everything? Is not being honest, you know, as the Church of God, not being honest unless you get everybody's opinion? You're not, you know, not gonna have the right unity unless everybody’s opinion is involved.

    Romans 12 and verse 9. Romans 12:9, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another, not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind with one another (we are to be in agreement). Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be WISE in your own opinion.

    Not every opinion matters – just the way it is, and we should not be, you know, love does not seek its own. If we have an opinion, again, slow to speak, quick to hear. This is what God's word tells us. So, if there's other teachings out there saying otherwise, and this is the way the Church of God should function, we should disregard that opinion. That opinion is only an opinion. Are we to prove all things? So is opinions, is welcoming everybody opinion – open opinion; everybody needs us put in their opinion – is that the way we should prove all things? If we don't do that, we're not proving all things. Is that what it is talking about in proving all things? When you look at the context of proving all things and testing the spirit it is basically before you even acknowledge someone's opinion you're testing, “Is it true?” Now, of course we study God's word, and we prove all things, Mr. Armstrong always said, uh, you know, “Don't believe me, believe the Bible.” And that goes both ways: if somebody is out there preaching a philosophy that the church should have, don't just take their word for it, prove it in the Bible, what does the Bible say? We have to test the spirits.

    First Thessalonians 5 and verse 12. 1 Thessalonians 5:12, “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly. Well, this is advice for brethren; this is vice for you and I. “Now we exhort you, brethren warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourself and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecy. Test all things; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from evil.”

    There is a testing of what is good and what is evil; what is of the spirit and what is not. And we are told in a variety of scripture what God’s Spirit, and the fruit of God’s Spirit looks like, and it's not the promotion of contention, discord, disagreement. We must test the spirit.

    James, three and verse 13. James 3:13, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” So the action, you know, if someone is to take it upon themselves, build their own platform and say, “I'm going to judge the church. I'm a self-proclaimed teacher,” is that done in the meekness of wisdom? “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but it is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.”

    It's very clear. Those actions that we are to acknowledge as wisdom or not. There are certain actions that we must reject. If someone has stepped aside and said, “I'm going to be a chief auditor of the Church of God, and this is what the Church of God needs to do. This is what the members need to do,” I would be very aware. If someone is saying, “Be critical, speak up! Let your opinion be known. Don't keep quiet, form your own opinion. Every voice needs to be heard. Learn to disagree in love,” that's not of God. This promotes foolishness. Satan is very crafty, and he is going to welcome disagreements, criticism, debate, contention in the name of philosophy.

    Proverbs 29 and verse 22. Proverbs 29 and verse 22. What type of individual stirs up strife, stirs up contention, stirs up conflict? Proverbs 29:22, “An angry man stirs up strife and a furious man abounds in transgression.” An angry man doesn't have to just be outwardly angry in all his speech and actions. He can have a pinned up, frustration and anger, that's deep inside. And this willingness to divide; a willingness to stir up disunity, one can come across very charming – nice outwardly – but they're stirring up conflict as it says, it is a man of sin, it’s a man of anger and full of sin.

    The Bible is very clear in how we should. Be towards one another. Philippians 2 and verse 14. Philippians 2:14. “Do ALL things (so this doesn't leave anything out), do ALL things without complaining and disputing, that you become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in whom you shine as lights in the world….” Everything without complaining, and other translations say without complaining, without arguments.

    Titus, three and verse one. And Paul is giving instruction to Titus on how he should admonish the church himself. And he was to warn the church, Titus 3:1,

    “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey (you know, be willing to yield to the authorities that God is put in place), be ready for every good work and to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior towards men appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing and regeneration of the renewing of God’s Spirit, of the Holy Spirit.” You know, God has given us his Spirit so we can be peaceable, so we can have and share in the same love, not deceived, “Whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by his grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”

    Second Corinthians 11 and verse one, 2 Corinthians 11:1,

    “Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly – and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” So here is this example of future bride of Christ, and God is a jealous God, and there's a jealousy there. But what is it that is going to provoke God? “But I fear lest somehow as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you have received a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted – you may well put up with it!”

    False ideas; deceptions. Christ is looking for a bride that is going to be in disagreement with him or agreement with him? Is he looking for a bride that is going to criticize MORE, always object? Is that what Christ is looking for from the church?

    What is the closest friendship that you can have in this life, as was also mentioned in the sermonette? Our spouses, a physical relationship with our spouses. Should we be in disagreement all the time, so we look for fights? Should we look for disagreement? Would that be a very positive thing in a marriage?

    What does God want? Now, First Timothy 3 and verse 3, and we have some advice towards a spouse, towards a wife, and you think if this parallels a wife and husband relationship in the physical, what is Christ looking for with the church, with the spiritual Church? What will it be like? And also, to think about here too, you know, this does not just to apply, this this attitude, only applied to a wife. You know, a husband needs to also adhere as well, (so) we don't want to be contentious as well.

    First Timothy 3 and verse 3. (I'm in Thessalonians, excuse me, that didn't look right). 1 Timothy 3:3, qualifications of an overseer here, and goes into the detail, “Not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence….” I had the wrong verse here, so I apologize. OK, here we go. (I Timothy 3:11), “Likewise, (and talking about qualifications of deacon) likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all issues….” And I'm looking for a different verse, but I don't have it in front of me, so I apologize, but it is basically, you know, a contentious wife, that's not what God desires in a wife.

    Titus, two and verse one. We can turn there. Again, I apologize, I did not have this in my notes, “But As for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound, in faith, love and patience. The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, or given too much wine, teachers of good things – that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”

    But there are other scriptures in talking about, you know, not being a quarrelsome or contentious wife, you know, but a husband is not to be contentious towards their spouse either. It's not going to edify, it's not going to encourage one another. You know, “Hey, would you mind buying some towels for the bathroom?” And they buy towels, they go to the store, go shopping, “But you didn't get my favorite color, take ‘em back!” You know,

    “I made you this dinner, I hope you like it.” “Well, I didn't know you hated me this bad, why would you do that? I don't like this stuff. Take it back!”

    You know, “I think the fastest route would be this way, this is what the GPS says, maybe we can do that.” “Ahh, I know it's going to be bad; I'll do my own way.” Everything, you know, it could be, you could drive somebody INSANE. At every step of the way there's a contentious, or there's something on the flip side, “Well, we need to look at this and over analyze it. You know. Now, we apply this within a physical relationship in marriage, but what is it that God is looking for from his future BRIDE the Church of God? Is it always, you know, my opinion matters the most all the time, and my voice needs to be heard?

    As we conclude, I'd like to just give one final thought, and, you know, if we accept these damaging philosophies and we don't acknowledge what God's word says, not only will we have more strife among ourselves and our relationships; not only will we not have unity, but we’ll also and it will lead to rejecting Christ’s supreme authority. It will lead to quarreling, debating, criticizing and putting themselves in a position to judge the church, which is led, and the head is, Jesus Christ. So (if) we ever get to a point where we think, “I can do it better, and I'm not going to wait around for anybody else. I don't (basically you're saying) I don't trust God. I don't trust the Christ. I'm going to fix it myself,” then we should reconsider.

    Remember Job, he did not understand what was going on when he was facing, you know, the trial beyond any comprehension. He did not understand, but he got to a point, he didn't understand it, and so he wanted to debate with God. “I'm ready to debate you and your intent, and I'm ready to quarrel. You don't know what's going on. You don't have it right, and I question you.” And then God responds to Job with 72 questions of his own, that he has no answer for. God’s thoughts are above our thoughts, his ways are above our ways and we have to remember that. Job 40 to conclude. God’s intelligence is the supreme intelligence. Job 14 verse one, Job 40:1,

    “Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said (you know, this is after he's already asked him quite a few questions), ‘Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.’ Then Job answered the Lord and said: ‘Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer you? (‘I have no answer,’ he was seeing himself clearly. ‘I should not have tried to debate with you. I should not have, uh, I should not have done this’). Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.’” And then God challenges him more and goes on with more questions.

    Drop down to verse 42 [sic], and Job responds again after those 72 questions. (Job 42:1), “Then Job answered the Lord and said: ‘I know that you can do everything, and that no purpose of yours can be withheld from you. You asked, “who is this, who hides counsel without knowledge?” Therefore I have uttered what I do not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I do not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

    And at that point God poured out the blessings on Job. Job contended, he wanted to quarrel, he wanted to debate. He disagreed and he went after God; he questioned him. And God helped him to see that his thoughts are much higher than Job's.

    There have been many arguments, debates, philosophical ideas out there that have attacked the Church of God over the years. Gnosticism, whatever it may be, you go back, there's always a philosophy, there's always an idea. There's always a, “We can do it better ourselves.” But maybe before one takes the time to introduce criticisms, opinions, quarrels, debate, criticism towards the Church of God, they should first answer those questions that God questioned Job with. And until one has those answered, maybe they should stop questioning, themselves. Job repented, Job responded, and God blessed. Until we can answer those questions, maybe we should do the same and be quick to hear and slow to speak.

    Monday, June 14, 2021

    UCG Apparently Does Not Believe Their European Members Know How To Lead


     

    Where would the Church of God be if it weren't for its American leaders telling the rest of the world how to worship God and be leaders in their churches? Apparently, they are still a little too backward to do things correctly so the Americans have to come to the rescue.

    Mind you, this is the United Church of God, the epitome of bad leadership, that is telling the European brethren how to do things. This is the very same group of guys who in direct rebellion against the Worldwide Church of God and its leadership, conspired and planned their church while on the WCG payroll. They meticulously planned out how to take members and their money with them so that they, the dear leaders, could keep their income stream and their lifestyle of privilege intact when they jumped ship. Mailing lists and church supplies were taken with them, another violation of ethical leadership. Yet, UCG sees itself as the best leaders the church has ever had.

    Here is what they are boasting about in the latest United News

    Germany—On Dec. 22- 25, 2020, UCG-Germany conducted a leadership training seminar for 37 brethren from the German-speaking and Dutch-speaking regions via Zoom. The presenters were Gary Petty, Steve Myers, Peter Eddington and Gary Antion.

    The need for training is essential and the time to develop leadership in congregations is now. Over the course of four evenings, presenters provided training sessions lasting 30-45 minutes. Participants were divided up into discussion groups. Each session closed with a short Q&A session.

    The first presenter, Gary Petty, began with his presentation: “To the Measure of the Stature of the Fullness of Christ.” We are all given the commission to help prepare God’s people for works of service so the Body of Christ may be built up, and we can grow in unity and maturity. Everybody can contribute in the Church.

    Christians have always understood that the Great Commission of the church is to  "make disciples of all nations" and to "baptize". This is a concept known across Christendom. UCG departure from that commission is subtle, While it is important for followers of Christ to do good works, care for each there and grow in maturity, that is NOT the Great Commission of the church. These are the byproducts of what happens to people who have been touched by the grace of God.

    Steve Myers discussed fellowship. The Greek word for fellowship is koinonia, which involves actively doing God’s will and accomplishing the God-given purpose of the Church individually and collectively. We are called to an all-in, united mission in the fellowship of the King Jesus Christ. As Dutch member Ronald Djikman put it, “You can’t eat soup with one finger. But five fingers can form a bowl” (Suriname proverb).

    When church members understand the concepts of grace and justification, they would be joyful participants in the earthy reign of Christ, presently in their lives. They live their lives to the fullest, worshipping their God, sharing the grace they have received from God with others, and resting securely in their justification. It's an automatic willful and joyful sharing of the bounty of God's love. Not something that they have to be told how to do over and over again, but, because Jesus is always on the back burner, evening in liberal UCG, church members do not really know their purpose, which in cidently is NOT to become god's.

    Peter Eddington provided insight into the challenges of preaching the gospel in today’s media landscape. Christianity is facing an uphill battle against secularism, atheism and other negative “isms.” In the Church of God, the battle is even more pronounced because the message we bring is at times unpopular. We have a divine, scriptural commission to preach the good news of God’s Kingdom to as many people as we are able. 

    COG groups all still try and model Herbert Armstrong's methods of preaching to the world whether it be in video/radio form or in print. It is 2021 and they still cannot seem to connect to the world around them. Their greatest gift to spreading a gospel lies directly in their members and NOT in some self-important presenter on some cable channel that no one really watches. It is the members that can draw people in by truly living as grace-filled individuals who are SECURE in their hope of a better world to come. Their trust in that should be so amazing that they are overwhelmed to share it now in the world around them, with their neighbors, their communities, and all they come in touch with. Helping that kingdom break worth in the world today, one person at a time should be their ministry. The church does not need its evangelists, its ministers, its TV/radio presenters, or any of the false prophets parading around the church today.

    The last evening concluded with Gary Antion’s presentation, titled “Leaders Are Needed.” 
     
    Leaders lead with love, enthusiasm and alertness. They delegate, evaluate and respect. A leader must lead and cannot stand behind. It is important to be alert to the needs of others. A leader is willing to enlist others to help. Leaders must respect those they serve and whom they are responsible for.

    Leaders are certainly needed in the church and church members should NOT look to the present ordained ministry to be leading them. They have failed abysmally due to their previous conduct in the Worldwide Church of God, their duplicity in forming their own church money-stream, and their current lack of leadership skills. 

    The Body of Christ has always been its people and not its leaders. It is the members who are to be the ones spreading the Good News because they know their lives have been richly touched by God and they want to share that. Sadly, COG members have never been taught that and have always been told to submit to the chain of command of those over them. Government is the only true gospel of the Church of God, not Christ.

    No COG member needs a Vic Kubik, Dave Pack, Bob Thiel, Gerald Flurry, Gerald Weston, Clyde Kilough, or any other so-called minister/leader/chief overseer telling them what to believe and how to act. Church members grounded in their standing with Christ do not need to be told how to lead and when to do it. It is automatic.

    Let COG members be so excited about their faith that the Kingdom of God breaks forth in the world NOW in one person at a time.


     

    Sunday, June 13, 2021

    Fake COG Prophet Continues To Be So Self-absorbed That He Thinks People Are Going to "Deep Fake" Him


     

    It is a beautiful sunny day here in California and the fake prophet of the Five Cities area is melting down again over people refusing to see that he is a real prophet of god. He continues to be angry that we mock him and ridicule him and have absolutely no respect for his ministry, his office, and his self-appointed prophethood status.

    This really concerns him when it comes to his African followers. Given the fact that they have an extremely high predisposition to jump ship from Sabbath-keeping group to Sabbath-keeping group whenever they perceive heresy is involved or they see a more lucrative money, computer, or seed supplier in their future, Prophet Bob is always one step away from losing thousands of members.

    Of course, he blames this all on the "devil" working in the minds of bitter angry people intent on mocking him and his so-called ministry. That is always the easy way out for COG leaders when they have no substance to their accusations or even to their ministries.

    The Great Bwana to Africa and Savior of 299 Caucasians is also still concerned that demon-possessed people will make "deep fakes" of him and make him say things he never actually said. Seriously dude, get over yourself!

    Lies and Deepfakes

    Jesus taught that God’s prophets would be reviled and spoken evil of. He also warned that the devil was a liar that worked to take the word of God away from those who heard it. The Apostle Paul warned that “evil men and seducers would wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13, KJV). He also warned that letters purported from him with false messages were an issue. COG leader Serapion of Antioch denounced a gospel falsely attributed to the Apostle Peter as pseudepigrapha. With the internet, lies can spread faster than before. With technology, like artificial intelligence, can we expect to see deepfakes that will make it look like Christian leaders say or do things that they did not? Do you, “prove all things” so you will not fall from the coming increased deceit? Will YOU hold fast to that which is good or be one who “loves and practices a lie’? Dr. Thiel refers to aspects of modern technology and various scriptures to warn Christians to not be misled by what is coming.