Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web of Corrupt Leaders

Saturday, September 4, 2021

Jon Brisby of Church of God, The Eternal On The Most Important Problem Facing The Church Today!

Jon Brisby

John Brisby, the leader of the Church of God, The Eternal has laid down the law on men with beards. Gerald Flurry was immediately disfellowshipped as a church leader because of his joke of a goatee...snark....

First impressions of this are, WTH is that on his face?

From a reader:

Here we are again visiting some of the most spiritually important problems facing the Church of God today, your beards.

Jon Brisby, when fawning over his own well-groomed beard that he wore years ago, had this to say about unkept beards. From “Just what do you mean the Faith Once Delivered?” #41 at 1:02:56 to 1:03:51 dated 8-21-2021.

“So what do I mean by well groomed? Okay, there’s beards, and then there is other beards. Again, the difference in the way you choose to wear your beard is definitely making a different statement by who you associate with. Ya know, are you trying to look like some outlaw biker? And to what extent is your choice in a beard giving that impression to people who don’t know you? Is that a Christian image? Why did you choose to have a long scraggly beard If you do? I mean again, re-assess this. First impressions do matter. Take it into consideration.”

This excerpt was just one of many in a long line of listed ways church members must look to be acceptable in their church and in the world to set a good example. 

Comment by blog owner:

The longest-running thread on this blog and the one filled with the most comments is about Jon Brisby and the Church of God, the Eternal. COGE was the brainchild of Raymond Cole. After his death Jon Brisby took the reigns and he imagines himself as the most glorious man alive. Fast cars, flashy clothing, and overblown vanity are his calling cards. He and Bob Thiel have obviously been comparing notes. Bisby is just as weird as Bob Thiel in the outrageous claims "biblical" teachings he expounds. If you thought the teachings of Bob Thiel and Dave Pack are weird, Brisby is their long-lostbrother.

Church of God, The Eternal's Jon Brisby Sinks To A New Vile Low

Jon Brisby Says There Is An Enduring Legacy of Herbert and Loma Armstrong

Does The Feast Of Tabernacles Describe The Millennium As The COG Teaches?







In Pagan Holidays – or God’s Holy Days – Which? Herbert Armstrong wrote about the symbolism of the Feast of Tabernacles: “This festival is the picture of the Millennium!” Unfortunately, when Armstrong decided that Christians were obligated to observe the festivals outlined in the Pentateuch for the Israelites, he was not careful to follow scriptural hints regarding the deeper spiritual implications/meanings of the days. Since his death, a great many folks have challenged his understandings about the symbolism involved in some of the other holy days. Even so, Armstrong’s teachings about the meaning of the FOT still enjoy widespread acceptance within the Armstrong Churches of God culture.

The problem with Mr. Armstrong’s understanding of this feast was his slavish devotion to the notion that they pictured a progression of events within God’s plans for humankind. Hence, although he recognized the significance of the spring and fall harvests relative to these festivals, he failed to integrate that understanding with other scriptures related to both the symbolic meanings of certain rituals and the events themselves. “How can that be?” his devoted followers will demand.

In the booklet referenced at the beginning of this post, Armstrong wrote: “To portray His plan, God took the yearly material harvest seasons in ancient Israel as the picture of the spiritual harvest of souls. In the Holy Land there are two annual harvests. The first is the spring grain harvest. Second comes the main harvest. Notice that the Festival of Tabernacles is to be held ‘at the year's end’ (Ex. 34:22). In this verse the Festival of Tabernacles or Booths is specifically called the ‘feast of ingathering.’ The harvest year ended at the beginning of autumn. Just as Pentecost pictures the early harvest — this church age, so the Festival of Ingatherings or Tabernacles pictures the fall harvest — the great harvest of souls in the Millennium!”

The problem with this teaching is that it doesn’t agree with what is revealed about the timing of this great harvest of souls which is elaborated on in the book of Revelation! In the twentieth chapter of that book, we read: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.” – Revelation 20:4-5 Notice here that the first resurrection is clearly associated with the millennium. Continuing, we read: “And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison…And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” – Revelation 20:7-13 Hence, we can clearly see that this great harvest of souls takes place AFTER the millennium, and AFTER Satan and his minions have been dealt with once and for all!

Moreover, Herbert Armstrong completely ignored the profound symbolism surrounding this festival which is recorded in the oft quoted twenty-third chapter of Leviticus, and which is further elaborated on quite extensively in the New Testament! I know that these arguments will have zero impact on the folks who have willingly swallowed the Armstrong Kool-Aid, but it is my hope that serious students of the Bible who are willing to take a second look might be persuaded by what is clearly revealed in Scripture regarding the symbolism of this festival.

In the book of Leviticus, we read: “Remember that this seven-day festival to the Lord – the Festival of Shelters – begins on the fifteenth day of the month, after you have harvested all the produce of the land…On the first day gather branches from magnificent trees – palm fronds, boughs from leafy trees, and willows that grow by the streams…For seven days you must live outside in little shelters. All native-born Israelites must live in shelters. This will remind each new generation of Israelites that I made their ancestors live in shelters when I rescued them from the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’” (Leviticus 23:39-43, New Living Translation –here and throughout the rest of this article, unless otherwise noted)

Scripture indicates that the Israelites were told to live in temporary shelters each year for eight days so that they would not forget that they had lived in tents after leaving Egypt and before reaching the Promised Land. In the book of Hebrews, we read: “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to LEAVE HOME (emphasis mine here and throughout) and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, HE LIVED THERE BY FAITH – for he was like a foreigner living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.” (Hebrews 11:8-10) In short, Abraham and his descendants were looking forward to a better and more permanent home.

A little further, we read: “All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. THEY AGREED THAT THEY WERE FOREIGNERS AND NOMADS HERE ON EARTH. Obviously, people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:13-16) Do we begin to see the connection to our own circumstances as Christians?

Like the Israelites of old, God has called us out of Egypt (this sinful society) and has led us out into the wilderness. (John 6:44) We are different and peculiar compared to the people around us. (I Peter 2:9) Like the Israelites, we are heirs of the promises made to Abraham. (Galatians 3:29) Finally, we are also like the Israelites in the sense that we too are looking for a Promised Land (the Kingdom of God). Like the patriarchs of old, we are truly strangers and pilgrims on the earth as it now exists – the one deceived and influenced by Satan the devil.

There is, however, another meaning to this symbolism that is less general and more personal. Although it is unpleasant to contemplate, each one of us has an appointment with death. (Hebrews 9:27) Somewhere in the back of our minds, all of us understand that this life that we are currently enjoying is temporary – it will not last forever (we are subject to time and chance). Paul once told the saints at Corinth, “that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.” (I Corinthians 15:50) He went on to tell them that “our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.” (I Corinthians 15:53)

Sometime later, Paul wrote another letter to the Corinthians. He told them that the light of Christ was shining in their hearts, but he described that treasure as residing in fragile clay jars. (II Corinthians 4:7) He talked about how Christians must face many trials and perils because of their association with Jesus Christ, but that this had resulted in them having the hope of eternal life. (II Corinthians 4:8-15) He continued: “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small AND WON’T LAST VERY LONG. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” (II Corinthians 4:16-18)

In other words, Paul understood that Christians are currently living in temporary shelters (human bodies), and that they are looking forward to the time when they will be living in a permanent home (spiritual bodies). In his second letter to the saints at Corinth, we read: “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.” (II Corinthians 5:1-4, KJV)

Peter also understood this concept. In addressing the saints toward the close of his ministry, he wanted to remind them about the truths which he had previously conveyed to them. He wrote: “Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.” (II Peter 1:13-14, KJV) Peter understood that this life is not permanent, and that he was going to die. He also knew that his present body could not inherit the Kingdom of God, and that he would have to shed that body and receive a new one in the resurrection.

As strangers and pilgrims in this world, Christians are looking to exchange a temporary home for a more permanent one (one that God has provided for us). Hence, for us, this is an important component of the symbolism of this Old Testament Festival.

And, finally, perhaps the most important component of this symbolism has to do with our relationship with Christ and Almighty God – the fact that Christ tabernacled with us in the past and will do so again someday with the Father! We read in the Gospel According to John that the “Word was made flesh and dwelt <tabernacled> among us.” – John 1:14, KJV Then, at the conclusion of all things, we are told in the book of Revelation: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” - Revelation 21:1-3 I don’t know about you, but I think that this symbolism beats Armstrong’s teachings on the subject by a mile!

By Lonnie Hendrix





Friday, September 3, 2021

Doug Winnail On Fall Holy Days


 

It's almost Feast of Tabernacles time in COGland and members are eager to head off to numerous superspreader events around the country or world.

What if LCG actually kept the Feast of Booth's as it should be kept, as the Jewish people do. The COG anglicized American version of the Feast no more resembles what should be happening than it does 1st century Christianity practices. 

If you are going to turn it into a Christianized week-long block party then wouldn't it be great if at every single service LCG members got to hear about Jesus? Imagine that! Instead, they will be subjected to one butt-numbing sermon after another on keeping the law or sermons on some Old Testament hero. God forbid of Jesus was mentioned.

Fall Holy Days: In the weeks ahead, we will be reminded of the culminating events in God’s Great Plan of Salvation for all human beings. These Holy Days reveal how God will put an end to deception and suffering by sending Jesus Christ to banish Satan and set up the Kingdom of God on earth, where the saints will reign for one thousand years and eventually all who have ever lived will have a chance to learn the true purpose and way of life (see Revelation 20). Although Satan has blinded the world to the meaning of the Holy Days, we need to remember that Jesus told His disciples, “blessed are your eyes for they see... because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given” (Matthew 13:16, 11). As we observe the coming Holy Days, let’s rejoice and be deeply grateful for the incredible privilege we have been given to understand these “great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:2-4).
Have a profitable Sabbath and Fall Holy Day season, Douglas S. Winnail

LCG Demands That Parents Keep Their Little Hellions Under Control At The Feast

It is hard to imagine that this is still something that the Charlotte Boys still think they need to control, but apparently, parents are so inept in taking care of their children that the Charlotte Boys still need to lay down the law, just like they do when they tell women how to dress at the Feast. Wouldn't it be great for just one year to not have any mansplaining going on?

 

Children and the Feast

Blessing of the Little Children: It is the practice of the Living Church of God to have the Blessing of the Little Children at the Feast. This practice follows the example of Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:13; Mark 10:13). When parents of small children came to Him and asked Him to bless their children, He did not forbid them. If you have small children (“babes in arms” whom you can pick up for this special blessing), listen for announcements from your Festival Site Coordinator to find out which day the Blessing of the Little Children will take place. If you have any questions, please contact your Festival Coordinator.

Caring For—and Watching—Our Children at the Feast: Parents, please remember that children are not permitted to run or engage in horseplay before, during, or after services at the Feast. Children playing on the stage or near speakers and microphones can damage expensive equipment. Children darting in and out among fellowshipping brethren can be a trip hazard. For the elderly, this can be dangerous, even life-threatening.


Children Must Be Supervised: Parents should always be vigilant when it comes to their children at the Feast. Parents have full responsibility for their children at the Feast of Tabernacles, including at services. Although precautions are taken and there are activities for children, the Church meeting or event is not a childcare facility. The Church does not take responsibility for the care of children at Church meetings or events. Their absolute safety cannot be guaranteed. The ultimate responsibility for the care of children always remains with parents or guardians. Please ensure that the conduct of your children and young people is adequately supervised throughout their attendance, and that your children are fully under your control. Parents should be aware of where their children (including their teens) are, and not allow small children to wander around unsupervised.

 

Children Sitting with Parents: Experience has shown that children and teenagers pay better attention and therefore learn more from the messages when sitting with a parent than when sitting elsewhere with a group of other young people. Therefore, it is the policy of the Church to have children and teens sit with their parents during services. An exception may be where an individual child or teen may sit with a friend’s parents and family. Obviously, a teen attending whose parents are not also in attendance would be exempt.

LCG Preparing For A Feast Like No Other. Will They Take The Interests Of Others To Heart For Once?




Greetings from Charlotte, 
 
Numerous countries around the world are locking down as a result of the rapid spread of the Delta and other COVID variants, making Festival planning very difficult as governments and venues impose restrictions. Mr. Rob Tyler wrote, “Much of the region is now quite affected by lockdowns and restrictions. It’s a real mess in many countries.” Mr. Paul Shumway wrote regarding Trinidad, “We were praying and expecting the government in Trinidad to lift restrictions before the Feast to allow live Church meetings for our 160 members. Unfortunately, this has not happened. Most of the members stayed in ‘temporary’ housing last year and are planning to do the same this year. Surprisingly, I heard more comments from Trinidad last year that it was ‘the best Feast ever’ than I’ve heard in a long while!” He went on to report that in Barbados there is a 25-person limit for churches and a 90-minute limit to services. “One of the biggest challenges is dealing with the uncertainty. The landscape is constantly changing and in a number of cases, it is impossible to make definite plans. This does encourage remaining flexible and looking more to God for His guidance and direction. A real faith builder!” This is once again a very challenging year for our Festival planners, especially those in our international areas. Those of us who are able to attend in person should be thankful when we consider the lockdowns many of our brethren around the world face. As we approach these special days, let us take time to review and meditate on Philippians 2:3–8.—Gerald Weston



Philippians 2:3–8 

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that wasa in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

7 but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

8 he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death—

even death on a cross.

If LCG and other COG's actually took this verse to heart then they would cancel this year's Feast of Tabernacles. God certainly is not going to be upset if they do. Instead of looking after their own interests (huge amounts of offering money rolling in at the Feast), isn't it about time they looked after their members? With LCG's aging membership which is comprised of people highly susceptible to the ravages of the pandemic, wouldn't this year be the ideal time to let go and be merciful to their followers? God isn't going to put a black mark in some mysterious book because they canceled the Feast this year.



Thursday, September 2, 2021

False Authority: Why Sheldon Monson Has No Right to Give a Sermon on Covid or Why Jesus Should be Your Vaccine

 




Aside from the fact that Monson isn't even an expert in his field of theology, the man has no credible background in epidemiology, biology or the theory of disease transmission.  He only has opinions that he can then toggle to age old scriptures on faith in God for healing which were about all the options one had back in the day when the gods were about as much medical help as one was going to get. 



Sheldon Monson is a False Authority, on the topic of whether or not one should take or reject the vaccine for Covid because God will protect them.  He won't. And while decisions do belong to each individual, you'd at lest think "you shall love your neighbor as yourself" might come into play somewhere in their thinking.  It generally doesn't in the more rabid pastor types in the splinters I know and alumni.  

This article will focus on the conditional logical fallacy of argument from authority or false authority. It is also known as an appeal to authority, appeal to false authority, and argumentum ad verecundiam (see note 1). In scientific discussions, this logical fallacy is often used by those opposed to the scientific consensus.



https://www.skepticalraptor.com/skepticalraptorblog.php/logical-fallacies/argument-from-authority-logical-fallacies/

Description of the argument from authority

Generally, the argument from authority or false authority,  is an argument from an authority, but on a topic outside of the particular authority’s expertise or on a topic on which the authority is not disinterested (i.e., is biased). The argument is considered conditionally fallacious, because an appeal to authority may be appropriate. 

In order for the argument from authority to be considered a logical fallacy, the argument must appeal to the authority because of their qualifications, and not because of their evidence in the argument. Moreover, the argument can be fallacious if the authority lacks actual qualifications in the field being discussed.

In discussions about vaccines, the anti-vaccine side will often promote individuals who appear to have appropriate credentials, such as an MD, as advocates for their beliefs. However, if this MD rejects the obvious scientific consensus on vaccines, without an equivalent amount  of evidence, then it is considered a fallacy.

It’s the argument and evidence that matters, not the credentials of the arguer. Wikipedia has an interesting policy called “Ignore all credentials.” Their reasoning is that the only thing that matters in creating a neutral point of view (which values reliable evidence over opinions and arguments) are credible citations that support a statement.

A climate change denier may attempt to convince us that because 100 PhDs reject the theory of anthropogenic climate change, without presenting any high quality contradictory evidence, then it’s a fallacy of argument from authority. If many of those PhDs are outside of the fields of climate change, it’s  an argument from false authorities.

And remember, lacking credentials of an authority do not necessarily negate the arguments from that person. If their arguments are founded on robust evidence, that’s all that matters.

What is not an argument from authority?

As we mentioned, this is a conditional fallacy, so an argument from an authority may not be a logical fallacy, and, in fact, may be an appropriate argument. For example, one may be a published and highly respect expert in a field, their arguments can be acceptable, and it’s not a logical fallacy.

These authority figures have extensive work in the field that actually form the body of evidence in support of an argument. The reason we accept their authority is that their works (almost always published and peer-reviewed) of authorities, no matter how eminent or influential, is always judged by the quality of their evidence and reasoning, not by their authority alone.

Example

Dr. Tetyana Obukhanych has a Ph.D. in immunology and has a few publications in the field of immunology. She has been used by the anti-vaccine world as an authority about vaccines. However, her statements about vaccines lack any supportive scientific evidence, and they reject some of the basic principles of immunology. She has no experience in any of the important areas vaccine research, has never personally researched vaccines, so, despite her credentials, she is a false authority.

=================================================

Perhaps the Facebook Covid  Medical Misinformation Policy would help on The Churches of God avoid straying outside their chosen field of all things God. They should adopt them for their upcoming Feast of Coughs and Sniffles.   Several COG ministerial  and homeopathic types have had their posts removed under these guidelines and ,of course, scream "persecution!"

 

COVID-19 medical misinformation policy

The safety of our creators, viewers, and partners is our highest priority. We look to each of you to help us protect this unique and vibrant community. It’s important you understand our Community Guidelines, and the role they play in our shared responsibility to keep YouTube safe. Take the time to carefully read the policy below. You can also check out this page for a full list of our guidelines.

YouTube doesn't allow content about COVID-19 that poses a serious risk of egregious harm. 

YouTube doesn't allow content that spreads medical misinformation that contradicts local health authorities’ or the World Health Organization’s (WHO) medical information about COVID-19. This is limited to content that contradicts WHO or local health authorities’ guidance on:

  • Treatment 
  • Prevention
  • Diagnosis
  • Transmission
  • Social distancing and self isolation guidelines
  • The existence of COVID-19

Note: YouTube’s policies on COVID-19 are subject to change in response to changes to global or local health authorities’ guidance on the virus. This policy was published on May 20, 2020. 

What this policy means for you

If you're posting content

Don’t post content on YouTube if it includes any of the following:

Treatment misinformation: 

  • Content that encourages the use of home remedies, prayer, or rituals in place of medical treatment such as  consulting a doctor or going to the hospital
  • Content that claims that there’s a guaranteed cure for COVID-19
  • Content that recommends use of Ivermectin or Hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19
  • Claims that Hydroxychloroquine is an effective treatment for COVID-19
  • Categorical claims that Ivermectin is an effective treatment for COVID-19 
  • Other content that discourages people from consulting a medical professional or seeking medical advice

Prevention misinformation: Content that promotes prevention methods that contradict local health authorities or WHO.

  • Claims that there is a guaranteed prevention method for COVID-19
    • Claims that any medication or vaccination is a guaranteed prevention method for COVID-19
  • Content that recommends use of Ivermectin or Hydroxychloroquine for the prevention of COVID-19
  • Claims that wearing a mask is dangerous or causes negative physical health effects
  • Claims that masks do not play a role in preventing the contraction or transmission of COVID-19
  • Claims about COVID-19 vaccinations that contradict expert consensus from local health authorities or WHO
    • Claims that an approved COVID-19 vaccine will cause death, infertility, miscarriage, autism, or contraction of other infectious diseases
    • Claims that an approved COVID-19 vaccine will contain substances that are not on the vaccine ingredient list, such as biological matter from fetuses (e.g. fetal tissue, fetal cell lines) or animal products
    • Claims that an approved COVID-19 vaccine will contain substances or devices meant to track or identify those who’ve received it
    • Claims that COVID-19 vaccines will make people who receive them magnetic
    • Claims that an approved COVID-19 vaccine will alter a person’s genetic makeup
    • Claims that COVID-19 vaccines do not reduce risk of contracting COVID-19
    • Claims that any vaccine causes contraction of COVID-19
    • Claims that a specific population will be required (by any entity except for a government) to take part in vaccine trials or receive the vaccine first
    • Content that promotes the use of unapproved or homemade COVID-19 vaccines
    • Instructions to counterfeit vaccine certificates, or offers of sale for such documents

Diagnostic misinformation: Content that promotes diagnostic methods that contradict local health authorities or WHO.

  • Claims that approved COVID-19 tests are dangerous or causes negative physical health effects
  • Claims that approved COVID-19 tests cannot diagnose COVID-19

Transmission misinformation: Content that promotes transmission information that contradicts local health authorities or WHO.

  • Content that claims that COVID-19 is not caused by a viral infection
  • Content that claims COVID-19 is not contagious
  • Content that claims that COVID-19 cannot spread in certain climates or geographies
  • Content that claims that any group or individual has immunity to the virus or cannot transmit the virus

Social distancing and self isolation misinformation: Content that disputes the efficacy of local health authorities’ or WHO's guidance on physical distancing or self-isolation measures to reduce transmission of COVID-19.

Content that denies the existence of COVID-19:

  • Denial that COVID-19 exists 
  • Claims that people have not died or gotten sick from COVID-19
  • Claims that the virus no longer exists or that the pandemic is over
  • Claims that the symptoms, death rates, or contagiousness of COVID-19 are less severe or equally as severe as the common cold or seasonal flu
  • Claims that the symptoms of COVID-19 are never severe

Examples

Here are some examples of content that’s not allowed on YouTube:

  • Denial that COVID-19 exists
  • Claims that people have not died from COVID-19
  • Claims that any vaccine is a guaranteed prevention method for COVID-19
  • Claims that a specific treatment or medicine is a guaranteed cure for COVID-19
  • Claims that hydroxychloroquine saves people from COVID-19
  • Promotion of MMS (Miracle Mineral Solution) for the treatment of COVID-19
  • Claims that certain people have immunity to COVID-19 due to their race or nationality
  • Encouraging taking home remedies instead of getting medical treatment when sick
  • Discouraging people from consulting a medical professional if they’re sick
  • Content that claims that holding your breath can be used as a diagnostic test for COVID-19
  • Videos alleging that if you avoid Asian food, you won’t get the coronavirus
  • Videos alleging that setting off fireworks can clean the air of the virus and will prevent the spread of the virus
  • Claims that COVID-19 is caused by radiation from 5G networks
  • Videos alleging that the COVID-19 test is the cause of the virus
  • Claims that countries with hot climates will not experience the spread of the virus
  • Videos alleging that social distancing and self-isolation are not effective in reducing the spread of the virus
  • Claims that wearing a mask causes oxygen levels to drop to dangerous levels
  • Claims that masks cause lung cancer or brain damage
  • Claims that wearing a mask gives you COVID-19
  • Claims that the COVID-19 vaccine will kill people who receive it
  • Claims that the COVID-19 vaccine will be used as a means of population reduction
  • Videos claiming that the COVID-19 vaccine will contain fetal tissue
  • Claims that the flu vaccine causes contraction of COVID-19
  • Claims that COVID-19 vaccines are not effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19
  • Claims that the COVID-19 vaccine causes contraction of other infectious diseases or makes people more vulnerable to contraction of other infectious diseases
  • Claims that the COVID-19 vaccines contain a microchip or tracking device
  • Claims that achieving herd immunity through natural infection is safer than vaccinating the population
  • Claims that COVID-19 never causes serious symptoms or hospitalization
  • Claims that the death rate from the seasonal flu is higher than the death rate of COVID-19
  • Claims that people are immune to the virus based on their race
  • Claims that children cannot or do not contract COVID-19
  • Claims that there have not been cases or deaths in countries where cases or deaths have been confirmed by local health authorities or the WHO

Educational, documentary, scientific or artistic content

We may allow content that violates the misinformation policies noted on this page if that content includes additional context in the video, audio, title, or description. This is not a free pass to promote misinformation. Additional context may include countervailing views from local health authorities or medical experts. We may also make exceptions if the purpose of the content is to condemn, dispute, or satirize misinformation that violates our policies. We may also make exceptions for content showing an open public forum, like a protest or public hearing, provided the content does not aim to promote misinformation that violates our policies. 

What happens if content violates this policy

If your content violates this policy, we’ll remove the content and send you an email to let you know. If this is your first time violating our Community Guidelines, you’ll likely get a warning with no penalty to your channel. If it’s not, we may issue a strike against your channel. If you get 3 strikes within 90 days, your channel will be terminated. You can learn more about our strikes system here.

We may terminate your channel or account for repeated violations of the Community Guidelines or Terms of Service. We may also terminate your channel or account after a single case of severe abuse, or when the channel is dedicated to a policy violation. You can learn more about channel or account terminations here.

 

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Satan Attacks Sheldon Monson, Causes Youtube To Ban Him


 

This will surely set off the Great Bwana to Africa who claims he is the one preaching the truth and will soon be banned from Youtube and elsewhere. 

It looks like Sheldon Monson beat him to it. Youtube has deleted his latest sermon on vaccines.

Monson, who had COVID earlier in the year and spent 5 days in the hospital with double pneumonia is an outspoken critic of the vaccines. He also claims he was healed of stage 4 cancer and therefore imagines in his mind that he would never die from COVID or cancer. After all, he has the best COG ever doing the best work the church has ever seen. It is certainly a reality that he is doing better than the Living Church of God and the improperly named "continuing" Church of God.

COG News is reporting:

Sheldon Monson writes 27th August 2021: 
 
“Last week’s sermon on Will We Place Our Faith in a Vaccine or in God? was pulled from YouTube within an hour of posting the edited version. YouTube gave us a Red Flag citing that it violates their medical misinformation policy. If we post content that “encourages the use of home remedies, prayer, or rituals in place of medical treatment such as consulting a doctor or going to the hospital”, the video will be banned and you will receive a red flag. If we receive another red flag, YouTube will ban us from streaming for at least one week. We’ve known that this day would come, and have been preparing a back-up plan. Going forward we will begin including a link to LIVE stream on a platform called Twitch. It is a gaming platform, so it will look and feel a bit different, but most importantly we will not have a disruption in the regular streaming weekly LIVE services.” 
 
He comments at the 28 minute mark that he had been healed of stage 4 cancer, and in January this year he was at home with Covid-19 for 10 days, then spent 5 days in hospital with double pneumonia, but he never thought that he would die.

Best Feast Ever! Are Ya Sure You Want To Do This?


 



Feast Coordinator:  Pastor Dr Covid Delta Gamma





"The Last Great Day" 

"Lets all take up our hymnals and turn to page 66 and sing 'Death shall them seize and to the tomb alive they shall go down!' '

Smile Brethren!

And please remember before you leave for home,  we have plenty of Church/YOU Fundraising Hoodies, we know at least half of you will want,  still available for those long cold winter nights ahead 












UPDATED: Dave Pack Humiliated Again: Another Logic-Challenged Dave Pack Video Exposed

 


Updated: part of the original post was missing below

Submitted by Michael:

YouTube critic Paulogia has done another episode on breaking down the nonsense of a David C. Pack (DCP) video, as usual with research and well-done graphics behind it.

Most here will probably agree that Dave is one doozy of a blowhard, charlatan, and tyrant, even bordering on if not psychotic, but here Paulogia is only dealing with the logical non-sequiturs and sloppy arguments in one particular DCP video.

Some notable time points:

 

at 1:16, DCP states:

"Any true god would never leave his creation - mankind - in doubt about whether he exists"

 

This is quite the statement from Pack, and I wonder whether he realizes that he's making an argument *against* his own position here? Since it's an undeniable fact that agnostics/atheists exist (we must all agree that they exist, whether or not one agrees with their position), there is clearly a portion of mankind that is at least "in doubt about whether he exists". And Pack is arguing that no true god would ever allow this situation to occur. (What conclusion does that suggest, Dave?)

at 7:00, DCP makes the following shocking statement:

"Now think hard, who is more intelligent, God who made perfect food, or men who find every possible way to alter and degrade it before consuming it?"

 

As Paulogia notes, the very foods shown in DCP's own video are decidedly *not* foods as "created by God", but were bred and artificially selected by generations of humans to be more palatable and convenient (bananas, apples, avocados, etc.). The original versions of these were almost inedible, or at least not as pleasurable and nutritious as their current forms.

 

And altering foods is often the only possible way to consume them. For example, try to eat rice or wheat off the plant without considerable processing and cooking. The statement by DCP simply makes no logical or practical sense.

Not a logical fallacy, but just had to chuckle at this at 22:50:

"I have *personally* seen a photograph of [Lucy's] supposed skeleton...."  

As if viewing a photograph (probably on the internet) somehow gives DCP extra credence? Honestly, I thought he was going to say something like he had personally seen Lucy's bones at the National Museum of Ethiopia, but no, not even that lol, just "I have personally seen a photograph", as have hundreds of millions of other people on this planet. What was the point, really, of that boast?

Those interested can view the video if desired, but WCGers, in particular, will appreciate how DCP ends his videos:

"Until next time this is David C. Pack saying: Goodbye friends",

Which is funny, because it never ceases to amaze how some of the splinters feel they have to emulate HWA in every single facet, yes, even in using the exact wording to sign off lol. Even down to using the middle initial, as "Herbert W. Armstrong" used to do. That is one sign of those in a cult, wanting to emulate their cult hero in every form possible.

All in all, DCP drags out old, poorly researched points, most quoted from popular books that have been critiqued and debunked in the past ad nauseum.

Incidentally, the original DCP video has a sizable 623,000 views, what's up with that? And RCG site has 193,000 subscribers? This seems awfully fishy for a splinter which can't possibly have more than 10K members if that many.

Here is the first article we did on this series by Paulogia if you missed it: 

Dave Pack Gets Annihilated In New Video Examining His "Does God Exist?" Video


Monday, August 30, 2021

Bob Thiel Gives "A Few Tips on Ending Your Financial Worries

Well, actually HWA's "Tips" being too lazy, unwilling, or unable to express it himself evidently.  I also don't recall HWA offering to end my financial worries with mere "tips".  

Not taking the "tips" had real consequences as I recall for both member and minister



 

A few tips on ending your financial worries


Ending Your
FINANCIAL WORRIES
by Herbert W. Armstrong
©Copyright 1959 
 
What Most People Don’t Know 

There is something you probably don’t know about your income. If there is anything people are jealous of, it is the money they earn. They usually work hard for it. And they want full freedom in deciding for themselves what they do with it. 
 
People say: “What I earn is MINE — I can do what I please with it!”

But is the money you earn really your own? Don’t be too sure. Notice these FACTS about your income you probably haven’t known!

What you earn is not yours!

The man who says, “What I do with the money I earn with my own labor is nobody’s business — I produced it — it belongs to me,” is mistaken. 
 
What you earn, by work performed or investments made is not yours — not any of it — that is, not UNTIL …! 
 
And here is what most people don’t know about their income! 
 
There are two prior claims on your income. One, of course, is taxes. 
 
Human governments, by virtue of MAN-made laws, are able forcibly to extract from your incomes not one tenth, but an average of over ONE QUARTER, a vast amount of which is mis-spent. Jesus said we are to pay taxes — render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s — be subject to the powers that be. Governments, therefore, have exercised a PRIOR right to one quarter of your income — and in the case of salary or wages, governments take it out BEFORE YOU get your pay. 
 
But the first claim is GOD’S claim. You probably never realized this fact before — but it is a fact. God Almighty the living CREATOR-RULER of the universe claims it all — every dollar — every pound — every franc — every mark. Your Maker who gives you the very air you breathe tells you it all belongs to Him, not to you!  
 
But didn’t you earn it? Didn’t YOU produce it? 
 
Not exactly! Everything produced — money, and all that money can buy — comes out of the earth. You didn’t produce that! God created that. You merely applied certain energy in physical action and in thinking to what God had created and owned. And God created even that energy you expended — He created your thinking processes. He not only created, originally, but He sustains what He created, including all force and energy."...

Therefore GOD HAS A RIGHT to take, or dispose of what you regard as your income AS HE WILLS. He OWNS it. It is not yours, it is HIS!

So God, the rightful OWNER of your income, has MADE A LAW respecting its disposal and its use. By virtue of being Creator and Sustainer of the earth and all in it, God is supreme RULER and LAWGIVER...

God takes only ONE tenth. And after you have been honest in PAYING God’s tenth to God’s chosen representative, then — AND NOT UNTIL THEN — God has decreed that the other NINE tenths becomes legally YOURS!

THAT’S GOD’S LAW(Note:  Hey wait!  I thought it was just a "Tip"?) Not a penny of what you earn, or a penny’s worth of the value of what you produce, is YOURS — it ALL belongs to God to do with as HE directs. But God has legally directed that after you have honestly paid Him the one little, small tenth He requires for His use, then the other NINE tenths He gives to YOU. Then, and not until then, you can rightfully claim OWNERSHIP over that nine tenths. Then and thereafter it is YOURS to do with as YOU decide.

When we get our thinking straight — when we get UNDERSTANDING — when we stop to realize HOW MUCH of what we have was provided by GOD — then we realize how LOVING, how GENEROUS, how solicitous for our welfare God is.

Thanks for the tips!
 Any "tips" on upcoming Holyday Offerings?



Sunday, August 29, 2021

Crackpot Fake COG Prophet Tells Others To Not Be Deceived By Other Crackpot False COG Prophets In The Church

One thing the perfect restoration of 1st-century Christianity that so many COG's believe they are today is that it has proven to be the most unbelievably screwed up era in the history of the COG movement. Never has the church been filled with so many self-appointed apostles, prophets, visionaries, and channelers of dreams than what we have today. Herbert Armstrong had no idea what his rebellion against the COG7 would accomplish in the long run. That spirit of rebellion entered the church from the onset and has been wreaking havoc ever since. Each and every one of these beta-men claims they are the most incredible prophet the church has ever seen. Each of them has the answer to everything and everyone else is wrong.

This all brings us once more to the world's foremost sought-after historian and theologian. No COG prophet has ever been this intelligent in the history of the church. No COG prophet has ever been more accurate than this man, though being a beta-man, he is too afraid to make a definitive statement on anything but yet still expects us to believe his prophetic mental verbosity. 

Today our great savior of Africa and end time Amos, Elijah, Elisha, Joshua, and the only doubly-blessed prophet of God in human history is back telling us that the end is not here (at least not for 3 or more years) and that Satan is so angry with him that there are malcontents out there that are imitating him and his greatness. So be warned, you could be deceived by other COG false prophets trying to be like him, Bob Thiel, the epitome of prophethood greatness!

The Great Bwana of Africa and 299 Caucasians writes: 

Many have been influenced by political matters to believe that the end (meaning the Great Tribulation) is going to happen within the next 2-3 years. It will not. 
 
Furthermore, consider that Jesus taught:

5 Take heed that no one deceives you. 6 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many. 7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:5-8) 
 
While many events are aligning with biblical prophecies, the end is not yet. 

It is always fun to watch COG prophets quote Jesus with the above scriptures. This is one of the few times they quote the guy and it is always to warn others about liars and false prophets in the church, NEVER that they themselves are the very people Jesus is speaking out against!

Some are caught up with political and other changes which influence them tell others that the end is sooner than it is or that certain political policies are more important than they are in the overall light of God’s plan. 

Or that weather and natural disasters are God's punishment for sinful humanity. Which is always a sure sign of the end times.

The Bible teaches:

12 Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’ Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. (Isaiah 8:12) 
 
It is not that Satan is not conspiring, but understanding certain ‘conspiracies’ is simply not relevant for Christians. 
 
While prophetic events are going on, there is still time before the end, and there still are false prophets.

In the Church of God, everyone is always a false prophet in charge of a competing splinter group, but NEVER, NEVER, is it the person doing the badmouthing.

The Great Bwana then goes on to claim:

We in the Continuing Church of God strive to always rely on the Bible for our prophetic understandings and teachings. Because of that:

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. (2 Peter 1:19, KJV) 
 
We have been correct on what we have actually taught on prophetic matters.

What a steaming pile of prophetic bullcrap! The only prophetic understanding the improperly named "continuing" Church of God proclaims is the mental shenanigans of Bob Thiel's delusional mind. God has no more sent dreams to Bob than he has to Dave Pack. No one and I repeat NO ONE should ever believe Bob Thiel's beta-man prophecies.

So what has stirred Bob up this time that he needs to make these statements? Apparently, someone is circulating a video that many think comes from him. Though in Bob's mind "many" is most likely one or two people.

Bwana Bob warns that people should beware of videos not produced by his mindboggling world headquarters located in a dingy storefront in the Five Cities area of central CA.

 
 
Well, yesterday someone not part of CCOG asked me if a video that one or more CCOG members were promoting/circulating was produced by us. I responded that it was not from the CCOG. But this person had thought that it may have.

Please be careful about tying CCOG in with emails and videos that you might send that we have not produced here in the Five Cities Region of California, which is where our world headquarters is located. Also, be careful about speculations–they should be identified as such. 

Bwana Bob is concerned about the speculations of others yet every single thing he says is pure speculation. From prophecy to bible interpretations, nothing he says is backed up by scripture, news stories, or prophetic visions. NOTHING!  

Sadly, in this day and age in the Church of God, we are witnesses to some of the biggest liars the church has ever had in its midst. More false prophets exist in the Church of God today than there has been since HWA started it.