More words of wisdom from the big boss of Living Church of God:
Don’t Let Satan Distract You
Dear brethren, let us never forget whose world this is. The old hymn “This Is My Father’s World” may sound good on the surface, but it is a deception—with a bit of truth to disguise the lie. Yes, God did create our world “of rocks and trees, of skies and seas.” But this hymn also subtly implies that God is the current ruler of this world. We know that God the Father and Jesus the Christ are all-powerful and rule over Satan, but they established Lucifer’s throne on earth in the distant past and will allow him to remain on it until a future time (Isaiah 14:13). On the night when He was betrayed, Jesus reminded His disciples that this evil spirit being is still the ruler of this age (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Paul also reminds us that this being is the “god” of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2). God even gave us a Holy Day devoted to the fact that the Devil is real and must be removed from power upon Christ’s return (Leviticus 23:26–32; Revelation 20:1–3).
Some Church members are tempted to try to change Satan’s world now. But while we are certainly called to “shine our light” as Christians—being honest, caring, and polite; being good neighbors; setting righteous examples; and doing good works when we have the opportunity—it is notappropriate for God’s people to advocate or vote for a human savior or to march and demonstrate for one worldly cause or another. Our responsibility is to proclaim to this world the better way of life that will come with the Kingdom of God, and to warn mankind of what will surely happen to those who do not turn in a different direction. Only when Christ returns will we have the opportunity and the power to change the world! That must always be our focus.
Satan is a master of distraction. He cares little which distraction you fall for—only that you get your mind off the great commission to which you are called (Matthew 28:18–20; Mark 16:15–16). Remember, when God explained to Ezekiel that He was setting him as a watchman for the house of Israel, He made it abundantly clear that this was a serious matter—he would be held accountable (Ezekiel 3:17–21). As we know, the house of Israel had gone into captivity more than a century earlier. The commission was for a future Work to carry Ezekiel’s message: Repent of your sins or go into captivity!
May we not become distracted by rumors, conspiracies, or divisive worldly issues. We have a great Work to do!
Having grown up with all the classic mainstream hymns, WCG went out of their way to ruin "This is My Father's World" noted in the above post. The program of WCG would quickly insert the concept of Satan being the God of this world thus implying that this was really the Father in the hymn. Insane and pathetic reasoning.
ReplyDeleteThe words of the hymn are:
This Is My Father’s World
This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world, the birds their carols raise
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father's world. O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world: why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!
This is my Father's world: He shines in all that's fair
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass
He speaks to me everywhere.
Pretty damn Satanic huh?
You boys understand we aren't supposed to change this world but wait for a better version of it to come. God’s Kingdom will replace all human governments and rule over the entire earth. God might be mad at you for trying to change Satans world and make the evil last longer so just wait like you are instructed to.
ReplyDeleteAnon 5:55, you said rightly.
DeleteActually a pretty good article by whoever put it out. Agree with what was said by the song 'This is My Father's World'. Have thought the same thing for quite some time. Swerves off into the wrong teaching about how they are the Ezekiel watchman again, however.
ReplyDeleteGod will use Jesus to undo the evil that Satan has done. Empowered by God, Jesus will destroy Satan. (Romans 16:20) Then, God will rule mankind and restore the human race to the life of happiness and peace he originally intended.—Read Revelation 21:3-5.
ReplyDeleteNo Dennis it's holy because Mr. Armstrong God's end-time apostle said so!
ReplyDeleteFlurry is missing the boat, bigtime. Other Christian groups speak of "Having a positive influence on the prevailing culture", or "Taking the Valley (or city) for Christ". Certain Jews believe that God deliberately gave us a broken world and the responsibility to improve, or repair it.
ReplyDeleteI believe the whole attitude of withdrawing springs from the realization that a small group with membership only in the four, five, or six figures csn't really exert much influence towards change, so Armstrongites insulate themselves in a cocoon. It is a defeatist attitude, whereas Jesus did battle with Satan and vanquished him, setting a very positive example of what His followers can achieve. The thing is, you've got to make a beginning at some point, and grow it from there.
In terms of evangelism, people generally want to feel that they are a part of something bigger than themselves. Who would be attracted to some group that just wants to hide out and not do anything to resolve problems? Isn't hiding out like burying your talents?
If God were the ruler of this world, would there be so much suffering? That's because he is not Satan is!
ReplyDeleteJesus, the Ruler of God’s Kingdom, is called the “Prince of Peace,” and he will ensure that “to peace there will be no end.”—Isaiah 9:6, 7.
ReplyDeleteWeston/Winnail/all of LCG are well known for mangling Holy Scripture - and - misunderstanding Protestant beliefs.
ReplyDeleteWeston wrote:
The old hymn “This Is My Father’s World” may sound good on the surface, but it is a deception—with a bit of truth to disguise the lie.
In Genesis 1:31, God looked at the universe he created and called it very good - but it's all bad, bad, bad to Weston.
I'm often overwhelmed by the beauty of the creation - even the human part - and when I am, I often exclaim this verse:
Isaiah 6:3
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
COGs believe this is only a future proclamation because they see are blind to the beauty of the current Kingdom of God.
Gerald mixes the great commission with Ezekiel's message with a future Work. Let's sort this out. The great commission was never given to Gerald. Ezekiel's message was for his time. Jerusalem and all of the nation of Judah had not yet been taken captive. However Ezekiel's message was written down for our instruction but LCG claiming they have a great commissioned work to do (translation: we need your money), including as Ezekiel watchmen, has no merit.
ReplyDeleteLet's just put it this way. Flurry (and all the other usual suspects) are like a kid strumming the chords on his new guitar to Patty Smith's "Horses". Suddenly the kid accidentally taps the volume control to the bridge pickup and it switches into the home position which energizes both the coils on the humbucker, and he freaks out on the sudden depth of power that he didn't realize was there! If Flurry and the ACOGs ever really discover Jesus and His true significance and power, they're going to be totally blown away by what they never realized was there! And they won't be making any more stupid statements about it being Satan's world, because they'll know better.
ReplyDeleteThe leaders of your splinters have deceived you with half-truths only one has the full truth.
ReplyDeleteWorld War3 as described in the book of Revelation is not far off. A warning message of repentance in order to avoid this coming disaster is just common sense.
ReplyDeleteThe holy spirit has confirmed to me that America will be militarily attacked and enslaved. Yeah, yeah, I can't prove it.
James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
ReplyDelete16: And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Am I my brothers keeper? Are you?
Anon 6:13 You said, "If God were the ruler of this world, would there be so much suffering? That's because he is not Satan is!"
ReplyDeleteJust thinking here, but if I used that same logic, couldn't the question also be, "If Satan were the ruler of this world, would there be so much happiness?" Because there are many that are happy or have times of happiness, joy, etc.
Acts 17:24 states that God is Lord of heaven and earth.
When it says Satan is the god of this world, I believe that means the principalities and evil propensities. Does he rule any of us that resist him? no, he flees. And, yet, here we are living in this world, but not under his rule I assume...
Yep, 4:06, looks like it's party time! Herbie and the ACOGs have always cast great doubt on whether or not we'll be counted worthy to escape any way. May as well have a good time while we still can!
ReplyDeleteSTAY OUT of the LCG and you WON’T be distracted!! ALL they do is LAY THE **SAME**FOUNDATION over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again!!
ReplyDeletePRAY, PAY AND STAY!!
PRAY, PAY AND STAY!!
PRAY PAY AND STAY!!
PRAY, PAY AND STAY!!
DO NOT HAVE AN OPINION, THINK FOR YOURSELF OR CRITICIZE THE SO CALLED MINISTERS!! PRAY, PAY, AND STAY!! It is a VICIOUS CIRCLE OF INSANITY!!