There have been several reports over the years about the Philadelphia Church of God telling members to not own smartphones. Even the younger people at Herbert Armstrong College are not supposed to have them unless of course, you are a child of one of the elite leaders (Turgeon) and all of them have smartphones.
In spite of all of this idiocy, the PCG sure loves to use all of the current social media platforms to spread their fake gospel message around on.
March 30, 2021
Smartphones were forbidden to be used by those on campus last year (read November 19, 2020 letter: “PCG Ruling Says No Smartphones Allowed“). It was January 24, 2020 when Andrew Locher gave a sermon about “Technology Use” where he said using smart devices will “destroy our teenagers.” That was the time G. Flurry put in place policies that would eliminate Smartphones on campus to “set the example for the brethren,” even though some did not obey that policy at the time.
The February 21, 2020 phone policy update said full time ministers were “expected to switch from their Smartphones to a future phone.” However, if some needed a Smartphone for their business, that was okay. G. Flurry “approved” the use of i-pads if you needed one. Then the April 2020 Pastor General’s Report reiterated again that the cell phone policy for ministers was that ministers should not be using Smartphones unless they were required to use one for their business. There were no exceptions for this policy. Minister’s wives were likewise expected to make the transition away from Smartphones.
Not all members have been following this policy because this subject about Smartphones was brought up again at the recent PCG Ministerial Conference when Stephen Flurry gave a lecture. He talked about what he called “the signs of warning and danger” for the congregation if they used Smartphones. One of the warning signs he said was “too much technology.”
Wayne Turgeon on day two of the conference gave a lecture on “Materialism” [Note by ESN: Why then did Turgeon in a 2021 sermon refer to all the materialism, riches and luxuries at HQs as “perks and fringe benefits” for being the few first fruits on this earth?] and said, “Materialism [not Charles Darwin] is the father of evolution and what we call human nature is really Satan’s nature. [Note by ESN: Human nature is that which makes us distinctly human] … People change a little at a time in the direction of the masses as they are influenced a little at a time.” This sounded to me exactly how PCG members change a little at a time as they are influenced by the leader’s mind control.
I know several members in PCG who all have Smartphones. But if G. Flurry continues his crack down, the day could come when we’ll see them with a flip phone again. It’s ridiculous to what lengths PCG will go to in order to keep members from finding out the truth about PCG. I know GF is also worried about someone recording their sermons with these Smartphones.
Members have been told that if they want to overcome they must hear what God (i. e., PCG government) is saying about this.
Members, however, are still using Smartphones. –[name withheld] Gerald Flurry Cracks Down On Smartphone Usage By Ministers and Church Members
16 comments:
A rule that I use, NEVER let anyone in the ministry know your business! I do NOT tell anybody in church what I own or even what I do in my private life. People in the church tend to pry in others personal space, but I distance myself from those busy bodies.
There are laws against things which are inherently bad, like theft, assault and battery, drunk driving, arson, rape, and murder. And then there are arbitrary laws making things that are actually good illegal just because some authority figure says they are.
I wonder if Flurry's goons ever demand a member's smart phone to examine the search histories, phone log. or texts. I bet a lot of the teenagers secretly have burners.
I wonder if Flurry's goons ever demand a member's smart phone to examine the search histories, phone log. or texts.
That's why you put a password on your phone. So, if the Flurry goon demands to see your phone, give it to him... but give him the wrong password. Depending on how you handle it, he might erase all your data, or he might get stalled after each successive failed attempt. On an iPhone, for example, it takes longer than 3 hours to make 10 failed attempts at unlocking your phone.
Remember, TELL the minister your password. But tell him the wrong one. Let him think it's his careless fingers that are screwing things up.
This points to why a blog such as this exists.
To expose the draconian measures a organisation posing as a church will take to control its membership through fear and intimidation to ensure its cashflow stays constant over time to the benefit of a few.
Banning smartphones is simply damage control and hinders the membership’s ability to access information that stands contrary to church doctrine and by default suppresses revolt.
Stalin, Kim Ill Sung, Pol Pot and Mao would recognise the fundamentals of what is occurring here.
I have no doubt that Flurry, Pack, Thiel and co, if they had the power would be the equals of the villains mentioned above.
Their very actions betray them.
My dad has gotten rid of his phone because of their "suggestions" which aren't really suggestions at all. He's gotten an old Nokia to replace his old one.
My bible says to not add or take away from Gods word. I see no mention of smartphones being condemned in the bible. This policy is in line with contemporary Christianity with its business model of mentally shrinking their members, keeping them in a child like state, and mentally chaining them to their group via various abusive cult ploys.
Treating their members as responsible adults is loathsome to these groups.
I'm surprised PCG isn't telling people, "You would pay at least $40/month for a smartphone. When you get a $3/month flip phone, you should give God's Church the $37/month you save."
What I do is call out their bullshit and expose them by commenting on their social media channels, tag them on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc., so that other people, members and non-members, can see and therefore be at least exposed to the truth about them being a cult. If we all do the same we can prevent people from joining them or give their members a chance to think and eventually leave. Let's walk the talk. If we have the time to comment here, we can do the same on their social media, let the world know who and what they really are. Start now.
Flurry should go back to using MY SPACE!
Flurry an his henchmen are the equivalent of Stalin, Beria & Yehzov. They are horrible and false shepherds
They lay grevious burdens on the backs of the members while being hypocrites living in the lap of luxury.
This smartphone policy started when the kids at imperial where using their smart phones inappropriately and where involved in messaging each other. They can’t control their own children so decided to make this a church wide policy. The kids involved where minister kids, one from canada and a few others. Texting about things that where totally way out there and yet they boast about their kids .
I am sure that the kids are resourceful, and were very much able to continue communicating amongst themselves. That's always been the case. Back in the day, we used to get caught writing notes to each other during church services, and of course that was reported to the ministers, and the notes turned in. Funny thing is, nobody considered everybody giving up their pens and pencils and paper, because they were used for taking sermon notes. The smart phones have much more helpful purposes that people are being deprived of, just on a whimsical desire for control. Some of the larger Christian churches are utilizing them very effectively, having their own apps and such. It just goes to showmthat if you concentrate on the good, good things will happen. If you focus on the one or two negatives and ban something, all of the benefits which could make you stronger are lost.
Ludicrous idea from an old man completely out of touch. It is laughable to ban smartphones when most official communication in the Western world is done by instant communication.
Some of the most naughty kids/teens I’ve ever met were in the PCG. And parents would
Just let you do what ever with them and not care, cause they were church kids lol. I tell you what, the kids I hung with at school, weren’t half as bad and came from healthier families for the most part.
Agreed!
They are essentially saying that their members are too stupid to use them appropriately.
It’s just insane that people put up with this! God doesn’t want people controlled by other people. You should be able to use your devices appropriately, smart phone, TV, computer, iPads, books and magazines YOU chose to read. These should all be your decision to make the correct choice!!
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