One thing Church of God leaders has done is honed their skills on mocking the faith of others outside the little circle of Armstrongism/Church of God.
God's greatest prophet in the entire history of the church, who was set apart by God before the foundations of the world was set in place so he could emerge in the end times, had a conniption today over the observance of the Orthodox Christians as they celebrate Holy Saturday before Orthodox Easter, tomorrow.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem today; thousands in attendance at the Holy Fire ceremony pic.twitter.com/MoHyT27Sqd
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) April 23, 2022
Whether you believe the story of the fire or not, Orthodox Christianity has a fascinating history that is richer and more authentic than any of the drivel we were spoon-fed in the church. Orthodox Christianity in the Eastern Church is more similar to what the original church believed than any of the crap we see today in the improperly named "continuing" Church of "god".
The Great Bwana believes this to be a Satanic conspiracy:
By currently believing in “holy fire” many Orthodox are unknowingly setting themselves up to accept the signs and lying wonders that the Bible warns about. The acceptance of signs and lying wonders over the truth of the Bible is part of Satan’s Plan. All, including the non-Orthodox, need to understand that signs and wonders are NOT of themselves proof that something is of God, including the annual ritual of “holy fire.”
The Chief Overseer of his Africa members concludes:
Anyway, God HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDING HOLY FIRE ON THESE ORTHODOX ANNUAL SATURDAYS. Those who believe that He did are deceived. Partially, because of that deception, they accept a compromised religion that IS NOT “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
The great prophet mocks their faith in divine occurrences they believe in while he expects us to believe his lies about his own "divine" double blessing" and holy dreams by mentally disturbed individuals, including himself. If there is a Satanic conspiracy meant to deceive believers then Bob Thiel is at the top of the list.
Of course, even if you are not Eastern Orthodox, you need to consider whether or not you believe and practice the original faith that is laid out in the Bible (see Continuing History of the Church of God), and even if you somewhat do, if you are supporting the truest Christian church.
Truest Christian Church?????? Seriously? Everything about the improperly named "continuing" Church of "god" makes a mockery of genuine Christians down through the centuries. Bob is such a pathetic little man.
15 comments:
Given all of the problems associated with the theology and administration of the Armstrong Churches of God - the old saying about folks who live in glass houses comes to mind!
"...Orthodox Christianity has a fascinating history that is richer and more authentic than any of the drivel we were spoon-fed in the church."
Well that is absolutely untrue, but I guess that's your story and you're sticking to it.
Truest Christian Church??????
Those who make such grandiose claims are the ones who set the criteria. This was pointed out in Ralph Orr's paper on HWA and BI: HWA set the criteria by which he would select the "True Church" but was he qualified to do so?
In my early days of interest in the RCG (Radio, not Restored) there were criteria which appeared to support them as the True Church. Then Mormons came along with different criteria that made LDS appear to be the True Church. And then there was the friend at school who was an ardent SDA who had their criteria...
On the first Pentecost, God added 3,000 members to the church and saw to it that they received the Word in their own languages and found a place in the newly enlarged body of believers.
If just 3,000 Eastern Orthodox contacted Bob tomorrow and asked to be baptized into his church, Alexander Veljic would have a heart attack and CCOG would not be able to handle the new influx of believers. It would have to become another African situation, where Eastern Orthodox CCOG members were really loyal to their local leader and only that leader interacted with Bob.
However, since the Eastern Orthodox do not currently need laptops or seeds, they are unlikely to ask to join Bob's "church".
THIEL WRITES:
"God HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDING HOLY FIRE ON THESE ORTHODOX ANNUAL SATURDAYS. Those who believe that He did are deceived."
MY RESPONSE:
God did not provide Thiel with an ordination to the Title of "PROPHET" , when Gaylyn Bonjour anointed him for a small malady. Thus who is Thiel to be judging ANYBODY about their acknowledgments of the manifestations of God?
Remember that it was Rome, not the Eastern Orthodox, that added the spurious "Filioque" clause to its version of the Nicene Creed, which entirely changed the doctrinal implications of the unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We can argue as to which side was correct. But we cannot dispute the fact that by making the change, the Roman Catholic Church took a step away from the more ancient teaching of the universal Church. It is the Eastern Orthodox who remain closer to the early Church, and the Roman church that deliberately apostatized from the earlier teaching.
I believe Armstrongists need to re-examine their claim to being the "true church." I think anyone who is attracted to Armstrongism should want them to explain, as a point of validation as a Christian denomination, why their beliefs have such a close affinity to Cerinthian Gnosticism and Ebionism. For me, the similarity to these two groups is a little too close for comfort. Both groups are thought to have originated in the Judaizing movement within the Jerusalem Church. Both groups believed it was necessary to keep the Law of Moses for salvation. Both diminished the role of Jesus. They either originated in the Circumcision Party or had an affinity for the Party. Cerinthus was an active opponent of Paul and John.
Armstrongists who falsely claim a connection between Simon Magus and Christianity should have a look at Ebionism and Cerinthian Gnosticism and see if something does not ring a bell.
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I do find it interesting that every church on every corner claim to be the true church. But I don't think they would state they are the false church either. There are a bunch of whackos in the cogs but then again show me one denomination that doesn't have their share of loons. If someone chooses not to believe what the bible clearly says on many points that's their decision. If it's not in the bible then one would have to assume that it is a man-made celebration. Then if it's a man-made celebration or some half-baked rule they make up you could defiantly say Some of the things that go on in some of the cogs are man-made as well. Cogs pretend to profess love for the brethren but many are as cold as a winter's night in Montanna. Especially, cogwa.
I do find it interesting that every church on every corner claim to be the true church. But I don't think they would state they are the false church either.
That might actually be a very interesting angle for promoting your a group:
We aren't just a false church. We're the falsest church of them all! Unlike other churches that teach you to repress your inborn gifts in order to appease some imaginary god's imaginary insecurities and jealousies, our church teaches you to be the best you that you can be. Unlike other churches that teach you to keep your ministers wealthy and well-fed, our church teaches you that the church is a priesthood of believers, and that your well-being is as important as that of anyone who dares to call himself your leader. Unlike other churches that teach you to do bad things while justifying your actions as being "for God," our church teaches you that right is right and wrong is wrong, and that there aren't separate standards for "ordained" and "unordained" believers. Unlike other churches that say "grace" is all you need, and that God will accept you even though you consciously keep acting like an asshole, our church teaches that your behavior matters, and that you should treat other people the way you want to be treated. And, unlike other churches that try to shackle you to some made-up "law" our church teaches that you don't need dusty old books to figure out the right thing to do in a given circumstance. And, unlike other churches that call you "humble" when you endure abuse, our church teaches you to fight back when it's appropriate to do so. So, stop looking for some imaginary "true church." Come and join our false church, which when compared against the churches of this world is the falsest church of them all!!!"
re-examine their claim to being the "true church."
Yes. Is Bob's claim to being the "Truest" only mean "closest to Armstrongism"? Even at that, Bob has stated in a sermon that he doesn't blindly follow everything HWA said. "Truest to his version of Armstrongism", or his vague "Philadelphian" criteria?
Perhaps "the falsest church of them all" would be the most honest...
Anonymous said...
Cogs pretend to profess love for the brethren but many are as cold as a winter's night in Montanna. Especially, cogwa.
Wow! You must have lived it. Especially Frank's "church" in north Houston who followed him like sheep to cogwa. They were the biggest snobby, better than thou group I ever encountered.
I don't believe that it is possible today to find an organization which really is the "true" church. However, there are plenty of people who will set criteria designed to make it appear that theirs is the one. The criteria is strong enough that it will cause some people to join them. A, or the, true church would have a self-evident difference, something easily felt by the seat of one's pants, and the growth progression for members would be dramatic, self-perpetuating, and undeniable. Unfortunately, this too is easily faked, and lied about. Church groups can and do fake the gifts of the Holy Spirit, along with other special gifts and insights supposedly available through following their formula.
The problem with churches is the problem with the sales profession, or the problem with politics. Once the sale is closed, or the vote is in, the subtle pressure begins on you to lower your expectations! People were actually baptized into Armstrongism, (allegedly making them accountable) only to later find out through sermons about three tithes, (once they began attending), and other critical matters about which they were completely unaware!
Isn't there any church which raises your expectations by constantly exceding them? That is what a true and transformational church would do! Not backpedal and hand you a bunch of excuses all the while cautioning you about your attitude! Early Christians were willing to be tortured and to die for their beliefs because of their profound sense of the never-disappointing difference belief in Jesus Christ had brought into their lives. Where is a church today that is based on such strength?
You're certainly not going to find that in a "prophet" who doesn't prophesy himself but only critiques those who do. Or someone that tells you there is no way Jesus can't return on such and such upcoming holy day, and when He doesn't, it's, "Oops, we didn't understand correctly, it must be next Sabbath!"
12.41 PM
I often heard the complaint at church that much of what was required of them as members was hidden from them prior to baptism. It was all about getting numbers.
The ministers didn't care about members salvation. You can't go lower than that.
One thing I keep telling the Ex-ACOG's is if you want to see what the early church was really like, read ancient Christian literature like the Ante-Nicene Fathers, instead of the junk put out by the SDA, the Churches of God 7th Day, and the ACOG's. It's in those books that you will find the true history of Christianity. You'll discover that the only modern churches that resembles the ancient churches are the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. And you'll find out that sabbatarian churches were small heretical groups that had no continuing history, and quickly faded out from history. Instead, the former ACOG's usually become unbelievers, join another ACOG or another cult, hook up to an evangelical church, and some have even become Jews. Sadly, it never occurs to most of us to research the actual history of the ancient church. I only did it because I stumbled across an article that mentioned a book about the ancient church. So, my fellow Ex-ACOG's, be pro-active. Make an effort to study ancient church history, so these cults will never fool you again with their 'true history of the true church' malarky
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