Living Church of God has solved the problem of speaking in tongues in the church. Technology and the internet accomplish that job. Who knew?
Plus, Jesus was starting his church then and needed it. Now that we are a dying church we no longer need it, especially since our gospel seems to have no deep impact on people.
Necessary Today?
Why don’t we speak in tongues in the Church today? Because God has additional methods of preaching the Gospel, as His servants can now use technology to fulfill the purpose formerly achievable only through tongues. With the tools of mass communication we can send out telecasts, radio broadcasts, and the written word translated into different languages with an ease that was not available to people in the first century.
Remember, too, that Jesus was starting His Church then. There was incredible excitement for those who were witnesses of these miracles—so much so that there was no small stir created wherever Christ inspired His followers to go. It was an effective way for the Gospel to have a deep impact on those who heard it and saw the miracles that accompanied it.
As we have seen, speaking in tongues was a powerful tool that God used to bring many to repentance. Those who had this gift did not experience the same out-of-control display of emotional fervor that comes upon many in some religious circles today. God is not capricious—He has a purpose for what He does. He uses different methods at different times, but His purpose is the same. Let us be thankful that we have an opportunity to be a part of that purpose for this age in whatever way He chooses. The Purpose of Speaking in Tongues
Armstrongist groups will go to any length to make excuses as to why they are so ineffective.
ReplyDeleteGod forbid that members display signs of the Holy Spirit. Must stamp out. I bet if a lay member suddenly started healing people the ministers would forbid/deny/stamp down this. To kicking him or her out of the congregation.
ReplyDeletePaul Ray
If I recall correctly, Rod Meredith used to lead LCG in an annual fast and prayer for the gifts of the Holy Spirit which the first century church had during the lives of the original Apostles. Nothing ever came of that, which of course indicated once again that Armstrongism does not have the correct "combo" for God to recognize, so that He would gift them with such things as the proper understanding of prophecy, consistent and reliable miraculous healing, or the ability to speak in tongues. God never did validate them as His own as He did the Apostles.
ReplyDeleteThe Apostles venerated Jesus in such a way that HWA and his successors never did. I can't imagine God granting the WCG or ACOGs these gifts for preaching the Armstrong half of a gospel which has always downplayed the message that Jesus saves.
ReplyDeleteThe author, Phil Sena, wrote: "...Remember, too, that Jesus was starting His Church then..."
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And virtually all of the xcog splinters' leaders, hirelings of the former WCG and little helpers of HWA, were taught to remember that Pentecost as being like some birthday of God's Church, but was it true? Who was the first member of God's Church? Were the first members of God's Church the 12 disciples? The 120 from around the world? Jesus Christ?
Could it be that God's Church began about 3 1/2 years earlier during the time the One who was to become the head of God's Church was baptized?
John 1:32 "And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
:34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God."
Could it be that God's Church began with God's Spirit descending and remaining on Jesus Christ, its first member, and that 3 1/2 years later on Pentecost God, by the power of His Spirit, added more to His Church?
Could it be that the father of lies (John 8:44; 2 Cor 11:15) is incredibly successful at getting these former WCG hirelings to seemingly blindly swallow (2 Tim 2:26) another lie regarding God’s Church?
Most of them former WCG hirelings still believe and teach Jesus is the God of the Old Testament, but isn't that another lie?
Most of them former WCG hirelings still believe and teach Jesus is returning very soon to reign on earth 1,000 years, but isn't that just another lie?
Should we be remembering all of this, or just remember "...that Jesus was starting His Church then...?"
Or, might we wonder that if these former WCG hirelings cannot understand the true start of God's Church, then why should we believe and remember anything else they say?
Time will tell...
John
Declining ACOGs:
ReplyDeleteI wonder when LCG are going to mothball their television production like Amazing-Dave has had to do?
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteDeclining ACOGs:
I wonder when LCG are going to mothball their television production like Amazing-Dave has had to do?
No, wait! UCG just spent a million dollars on a fancy new studio! Surely you're not telling me that TV is not as effective as it once was. You mean UCG just wasted a million dollars?
"You mean UCG just wasted a million dollars?"
ReplyDeleteYes, just like spectacular RCG Television Production white elephant Bldg