A reader here commented the other day about how the COG as a whole looks at themselves as "the little flock" and uses that belief to justify their non-growth and ineffectual presentations.
Seth wrote:
So, here's a concept to make sense of this a little bit. In LCG, as in many ACOGs, the doctrine of the Little Flock is taught. This concept is logically humorous, but I once believed it too. In a nutshell these things are simultaneously true;
1. The church is SUPPOSED to be small, so if only a few respond, that's proof that God is working.
2. If a lot of people come, that's because God is blessing it.
3. If other churches get bigger, it's proof that they (the big church) is not of God because the church is Supposed to be a small one.
4. If your church grows, it's proof that God is blessing it.
5. If people leave your church it's because God is 'sifting' the church, and they had never been true members.
6. If people join your church from other churches, it's because God was working with them all along.
It's a quite handy PR tool.
9 comments:
When Jesus used the term "little flock" he was speaking to his circle of disciples, who were a very small group at that time. Also notice he also said the " Father is pleased to give you the kingdom." Was the kingdom to be a little thing?
According to the parable of the mustard seed, the kingdom was to become large enough so that all the birds of heaven could dwell in its branches. Sure enough, the church has become large enough in the last 2000 years that the birds of heaven can dwell in its branches. The poor ACOG's sadly dwell in a dead shrubs.
They strive to become "the biggest little church in COGdom".
HWA said one way to measure "church growth" was income - so maybe the best "little flock" is a small congregation of generous rich people.
"HWA said one way to measure "church growth" was income"
********
Supposing that gain was godliness? 1Tim 6:5
Correct, from the get-go, that the COGs use the "little flock" scripture as an excuse to justify their lack of growth and losses. It's been like this for so many years but they feel compelled by pride to stand by their corporate offices which is the most important thing to them (for therein is the treasury that pays their bills and gives them the seal of personal self-worth better than what Christ can give). Another excuse is the verse "Who has despised the day of small things?" (Zech 4:10). So, you better not criticize them for their sins which led to their multiple breakups in the first place. For they are liable to throw you out too and perpetuate the curses that we are under. They're the ones preaching the gospel -- not you!
However they don't quote from the Curses chapter where it says that they "shall be left few in number" for their sins (Deut 28:62), or quote where Christ says that He will vomit us out if we are in the lukewarm middle ground of the bell curve (Rev 3:16), or that Christ is not divided (1 Cor 1:13), and that there is no excuse for not granting forgiveness. They make every judgment contingent upon their whims and caprices, upon who has the most clout or biggest mouth, upon what can advantage them personally and socio-economically, being unaware of the inner feelings and lusts (Gal 5:24) that drive them.
No one talks about "unity" or "being made one" (Jn 17:11; except in hypocrisy at Passover) anymore because that would incriminate them before the Lord for splitting off in the first place. Instead, they fuss over lesser sins in their membership and perpetuate the scattering, being unwilling to forgive, or keep the commandments or resist the carnal temptations to mistreat their brethren. They beg the Lord on hands and knees to restore notable ordained elders to their corporate employ while they throw out poorer members at the drop of a hat. They gullibly give far too much weight to their peeved and petulant cronies, dupes, lackeys, sycophants, pawns and simpletons in the church before making a judgment IN THE CHURCH (How would you like it if the world judged you that way, ye hypocrites?). The judgment must be of the Lord (Deut 1:17), not from the devil or your own feelings. Ye elders, so what if you quote from Deut 17:8-12 to make people obey you but are you obeying Deut 13:14 to carefully investigate, do diligent inquiry, ask poignant questions and establishing every fact before you judge between your brethren? Or are you too tired, too lazy, too busy (even with most congregations being reduced to a tiny percentage of their former sizes) or afraid of the consequences of boldly doing something right?
A harvest of righteousness in the church can't be sown in peace by those who refuse to make peace. (Ja 3:18)
It's true that the "little flock" passage is widely used among the COGs to justify lack of effectiveness or growth within the groups. Going hand in hand with that is the claim that "God is only calling a few" which is used both as an excuse for lack of growth and simultaneously as a point of pride and exclusive-ism, with the implication that God is only calling a few right now, and "WE" are among those privileged few.
The supposed proof for this concept is given in John 6:44, where Jesus, speaking to the Jews who took offense at Him referring to Himself as the "bread who came down from heaven," told them to stop grumbling, and then made the statement, "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent me draws them..." This passage has been pulled out of context, and given a meaning not implicit within the passage itself. The passage states that "no one" can come to Jesus unless the Father draws them, but it doesn't put a limit on how many or who the Father draws. In fact, when we look at verse 45, we find the statement "For it is written in the Prophets 'and they will all be taught by God'..." We could also back up to verse 40, where Jesus states, "For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
I cannot find any passage that specifically says that God is only calling a few right now. It does say that "many are called, but few are chosen." This is found in Matthew 22:14. This was said within the context of a parable, speaking of people ignoring an invitation to a wedding banquet (Kingdom of heaven), or showing up without wedding clothes. If you back up and read Matthew 21:23-45, you can see that Jesus was addressing these parables to the religious leaders in the temple, who did not believe Him, but instead questioned His authority.
Using the above mentioned verse, or the passage referencing a little flock to justify lack of growth or general ineffectiveness in reaching people is a cop out, and a subtle way of blaming God for lack of numbers or growth. It also completely ignores other passages such as Matthew 9:37 where Jesus said that "the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" after He saw the crowds and had compassion for them. We could also look at John 4:35, "Do you not say, ‘There are still four months until the harvest’? I tell you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe for harvest."
The COGs' general attitude to preaching the gospel is out of a duty to give a "warning" (Ezekiel 33:6), and thus cover their own backsides. Because God is only working with a select "few" right now, they don't really expect any efforts made to bear much fruit. Failure to evaluate their own approach and attitude towards those they are supposedly trying to reach has made this a self fulfilling prophecy of sorts. You reap what you sow.
Concerned Sister
True CS and good article posted No2hwa.
The COGs have always claimed they have revealed Truth and understanding. And one could not question these truths. But, all these ridiculous doctrines, such as this “little flock” doctrine, are low hanging easily debunked doctrines that show Armstrong did not have Truth revealed to him.
This was an often used doctrine by Armstrong to explain why these larger churches can’t be the “True Church”, and the splinter COGS continue to use this doctrine.
Despite those members in the splinter COGs saying at they don’t think about HWA, they will eventually see that the basis for much of their belief system is not from the inspired Bible but FROM the uninspired Armstrong.
Not just that.
But a minister can can leave one Church of God group, and then enter another one, and in a matter of months he can be a minister to those people. The man has not given tithes to that organization for over a decade or it's entirety and then all of a sudden because he was a part of worldwide back in the day, he has leverage. So the organization he was previously apart of "was also the only true church of God" and the one he currently is in.
You can't make this stuff up.
Right Anon,
When it comes to the ministry, it is once saved (as a minister) always saved (as a minister).
Got it, thank Jim
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