That pesky ol'Satan is a busy guy lately as he is specifically targeting those whom the UCG believes they have 'converted' over to their way of life. Are new 'converts" to UCGism leaving the church soon afterward? Why is Satan always blamed for ineffectual UCG speakers/ministers who are so bland and boring that they can't retain new members? People thought they were joining a church geared toward Jesus when they joined UCG and later realized the guy is rarely talked about.
In addition, we would like to ask if you would add another vital component to your prayers. Please pray especially for the many people God is calling that they will be unhindered in learning and implementing the marvelous truths of the Bible (Matthew 22:14). In Jesus’ parable of the sower and the seed He said, “The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts” (Mark 4:14-15). Brethren, we can all pray that God will help people resist the devil’s unseen aggression so that the seed of the gospel will put down roots in their lives so as to begin producing godly fruit (Matthew 13:23).
In His model prayer Jesus said, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). As we pray this way for ourselves, we can also pray for these new, vulnerable “little ones” whom God is calling (Matthew 10:42). This is so they can not only withstand Satan’s toxic influence, but deal effectively with life’s troubles and distractions while growing in and applying spiritual knowledge and understanding (Mark 9:41-42; John 17:15).
How can a diseased tree produce "good fruit"?
33 comments:
Is income down?
For the Armstrong movement the bottom line has always been The Bottom Line.
No income, no salaries, no job.
That simple.
Because people leave does not mean Satan was the cause.
That's a copout.
Until the large flaws in the theology and doctrine of the Armstrong movement are corrected expect the flock to dwindle.
Where does it say UCG is losing members? It seems more is read into this than what’s there. And no, I’m not giving my approval to UCG .
The first commentator in this thread (11/5 @ 6:46 PM) hit the nail on the head. UCG may be one of the sanest and most rational ACOG splinters standing, but they are still clinging to many of the very flawed teachings of Herbert Armstrong. Anything erected on a faulty foundation is likely to eventually fail. Armstrongism started dying before Herbie died, and the decline has been steady ever since. NONE of these groups are growing - they're not even replacing the older folks (who are dying in ever greater numbers). As for Satan playing a role in all of that, from where I'm sitting, all "he" has to do is sit back and watch!
I am a member of UCG since 2014. I can tell you this for certain. Jesus Christ is taught constantly. The life death and resurrection of our savior is center stage in the UCG. Also I have been in several cogs including the parent group wcg. UCG is the most balanced cog that I know of. We do not follow a man. We do not crazy self acclaimed prophets. And we don’t make wild predictions of when Christ is coming back. As far as boring speakers I do not know of any. If you consider what we teach boring. Then that’s a personal problem you have. We are excited about the wonderful truths we have. Go pick on someone else. Leave the UCG alone
Maybe there’s more to this UCG article than what’s been posted but the way I’m reading this is that UCG is claiming that God is calling many new ones to the UCG. However, Satan is snatching them away before they can produce the fruit of living the Armstrongism way and joining the UCG. This rendering is consistent with the practice of installing Satan as the most powerful being in COGdom.
It’s too difficult to believe that many people would actually be joining the UCG. However, I sure that most of the small number of new people who ignore all the internet warnings and actually do hook up with the UCG are soon awoken to their mistake and run from UCG.
Some Herbie flaws???
Deut 14:28-29; 26:12; Num 31:30: No third tithe, only a third year. Levites were 2% of population, are the first recipients listed. No “2nd tithe, 1st tithe” per se in scripture.
Rev 21:14: There are 12 apostles sent by Jesus Christ; others are sent by someone else.
Dan 8:23-25: It’s possible Herbert Armstrong fulfilled, but Hebrew meanings must be checked of the words in this prophecy. “King” could simply be a leader – see Prov 30:27.
Dan 11:31; 12:11: Antiochus fulfilled verse 31 in 168 BC; Romans fulfilled verse 11 in 70 AD.
Dan 12:11; Mat 24:15-22: Great tribulation was 1290 days 70-74 AD, won’t happen again.
Luke 21:20-24: After great tribulation Jerusalem was trodden down by Gentiles for centuries.
Heb 7:11: Tithing laws were based on the Levitical Priesthood, given at its inception.
Heb 7:12, cf Heb 12:27: Tithing laws were removed when the Levitical Priesthood was abolished. Strong’s 3331 is Greek word for “change” in v. 12 and “removing”-KJV in v. 27.
Ex 23:14-16; Lev 23:2: Lev lists fixed/appointed times, “feasts” a mistranslation, are 3 feasts, weekly and annual sabbaths. The first feast is Nisan 14-20; the 15th is the NTBMO.
Ps 104:19; Rom 3:1-2: God’s calendar has been fixed since creation, now preserved by Jews.
Luke 23:54: 14th began to grow light (Strong’s 2020) because darkness was leaving the land.
Mat 12:40; Mark 14:30: Days were Nisan 14-16; nights were about Fri 3 PM dark (a few minutes?), Fri night, Sat night (a few minutes?). Days/nights can be part or whole.
Gotta laugh. The idea of Satan leading cult members away from their cults and into safety. Boy howdy! Those cult members sure turn things around!!!
8:35 wrote: “ I am a member of UCG since 2014. I can tell you this for certain. Jesus Christ is taught constantly.”
Since 2014…well that explains a lot. You were not around when Kubik and other top UCG leaders plotted while on WCG payroll on how they could start a new splinter with tithe money coming in so when they got fired from WCG they had an income waiting for them.
If UCG preaches Jesus then why are they keeping old covenant laws and teachings instead of being New Covenant followers of Christ?
Your perfect leaders are some of the most corrupt in the COG splinters. So corrupt COGWA saw the need to split off. UCG is a cult. Fact!
Anonymous said...
Gotta laugh. The idea of Satan leading cult members away from their cults and into safety. Boy howdy! Those cult members sure turn things around!!!
Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 11:09:00 PM PDT
Anonymous said...
8:35 wrote: “ I am a member of UCG since 2014. I can tell you this for certain. Jesus Christ is taught constantly.”
Since 2014…well that explains a lot. You were not around when Kubik and other top UCG leaders plotted while on WCG payroll on how they could start a new splinter with tithe money coming in so when they got fired from WCG they had an income waiting for them.
MY COMMENT: Were you around when COGWA did the same thing?
If UCG preaches Jesus then why are they keeping old covenant laws and teachings instead of being New Covenant followers of Christ?
MY COMMENT: Got news for ya. COGWA does the same thing.
Your perfect leaders are some of the most corrupt in the COG splinters. So corrupt COGWA saw the need to split off. UCG is a cult. Fact!
MY COMMENT: More news for ya. COGWA is JUST as corrupt as UCG. The big boss "ordained minister" couldn't get his way, so he left pulling tithe payers with him, then lied about UCG and set up his new "UCG" in the same way, still praising Armstrong, because he knew his idol-worshipping followers wanted their itching ears scratched. Yes, he planned it, just like he planned/helped the "big leaders" to leave WCG when he was so conveniently absent when all hell broke loose in Houston during the last holy day "money-offering" when we were all gathered together.
Well NO2HWA takes one to know one, you are indeed a strange diseased tree. I hope one day to hear Jesus sum up the wanton destruction and deliberate apathy you have pursued upon the household of faith.
It is Jesus's voice himself who commands the dead out of their graves to either a ressurection of righteousness or condemnation.
It all comes back to Jesus you cannot hide anywhere from Him, Even Queen Elizabeth II in her choice of Psalm 139 being sung knew that.
I agree, Jesus is taught in UCG.
If UCG preaches Jesus then why are they keeping old covenant laws and teachings instead of being New Covenant followers of Christ?
Your perfect leaders are some of the most corrupt in the COG splinters. So corrupt COGWA saw the need to split off. UCG is a cult. Fact!
WHAT?!! Isn't COGWA doing the same thing? Doesn't COGWA teach old covenant feast days as well? I have family members who go out of town to be there. That is NOT the reason Franks left UCG. He was going to lose his position and wanted to be the top dog. He is quite crafty. Spread the lie that UCG is not following "god" and then call UCG liars. Yeah, that worked!
Your perfect leaders are some of the most corrupt in the COG splinters. So corrupt COGWA saw the need to split off. UCG is a cult. Fact!
Sunday, November 6, 2022 at 12:30:00 AM PDT
No more corrupt than COGWA.
8:35 wrote: “ I am a member of UCG since 2014. I can tell you this for certain. Jesus Christ is taught constantly.”
Since 2014…well that explains a lot. You were not around when Kubik and other top UCG leaders plotted while on WCG payroll on how they could start a new splinter with tithe money coming in so when they got fired from WCG they had an income waiting for them.
MY COMMENT: I was around since 1968. Franks was around too.
They will close out this disastrous year with only 500 members.
Hanging onto bullshit-British-Israelism is costing them dearly!
UCG is not Christ-like individuals.
There are two dynamics that result in the continued decline of the UCG. First, as stated, the emphasis is not put on teaching Jesus which results in very few new people being attracted into the flock from mainstream churches. Second because the UCG preaches a watered down version of Armstrongism they do not attract many die hard Armstrongites who consider the UCG to be Loadeceans. The UCG wants it both ways they want to be considered a non-cult but they continue to hold on to strange teachings that are deffinately out of the mainstream.
Mass exodus??? There were only something like 80 Baptisms in the last year for the organization system wide according to their own internal documents.
Fallout amongst new members borders on close to 50% within 5 years, and it has always been that way even going back to WCG days.
The reason that some godless people go to the disUnited Church of Godlessness is that they get to behave very badly and no other splinter group that has any entrance requirements would want them anyway.
Anonymous said...
UCG is not Christ-like individuals.
Sunday, November 6, 2022 at 4:10:00 AM PST
MY COMMENT: Neither is COGWA.
but they continue to hold on to strange teachings that are deffinately out of the mainstream.
MY COMMENT: You mean like, "I HAVE AUTHORITY", "Pastor General", "Money Tithing", "Money Offerings", "Ordained Ministry", "The Sermon", The "Passover Ritual", "Clergy/Laity" Doctrine, Etc. ? Name one COG who doesn't.
Apathy towards religion in general plays a key role in this too. In the last 10 years general church membership has fallen off a cliff. Protestantism since the time armstrongism launched is down over 50% as well. So its not just COGs that arent growing. Im not sure there are any churches in growth these days even the mainstream ones.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/341963/church-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx
It would be a interesting discussion to see if this trend continues whether people gravitate more to the watered down versions or turn back to the literal interpretations of the bible. I dont have the answer for that. What i do know is that when this country was founded they say only 17% of Americans adhered to a denomination. So it is cyclical. What appeals to people changes over time
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_religion_in_the_United_States
It should be an interesting week just ahead with the elections on Tuesday. I think everyone knows that it's still not business as usual in the aftermath of the 2020 elections. If radical Islamic cells were threatening election workers and officials, dressing up in tactical gear and openly carrying side arms as they "monitor" election drop boxes, and politicians were threatening not to accept the results of the election, I believe we would be seeing what is happening around us in quite a different light.
UCG leaders and other ACOG leaders should be warning their members about the possibilities of violence and insurrection.
Pray for peace! Godspeed everybody!
You better believe in that British Israelism or Jesus is not with you. You doing too much United.
Do you mean islamic cells that have beheaded, tortured, and caused wars? Or do you mean islamic cells that have proven themselves peaceful without even having riots in the streets burning buildings and cars and killing/raping?
I wish that our elections were monitored by an extremely safe demographic, one that could responsibility carry firearms and are even more restrained and more law abiding than the police, one based not in race or hate. If only such a demographic existed! Well it does, NRA members. talk about a change of perspective!
Depends on the location "Tonto". You know such alot for outsider.
Mental illness is a terrible thing.
ANON 10:52---
Everything that I know about UCG is from publicly posted information. They have listed the amount of new baptisms in their council meeting reports that are published. I am not a member of the UCG.
I wrote the 11:27 comment, 9:31. I had a falling out with the NRA years ago and failed to renew my membership because the AK-47s and AR-15s really need to be taken off the streets. W unleashed a holy terror when he lifted the ban on those killing machines, and we've had so many needless mass shootings that would have been at the very least minimized if the crazies didn't have them so readily available. I love my guns, but believe that the NRA has taken an extreme view of the Second Amendment, and mobilizes against even the most common sense restrctions and regulations on gun ownership. If someone developed a gun that used nuclear tips, the NRA would fight for them to be to be legal and available to their members. The basic flaw with proliferation of mass murder devices is that people lie on their applications to get them, or steal them. The only way to prevent the mass shootings is to make sure that the potentially most devastating weapons are simply not available. For years, that was done with machine guns, and it worked.
10:56, In Armstrongism, the saying is that mental illness is a terrible thing to waste
I get that. And not to minimize the awful misuse of these guns, these “assault rifles” account for around 2% of murders. The crime rate of nra members is extremely low and one would be hard pressed to find a safer group of significant size. Women have a much higher crime rate. Japan has a much higher crime rate. Middle aged women in Japan or Montenegro are probably similar to the crime/murder rate of nra members.
Anon708, I get it. And not to diminish the awfulness when any gun is used, about 2% of homicides are through the use of rifles like AK-47s and AR-15s. About twice as many are killed with bare hands and about 4 times as many killed with knives. Horrific for sure. Still, focusing on the mental state of the criminally minded without focusing on which gun should or should not be sold (I just looked it up and there are about 20million AR-15 type rifles currently in the U.S.). Obviously, the vast vast majority (literally around 99.9999995% are not used in a homicide). I get your concern, but have to also balance such things with statistics.
Without mental illness this blog wouldn't exist.
Post a Comment