One of the longest-running posts here about the absurdities of Jon Brisby, the "leader" of the Church of God, The Eternal, now has 2018 comments. Sometimes it is filled with wild and outlandish comments in the midst of some truly troubling ones. Brisby is just like all other men leading COGs today who feel their self-importance makes them the most valuable leader the church has ever had.
Today, a comment was made that describes perfectly the entire problem with Armstrongism and why it has been such a failure.
Herbert's Doctor said...
Armstrongism is inoculated with just enough Christianity that it builds their immunity up to resist real Christianity when they get exposed to it.
Church of God, The Eternal's Jon Brisby Sinks To A New Vile Low
When those entrenched in Armstrongism are exposed to basic Christian beliefs that are universally understood, many react with anger and with great gnashing of teeth. The basic beliefs of grace, justification, and sanctification are like dropping an atomic bomb in the midst of some COG groups. Their minds explode with a lot of "buts". In the Church of God, "buts" are always the most powerful decider of doctrine in the church.
Condemnation is the word of the day in most COG's and they thrive upon it in their sermons, magazines, and broadcasts. Most of that condemnation is geared toward the world, but much of the time members are also weighed down by condemnation.
They also get weird if you say your prayers in "Jesus name" instead of Christ or Jesus Christ or Christ Jesus. Just Jesus is far too personal, too intimate, too sappy sweet.. or mentioning the shed blood in prayer. That throws a stick in their spokes too. Would be fun to sneak into a COG group faking a belief in their godman, then throw out a real Christian prayer like a terrorist suicide bomber. Then leave before they unbundle their underwear. .. Who am I kidding Id never darken the dark door of a Cog ever again
ReplyDeleteReal Christianity?
ReplyDeleteBasic Christian beliefs that are universally understood?
Basic beliefs of grace, justification, sanctification?
I would apply Dr. Herbert's profound comment to all Christian denominations, not just Armstrong's. Armstrong has his own version of grace, justification and sanctification but so does the Catholics, Jimmy Swaggart, No2hwa, and the other 41,000 Christian denominations on the planet!
The only "real" unity of the faith is that we all think we have the "real" deal!
Ask anyone!
I would suggest that Romans 8:1 is not appro for the theme of this post:
ReplyDeleteRo 8:1 There is THEREFORE now no condemnation [katakrima] to them which are in Christ Jesus
Rom 8:1 If you belong to Christ Jesus, you won't be punished (CEV).
Ro 8:2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
“The natural antithesis to condemnation is justification” (Everett F. Harrison, Romans, EBC, Vol.10, p.86).
“The first blessing of salvation is expressed in the words “no condemnation,” which are equivalent to ‘justification’...” (John Stott, The Message of Romans, BST, p.217).
“The word katakrima here means ‘probably not condemnation”, but the punishment following sentence (BAGD, p.413) - in other words, penal servitude. There is no reason for those who are ‘in Christ Jesus’ to go on doing penal servitude as though they had never been pardoned, never been released from the prison-house of sin” (F.F. Bruce, Romans, TNTC, p.161).
Ro 5:16b The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation [katakrima], but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. (NIV).
For some the “word katakrima, often designates the punishment that follows the “sentence,” rather than the sentence itself - the fine, imprisonment, or execution rather than the judge’s verdict (BDAG; MM; Bruce). But Paul does not use the word so narrowly, for in 5:15 and 18 katakrima is the antitheses to justification, summing up the penal effects of Adam’s disobedience” (Douglas J. Moo, The Letter to the Romans, Second Edition, NICNT, p.496, note 888).
“Like “death,” a parallel term (see 5:16 and 17; 5:18 and 21; and 8:1 and 6), condemnation designates the state of lostness, of estrangement from God that, apart from Christ, every person will experience for eternity. Those “in Christ Jesus” are removed from this state - and removed forever from it, as the emphatic “No” indicates. No more will condemnation of any kind be a threat (see also 8:34). How can this happen for those “in Christ”? Because those who in Christ experience the benefits of Christ’s death “for us”: he was for us in the place of condemnation...” (Douglas J. Moo, The Letter to the Romans, Second Edition, NICNT, p.496).
“Believers need to know that they do not stand condemned by God. Christ has cancelled the bond of indebtedness against humanity (Col 2:14)... When Paul says, “there is no condemnation,” he means that the sentence of death and judgment on the Last Day has been commuted” (James R. Edwards, Romans, NIBC, p.199).
"Innoculated" is probably as good of a descriptor as you'll ever get.
ReplyDelete"You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." - Revelation 3:17
ReplyDeleteHow ironic that these ACOGs like to point at each other and shout "Laodicean," but they never think to apply this passage to themselves!
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
ReplyDeleteRev 20:13 - And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteAnon, Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 4:52:00 PM PST, said:
"I would suggest that Romans 8:1 is not appro for the theme of this post:" and then cites the writings of Harrison, Stott, Bruce, Moo, Edwards
Wouldn't the following verses be enough, although the hirelings (e.g. Weston, Winnail, Wineland, Franks, Flurry, Kubik, Shabi, et al) who fled the former WCG can't bring themselves to preach them?
"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them;..." 2 Cor 5:19
"And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." John 6:39
Why can't the xcog leaders bring up Jesus. Could it be because they know that Jesus is not the God of the Old Testament; however, they can't bring themselves to understand that they are putting their Jesus, another Jesus (the one who is very soon to appear ((heard since way back in the days of HWA)) to reign for 1,000 years a Mickey Mouse millennium), in the place of God the Father (Acts 3:13) and that would be idolatry; wouldn't it?
Of course, those verses all deeply involves God the Father (I Cor 8:6), the God of the Old Testament, and most leaders of the former WCG don't like that idea either, but when will they repent/change?
Time will tell...
John
Of course this blog is the dwelling place of real Christians..... What you accuse 'Armstrongisim' of you do far worse yourselves.
ReplyDeleteOwn fingers pointed right back at you.
How do you live your life ?
I guess that by "real Christianity" you mean Sunday, Christmas, Easter, eat anything that moves, don't worry you're under grace, etc etc?
ReplyDeleteNot to worry, your day is coming.
Seriously? If your that blind to what was meant by "true Christianity", then we don't have a discussion. Keep on keeping on.
DeleteAnon 322, Your response indicates an idea of Christianity that sounds like cheap grace and easy religion; all someone has to do is go to church on Saturday, avoid pork, avoid Christmas and easter, and then self-righteousness relish a judgment on others (“Not to worry, your time is coming”).
DeleteAnon 1143,
ReplyDeleteI get what you are saying but those in the COGs cannot justifiably criticize (or be offended by) those that question the Christianity of those in the COGs. The COGs' bread and butter is calling all other Christians false Christians. From the very beginning, Armstrong said that truth had been hidden for 1900 years until it was revealed to him. AND, that those that do not follow him are deceived and not real Christians and do not have the Holy Spirit.
Shouldn't you expect those COG beliefs to be reviled?
Dec. 12 at 3:22 AM ironically reassures people who accept mainstream Christian beliefs and practices, "Not to worry, your day is coming."
ReplyDeleteNot to worry, 3:22. All of us have a day coming: the same day that comes to other animals. So nothing really matters. Everything is meaningless.
That is, it's meaningless on a grand scale. For us as individuals, arguing about meaning can be a satisfying way to pass the time while we wait for our day to come. People who accept "Sunday, Christmas, Easter, eat anything that moves" get just as much satisfaction out of this dreary interval between birth and death as you do, probably more. You should appreciate their service in providing you the pleasure of a target to focus your bitter contempt on.