UCG Rick Shabi: Are the righteous garments he wants members to be wearing nothing more than filthy rags?

 

United Church of God has been on a roll lately preaching to their followers about the right kind of "garments" they should be wearing.

Over the last few Sabbaths in the Home Office/Cincinnati East church there have been sermons given on “garments” Christians should wear. Among them are the garments of praise, joy and a cloak of zeal for God’s work. You might want to take the time to listen to them if you would like to build these traits back into your life.

If they actually preached about the One they claim to follow they would automatically have those traits and not need to be reminded of them continually, but that is another story. Of course, as with all COG's everything that happens in the church and with the members has to point to one thing, ZEAL for the work.

When "zeal" is lacking in the membership, income drops and the elite suffer. That's the real goal for maintaining zeal in the church.

How can UCG members be filled with joy and praise when they never hear much about that inconvenient dude they call Christ other than he preached about some kingdom to come. In COG speak, that kingdom and the meaning of justification, sanctification, and grace, never the twain shall meet. The emphasis is placed upon a mythical kingdom where everyone sits around on thrones of power singing Dwight Armstrong hymns as they weld superiority as a living god over the lazy Laodiceans at their feet. Of course, in COGland this is an endless thankless task of continual work that exhaust members to the point their zeal quickly disappears.

Coming off the Thanksgiving season, Shabi and UCG are focused on "thankfulness", a garment that all members should be wearing. When they leave that garment in the closet they become unthankful and Satan has a toehold on their lives and the church suffers. It's always the member's fault, remember?

There are fundamental attitudes we must develop and that we must “wear” in our lives. At the root of rebellion, sin, disregard and disrespect for God and His way is a lack of thankfulness. Of Satan, God says, “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you” (Ezekiel 28:14, emphasis added).

What about the root of rebellion that the top leaders of UCG/COGWA were consumed with when they plotted and schemed while on the Worldwide Church of God payroll to hijack as much money and members as they could when they started UCG? What about the rebellious sin in all of that? Was it a salvational issue for the souls of potential UCG members or really about keeping the money stream going for the elite of the church who claimed to be god-fearing ministers?

Shabi continues:

At the core of what we do, we are reminded that we are God’s Church and that we are committed to the truth of God. We must speak it, but as importantly (if not more so), we must live it and demonstrate it in our lives. Christ made the foundational statement that He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). 

Jesus did make that statement, but it does not mean the ministry of the UCG believes it. Look at how many sermons are preached, articles written and Bible Studies given on keeping the law as compared to sermons, articles, and Bible Studies on grace, justification, sanctification, and even redemption. And they knew him not.

As part of His body, all of us must be dedicated to living, becoming and speaking the pure, plain truth taught by Christ and preserved for us in His Word. “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). 

And yet, do they REALLY follow it? Can they ever do anything without dragging the law into it? 

That we will do, as we follow Jesus Christ, the Head of this Church, and seek His will and guidance in all we do.

If only!