The Living Church of God is encouraging its members to be peacemakers and to go to their brother or sister to work out any problems.
"Peacemakers go to their brother or sister in a spirit of meekness to resolve issues ..."
Seriously? LCG and Winnail can say that with a straight face?
Rod Meredith, when he was in the Radio/Worldwide Church of God never went to the brethren as a peacemaker or even talked to people when things arose. Instead, his pen was swift in writing disfellowshipment letters and marking people from the pulpit. That nastiness carried over into the Global Church of God and later into the Living Church of God when he left Global in a fit of rebellion as he smeared and maligned people at every turn.
This is not something Meredith was guilty of but the majority of COG leadership and ministry are also guilty of. Reconciliation has never been a focus of any COG. Rather, it has been busy grinding people up and spitting them out.
Peacemakers also do not post prayer requests on public bulletin boards in the HQ office builing so they can be mocked.
Are You a Peacemaker? We are living in an angry age where hate and violence and the talk of war are everywhere. Yet, we have been called out of this world to reign with Jesus Christ when He returns to bring peace to this planet (Isaiah 9:6–7). As Christians, we must strive to “live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:17–21). We can become peacemakers by not reacting angrily in situations, not seeking to get even, by treating others like we would like to be treated, and by overcoming evil with good. Solomon observed, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). Solomon also stated, “He who covers [overlooks and forgives] a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats [or keeps talking about or won’t let go of] a matter separates friends” (Proverbs 17:9). Peacemakers go to their brother or sister in a spirit of meekness to resolve issues (Matthew 18:15; James 3:13–18). King David wrote that peace is the result of learning to love and follow the laws of God (Psalm 119:165). Let’s make that our goal.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
“LCG Expects Its members To Be Peacemakers, But What About The Ministry And Its Leaders?”
ReplyDeleteSPELLING CORRECTION: Piece Makers. Little, tiny, splinter piece makers.
Winnail understands very little about peace. And the LCGs leadership knows very little about it as well. As they side with Israel and their imperial regime against the Palestinians. They have cared very little to cover the destruction of peace after colonization, slavery, apartheid, Jim Crow etc. This is a man that’s still upset about his idol confederate statutes were thought to be torn down.
ReplyDeleteJeremiah 22:3 Thus says the Lord: “Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place
The reason you know they are not about peace, is what side they take in their writings. They take Israel’s side, Americas side, Britains side. Abraham didn’t do that.
This article is sickening. To outsiders it might seem reasonable, but to long time members, this is only rule rigging so that church crazies and abusive ministers can keep getting away with their demonic behavior.
ReplyDeleteYeah sure, never get angry, allows use soft words, always forgive (a licence to keeping sinning), don't complain, hide people's unrepentant sins (privacy does not apply to criminal behavior), go to your brother and sister to "resolve" a problem (so they can gas light you into believing that you are the guilty party) and be a peacemaker (ie, accept being a punching bag and doormat for the sake of "peace"). All these ploys are the norm in toxic family systems which the ministers and elders partake of, and project into the bible. In such a system, victims have no rights, boundaries and the right to express and assert themselves. All for the sake of a fragile, psuedo "peace."
Total agreement with you 8:31. The big puffy "pillars" do gaslight you after you "go to them" to resolve things despite trying the scriptural suggestion. And their pillar co-horts join in to compress you into both a doormat &/or church punching bag.
ReplyDeletePeople attribute far too much importance to Winnail's silly little repeat announcements. Winnail has published almost the same exact little weekly message, almost word for word, several times in the last 15 years. The real question, Doug, is "Are You Overpaid and Lazy?"
ReplyDeletehe'll start plagiarizing some splinter or COG indie any time now...
DeleteWinnail's repeat piece is leading the people away from Jesus as the source of peace.
ReplyDeleteWinnail and LCG reject the doctrine of Justification and therefore ignore every verse about Justification.
Contrary to Holy Scripture, Winnail teaches works of the law as being the way to be at peace with, right with God.
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
LCG, being a newcomer to addressing the doctrine of Grace, mangles grace to be an additive to a person's righteousness earned by law keeping. Therefore, Winnail never uses the popular benediction found in several verses such as:
2 Corinthians 1:2
Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
The poor people of LCG have little hope of learning more, growing in grace and knowledge, and enjoying peace when their leaders refuse to teach about Jesus and his gifts of Justification and Grace.
8:31 & 9:10....you are so spot on correct! I assume you too have been on the receiving end of their cruelty when you follow their admonition to come to them with your concerns. As soon as you fall for that trap they bite down on you with such cruelty and incredible gaslighting it leaves you bewildered! The BEST decision I've ever made for my peace of mind and mental health is to get out of that organization. Ridding yourself of that kind of toxic Christianity will keep you from going insane.Then you can begin to forgive yourself for getting caught up in that. You can't be a peacemaker when you're surrounded by individuals who are determined to attack and steal your peace at every chance they get.
ReplyDelete