Calling Out Sin(s) in Others
The Armstrong Churches of God are fond of pointing out the sins and faults of others, but they also bristle when anyone attempts to do the same thing to them. Indeed, most of them believe that they have a Divine commission to call out the sins of others! Is this, however, consistent with the commission which Christ gave to his disciples? Moreover, is it consistent with the way Christ handled sinners during the period of his own earthly ministry?
Their main prooftext for this behavior (calling out sins) is pulled from God's instructions to the Hebrew Prophet Isaiah. In the fifty-eighth chapter of that book, we read: "Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins." (Isaiah 58:1, ESV) But does this passage prove that calling out sinful behavior is the standard for God's "true" ministers?
First, as we have already pointed out, these instructions were originally intended for Isaiah. Likewise, under the terms of the New Covenant, salvation is open to EVERYONE - NOT just "the house of Jacob"! In this connection, we would be remiss not to point out that the Armstrong COG belief that the English-speaking peoples of the world are descended from the ancient Israelites has been thoroughly refuted and discredited. Hence, any claim that they are preaching to the House of Jacob is also found to be specious. In other words, pointing out the sins of the English-speaking peoples of the world in 2024 does NOT fulfill God's commission to Isaiah to point out the sins of the people of the Kingdom of Judah just prior to its downfall and Babylonian Captivity!
Nevertheless, in support of their messaging about sins, these ACOG folks also cite the fact that we read in the Gospel of Matthew that Jesus began his ministry be declaring "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17, ESV) Likewise, another favorite passage of theirs in this connection is found in the account of Peter's inaugural sermon on Pentecost in the book of Acts. We read there that Peter told them to "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38, ESV) Now, admittedly, repentance involves deep regret for sinning, and it follows that that would also involve an effort not to repeat the sinful behavior. Even so, a message of repentance is NOT synonymous with calling out sins!
Now, we can also examine the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) to see whether or not Christ was in the habit of calling out the specific sins of others. Likewise, in this connection, it would be instructive to examine the full context of the remarks Peter made in that Pentecost sermon and determine whether or not he was instructing them to repent of a particular sin or sins. First, I think that we can all agree that Jesus frequently upbraided the Pharisees and other religious leaders of his day for their insincerity, hypocrisy, and lack of compassion for others. Still, I think that it is fair to ask whether or not this was his modus operandi with the masses of the people he addressed. In other words, did he do the same thing with them that he did with their leaders?
First, we should note that, in his model prayer, Christ instructed his disciples to pray: "forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." (Matthew 6:12, ESV) Indeed, in the way of explaining this part of the prayer, he went on to say: "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15, ESV) Moreover, in the following chapter, Christ went on to say: "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment, you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:1-5, ESV) In other words, you should be focused on your own sins, not on the sins of others.
Do we begin to discern a pattern in Christ's teachings? Instead of talking about specific sins, we see Jesus emphasizing the forgiveness of sins! A little later, in this same Gospel, we read that Christ healed a man of his infirmity by saying: "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." (Matthew 9:1-8, ESV) In the eighteenth chapter of the same Gospel, Christ told his followers the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:10-14). In this parable, a shepherd who had a flock of one hundred sheep went after one that had wandered away and rejoiced when he had found it. In other words, Christ's mission was to redeem those who had wandered away from God!
In the same chapter, we are told that Peter asked Jesus how many times that they would be expected to forgive each other. "As many as seven times?" Peter asked. Jesus replied that they should forgive each other seventy times that amount! (Matthew 18:21-22) This episode is followed by Christ telling his disciples "The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant." He said: "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So, the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So, his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also, my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." (Matthew 18:23-35, ESV)
This is consistent with a passage that was added to the Gospel of John. In the eighth chapter of that account, we read: "Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. 'Teacher,' they said to Jesus, 'this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?' They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, 'All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!' Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, 'Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?' 'No, Lord,' she said. And Jesus said, 'Neither do I. Go and sin no more.'" (John 8:1-11, NLT) Once again, we see the emphasis on compassion and forgiveness, NOT on condemnation!
Finally, in Luke's account of Christ's crucifixion, we are told that Jesus made an extraordinary statement when he was hanging on the cross. He said: "Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34, NLT) Hence, we have seen throughout the Gospel accounts of his ministry that Jesus ALWAYS focused on mercy and forgiveness where sins were concerned. Yes, Christians are expected to repent of their sins and "go and sin no more," but the only sins that Christ ever called out were those which were attributed to the religious leaders of that day!
In similar fashion, Christ's apostles focused on the same message regarding sin. What was Peter referring to when he told that Pentecost crowd to repent and be baptized? Read the entire account. Indeed, just a few verses before that ACOG prooftext, we are told that Peter said: "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men." (Acts 2:22-23, ESV) A few verses after that, Peter continued: "'Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.' Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" (Acts 2:36-38, ESV) Peter was instructing them what to do about the remorse which they were feeling for rejecting the One who came to this earth to save them from their sins!
Moreover, this emphasis on forgiveness of sins was not confined to Christ and Peter. In the book of Acts, we read that Paul told the folks at Antioch: "Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you." (Acts 13:38, ESV) Likewise, in his letters to the saints at Ephesus and Colosse, he told them that the forgiveness of sins was found in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7 and Colossians 1:14). In his epistle to the Christians of Galatia, Paul wrote: "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:1-2, ESV) In his epistle, James also noted "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." (James 2:13, ESV)
Thus, we see that Christ and his apostles were NOT in the habit of calling out sins! So, what are Christians supposed to be preaching about? Just before he ascended into heaven, the Gospel of Matthew informs us that Christ told his disciples: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-29, ESV) Notice, that Jesus didn't say one word about them being obligated to call out people's sins. Sure, Christ had plenty of things to say about how to live a righteous life, but he clearly approached the topic from the positive approach of what to do - NOT the very negative approach of "You are sinning!" Anyway, that's how I see it. What do you think?
Lonnie C Hendrix
21 comments:
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear - 1Timothy 5:20.
Why?
Because they believe they live in houses with windows made from Engineer Scotty's transparent aluminum (but not in a house of real glass).
They're thinking they have some kind of ministerial immunity...or they cite King David's game of Stratego with Uriah & Mrs. Uriah (Bathsheba)...& equate their modern tomfoolery with David's.
Armstrongism has always been an arrogant religion. I believe that the ACOG splinter groups are particularly harsh in their criticisms of one another because they don't even take other Christian groups seriously as being Christian. In modern parlance, they have "cancelled" the other Christians. Their pain or joyousness don't even matter. Don't even be concerned although you know that you have the resources and abilities to help them, because "they are not having their chance now". "We'll be able to help them in the Millennium and hundred year period." (wink,wink, nod, nod.) Isn't that a form of judging and even sentencing? How is it different from the leaven of the Pharisees. They're all puffed up. Yet, the irony of the fact that we can plainly see this in them, and it causes us to judge them, is certainly not lost. Each of us has "beams" of our own. Realizing that can be as embarrassing as accidental flatulence, and quite similar in that it's human nature to imply that it was someone else on the elevator or at the dinner table, or possibly even the family animal companion.
Years ago, while I was getting some pretty intense cardio, I happened to think, "What if we regarded everyone whom we met, or with whom we intersected or interacted as a saved child of God?" It was one of those salient thoughts. How would we be treating them? Differently from how we actually do? I was processing along these lines because I'd found myself thinking in great animosity towards someone who constantly acted counter to my own purposes. The intense cardio was an attempt to flush the piss and vinegar from my system following the most recent round. The thought was a good mental device, but the problem with mental devices is that you've got to find a stronger one to help you deal the next time, and each time after that. These things are not unlike a spring you must constantly suppress, or they pop up and hit you in the face.
The scriptural examples Lonnie cited are a gold standard. It's helpful to be reminded of them from time to time.
BB
These folks never learn - They lift a passage out of its context and use it to prove that they are right, and you are wrong. Paul's epistles to Timothy were meant to give advice and instruction to a young MINISTER to help him in shepherding God's flock.
The fifth chapter of this particular epistle opens with some instructions about how to treat lay members of the Church. We read: "Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. Honor widows who are truly widows." (I Timothy 5:1-3, ESV)
Notice that the context of the passage used as a prooftext (I Timothy 5:20) is some instructions about how to deal with sinning ELDERS. We read: "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, 'The laborer deserves his wages.' Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure." (I Timothy 5:17-22, ESV)
Hence, the suggestion that this passage applies to EVERYONE (lay members and folks outside of the Church) is either very clumsy or intentionally deceptive! You are applying something which was clearly directed at Church leadership to folks whom it was never intended to apply! Shame on you!
Great comment BB.
Sin and rebellion?? Only ministry would write in such manner.
Desperate times when you've been reduced to writing about the gospels on a atheist blog. Such desperate times.
Swaying all over the place fake name.
Thank you for another article, I have really appreciated this site as it has helped me a great deal. Since leaving RCG, I have learned so much, and realized what a terrible state I was in, referring to the mindset teaching in that particular cog and what its impact on me to others. It is important to understand the context of the message in the scriptures, which they clearly seem to miss.
>>>Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins.>>>
What I think Lonnie is that using this verse as a basis for their actions is showing great error and disrespect. Why do I say so?
First, the verse in Isaiah 58 is the Lord commanding the prophet Isaiah to carry a message to people of Israel to repent of their ways. It is directed to hypocrisy:
''For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them''.
Isaiah was instructed to warn them. To stop insincere and hypocritical ways as people of Zion. Especially their leaders.
Second and as you say this instruction concerns Jacob/Israel. One of the important things an ex WCG ought do is to examine afresh the Anglo Israel theory copied by Armstrong. I did so some time ago and wrote a commentary in Quora. I agree, this theory has no merit whatsoever and is a fiction.
So what we see is these Armstrong churches failing both in regard to abrogating a message God gave Isaiah, and misapplying it out of time and purpose to other peoples. This is why I say they misuse and disrespect.
Thanks for the time taken for interesting comments.
Ps so far as they themselves are concerned they refuse to accept the fact they misuse scriptures and spread falsehoods. Ironic as the message in Isaiah was to hypocrites.
Literally so true & spot-on Mr. Byker Bob! ACOGS certainly do cancel/dismiss non-COG Christians as "not having their chance now" , & leaving them to being "helped in the millenium & 100 yr. period". (is the wink & nod referring to ACOG assumption many not succeeding or "passing the grade" after 100 yr. period?)
Thanks BB & I will be thinkin' bout what you wrote while I'm on my own cycle today.
Anonymous said...
Whew! Thanks Lonnie. A toast to YOU! I was getting tired of hiding my use of Second Tithe, from the minister, to replace my toaster every year that I would destroy trying to get the sin out of it! :) Free at last!!!
Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 3:06:00 AM PDT Delete
Another soft on crime sermonette. From memory, Herb wrote in his holy day booklet that "the solution to sin is forgiveness." The definition of forgiveness is one person paying for the sin of another. Likewise, what Lonnie and contemporary Christianity teach is socialism applied to sinning. Just like Obama advocated "spreading the wealth around," modern Christianity advocates spreading the natural negative consequences of sin around. The responsible are expected to pay for the sins of the irresponsible. And as usual, a unbalanced view of forgiveness is presented. In the OT, a person was required to make restitution for harm do to another, plus some extra. In the parable of the prodigal son, all the fathers property is to be inherited by the son who didn't go astray. God responds to nations with a casual, soft on crime mentally by making them the victim of this same treatment. Which is why God handed Egypt to a cruel king, and will do the same to many nations during the soon coming tribulation.
Isaiah 19:41 “And I will hand over the Egyptians to a hard and cruel master, And a mighty king will rule over them,”
When it's over, people will be singing a different song to their present soft on crime mindset.
Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him...Luke 17:3 ESV
"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him."
Too funny! When has that ever happened in Armstrongism? The ministry and especially church leaders never forgave. Some made a point of holding grudges and love to admit it.
Christ states in Luke 17:3 "If your brother or sister sins AGAINST YOU, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them."
But according to king David in Psalm 51:4
"Against you, ONLY YOU, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight."
Now who do I believe, Christ or a self serving David?
Little wonder that God demanded the life of his son, since David down played his sin.
Anonymous 6:24 wrote, “Another soft on crime sermonette.”
The Law can be applied in different ways. There can be a compassionate application and there can be a brutal application of the same Law. And it makes a difference to God. Jesus, who is God incarnate, spoke about his feelings concerning how the judges of Israel applied the Law when he said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” This was the same God who gave Moses the Law on Sinai. Was Jesus a soft-on-crime socialist?
This same view on the part of God surfaced in the book of Job. Job’s friends were intent on calling out Job’ sins. They wanted to tell him where he went wrong. They believed in the Deuteronomic God who punished the wicked. Job said he had done nothing wrong. This only made them more passionate in their accusations. This went on until God appeared near the end of the account and told Job’s friends he was very angry at them because they had not spoken the truth about him as Job had.
There were people in the old WCG who enjoyed condemning others and pointing out sins. You find this same theme in the Westboro Baptist Church. Small people who are not peacemakers or healers who can do nothing but rejoice in the judgment and condemnation of others.
It is impossible to preach the Gospel without disserting on sin. But calling out sin was not the only thing that the church should have to offer. It should not even be the predominating thing. Compared to the message of love, calling out sin is a cheap shot.
Scout
Ya. You would David also sinned against : Uriah, Bathsheba, Bathsheba's 1st set of mother-in-law/father-in-law who lost their son Uriah, hmm and then quite the line of folks grieving.
Why are they so good at calling out other peoples sins?
It's because of self righteousness and not understanding what judgment is. They have the spirit of the pharisees. They sit at Moses seat and they think they are on par with the prophets and the apostles because they may feel that they have the correct pattern. What is lacking is the attitude or spirit necessary to love others as they love themselves. In their state, they can't do it. Even after all the breakups and spinterdoms, there is no humbleness.
OR......Ps 51:4 Wycliffe Bible - I have sinned to thee alone.....; If your brother sins, rebuke... - several translations.
Notice how the church of Herb typically defined sin as "the transgression of the law," and nothing more. Is this definition going to fill people with resolve to work long and hard so as not to sin? Of course not! That definition is lawyer talk that inspires no one. It's also a confession of the true moral state of the ACOG ministers, and the church as a whole since they don't want to offend their tithe payers. As a result, this leads to the emphasis on forgiveness, ie, others must pay for my sins since sin is no big deal. This is definitely not God's attitude.
How about the proper definition of sin, ie, beliefs and behaviors that injure, harm and destroy oneself and others. With this understanding, there should be a abhorrence towards sin, and it viewed as leprosy and other disgusting diseases. But instead we have churches cobbling together scriptures which make light of sin.
June 6, 2024 at 12:06:00 PM What is lacking is the attitude or spirit necessary to love others as they love themselves. In their state, they can't do it. Even after all the breakups and Splinterdom's, there is no humbleness.
Indeed that is so, and one main reason in my opinion is that they really do think they are ten commandment ''keepers'', which they believe defines them as being the one true church.
Others not in their midst are by definition sinners. As ''keepers'' which is essential for their salvation they develop a spirit of pride and presume they differ from all lesser non keepers who do not meet their high standards - thus non keepers will be judged accordingly.
There can be no loving spirit here in my opinion.
I was annoyed by someone who never seemed to stop trying to proselytize in the workplace. A Christian friend of mine told me "Well, the church is a hospital for sinners."
I replied "Then how come they so rarely seem to fix any of you?"
We cackled together, I admit it.
Correct 1:08, that’s why it's comforting understanding Christ’s own word mentioned below:
Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.
Seems like the more important matters in His words have to be the stuff other than the “keepers or keeping”
I like Micah’s version as well as it mentions humbleness:
Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
See it's hard to believe that a group of people understand or practice mercy and justice if they kick you out of a cog, just for disagreeing with you on a matter.
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