Did you know that truth and your capacity to understand the scriptures, what the plan of God is, and your part in that plan is only available through the Living Church of God? Who knew?
Be Thankful for the Truth: The Sabbath is a good time to reflect on the question: Are you thankful for the Truth? If you are a lifelong member or if you grew up in the Church, it is easy to take the Truth for granted. Yet, Jesus said that no one can come to a real understanding of the Truth unless they are called and their minds are opened (John 6:44). The capacity to understand the Scriptures, the plan of God, the purpose of life, and God’s way of life is a gift that God is only making available to a few at this time (1 Corinthians 1:26–27), because Satan has blinded the eyes of most people of this world (2 Corinthians 4:3–4). Jesus stressed that it is a great privilege to be given an understanding of the Truth of God (Matthew 13:10–17). The Apostle Paul stated that to be called out of darkness into the Truth is something to be extremely thankful for(Ephesians 5:8–20). Let’s never lose sight of this incredible privilege. Are you thankful for the Truth?
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
Healthy chocolate ice cream: cocoa powder, honey, cream. Nothing else.
ReplyDeleteYea, there's God's truth, and then there's LCG truth (BI, Germany-Assyria, Woman in Rev 12:1-2 is the Church (when it's not), next 5 to 10 years etc.)
ReplyDeleteThe capacity to understand the Scriptures, the plan of God, the purpose of life, and God’s way of life is a gift that God is only making available to a few at this time
ReplyDeleteTRANSLATION:
The capacity to blow the dust off and understand your own Bible, God's seasonal plan through the Sabbath and holy days, our incredible human potential of becoming God Beings, and obeying the Law is a gift that God is only making available to those few of us who will soon rule on this earth in the World Tomorrow for a thousand years -- before the second resurrection, when the rest of mankind will be raised up to learn the Truth about the Sabbath and holy days.
You’ve saddened me CC; your translation is too accurate.
DeleteFor the Cogs, it seems The Law and eternal truth is based on the temporal movement of the earth and moon. The sabbath is their great focus and yet it was made for fleshly man and only commanded of fleshly law breaking Israelites (till the coming of Messiah).
What did the Messiah do for Cog members? It seems they believe He only grants forgiveness of the penalty for sin, but in their minds His sacrifice cannot cover those that worship on Sunday.
This is the synthesized mystery of the Cogs revealed to herbert armstrong: a law given to fleshly sinning Israelites based on the temporal physical spinning of the earth is the key for all to attain eternal salvation as spirit beings.
The mystery includes the murkiness of this principle never being uttered to God’s people before Sinai and never commanded once upon the arrival of Messiah.
Yet, the sabbath being untaught in the New Testament is the obedience test? That is indeed mysterious. How can someone be disobedient when they were not instructed otherwise?
In fact, how can one be disobedient when apostles write to them and in fact instruct them against judging one day above another (without qualifying the teaching) or that there is no further need of the Law now that Messiah has come (again without qualifying the teaching)?
The Cogs who claim infallibility of scripture avoid these scriptures. Why? That is a mystery.
"Are you thankful for the truth" he asks. If so, why hasn't his and the other splinters added to the truth? When I attended in the 1970s, it was common for members to be reading all manner of self help books since no practical information was given on every day living. The minister complained from the pulpit about this and had the minister under him give a sermon condemning such books. Yet in counsel, all I got was that the unrepented and the ministers are above the law, which is no different than in a dysfunctional toxic family system. There's real prizing of truth in these groups.
ReplyDeleteThis Armstrongist preacher wrote, “The capacity to understand the Scriptures, the plan of God, the purpose of life, and God’s way of life is a gift that God is only making available to a few at this time…”
ReplyDeleteThe irony of this statement is that if Armstrongist lay members have this capacity, they have surrendered it to their ministry. I do not believe that this preacher is advocating the idea that lay members independently apply themselves to understanding scripture with reliance on the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). He is advocating the idea that lay members have a capacity to hear the interpretations of the Armstrongist ministry and to rigidly conform to these interpretations.
I do not believe Armstrongists are alone in this. Many denominations have required beliefs. Many came from a history of believing that their denomination was the one and only true church. (This is a Gnostic belief that is gradually being abandoned by some mainstream denominations.) They alone had the keys to salvation. Armstrongism is like those denominations only more so. And this appeals to people who want to revel in a sense of exclusivity. You know the deal.
This insider knowledge. An outside observer who read this preacher’s statement would not likely find anything disturbing. For exiters it is a different story. We all bought the t-shirt and discarded it.
If they're defining "Truth" as Jesus did in John 14:6, yes. Yes, I am thankful. :-)
ReplyDeleteYep 5:33 " There's real prizing of truth in these groups."
ReplyDeleteYea it's a boasting of the law/truth that they have or think they have.
Romans 2:17 Indeed you are called a Jew (BI?), and rest on the law, and make your boast in God,
Often times COG ice cream flavor of the month is ROCKY ROAD!
ReplyDeleteHow about being thankful for writers who care about the brethren enough to write something original? Doug, your reruns do more harm than good. If you don't have something new to say, let someone else have their say instead.
ReplyDeleteWhen is the last time the Bible had something new to say? Isn't it just possible that repetition yields more understanding?
DeleteAmongst these comments the question is asked "What did the Messiah do for cog members? It seems they believe..."
ReplyDeleteAnd above is "When is the last time the Bible had something new to say?"
I think Jesus own words answer both questions.
"It is the spirit who gives life: the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
That is right Anon1232. However, the COGs only teach the forgiveness portion and not the cleansing of sin portion, probably because they don't want their fellow COG members to recognize it is only Christ that takes away our sins and is represented by both atonement goats, unlike herbert armstrong told them in trying to make the day of atonement about satan. It's heresy to teach our sins (or guilt) are placed on satan and taken away.
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