Mocking The Disabled People In UCG?

Luke 14: The Banquet | Mural by Hyatt Moore, painted during Global Access Conference, 2015.

A Guest Commentary: Serving Disabled People

True Christians or truly good people in general It should sadden our hearts to see the great suffering of the disabled people. Like the Shriners hospital for children, we should remember the disabled members of our community and those who care for them.

UCG supports law enforcement but when they had the opportunity to do justice, the pastor said we should leave the justice up to God. He thought the courts and police were working for God. How come, if God is real, he never punishes people himself like striking them down with a lightning bolt? The only things God ever does is stuff that is humanly possible, and that is done by humans themselves - never God himself.

We ought to feel saddened by the suffering of disabled people. A minister said, "Don't take them to the feast because you have to watch them." That's discrimination because the UCG minister told someone not to take them to the feast because they would need to be watched. After all, they are disabled. If they truly had an outgoing concern, they wouldn't mind watching someone who's disabled I would want them to have a good time at the feast. That is what he told someone who invited us to the feast last year.

IN THE UNITED CHURCH OF GOD, there is an arrogant ableist that is prejudice towards disabled people so a United Church of God member told someone, pointing at me and my brother, "I can't hang out with these guys." Someone asked, "Why can't you?" Who was this man? Only the most arrogant and hateful person, who claims to follow Jesus Christ but does not live up to it! He said that we talk funny and are socially awkward. Even though the bible says, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." He also called us "retards" to our face!

Jesus commanded to invite the disabled to feast with you. "Then Jesus said to the man who had invited him, 'When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite only your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. At another time they will invite you to eat with them. Then you will have your reward. Instead, when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Then you will be blessed, because they cannot pay you back. They have nothing. But you will be rewarded when the good people rise from death.'" - Luke 14:12‭-‬14 ICB

Persecution is a crime that is defined as severe discrimination that results in the denial or infringement of fundamental rights. Practice inclusive love as Jesus loved. Treat everyone as if they were an angel in disguise. One of the people who refused to help disabled people said, "We need a president who can speak!" - putting down Joe Biden on a Facebook post for his speech impediment. It is commonly believed Moses had a speech impediment too. Would you say he is not a good leader because of how he talked too, really? They like Moses but pick on people with speech problems in our time. Moses’ own description of himself is that he had trouble speaking, and God allowed his brother Aaron to act as spokesman for him (Exodus 4:14–16; 7:1–6).

People will know the distinctiveness of Christians by the nature of their sacrificial love for one another. Loving one another invites a test of the validity of genuine Christian living. Love is the badge of a Christian. I wonder why Christians would treat someone with a speech impediment in our time badly when the Bible says Moses had one? Even though you shouldn't pick on someone for having a disability, did you imagine they would pick on someone who for something that someone in the Bible also had, like Moses was known as a stutterer, but they pick on Joe Biden for also being a stutterer, they love Moses, but they pick on Joe, but he has the same thing that Moses had?

The person who bashed Joe Biden for his speech impediment also has a Facebook account he shares with his wife. Isn’t the Bible talking about how we should behave with humility and sacrificial love? Interestingly, that goes against our nature. We tend to want to be the best, the strongest, the first in line. Jesus teaches being a servant. The church called "The United Church of God" discriminates against the disabled apparently their churches college doesn't offer any accommodations for people with disabilities.

What does Judaism say about this? The commandment "Thou shalt not oppress the weak" applies to all individuals, including those who are disabled. In Judaism, every person is valued and worthy of respect, regardless of any physical or mental disabilities they may have. We are taught to treat all individuals with kindness, compassion, and empathy, following the principle of "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18). Disabilities are not a measure of a person's worth or value in the eyes of our faith. In Judaism, every individual is considered to be created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), regardless of any physical or mental disabilities they may have.

The Torah teaches us to treat all people with respect, kindness, and compassion, including those with disabilities. In fact, there are specific commandments and laws in Jewish tradition that emphasize the importance of caring for and supporting individuals with disabilities. For example, Leviticus 19:14 states, "Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. | am the Lord." This verse teaches us not to take advantage of someone's disability or mistreat them in any way.

Additionally, Jewish tradition places a strong emphasis on the concept of "tikkun olam," which means repairing the world. This includes working towards creating a more inclusive and accessible society for people with disabilities. Overall, Judaism values the inherent worth and dignity of every individual, and teaches us to treat all people with compassion and respect, regardless of any disabilities they may have.

The Bible teaches that every person conceived in this world is a unique creation of God. Ultimately, in the eyes of Judaism, individuals with disabilities are valued members of our community, deserving of love, respect, and support just like anyone else. It is our responsibility to ensure that they are able to fully participate in society and have their needs met with dignity and compassion. There is a commandment in the Jewish 613 commandments it says " Not to oppress the weak—Exodus 22:21 "

About the disabled, we should show them compassion and serve them as equals. Remember, Jesus healed the blind, the mute, and the lame during Jesus's time on earth. Each one of them was a precious child of God, deserving of dignity and respect. We must not look upon them with condescension or sadness, but rather with understanding and empathy. For we are all in need of healing, whether from physical infirmity or spiritual blindness.

Additional notes: Bullying is hurting or threatening people who seem weak. If a church does not give disabled people the same equal opportunities as non-disabled individuals, it could be considered discrimination. Discrimination on the basis of people with disabilities goes against the principles of equality and fairness. All individuals should be treated equally and without discrimination regardless of their disabilities and abilities.

About the Bible: The four gospel accounts record that Christ performed many miracles during His ministry. Many of His most dramatic were healings. He made the lame walk—gave sight to the blind—healed lepers—healed others with the palsy—and “healed all that were sick” (Matt. 8:16). He also performed many healings of the mind by casting out demons from those who were possessed.

My brother was going to Suffolk Community College now, but UCG bullies were so arrogant they were trying to recommend a day program. I remember when someone even said, "They can walk!" And the church also didn't punish someone who made disabled people cry or want to hang out with them because of their disabilities and punched another church member in the face when they were fighting!

When we see Christians who mock the disabled, It means that there is a disconnect between the teachings of Jesus, who showed love and compassion towards the disabled, and the actions of some individuals who claim to follow him. By mocking the disabled, these individuals are not embodying the values of kindness, acceptance, and empathy that Jesus exemplified. This behavior is not in line with the teachings of Christianity and goes against the principles of love and respect for all individuals, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.

NOTE: The author of this post, my friend, is a very articulate, bright, and thoughtful young man with a cognitive disability. He is curious about the world around him and wants to be a part of it. I believe that he and his brother should be treated with the same respect and compassion which Scripture enjoins us to do for others. I should also note that I edited out some individual names from the original and inserted a few pronouns and punctuation marks. What do you think?

 Miller Jones/Lonnie C Hendrix 

NOTE:  I also received a copy of the email which these people described what happened to them in UCG. It did not surprise me at all. Banned

Lone Wolf Crackpot Prophet Ticked Off Football Season Starts Today

Football season has arrived with the start of September here in the United States.  Both College and NFL teams are starting their seasons off this month. Football stadiums will be filled to the brim with diehard fans. Televisions will be tuned to the games and food and drinks will be overflowing with fans.

But not in Grover Beach/Arroyo Grande, CA! No sirree, Bob! Our favorite crackpot, self-appointed, and deluded prophet is back getting his holistic undies tied up into another indignant knot.

After numerous quotes about sports injuries during the games, he has to open his undignified sacred mouth and make a royal ass of himself, once again. Satan is the father of American football and the Great Bwana to Africa is having none of it!

The National Football League (NFL) season is upon us as the 2024 NFL season is set to kick off on Thursday, September 5th. 

 

Should Christians support this? 

 

Early Christians would not have watched sports like it. 

 

What kind of sport is NFL football? 

 

A violent and damaging one. One that will hurt people this season.

The Great Bwana is "crying aloud and sparing not" when it comes to football. He is a beta boy when it comes to preaching about Jesus, but not when it comes to football! He speaks with force and power for all to see and hear! 

Many non-Philadelphian Christians do not wish to seriously consider that American tackle football is harmful, despite the facts, and would prefer that I not post about it. 

 

The Bible suggests otherwise:

1 Cry aloud, spare not;

Lift up your voice like a trumpet;

Tell My people their transgression,

And the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1) 

 

The reality is that American tackle football is evil–the players get harmed. This really is not debatable as it is an established fact.

A little later he has to drag Living Church of God into the mix due to the bitterness still raging inside him after all of these years. The Great Bwana Bob suffers from LCGDS: Living Church of God Derangement Syndrome. It eats away at his soul daily ever since the church rejected him en masse when he apostatized.

Clearly with any who have eyes to see, the fruits of this ‘sport’ are evil. 

 

Over the years, I have seemingly stood alone among Church of God leaders in the 21st century warning against American tackle football. I first spoke against it at the old Spokesman’s Club in the Worldwide Church of God last century. And, when I brought the subject up in the Living Church of God, it made many uncomfortable enough to take steps leading to my departure from that group. 

 

There is no doubt that American tackle football is dangerous to health. While some in the world consider watching it to be an ‘ethical uncertainty,’ true Philadelphia Christians (as well as many who are not) realize that something about this sport is physically harmful and should not be encouraged.

Apparently, Bad Philadelphians are justifying sin by watching football and not heeding the Bwana's words:

Let me state that there is a human tendency to try to justify sin. Many think if something feels right to them, it must be. According to the Bible, that is a wrong attitude:

9 “The heart is deceitful above all things,

And desperately wicked;

Who can know it?

10 I, the Lord, search the heart,

I test the mind,

Even to give every man according to his ways,

Bad Philadelphians are also displeasing God by watching football and those scantly clad cheerleaders. Sigh. 

I could not reconcile loving my neighbor as myself and cherishing my flesh and not doing violence to any man by watching others do it in a football game. Consider also the following:

9…You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:9-10)

Jesus also said:

20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. (John 3:20-21, NKJV). 

 

Is watching American football a deed that would be pleasing to God?

 

He drags in Apostle Paul to prove football is wrong:

The Apostle Paul wrote:

12… they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.(2 Thessalonians 2:12) 29 … they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:29-32, NKJV) 

The Great Bwana Bob then has to drag Herbert up out of the grave to use him to support his LCGDS:

The late WCG Pastor-General Herbert W. Armstrong categorized American tackle football as evil. 

 

You may be telling yourself, well since my church does not (presuming you do not support a group like the Continuing Church of God which does) condemn football and/or possibly encourages it, the Bible really does not apply here. If so, be careful about accepting that type of tradition. Jesus Himself taught:

7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth,

And honor Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me.

9 And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:7-9) 

 

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 

 

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked — 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. (Revelation 3:14-19)

The Great Bwana Bob then goes off by letting you know that in his household NO ONE watches evil satanic football and those who do are Laodiceans (especially LCG members who refuse to heed his call).

I do not watch American football. I consider that it is evil (also, no Christian can really defend how professional football cheerleading females are often publicly dressed and displayed). Others want to falsely act like there is nothing wrong with watching it. 

 

Some may not wish to hear about any of the evils of violent sports, and instead prefer smooth things, but hopefully I have tried to follow the Apostle Paul who declared:

26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:26-27) 

 

The bodies and blood of those who engage in violent sports is important. It does not show Philadelphia love. 

 

Regarding American football, do you believe that Jesus or the Apostle Paul would endorse it? This is something that Christians, and those that claim to be, should think and pray about. 

 

Those Laodicean Christians who are fans of American tackle football are NOT Philadelphians and will be subject to violence themselves as they will have to go through the Great Tribulation if they do not repent (Revelation 3:14-22). 

 

Encouraging violence in sports does not show brotherly/Philadelphian love. 

 

Philadelphian Christians do not watch American tackle football–whether the USA or Canadian version of it.

Armstrongism in Contention with Christianity: Concerning Jesus' Fulfilling of the Law of Moses

The Apostle Paul 

A Reasonable Likeness from the Fayum Mummy Portraits (Fair Use)

See note at end.

 

Armstrongism in Contention with Christianity

Concerning Jesus Fulfilling of the Law of Moses

 

By Scout

 

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; 

I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. (Matt. 5:17, NRSV)

 

When I think of Armstrongism the word that often comes to mind is “contrarian”.  I formed an impression years ago that HWA felt a kind of boost to his self-esteem by adopting the dissenting viewpoint – as if he were saying, “I seem like I came from the backwoods of theology but I am so right and you all are so wrong.”  And I believe this is a life-theme of many of his followers as well.  It is common to be a contrarian in politics but, alas, religion is not politics although there are some surface similarities.  One can be totally wrong in politics and it will have only secular, durational consequences.  Not so with religion.  Here is a midrash on a topic where Armstrongism takes the heterodox road.  This is an ancient doctrine that Christians sorted out long ago.  But it has been newly challenged by Armstrongism. (When I write Law with a capital that refers to the Law of Moses; law without the capital refers to the philosophical concept of law.)

The Initial Point of Reference

I will put my cards on the table.  The next paragraph is what I think Armstrongism says about Jesus fulfilling the Law of Moses.  I may be wrong.  Let me know.  I haven’t been an Armstrongist for a long time. 

Armstrongism maintains that Jesus came to fulfill the Law of Moses by making it stricter by requiring obedience not only to the letter of the Law but also the spirit of the Law.  And in this way Jesus magnified the law and made it honorable (Isaiah 42:21).  The Israelites had been unable to successfully keep the Law.  But God fixed this by granting the Holy Spirit that makes it possible for converted humans to keep the Law of Moses even in its new more demanding form.  And the Law of Moses is written on the hearts of everyone who is a converted follower of Jesus.  The exegesis for this is found in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus, for instance, tightened up the commandment concerning adultery by taking the requirement beyond the letter to include also lusting after a women.  Therefore, all Armstrongists are responsible for keeping all of the Law of Moses in the letter and spirit. Rod Meredith declared that this included not just the Decalogue but all of the statutes and judgements because the statutes and judgements are derived from the Decalogue.  Herman Hoeh stated that the statutes and judgements pre-dated the Old Covenant and could not be abolished when the Old Covenant was terminated.  But even though the statues and judgements are considered binding, to my knowledge Armstrongism has never defined a comprehensive catalog of spiritual intents for this body of legislation. The statutes and judgements seem to continue only in the letter.  Further, Armstrongists believe that they must follow the example of Jesus and Jesus kept the Law of Moses.  Excluded are the sacrifices and what Armstrongists refer to as the Ministry of Death.   The wild card is that Armstrongist leaders believe they can loosen and bind Biblical mandate including the Law of Moses although the doctrine is not well defined. 

Jesus Kept the Law of Moses Perfectly for a Reason

Jesus kept the Law of Moses perfectly but is that the example that we are intended to follow? Jesus was born under the Law of Moses. He was an Israelite living in the polity of Israel. And Israel was party to a covenant with God.  That covenant required the observance of the Law that had been conveyed through Moses.  So, Jesus was obligated to keep the Law of Moses by circumstances of human birth.   This is so even though he was Yahweh and had created the Law of Moses. 

Beyond this Old Covenant context in which Jesus lived, there is a profound, new, spiritual meaning. The perfect Law keeping of Jesus is important to all of us because it is part of the way that God implemented salvation for us.  We are blessed with the Vicarious Humanity of Christ.  Jesus met conditions for us, in our stead, securing salvation for us.   One of the conditions he met for us was the keeping of the Law of Moses. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NRSV) it states:

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

We cannot be made righteous in him unless he were perfectly righteous.  God expects perfect righteousness and that is what we cannot deliver.  The righteousness of Jesus is our righteousness by ascription.  And this ascription is not contingent on works.  While there is debate among different denominations how precisely the ascription happens, there is no debate about the fact that the righteousness originates with Jesus and is credited to us.  In the simplest terms, “by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous (KJV, Romans 5:19).   In Romans 4: 6 (NRSV), Paul states:

“So also David speaks of the blessedness of those to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works:”

In the larger context of Romans 4 we understand that this righteousness comes to us through our justification by God through the faith of Jesus that resides in us through the Holy Spirit.  There seems to be no exegesis that supports the idea that Jesus’ conforming perfectly to the Law of Moses created a requirement that Christians must follow the Law of Moses and in an even more exacting way.  Such an assertion would contradict the Biblical statements concerning justification by imputation.  

Nor is there any implication that since Jesus kept the Law of Moses that we then should follow his example, in his footsteps, and also keep the Law of Moses.  What we have seen this far is that Jesus kept the Law of Moses vicariously in our stead.  1 Peter 2:21 says that we should follow in the steps of Jesus in regard to suffering.  It does not mention observing the Law of Moses.  This aligns with James 5:10. Our relationship with Jesus keeping the Law of Moses is not one of imitation but imputation.    

The disposition of the Law of Moses after the Crucifixion is explained in Pauline theology.  It has been replaced by the Law of Christ.  Jesus as Yahweh can promulgate a new modified Law and did so.  The disposition of the Law of Moses is seen in this scripture from Romans 7:6 (NRSV):

“But now we are discharged from the law, dead to that which held us captive, so that we are enslaved in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the written code.”

The message is clear.  We are discharged from the Law – dead to it.  Its past impact on our lives is characterized as captivity and enslavement.  It is not the foundation on which the future will be built. Paul’s metaphor could not be clearer.  I remember hearing a sermon in the WCG in which the minister stated that “dead to the law” really means “dead to the penalty of the law” and that we do not experience the penalty of the Law any longer because we keep the Law and the penalty is not exacted – apparently we had to be keeping it perfectly for this model to work.   But there was no basis for inserting “the penalty of” into Paul’s language.  This was an artful dodge to justify the heterodoxy of continuing to observe of the Law of Moses after it was no longer in force. 

The Messiah will Magnify the Law and Make if Honorable

Jesus fulfilled the Law by transcending the Old Covenant and the Law of Moses with a new covenant and new law leading to a new purpose and by his personal example as the living Word of God.  It is a fulfilling of (not the abrogation of) the Law of Moses because it retains the moral imperative of the Law of Moses while rescinding or modifying the letter (think of circumcision). This fulfilling is not simply the idea that Jesus kept the Law of Moses perfectly as an example for us to imitate.   The reason for that is addressed in the previous section of this essay.  But the Greek word for fulfill is plēroō.   This word means to make abundant or to complete or to make something abound.  

The New Testament explains to us the way in which Jesus accomplished this flourishing.  Jesus achieved the fulness of the purpose of the Law by vacating the letter of the Law of Moses (Romans 7: 1-6), establishing in the place of the Law of Moses a new law, called the Law of Christ in scripture (Galatians 6:2; Romans 8:2; 1 Corinthians 9:21), and in his words and deed, as the living Word of God, setting a new example under this new covenant that we should follow (1 John 2:6) with the ultimate goal of accomplishing better purposes than the Law of Moses could provide (Hebrews 8:6).  This is what the Bible documents – an abounding of purpose intended and of purpose achieved. 

One might think that Jesus fulfilled the Law like someone fulfills the condition of a contract.  When the fulfilling action is complete, then the condition is satisfied and has no further bearing.  But in this contract model, not only the letter of the Law would be terminated but its moral intent also.  We know the moral intent reflects God’s nature and will not go away.   Jesus kept the Law perfectly not because he was simply discharging a contractual obligation but because his righteousness would be ascribed to believers, justifying them, as an essential element in the plan of salvation. 

Jesus fulfilled the Law by showing us a new, better way to the outcomes that the Law intended but Israel was never able to achieve.  And he showed us a better way by his words and actions as the living, embodied Word of God.  Jesus had the authority to change the Law.  Several times is the Sermon on the Mount he says, “You have heard that it was said, … But I say to you…”  Jesus was not inferior to Moses (Hebrews 3:3).  It was Jesus as Yahweh that gave the Law to Israel through Moses.  This establishment of a new way by Jesus was done not by preserving the letter of the Law and making it more rigorous but by superseding it with a better way of life – known to Christians as The Way.  

Jesus magnified the Law and made it Honorable by showing that it was not just a grounds for measuring performance but a grounds principally for love.  Jesus said:

“He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (NRSV, Matthew 22:37-40)

This is the purpose of the Law and the Prophets, these two commandments about love. This is not a new statement.  Deuteronomy 6:4 and Leviticus 19:18 together say the same thing.  But the Judaic tradition at the time of Christ was not following this.  The scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman taken in adultery to see if he would participate in her stoning.  And Yahweh who gave the Law and knew how he wanted it applied said let him who has not sinned cast the first stone.  This is radically different way of applying the Law – a way based on love and grace.  Jesus did not magnify the Law by making it harsher and more punitive.  He did it by bringing it to its original purpose – love of God and love of neighbor.

Conclusion

Jesus fulfilled the law, magnified it and made it honorable, principally by making love its focus, by giving us the New Testament, the Law of Christ and Vicarious Humanity of Jesus.  Dissenters from this view would assert that Jesus made the Law greater by making it more rigorous.  And keeping the Law of Moses is a requirement for salvation.  As for the Armstrongist idea that the giving of the Holy Spirit made it possible for people to keep the new demanding Law, this did not seem to work for the Apostle Paul (Romans 7:21-25). Nor did it ever result in Armstrongists keeping the full Law of Moses – they keep only select parts of the Law of Moses.   We should follow the example of Jesus not in the observation of the letter of the Law of Moses but in following the Law of Christ (The Sermon on the Mount and New Testament principles broadly).  And the Law of Christ carries forward whatever is essential in the Law of Moses.

Note:  For the image of Paul at the top of the article, I chose a portrait from the gallery of Fayum Mummy Portraits.  I believe Paul looked much more like this portrait than the common depictions of him as a Western European. While we cannot know Paul’s facial features, we can at least get the physical anthropology right.  The Fayum people were Egyptian or a mixture of Greek and Egyptian. Their genetic profiles are mostly Egyptian.  The portraits date from around the time of Jesus. Some may be early Christians.   We know from Acts 21:38 that a Roman Tribune mistook Paul for an Egyptian.  Later in the same account, Paul addressed a group of Jews at the Temple, and they were not comfortable with him by appearance.  He had to identify himself as a Jew and speak to them in Hebrew before they would settle down and listen.  Clearly, Paul was dark-skinned, perhaps darker than some of the Jews he was addressing. My guess is that he looked “Gentile” to these Jews. Followers of British Israelism will see in this an issue.  Paul is of the tribe of Benjamin and should have looked like a Norwegian.  The Norwegians are thought by Armstrongists to be the modern-day descendants of Benjamin.  This is a Biblical refutation of this point in the Armstrongist version of British Israelism. 

 

LCG Going Forth In Power To All The World On Rumble

 

Rumbling with the Living Church of God on Rumble.

The biggest witness ever into the four corners of the globe!

Nations tremble at their feet.

Thousands converted to the truth!

Oh, wait! 49 people are followers.

Rumble has 78 million people on it.

But, there are 49 followers. Woo Hoo!

In a fun twist, the Great Bwana Bob has more followers for his snake oil supplements than the LCG does for the truth restored.

Where would the world be without the Churches of God in its midst?

Has The Church of God Ever Been "Kind"?

Living Church of God had this up for Doug Winnail's weekly update for August  22, 2024

The Importance of Kindness: The Bible reveals that in the last days, people will be “unloving, unforgiving, slanderers… brutal” (2 Timothy 3:1–4). However, God wants Christians to develop godly qualities and become like He is, “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness” (Nehemiah 9:17). David writes that God “has shown me His marvelous kindness” (Psalm 31:21). Solomon says of a virtuous woman: “on her tongue is the law of kindness” (Proverbs 31:26). Jesus said that God is even “kind to the unthankful” and we should be likewise (Luke 6:35). The Apostle Paul wrote that true Christian love “suffers long and is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4) because kindness is one of the fruits of God’s Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). If we hope to become like God and be in the Kingdom of God, we will strive to develop and exercise this important quality of kindness.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail

While these questions include LCG in them they also apply as a whole to the Church of God movement. 

Has the Church of God, as a whole, ever practiced kindness to its members? 

Has the ministry been kind to its members? 

Has their version of kindness been only restricted to church members or has it shown kindness to the world?

Has the church been "unloving, unforgiving, slanderers...brutal?" to its members?

Can church members learn godly qualities by how they have been treated by church leaders and ministers?

Does the love of members "suffer long and is kind?

Do you believe that you will be a good god considering how you treat people today in this lifetime?

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Broken Trust Is a Guide Out of Spiritual Abuse

F. Remy Diederich relates his personal experiences of toxic faith and spiritual abuse along with the experiences of other survivors. But this isn't just another tell-all story of abuse; it's a guide that will help you to first identify spiritual abuse, and then offer you a practical plan for recovery. Diederich is convinced that God is the God of resurrection and restoration. He believes you can begin again.

One of the Best Books on Spiritual Abuse

One review wrote: "As a spiritual abuse survivor and blogger, I have now read dozens of books about this topic. Many are academic in nature, or very dense. I am comfortable saying that this book provides the clearest, simplest, most helpful coverage of spiritual abuse and recovery." Stephen A. Smith, libertyforcaptives.com

Broken Trust" builds on the wisdom laid out in previous books on the topic, such as "The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse," by Dave Johnson and Jeff Van Vonderen.

The book is laid out in five parts: 

 

Part One: Defining Toxic Faith and Spiritual Abuse

Part Two: Practical Steps to Deal with Spiritual Abuse

Part Three: The Road to Recovery

Part Four: I Left My Toxic Church…Now What?

Part Five: How to Rescue Your Church From Spiritual Abuse (advice to leaders) 

 

The book draws wisdom from the examples of toxic faith in Paul's letter to the Galatians to show that spiritual abuse is not new to the church.

The Author Understands You and Spiritual Abuse

Diederich's words are not religious or preachy but he writes in the typical "down-to-earth" fashion he's shown in his other helpful books. He speaks in a personal tone that will encourage you to understand yourself, your abuser, and the steps you can take to reclaim your relationship with God and, if possible, your relationship with the church or spiritual community. Be sure to read the reviews to see how Broken Trust has helped many people break free from spiritual abuse.

Stinking Pile Of Feculence That Claims To Be A Church Leader Maligns Dr. Stavrinides

 

Dr. Stavrinides died the other day and just like clockwork the ravenous wolves of Armstrongism started peeing on the ground marking their territory as they sought to malign his character and his faith.  

Most of this bad-mouthing has come from self-appointed stinking turds masquerading as faithful men of God who in rebellious fits of vile impertinence decided they were better than everyone else and started their own little cults. 

Castrated from the very start by Herbert Armstrong's very own words condemning their actions, these little men struggle to find position and honor in their tiny little apostate communities as they continually lash out at others who are better than they are.

This brings us today to our great Bwana Bob Thiel, the chief overseer of the improperly named "continuing" Church of a lesser "god". Nothing pops his holistic cork more than COG and former COG members being more successful than he is and having a better relationship with God than he does.

After he read the notice I put up on this blog and copied the exact information I posted on this blog, he set about maligning the character and faith of Dr. Stavrinides. Dr. Stav's religious knowledge, his historical knowledge, and his ability to debate and examine issues of importance make the superficial crap that was spoonfed the Great Bwana Bob by Armstrongism and his spiritual daddy, Rod Meredith look like baby pablum curdling on the highchair. Dr. Stav could have wiped the floor with Bwana Bob's so-called intellect many times over, but he was too good of a person to do that. Not so with Bwana Bob.

The Chief Overseer of Feculence starts off by claiming Dr Stav's church, where he was a Greek Orthodox priest, said he was God. Can Bwana Bob really be THIS stupid? Godly men who practice their faith will always be said by their associates, members, and others as God sent to them. In no manner whatsoever do any of these people claim the person is God. That is blasphemy in almost every branch of Christianity except in Armstrongism and Mormonism which both teach humans will be God.

Bwana Bob says:

No, Orthodox church, he was NOT “God sent to us as a church.” That is a blasphemous statement.

His parish wrote in his obituary:

We are truly going to miss you. We have learned so many things from him. He has taught us to love and respect each other.You were God sent to us as a church. Not only we got the best priest, we also got a very educated priest who just loved to teach and guide us in the right way. He never gave up on us. He always remained committed to the church, even having to endure a two-hour drive plus traffic from Glendora to Saint George Orthodox Church Hesperia. We are extremely grateful to meet you and spend lots of time with him. 

 

No matter how busy things got, he always made time for the people he cared about, and showed us that family always comes first no matter what. Everyone who knew him knew how proud he was of the people he loved, 

 

He stressed the significance of attending church and emphasized the need to prioritize it. He used to say, (We always should put God first before anything) 

 

Father Alexander had the Bible memorized. Any question you ask, he would say go to this verse and chapter. 

Here we have a group of people who recognized the God-given attributes that Dr. Stav epitomized and practiced to all around him. He epitomized godly attributes as all REAl Christians are supposed to be doing (except for Bob Thiel, apparently). He was not God on earth or sent as a God to his church. Greek Orthodox Christians would be appalled how some small-minded iniquitous man such as Bwana Bob would say this.

Bwana Bob continues on trying to malign him.

Dr. K. J. Stavrinides had been a member of the old Worldwide Church of God. 

 

After Herbert W. Armstrong died and the Tkach Administration was in place, he rose from being basically a little known teacher to being one who tried to persuade the membership to change and embrace the Greco-Roman trinity that was enforced by Emperor Theodosius.

Dr Stave was not a "little-known" teacher. He was highly respected by students, faculty, and church members for his intellect and his Biblical knowledge, something that Bwana Bob is greatly lacking in. He wrote numerous articles for church publications and was sought out by other institutions for his knowledge and expertise.

Next, the Bwana tries to smear his name by attaching him to Tkach jr and the God Is... booklet. The God Is...booklet was a wake-up call for many in the church to examine how we understood God.

Bwana Bob then tries to smear him one more time by stating he taught at Azusa Pacific University as if this is some kind of great blasphemy. APU is highly rated for its education, nursing, religious, and other teaching areas. It has also been in existence since 1899, something that Armstrongism was never able to accomplish with its three colleges or even its church!

Dr Stav's students rated him highly, something that Bwana Bob has never accomplished. Imagine at any point from this moment forward that anyone and I repeat ANYONE would EVER say this about Bob Thiel:

Again, I ask...will you ever hear ANYONE ever talk about Bob Thiel in this manner? Even his own church, the Living Church of God which kicked him out, never had anything good to say about him and still doesn't to this day.

Only those who are part of the highly chosen of Bwana Bob's cult are the faithful, chosen, and called by God. Dr Stav, not so much, and even worse for Tkach Jr.

It is those who truly hold to the original faith that are called, chosen, and faithful. 

 

Sadly, Dr. Stavrinides, Hank Hanegraaff, Joseph Tkach, Jr. and many thousands who had at least some affiliation with the old Worldwide Church of God fell away from being faithful. 

 

Do not follow their poor legacy.

No one in their right mind would ever be following the Great Bwana Bob Thiel. Do NOT follow his poor "legacy", if we can even call it that. In a few short years, no one will remember Bwana Bob, know what he taught, or will even be part of his so-called church.

Dr Stavrinides will be remembered for a long time. Bob Thiel, not so much.

Why Do They Stay?: Ten Reasons Why People Fail to Leave a Toxic Church and, in this case, David C Pack

 

That has always become the question with Apostle/Elijah to come/Joshua the High Priest/Messenger of the Covenant/ and over all Jesus incarnate to come, David C Pack and his Restored Church of God. 

https://www.readingremy.com/blog/ten-reasons-why-people-fail-to-leave-a-toxic-church

Ten Reasons Why People Fail to Leave A Toxic Church:

1. You don’t want to be accused of being rebellious. 

Spiritually abusive leaders make you feel like disagreeing with them is equal to questioning God. And we all know that bad things happen to people who question God, right? At least that’s what they want you to think. You don’t want to be labeled a rebel, or having a “rebellious spirit.” 

2. You are full of self-doubt. 

Abusive leaders make you feel like YOU are the problem. They say things like,

 “The reason you disagree with me is because you aren’t as spiritually mature as I am. You need to trust my leadership and submit to my authority like the Bible tells you to do.” 

They flip the discussion upside down and before you know it, you are asking for their forgiveness when it should be the other way around.

3. You fear losing your circle of friends. 

Sometimes we tolerate an unhealthy community simply because that’s where our friends and family are. The peer pressure to stay can be overwhelming. 

When given the choice of speaking the truth and losing your community, or staying quiet but keeping your community, the community often wins out.

4. You don’t want to lose your equity investment. 

What I mean is that you’ve invested so much time and energy into your church through the years that you don’t want to lose that investment. It feels like wasted time. 

So you stay a little longer, hoping it will eventually work.  

5. You like to be liked and needed. 

A legalistic system can be very rewarding. You might feed off of the praise you get for performing well. Or maybe you simply can’t handle the thought of people not liking you if you leave the community. Your low self-worth and need to please keep you trapped. 

6. You fear being wrong and losing your salvation. 

You might think that your group is spiritually off track and even abusive, but what if you're wrong? You fear that YOU might be the problem like they say you are. You’re not sure it’s worth the risk. This self-doubt causes you to do nothing about your concerns. 

7. You fear exposure, humiliation, and physical harm. 

You know that, if you leave, members of the congregation will trash your name and reputation. Sometimes even worse. You’ve seen it happen to others who left, and you don’t want it to happen to you.  

8. You fear not making it on your own.

Even though you know your spiritual leaders are wrong, you fear falling away from God without their strong input into your life. You’re not sure you can make it on your own. 

9. You lack boundaries. 

Maybe you were raised to believe that people had the right to impose their thoughts, beliefs, and will upon you. You don’t feel like it’s your right to question others or resist their power. You're used to being violated in this way. You feel powerless, and so you let the abuse continue. 

And the final reason you might not confront abusive leaders or leave an abusive church is because…

10. You believe God met you in that church.

There was a moment or moments when you KNOW that God showed up in a sermon, the music, a prayer, or a counseling session. This is strong proof to you that God is in your church and/or leadership. So how can you leave? The leaders will even remind you of this.

I don’t doubt that you may have had a God moment in an abusive church, but don’t take that as a justification to stay. Rather, see it as God’s grace and goodness showing up in the middle of abuse. He wanted to show you that he loves you and he’s with you. But that doesn’t mean that you should stay. It doesn’t excuse the abuse.

Please Do Something

If you see yourself in any of these ten reasons, just realize that you are not alone. These are common reasons why people stay in toxic churches and abusive relationships. My hope in pointing out these reasons is that you’ll find the courage to fight against your natural tendency to stay and be quiet. 

I want to encourage you to DO something. 

FYI… I created two videos that cover this topic. I posted them below.

If you’d like to learn more about how to recover from a spiritually abusive church be sure to check out my book Broken Trust. A recent reader said this about the book, 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has experienced any type of spiritual abuse or church hurt. The book is excellent from beginning to end …Broken Trust deals with all of the issues along with solutions on how to go through the healing process. You can read almost 200 reviews on Amazon.com

You can read over 200 reviews of Broken Trust on Amazon.com, available on Kindle, paperback and audiobook.