Weston goes on to declare below that there may be "...potential unintended consequences before it is too late to “get the cows back in the barn."
Greetings from Charlotte,
We held an hour-and-a-half online meeting for ministers worldwide on Wednesday. Mr. Rod McNair addressed several procedural subjects for our ministry. Dr. Douglas Winnail addressed what it means to be a “Pastor Emeritus,” whether or not we can use gluten-free bread for Passover, and circumcision. I spoke about how to deal with remote GOTOs and the use of electronic Bibles in preaching.
On that subject, I acknowledged that electronic Bibles are powerful tools we can use in studying the Bible, and there are situations where it may be necessary to use them from the pulpit, such as when one has bad eyesight or is preaching in a congregation with poor lighting. But there are likely to be unintended consequences. Those of us who have studied the Bible for decades have a foundation that we may not fully appreciate when it comes to how the Bible is laid out and fits together. Those cutting their teeth on electronic Bibles most likely do not have the same overview. They may be able to jump back and forth from one translation to another—and this can be a wonderful study tool—but are they building a firm foundation on a recommended translation? Only now, after “the cows are out of the barn,” have we learned the dangers of social media—even from some of the executives behind it. We need to consider potential unintended consequences before it is too late to “get the cows back in the barn.” That is why I have asked our ministry to use a hard-copy Bible from the pulpit except in those cases that present rare and legitimate exceptions.
—Gerald E. Weston
Notice how Weston tells us that Winnail "addressed" the question of gluten-free Passover bread, but doesn't tell us whether or not it's a problem or why it was addressed. Strange. Also, I thought the question of circumcision was asked and answered at a ministerial conference more than 1900 years ago, so it seems odd that Winnail felt he had to address it in a ministerial conference in 2025.
ReplyDeleteWeston is correct. Ministers who preach from electronic tablets are losing out on what their predecessors with printed Bibles experienced. So, why isn't Weston equally indignant about those ministers who have rejected the original Biblical format, the scroll? The Bible itself is full of descriptions of God's Word on scrolls, but there is NOT ONE reference in the Bible to one of those newfangled "book" things that drove people away from God's preferred method of communication, the scroll. If Weston wants people to get back to the true Bible, that's great, but then he should go all the way and embrace the scroll, the way God originally presented His Word. For Weston to embrace Gutenberg but reject Kindle and iPad is just another sign of lukewarm attachment to one human tradition over another.
ReplyDeleteScrolls??? Kids these days….Back in my day we used stone tablets the way it was intended… once you get away from that it’s a slippery slope my friends …. Sorry got to go…. Some guys from LCG are trying to sit in my seat again …
Deletewhat it means to be a “Pastor Emeritus,”
ReplyDeleteDoes "Pastor Emeritus" mean that you keep your full Pastor salary instead of taking a reduced retirement pension like less favored ministers are required to do? Or, does it mean you take your reduced retirement pension but keep a big title to retain the prestige you used to have? They've never before had "Elder Emeritus" or "Evangelist Emeritus" either, but I'm sure this sets a precedent for how other favored members of LCG's inner circle will be treated when it's their time.
Smokescreen.
ReplyDeleteOnline biblical and scriptural sources may place one into contact with theological influences that are contrary to Armstrongism . And expose this movement for what it is. That their theological foundations are unsound untenable unscriptural and will not stand under the light of solid scholarship. That’s why the alarm was sounded.
Well they gotta milk the members for all they can get with their udderly false Herb tithing doctrines.
ReplyDeleteThe same argument Weston uses against electronic Bibles can be used against electronic ministerial conferences. Did that even occur to Gerry before he shot his mouth off?
ReplyDeleteGod help these people if members and ministers ever acquire quality study Bibles and begin to actually read the voluminous footnotes and cross-references! Hasta la Vista, Baby! There goes the entire Armstrong movement!
ReplyDelete1. When did LCG move back to California from Charlotte?
ReplyDelete2. Gluten-free unleavened bread recipes are online. The overlooked issue is whether the Passover bread should be unleavened at all (check the Greek words).
3. Many hardcover Bibles have marginal references, which can expand a believer's understanding. Blue Letter Bible online offers "cross-references" which help as well. To me, it's a wash.
Yeah, I've never known matzo to be referred to as a "loaf". And it would be quite difficult to "sop" anything with matzo.
Delete‘Pastor Emeritus’.
ReplyDeleteVery Catholic. Next the top boys in lcog will be soon known as holy father, your lordship, favoured one, virtuous bishop, holiness etc etc etc. And wearing rings so we lesser mortals can bend the knee to kiss the hand of such distinguished ones.
See what you are missing out on Bob Thiel. Makes a doctorate seem rather common and not at all to be desired.
They better pay their pastors in cash, none of this direct deposit bs. By the way we Americans who are spoiled, "like myself" enjoy options. We like our coffee hot or iced or blended, our tea hot or cold, food cooked in the oven, grill, stove or microwave, our cars either as gas guzzlers or electric vehicles, our books newspapers, magazines by hard copy or electronic. (It's easier to read at night with a kindle or pad with it lit up in the dark before going to bed).
ReplyDeleteBy the way, speaking of newspapers, didn't I hear of Weston at one point of time having an electronic newspaper subscription to an Australian newspaper or some European publication through this electronic device to "watch" all things. The hypocrisy of these guys!!
"Let no man judge you on how you keep the...."
Tank
Hah! These are the guys who hate electric guitars, too! Figures they'd extend that hatred to electic Bibles as well!
ReplyDeleteThat makes sense. I love electric guitars, reading bibles online, and having a bible on my phone. So much easier than carrying 10 or more physical bibles with me, and by comparing translations, I can refute so many LCG doctrines as well.
DeleteI don't know how many sermons we have attended and Jerry Weston was up there preaching using his laptop. So is a laptop better than using an electronic Bible? Man are these guys actually serious or what? One time he started to give a sermon he had given just a few weeks before and we had to get his attention so he would stop that one and present a new one. and yes he was using his laptop up there. sure an innocent mistakes I suppose, but he can't blame using an electronic form of the Bible. next thing they'll be telling us what color tupperware
ReplyDeletewe should and should NOT bring to church. Talk about majoring in the minors. Crazy.
A cursory Google search of the term "Pastor Emeritus" displays its common usage in other denominations in bestowing the title on those clergy who are retiring or taking a step back from more active or lead pastor positions to be more of a mentor or background support to younger pastors. The common idea is that it is a way of honoring those who have served their congregations faithfully and well, and to continue to recognize their previous position, rank, or title. In adopting this title for their retiring pastors, LCG is simply copying other denominations, including the Catholics, who bestowed the title of "Pope Emeritus" on Pope Benedict when he stepped down from his active role in the Papacy. While we might find terms such as pastor, elder, etc. in the Bible, the term emeritus is Latin in origin, and isn't confined to use within religious circles, but has historically been used in more academic circles, i.e. "Professor Emeritus". It seems to just be a fancy title to give to guys who are getting too old to actively pastor congregations.
ReplyDeleteAs for some of the other issues, I am scratching my head as to why they are such hot topics. Concerning gluten free grains, is it the grain itself that the Bible addresses in speaking about leavening, or the process it undergoes that creates leaven in the final bread product? If the answer is the latter, then why is this even an issue? If Jewish Celiacs have the option of using gluten free matzos for Passover, why shouldn't others?
As far as the use of electronic Bibles and apps being used from the pulpit goes, I would much rather have a speaker be able to use one of these devices, than to have to sit through him hunting for, and misreading scriptures he can't see well, especially since we all know the majority of speakers in these groups are an older population to begin with. I would also ask what "unintended consequences" Weston seems to be afraid of? If the goal of a message is to convey the meaning of scripture as accurately as possible, then not only should the clergy be taught and encouraged to use these tools, but the lay membership should be taught to use them as well. No one translation is going to convey the meaning of a passage perfectly in all cases, and sometimes the nuance of the verse or passage is missed entirely if you don't know how to investigate the Hebrew or Greek behind it. The Bible apps and software we have available to us can help us do that at least to a point through the use of lexicons, commentaries, comparing translations, etc. To Weston and others who seem to be afraid of the consequences of educating their people in the use of these tools, I would ask, is your goal to truly convey the meaning of scripture, or is it to uphold your own dogmas, power, and position?
Considering this online meeting included the entire LCG ministry, some things were notably missing from the topics of discussion. Things such as "How can we adapt to be more effective in reaching the modern world with the gospel of Jesus Christ?" Or how about, "How can we encourage the brethren to grow not only in their knowledge and understanding of the scriptures, but also in their own love and care for each other, not just for the benefit of the body of Christ, but also in order to reflect His character to others and in doing so to be lights on a hill, and salt of the earth?" See Matthew 5:13-16, and John 13:34-35.
Where is your focus? While side issues must be discussed from time to time, there seems to be an overall lack of vision and inspiration among these men that won't be remedied regardless of the skill used in flipping the pages of a recommended translation from the pulpit, if the point of what is in those pages is overlooked or missed entirely.
Concerned Sister
This is the same Gerald Weston here as our LCG leader who becomes more upset about interracial relationships than he does over fornication and adultery. There is an active shack up relationship going on here in our LCG congregation and it is accepted and that's that. And yet Gerald Weston has medaled in relationships of mixed race while knowingly leaving this shack up one alone. a few ministers wanted to address it kind of, but Mr. Weston told them to take hands off and let them be. So why is this?
ReplyDeleteBecause Weston is a "conservative" as he said himself. They have selective outrage. He cares whether a former pitcher Curt Schilling can get into baseball's hall of fame. He allows for someone like Douglass Winnail to rail about confederate monuments (idols) being taken down when they feel they should remain. These are men from the old WCG who would rather for a black man to marry within their own race outside the church, than to marry interracially inside the church. They care about the format of the bible more than the actual scriptures within.
Delete....."has medaled".........
Delete)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
AH! The English language! Is it medal, or metal, or meddle, or mettle????!!!!!
So, did Weston get the brass, the silver, or the gold??????????
DeleteHe gets Lithium, the silver-white metal
DeleteRom. 14:1, Paul tells the church to not squabble over disputable issues. He sought unity in the church, not uniformity. I think they should stop majoring in the minors.
ReplyDeleteI remember Weston bitching about phones, computers, and tablets 10 years ago. He’s a conservative that doesn’t like change and then assigns a moral value to change he doesn’t like. The word of God is either holy or it isn’t. Stone tablets, scrolls, paper, now electronic. Is an all powerful God going to get tripped up by his word being in digital form? Didn’t HWA even say something along the lines of “things aren’t the problem, it’s the use of the thing?”
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the real issue is that the ministers can be fact checked in real time and have less latitude for blowing smoke.
Someone should tell Weston, one of the benefits of using an electronic bible is that it's easier or quicker to navigate different translations on a given verse. Sometimes the apostles like Paul were in jail without any scroll or book and were quoting scripture with their scribe. It's simply another option that's all. He should just relax, Don't they have a online university or something?
DeleteIf LCG are against online bibles, bibles on smartphones or tablets, etc., then why do they even have a website?
ReplyDelete