Did UCG's recent fast really accomplish anything?
President Elliott began by expressing some personal thoughts on the honor of being given this opportunity to serve in this role. In his address, he quoted Ephesians 1:15-23; Matthew 28:19-20; and John 17:20-26. Mr. Elliott emphasized the true head of the Church (Jesus Christ) and where we fit in. He noted that we must let Him lead this Church, and we are to focus on the work He gives us. He also talked about the need to be at one with God, Jesus Christ and each other.
Mr. Elliott then mentioned a churchwide fast that will take place on Friday, May 30. He encouraged all to take the time to study, think, forgive, clean our minds, and refocus as we enter the fast, as well as the Sabbath and Pentecost. Mr. Elliott then concluded by saying, “I’m thankful to serve in this capacity and appreciate the prayers.”
20 comments:
Funny, I heard nothing about this on CNN.
That aside, calling for a church wide fast on a WORKDAY is callous and just dumb. But for those in ivory towers, to be expected. What are they playing at?
Why not a Sunday. Life has enough stress without some out of touch with the real world pen pushers making proclamations like this.
Because that following Sunday was Pentecost Sunday. He went from Friday weakness to Sunday feast.
Beyond that, I've been convinced by Mr. Elliott's two-part series on "Seeking Oneness" to start repenting with every prayer... of something. That's the only true way to accomplish what he said: rising from your prayers sinless.
Last thing he would have thought about is the members needs.
Elliott wrote: "...He noted that we must let Him lead this Church..."
Apparently, Elliott thinks, now that he is a "president" of the United Ass., that he is important, but was/is God paying any attention to him, or any in his association?
Who in that United Ass. is not "letting" Jesus Christ "lead this Church?" No mention of the phrase "God's Church." Their group is just "this church," one among hundreds, if not thousands of other groups thinking themselves to be part of some "church of God" because they put that phrase within the name of their manmade organization.
If God has His Church, and God has His Son as the Head of God's Church, wouldn't it make sense that Jesus Christ would perfectly lead it, that He would not be concerned about any "important members" thinking it was up to them to "let" Jesus lead?
What kind of an organization, Ass., group does Elliott think he is the president of? And some wanted Aaron Dean to be in charge?
I suggest that the fast conducted by those of the United Ass. on 30 May accomplished no more than any of the previous fasts they've had since 1995: that their fast was not the acceptable fast that God has in mind and spells out in Isaiah 58. There is an acceptable fast that exists.
And any who fast should remember the following verse, which gives God's view about anyone expecting to "get for self:"
"Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as [ye do this] day, to make your voice to be heard on high." Isaiah 58:4
If one is just striving to make their voice(s) to "be heard on high:" that is not an acceptable fast.
Are there still peeps in the United Ass., who are involved in strife, debate? Why really did Rick Shabi "get the boot?" That never happened with HWA or JWT Sr, when they were in charge. They accomplished whatever work they were given to do, and just died.
Are those of the United Ass. still striving to do the work of HWA? It's over. He's dead. That work was done.
Assuming that God completed "work" within the lives of both servants, HWA (Armstrongism?) & JWT Sr. (church of god movement), did God move on?
Is God an author of confusion? Was God working elsewhere?
Time will tell...
John
6:16 callous is an interesting word you've used as is 'ivory towers'.
They pushed a sole Friday fast at first, but there must have been backlash or second thoughts and they changed it to 'when it's best for yourself.'
It's only June 19th and not yet a month since the fast. What's with the impatience from this blog too?
UCG, over the years, likes to call a 'worldwide UCG fast'. Perhaps God himself is not interested in yet another worldwide fast they've called.
They have never called a fast when the results of their UCG member surveys come in, perhaps they should have, over the years. Or is character and behaviour of no interest to God these days?
"He noted that we must let Him lead this Church.."
The ACOG groups always use the words "lead His church." They religiously hide that God communicates with, and leads every individual Christian directly. The veil in the holy of holies splitting in two on Christ's death means that every person now has direct access to God the Father. No middlemen prophets or ministers are now required. Are you listening Bob? But power hungry ministers covert Christ's role, so they imply that God exclusively communicates through them. This is the overt lie told by the Jehovah's Witnesses. Their 'governing body' claims that God communicates only through them. The scripture they give to support this claim says no such thing, not even vaguely. They bank on their members not checking the given scriptures, a common deceitful ploy used by many denominations. Armstrongism and the JWs are brother and sister (they also taught 1975), so it's worthwhile to view JWs dissident sites that expose their shenanigans.
Has anyone ever heard of these fasts working for anything? I used to be a grueller, sometimes fasting for 48 hours, and cannot recall anything momentous resulting.
I believe that this is the sort of thing secular entities would use to build team spirit. At least, "Smells Like Team Spirit", but, no, fasting is not a slice of Nirvana. It is kinda grungey, though, and maybe not too good for the kidneys.
BB
Eve the Great Perverted One called his fasts for the Sabbath day. One time he even said that if his announcement didn’t reach you before a particular Sabbath, then to fast the following one.
Got to give the Devil his due.
Sabbath Christians are not the same as Jehovah Witnesses.
I say give Eve a break.
lol Yes, that is supposed to be “EVEN.” Voice to text is not being kind to me of late.
Armstrong ripped off a lot from JWs, even beyond birthdays. Nathan Albright, who has gotten a lot of talk on here lately, modeled a “covenantal” form of civil government, the theological concept of which greatly resembles a Sabbatarian form of the JW “theocracy.” The idea is that they can claim exemption from biblical Civic Duty because their country doesn’t have that sort of governance relationship to God. Exactly how Albright views that traditional claim of exemption, I am not 100% certain. https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2025/06/08/white-paper-covenantal-nationhood-entering-into-a-national-covenant-with-god-according-to-the-bible/
I challenged him on the Exodus 31 aspect of it (including mentioning Armstrong himself not apparently mentioning it in his 1977 address to a constitutional convention in South West Africa), but he never replied. Thus I did not use my fuller challenge to both the JW and Armstrongist versions of the claim, particularly to the arms-bearing aspect, which I posted here: https://catsgunsandnationalsecurity.blogspot.com/2025/06/reference-counter-to-traditional.html?m=1
Well, Bob, I think individuals, families, and small groups have had success with fasts in this modern era. But, these organizational fasts have generally yielded little. UCG called a fast when they were looking to build a headquarters building. That fast played a role in the UCG and Cogwa split. I think it worked for the ministers as most got what they wanted, the right kind of buddies that agree on the same things and hang out with to drink bourbon. It didn't work well for the members however.
The guy in the picture in the prison sweats kind of looks like Clay Morrow (SOA).
@4:00 ~ I know of some isolated good things that have happened for people of various faiths, one of which I just learned about amongst some Mormon friends (yes, I do have friends of various faiths!). It would be very nice if these things became axiomatic, i.e, if you do this, or if you are a member of this group, then this is what will happen. But that never works at anywhere near 100%.
I will gladly concede the point that the good things you mentioned, things which defy the laws of probability, do happen. We cannot rely upon practices such as fasting to cause them on a regular basis. I do believe that we can store up what I call for lack of a better term "good karma" and it flows back to us when even we might not expect it or feel that we deserve it. Such things do not become a guaranteed constant as a result of our membership in a particular group. If a group is practicing majority good, and their karma bank account contains a healthy amount of savings, that good can flow back to them in times of need. It's difficult to imagine that happening for groups which exploit false prophecy, and attempt to co-opt their members' financial security. Still, even in the most depraved cases, there can be sincere people who are blessed in spite of the fact that their church is not exhibiting good fruits or growing.
BB
"He encouraged all to take the time to study, think, forgive, clean our minds, and refocus as we enter the fast, as well as the Sabbath and Pentecost."
Notice how the above package deal includes forgiveness. It doesn't include repentance, asking for forgiveness, respecting others rights etc. The definition of forgiveness is paying for others sins. So he tells his audience to be good boys and girls and pay for others sins rather than focusing on not sinning against others. Again it's Kenneth Copeland Christianity with its goal of creating a paradise for sinners.
Hmm, did Christ say repent for the kingdom of God is at hand, or did he say forgive for the kingdom of God is at hand?
No wonder these splinters are going nowhere.
The Elders lost their credibility after the poor treatment of Shabi and ignoring the members right to know why they did it.
Looks more like sackcloth and ashes
There shouldn't even be elders! These people "left the church" because they didn't want to give the Tkach corrections a chance. I mean, let's call a spade a spade! Like John says, they left their credentials!
Yeah, probably imcredibly smelly at that!
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