Living Church of God is urging members to prepare for self-sufficiency in case of disasters, a prudent step for anyone given the risks of weather events, earthquakes, and other crises. However, their warning carries a troubling tone, rooted in their belief that intense persecution is imminent. They foresee a time when the "Beast," identified as Germany, will restrict their ability to buy and sell and establish concentration camps to target them. The church advises readiness for this ominous future.
If they had only listened to Bob Thiel, they could be in Petra sipping Desert Margaritas and eating falafel. That is, if he even lets them in. They will finally need to bow down at Bob's feet and acknowledge he was right. You can be guaranteed that Bob will send them to the less desirable caves.
Are You Prepared? We are living in increasingly uncertain times, with unstable economies, weather disruptions, political demonstrations, and terrorist activities that can suddenly disrupt our daily lives—which means we need to plan ahead for unexpected emergencies. Solomon wrote, “A prudent man foresees evil [danger] and hides himself [takes refuge], but the simple [the naïve and unsuspecting] pass on and are punished [have to face the consequences of not being prepared]” (Proverbs 22:3). God’s Church has long encouraged members to prepare for unexpected emergencies by keeping a supply of bottled water, a stock of non-perishable food, first aid supplies, extra batteries for flashlights, heating devices, and other items that may be needed if normal public services are disrupted. While God’s people look to Him for their ultimate protection, we also need to do our part to be prepared—so we are not taken by surprise.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
6 comments:
Are they allowed to use their tithes for survivalist activities, like bomb shelters and pursuit of second amendment rights?
BB
The HQ ministers already do a version of this with hoarding gold and escape corridors from what I hear. But not for the peasants of course.
What's ironic is the 1st century christians who were actually being persecuted weren't on keeping a supply of bottled water, a stock of non-perishable food, first aid supplies, extra batteries for flashlights, heating devices, and other items that may be needed if normal public services are disrupted.
We gotta watch out for those "political demonstrations" huh Dougie? What about the breakdown of our American government. Don't we need to watch out for those Germans?
For many, there's more dangers in being a member of a religious cult than there are dangers without. But their minds have been groomed to accept all manner of ministerial abuse, so they can't see what's plain to outsiders.
Shouldn't extra copies of church booklets be part of ones "bug out kit" ??
Back in the old junior high school days, we used to have air raid drills! When the siren sounded, we would all get down on our elbows and knees, under the shelter of our desks, our hands clasped around the backs of our necks, and wait for the all clear signal. After one such drill, one of the more gifted students raised his hand, and when the teacher called on him, he stated that at one of the lectures the Junior Electronics Technicians attended (Club devoted to members getting their Ham radio licenses), a military officer had told them that if "the bomb" were ever dropped on us, everything for miles around would be more or less melted. Ergo, the air raid drills were completely useless.
In an ecosystem, regardless of anything we can do, if a massive event strikes the greater system, it will affect everything in that system, randomly, and there is nothing we can do to escape it. There are some events which are so massive that it is not possible to prevent some damage, injury, or death. In one one of his more honest moments, Garner Ted Armstrong pointed out that if we stored food, or if God provided manna to the church members, if everyone around us were starving to death, and we all appeared to be robust and healthy, our neighbors would assume that we had food, and would kill us for it. This, of course, was part of his salesmanship, because he then interjected the salesman's perfect solution, supernatural protection exclusively available to the members of "God's True Church". But there were flies in that ointment, because, "you might not qualify!" Up to 50% of the members might be Laodiceans, allowed by God to suffer through the "Great Tribulation". So, obviously his solution was not like M&M's! There was still the great potential for a chocolate mess! These people actually negated and diminished their own greatest sales point, keeping everyone on edge. Their solution became a worse, and longer tribulation than the 3-1/2 years they actually preached! Especially for those who have reupped every 3-5 years for the entire fifty years since the failure of 1975!
If it makes you feel better, it's fine to have extra water, some guns and ammo, maybe a couple grand stashed in the walls of your house. But if you think that your church can protect you against the major event they are forecasting, consider Hurricane Katrina. And, the people who used to think a bunker could save them got a nasty surprise when a weapon they had not even realized existed took out some allegedly destruction proof bunkers in Iran. In nuclear war, the jetstreams eventually distribute fallout even to remote desert areas. But, you may not even need to worry about that if the theocracy ruling that little slice of desert paradise believes they are empowered to carry out capital punishment. Why would the switch to a desert environment change the theocrats' basic character?
What's in your wallet?
BB
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