No more retaliatory grudges for LCG members!
This is pretty rich coming from Weston, who, like Meredith, NEVER forgot a thing that someone else did in the past and always held it over them when the time allowed. The file cabinet was always unlocked and ready to release the file of members' wrongs.
Has Weston or someone in the ministry said or done something wrong towards a member, and things are about ready to blow up?
Notice this excerpt from Weston's message:
We all must learn to deal with hurt feelings and anger, lest we be destroyed. I hope each of us will consider this and not allow Satan to destroy us through these emotions. And furthermore, I hope all of us can feel the burden lifted and the feeling of joy over letting go of the hurts that come upon us.
All-powerful Satan is still hard at work in the LCG through the emotions of the members, ready to make members rebel against the ministry. What about the emotions of the ministers who never forgot the things members did?
Greetings from Charlotte,
One of the most destructive behaviors we as humans exhibit is failing to forgive. Whether in marriage, among neighbors, at work, or in the Church, a lack of forgiveness hurts not only the person who has wronged us, but also—and even more so—ourselves. Jesus leaves no doubt that if we hold grudges, if we fail to forgive, our own sins will not be forgiven. Do we realize what that will lead to when Christ returns and separates the sheep from the goats? Perhaps someone has said something hurtful to you, perhaps someone has figuratively stabbed you in the back at work, perhaps you were abused as a child—what is the correct response? It is not to deny the problem, but to learn to put it in perspective and recognize that if Jesus died for your sins, you must put to death retaliatory grudges. None of us can change the past. We cannot control the actions of another, but we can control how we choose to react to those actions.
As Paul asked regarding disputes between brethren, “Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?” (1 Corinthians 6:7). Inherent in this passage is the reality that when one person is happy with a settled dispute, the other may not be. Further, judges and ministers are human and don’t always make perfect judgments. We must accept that reality. Hurts turn to anger, anger turns to grudges, grudges turn to roots of bitterness, these roots turn to hatred, and hatred blinds the mind. “He who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes” (1 John 2:11). We all must learn to deal with hurt feelings and anger, lest we be destroyed. I hope each of us will consider this and not allow Satan to destroy us through these emotions. And furthermore, I hope all of us can feel the burden lifted and the feeling of joy over letting go of the hurts that come upon us.
—Gerald E. Weston
18 comments:
Isn’t it part of employment requirements to hold a grudge, and never forget, in the lcg ministry? Especially under Rob Tyler and Doug Winnail
I can't worry about grudges or hurt feelings LCG, I must worry about the pope, Germany, the red heifer, ya know. The things I cannot control.
By the way a minister in a splinter group such as this should have given that message about grudges to other former ministers: Raymon McNair, or Charles Bryce or Bobby, or Sheldon Monson..... but I digress.
Interesting. He admits that the ministry is imperfect when he wants the brethren to cut them some slack, but perfect and to be followed or obeyed as they are giving advice (defacto orders). Always gotta bring Satan into the picture to add pizzazz to the presentation, as well! Typical.
There were also always a certain number of regular members, known to give an abundance of unsolicited advice to other members, and then follow up to see if their advice was followed. Some of 'em were cling-ons, too. It was difficult not to resent these petulant, presumptuous @$$holes, especially when they glommed on to you. Don't want to forget the oddballs with the stupid extrabiblical theories, or extreme healthfood nuts who felt it was their mission to spread their opinions under the guise of fellowship.
Grudges??? How could any such thing be even remotely possible in an Armstrong-based group? 😜
BB
Add about 40 years to the faces of each of those men and you would have an accurate LCG ministry illustration.
"Hurts turn to anger, anger turns to grudges, grudges turn to roots of bitterness.."
Ah, the usual Kenneth Copeland-esque Christianity. He bible instructs in Ephesians 4:26 to "be angry and sin not." This includes all emotions, including bitterness. It is a sin to not feel bitter when warranted. The lie to not be bitter is justified by twisting Hebrew 12:15. What creates bitter roots (ie "death") is sin. It's sin that defiles many, not the emotion of bitterness as such..
Hebrew 12:15 "See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."
Anger, bitterness etc, are calls to action, which sinners hate since they want to escape accountability. So what we have here is the usual attempt get away with sin via a twisted definition of "forgiveness" and a damning of emotions. Turning off parts of God's creation when it suits one's fancy is not God's way.
“Minsters are human and don’t always make perfect judgements”
That’s a typical sleezy quote from the snake Weston. There’s no excuse for how much they cover up for and help pedos in LCG. Mistakes are way different than lack of character and being immoral like him and his ministers.
Seems as if he is asking the MEMBERS -- not the ministers -- to forgive, when he says that judges and ministers don't get it right all the time. Apparently, the command to forgive only applies to the little people. That's why we see church break-ups.
As I said before, when members talk, they're gossiping, but when the ministers talk, they're sharing "facts".
Weston refused to inform me of my charge or forgive me after "talking" to his insiders; he just cut me off by surprise via email.
Perhaps someone has said something hurtful to you, perhaps someone has figuratively stabbed you in the back at work, perhaps you were abused as a child—what is the correct response?
There are laws about mandatory reporting of child abuse. Weston is equating hurt feelings with illegal child abuse. That's dangerous. If LCG discourages individuals from reporting child abuse to the proper authorities, that discouraging is itself a crime. It is fine to preach that the abused should keep a Christian attitude toward the abuse and the abuser, but that Christian attitude MUST INCLUDE a decision to report the abuse, otherwise the silent victim is showing hatred toward potential future victims of the abuser, and even sharing culpability to some degree.
Weston is deliberately conflating an Old Testament role with the New Testament ministry. Much misunderstanding and abuse is perpetrated because of poor rationality like this, picking and choosing what elements of the Old Testament suit the purpose (mostly of control and tithing).
LCG covers up and covers for perverts and pedos. Not surprising they expect the victims to roll over for them.
Anon, Monday, September 8, 2025 at 1:32:48 AM PDT, wrote:
"...What creates bitter roots (ie "death") is sin. It's sin that defiles many, not the emotion of bitterness as such..."
******
Good point, sin is a huge problem for all of us, but Weston wants to judge/blame people, his followers, because Gerald wrote that our sins may not be forgiven:
"...Jesus leaves no doubt that if we hold grudges, if we fail to forgive, our own sins will not be forgiven. Do we realize what that will lead to when Christ returns and separates the sheep from the goats?..."
Is Gerald Weston threatening his followers? Threatening us with those sheep/goats? Everything Jesus spoke was in parables. Does Gerald understand this parable about the sheep/goats?
Gerald does not believe the Apostle Paul's words, which stated: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]." Eph 6:12
Paul wasn't blaming/judging flesh and blood.
John told us: "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning..." I John 3:8
Oh, there is that sin again! When sin is involved, it is “of the devil.” Really?
What question did Weston ask?
"...Do we realize what that will lead to when Christ returns and separates the sheep from the goats?..."
Who are those sheep? People, flesh and blood: and there is "good news" for them:
Matthew 25:31 "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats:
:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:"
Done deal for them sheep.
Who are the goats? Satan and his angels, and what "news" is there for them?
:41 "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"
:46 "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."
Done deal for them goats: Satan and his angels.
Does Gerald Weston have something else in mind regarding those sheep/goats?
Time will tell…
John
11:55, you speak about reporting abuse to the secular authorities? Shouldn't they go first to the spiritual authorities? Yes, the spiritual authorities have become derelict of duty yet reporting it to the unconverted won't do much more than lock them up and make them "suffer" a little in their comfortable prisons. How the victim or the perpetrator deal with it is what will determine the ultimate fate of their souls. It doesn't matter where the sinner (unrepentant in jail) or victim (holding the bitterness) is: you must forgive or ask for forgiveness for healing to begin. This isn't a justification for the abuser. It is a warning, and a warning for both.
If someone (the abuser) takes you down to hell, you (the victim) don't want to stay there with them.
The members knew the apostle Paul was a murderer (the abuser) but got over it when they (the victims) realized that he was forgiven by the Lord.
That's a good point, 12:02, some were family members of those hauled off to jail by Saul (Paul), and they had to forgive. This life is something.
Your commentary is a terrible twisting of things. The abusers should be locked up so they won’t abuse again. The abusers that I saw LCG covering up for were obviously unrepentant and would do their perverted deeds again in a heartbeat when the situation presented itself. The secular authorities as imperfect as they are, usually are more likely to handle a child molester. LCG doesn’t have a mind of protecting the little ones. All it takes is a little fawning over their self perceived authority and doing the right thing goes out the window.
Anon, Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 12:02:33 PM PDT, wrote:
"...The members knew the apostle Paul was a murderer (the abuser) but got over it when they (the victims) realized that he was forgiven by the Lord."
******
Paul even acknowledged that he, once upon a time, was a blasphemer:
I Tim 1:12 "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did [it] ignorantly in unbelief."
Perhaps those members, not only understood but, appreciated the forgiveness that Jesus Christ made mention of in the following way:
"Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:" Mark 3:28
And time will tell...
John
12:02, The difference is this: Pau (1 Timothy 1:13) l wasn't converted and within Judaism did those things out of ignorance of the new religion coming in. Some of these ministers proclaim to be God's people and be in the "only true church" fully converted. I don't think those abusers did it ignorantly.
1 Timothy 1:13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. (Heb 9:7)
John is correct again,
Tank
7:17, I commented on all that you wrote. How did I twist things?
No doubt the ministry should put out abusers, as per I Cor 5:11, where extortioners should be rendered "ravenous", a "seizing by force", "abuser", and that they should permit members to judge such cases (v12) but they won't. When they knowingly commit such sins and refuse to repent, they should be put out and judged with the world.
I don't think you understood my point. You can demand until you are blue in the face that they should be jailed but if you haven't forgiven from your heart you are still being abused and tortured mentally by the hatred that is in your heart, and you are in a jail yourself.
Many apostles and disciple were terribly abused and tortured for the gospel over the years. How is justice going to be served for them? Or did God not protect them during their time?
Again, to remind you, the penalty for such sins is death.
Anon, Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 7:52:21 PM PDT, wrote:
"...Many apostles and disciple were terribly abused and tortured for the gospel over the years. How is justice going to be served for them? Or did God not protect them during their time?..."
******
God did not protect them apostles/disciples all of the time, and plenty of evidence is found for that in Revelation 2-3, and elsewhere, but Jesus Christ was aware of that and many times reminded them of what was ahead of them. For example:
Luke 11:49 "Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and [some] of them they shall slay and persecute:"
Would that apply to disciples too? Yes, because Jesus earlier said this:
Luke 6:13 "And when it was day, he called [unto him] his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;"
Perhaps surprisingly, Judas was also an apostle (another story); however, God's will be done. He, working out His Plan of salvation and His works (Acts 15:18) has His purposes as to what happens with any individuals associated with His Church.
So, how is justice going to be served for them? That would take some explaining, using scriptures, to answer, so for now I'll just ask: "Will justice be served for them?"
And the answer is: yes. How do we know? Jesus said so:
Luke 18:7 "And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily."
Yes, that answer is yes, but when? What does that speedily mean? God's moment may be very different from our idea of a moment.
Isaiah 54:7 "For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
:8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer."
Nevertheless, we're all looking forward to great mercies, and everlasting kindness, aren't we?
And what is that little wrath? Satan has wrath. There is the wrath of the Lamb: 7 Trumps (partial destructions), and there is the wrath of God (total destruction: no 1/3 of this or that). That is all still future.
Vengeance is God's: not ours, not the apostles/disciples:
Romans 12:19 "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
When is God going to dish it out? Even with the 5th Seal (also yet future) we have these words:
Revelation 6:10 "And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they [were], should be fulfilled."
God's justice will be served, but it's still way off in the future...after them Seals, which includes Trumps and Vials, but it will come. God can't lie.
Who is the "them that dwell on the earth?" Are they flesh and blood? Principalities?
Time will tell...
John
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