Bob Thiel: Failing to Fast on the DOA Means You Have NO Atonement!
In his Fasting Tips for the Day of Atonement, CCG Pastor Bob Thiel referenced several prooftexts (Leviticus 23:32, Isaiah 58:5 and quoted Isaiah 22:12-14) and then observed: "Notice that not avoiding food when told to is equated to having no atonement." For Bob, the Day of Atonement is a day for FASTING - a day to refrain from eating and drinking. Bob then proceeded to devote several paragraphs to some old instructions about the observance of THE FAST from donut and coffee DOA, Herbert W Armstrong. Now, to be fair, Bob does talk about Jesus Christ being our Atonement in the very last paragraph of his article!
In other words, typical DOA Armstrong Church of God dribble! Unfortunately, these folks are all about scrupulous observance of physical acts/rituals. For the most part, the actual meaning of what they are doing is completely lost on them. Sure, there will be the usual sermons about Satan getting his due, but there won't be much discussion about Jesus Christ atoning for our sins - the very things that have separated all of us from our God. Unfortunately, the reality is that there won't be much discussion about Jesus Christ carrying the burden of our sins and reconciling us to our Father in Heaven! Likewise, the focus in most congregations will be on their own suffering, and NOT on the suffering of Jesus of Nazareth. Ever heard of straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel? That whooshing sound that your hearing is what the DOA represents sailing right over the heads of most of the folks occupying seats in ACOG congregations around the world!
Miller Jones/Lonnie C Hendrix
When one cannot grasp the size of the Universe and our not so noticeable part in it, belief and practice that a Deity needs us to go hungry for a day to be humble us is ludicrous, petty and small.
ReplyDeleteSshhh! They believe that doing this, amongst other practices, provides the secret decoder ring for understanding end times prophecy, and that they are the gateway to the place of alleged safety and the Kingdom.
ReplyDeleteWhat's that you Armstrongites were saying about the proof lying in the eating of the pudding? It ain't happenin' at all! The pudding is slippery and keeps slidin' off your spoon, doesn't it? Just another example of "If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding! How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat???" ~Pink Floyd, Another Brick in the Wall.
Lonnie, I totally agree with you on this. For many years in the church I witnessed others (and myself) putting far more emphasis on selected rituals (fasting, sweeping out toasters, eating matzos) than on "the REAL thing". In essence, this was a form of self righteousness, focusing on " self" and not on the ONE the holyday pointed to.
ReplyDeleteSeeing that the NT is full of holyday terminology and symbolism, I believe there is value in celebrating and honoring these appointments of God that point to Jesus Christ, and clearly depict the past and future interventions of God in history. But since we now have the REAL deal, I see no reason to sacrifice animals, to fast in order to drum up humility, eat unleavened crackers, or any other ritual one could come up with.
The best reason I recall for continuing these rituals was in a 1979 sermon by Ron Dart called, "The Language of Ceremonies". He theorized that our performance of these rituals were a witness to each other and the world, much like baptism and the Eucharist. That all sounds good, and there may be some merit to it, but in the end it's a subjective opinion at best.
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ReplyDeleteThe covenant in Ex 24 included the weekly sabbath and the 3 annual festivals but did not include the 3 annual sabbaths, Tishri 1,10,22......they were added later because of sin. But now after Jesus came and after conversion we no longer have to make noise, afflict our soul, or rest up after feasting for 7 days.
Thank you Millar/Lonnie for this post. Another Atonement has come and now gone. I was saddened by the terror attack on worshippers on Yom Kippur in Manchester UK. I remember at the Shul I attend, yes I am one of the tribe; the Rabbi commenting that we may see some drinking water, please do not judge. Some elderly and with medical conditions will need as such. Refreshingly different to hear from the pulpit, or Beamer as it is known in Judaism. The Kol Nidre service on Erev Yom Kippur is deeply moving. The day is remarkably different from that of the Armstrong movement of which I was a member for many decades. And I would say the messages to the congregation are enriching and decidedly more meaty than what one would often hear in Armstrongism. The call to repentance is profound and certainly moved many within the Shul to live better lives. And while Christ is not acknowledged or mentioned the deep insight from the scriptures spoken of this day, yes besides the rituals; encourage me in believing that God is not done yet with His heritage/ people. I am encouraged by the fact that there are others here who believe that Christ is our atonement. Abet secretly as such. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteIs "failing to fast on Atonement" just another way of saying, fasting is "required" for salvation?
ReplyDeleteJust checking!