One thing the Church of God ministers have a hard time doing since the implosion of the mother church is keeping members under control and doing what ministers demand. Church members have wisened up through the decades, and many now keep COG leaders at arm's length and do not jump at their every command. Church government nonsense is highly abused in the church.
John Brisby is not too happy that some of his followers do not kowtow to him.
It includes, especially, the making of necessary administrative decisions for managing group assemblies! If God commanded that we appear before Him in a convocation, some way, somehow, decisions have to be made to confirm those physical meetings. God did not choose to provide each one of us with a weekly message delivery service, as by an angel. No, He delegated that authority through lawfully-ordained ministers. When one of Christ's true ministers "makes the call" to pick a meeting place and a time for assembly, then God accepts that human appointment—binds in heaven what has been bound upon earth—and then acts Himself to appear in that particular place, at that prescribed time, to meet with the faithful.
The truth of the matter is that Bisby commands this because he can collect money; he even admits it!
This is a hard saying for many in God's church today who hate the concept of church government and prefer instead to practice their Christianity "on their own." This command of God to meet Him in a place which He shall choose upends the whole notion of claiming that they do not really need a human ministry. In practicality, someone must collect the tithes in God's name, use God's money to serve an organized religious work, and someone also must publish where and when to meet God to fulfill the Sabbath command in full. The fact is, God did it this way intentionally to force each one of us to step out in faith to "pick" where God is working.
If you fail to convoke with an assembly of church members on the Sabbaths because you reject "organized religion" in general, watch out! God indeed did organize His Church—give specific instructions for its practical operation today—and give authority to someone, somewhere, somehow, to speak in His name and to fulfill those physical requirements for the group. Likewise, if you are failing to convoke in a church service because you simply do not know where God truly is working, that is not a sustainable position, long term. If you are not sure, you are not sure. But, God expects each one of us to search out where a faithful assembly is located, and then to act to make ourselves part of it. Sitting on the sidelines because of chronic indecision is not acceptable. Again, you cannot fully keep the Sabbath unless you are convoking with God in His appointed place.
28 comments:
But, God expects each one of us to search out where a faithful assembly is located, and then to act to make ourselves part of it.
Were members to follow this instruction, and with undertaking bible study, a massive backfire effect would arise and many decide to leave
"Provide a weekly message?"? From what I could discern, most of my former ministers had only read a handful of books on human relations. So their messages were as enlightening as Herb's two tree sermons. John Brisby is assuming that services are civil gatherings where members rights are respected. But it's often an alternate reality where partially to evil members and minister boot lickers is the norm. The only reason many attend services is because it gives them access to members to victimize. When they run out of victims, they stop attending. Ministers defend this since it temporarily boosts numbers and income. It's like the movie and TV series Westworld where patrons go to a resort to live out their fantasies.
These churches lack God's blessing and keep splintering for a reason.
Where's "three holyday guy"? This topic is just made for yet another of his commercials!
Call me a rebel but it’s these very man-made traditions and over-demanding of the people that they sacrifice their time and money to go to some other city or country and rent a room for a week and while there attend services every day or twice a day to listen and mingle with others drinking the Kool aid cause some bloke who has self-crowned himself as a representative of Christ says that’s where God is and He wants them to give him 10%+ of their money cause he is the NT successor of the Levites is why I don’t.
Truth be told as Christians we are a kingdom of priests now so why do I have to give anyone else tithes that went to the Levitical priests in the OT, which I have replaced?! I don’t see anyone giving me tithes if I’m a priest in Christ now?! And these tithes never even comprised of filthy money to begin with! And if our Great High Priest is Jesus Christ who replaced the OT high priest and it is through Him, and His sacrifice, and His own blood that we are granted entrance into the Holy of Holies then we don’t need any other human mediator anymore or blood sacrifices to stand before God Almighty! We can go to Him through Christ any time! And we are His temple both individually and collectively! So there’s no point to go to some place now as if God is there—which by the way in the OT was Jerusalem—since as Paul and the other apostles even demonstrated in the NT God is wherever we are in Christ—the true Israel of God—in truth and spirit! God is no longer limiting Himself to a city or country! So all these Armstrongites need a good shaking and wake up to see they aren’t really serving God in keeping these HWA traditions, but an apostate.
He's right, of course, about someone having to make a decision on where a church group should meet. All organized faith groups do that.
Where he becomes overbearing and starts talking down is with the "binds on earth" reference. Hardly any mainstream Christian church group go that far.
Anonymous on Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 9:27:32 PM PDT...“The only reason many attend services is because it gives them access to members to victimize. When they run out of victims, they stop attending. Ministers defend this since it temporarily boosts numbers and income.”
BINGO! We have a real winner here. SO TRUE!!!
“John Brisby: When A Minister Designates A Meeting Site It Is Bound In Heaven And You Are To Attend!”
Herbert W. Armstrong taught that the Worldwide Church of God was led by Christ's chosen apostle and that all the doctrines, customs, and traditions in the WCG had come through HWA.
Nowadays, each self-appointed rebel-cult “minister” wants to usurp authority not delegated to him and be the Grand Pooba / Dungba / Poohead / Dunghead / Chief Tithe Thief / Heretic to waste your time, energy, and money and to lead you to Gehenna.
This is another self-serving clear perversion of Scripture. For the ISRAELITES, God demanded that they NOT follow the practices of the pagans which surrounded them (multiple high places, holy grounds, temples). Torah demanded that there be only ONE central sanctuary. At first, it was the Tabernacle (wherever it was set up). Eventually, it was at the Temple in Jerusalem (the place which God chose to place his name). Sorry, the notion of a minister or priest designating a "feast site" violates both the letter and spirit of Torah.
The Way It Is (REALLY)
Notice that none of these numerous self-appointed tyrants and tithe thieves will ever listen to each other or tithe to each other. Each one of them wants to GIVE the orders and GET the money. Why should the little sheeple listen to any of them or tithe to any of them?
If I claimed to be somebody, or started something, would any of them ever listen to me or tithe to me? Of course not! They are all too stubborn and rebellious and selfish with their money.
Money trumps truth in the Herbie splits. Tithing was part of the administration of the Levitical priesthood which is no more. Seven feasts mean more money as in seven holy day offerings but there are only three feasts (Ex 23:14-16) but more fixed times during the Levitical priesthood which were the three annual sabbaths in the 7th month ("feasts" in Lev 23:2 should be "fixed times"), and, the 14th is the first of 7 days of UB, not a separate feast.
Seven feasts mean more money as in seven holy day offerings
Not true. Brethren just split the same offering money across seven days instead of three.
Controlling the comments to only discuss tithing....
What are you blabbering about?
As I understand it, the Covenant of Moses was made between Israel and God, not Gentiles and God and it expired when Jesus came (see Gal. 3). The church is told to gather together to encourage one another to love and good deeds. The model seen in the book of acts was to meet on whichever day they wish, in homes, led by multiple elders. I wish the churches wouldn't mix the old covenant with the new. No church should call their leaders "priests" since we are all priests. No church should speak of tithing, but of giving.
Church government is a nettlesome issue for the Christian movement. The problem is that it is necessary to organize to accomplish the various church missions. But at the same time, the words of Jesus condemn the usual hierarchical systems and assert that those in authority will be servants of all. He states explicitly in Matthew 20:
"But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you, but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Is it possible to be hierarchical and serving at the same time? I think that is a challenge that requires a demanding balancing act. I am not sure any denominations ever achieve it and I can understand why some have resorted to the presbyterian form of government.
As for loosing and binding, the critical question is the governmental context. Is it used in a governmental context where the “rulers of gentiles” hold sway? Or is it invoked in the context of servant leadership? The governmental form colors the loosing and binding principle.
Armstrongism is not only a theology and a society but is also a government. The Armstrongist government is blatantly hierarchical. In such non-servant hierarchies, loosing and binding is used as a cudgel to force obedience. Just about anywhere it is mentioned, the Armstrongist government is flexing its muscle.
I have never served a significant role in any kind of church government so it is easy for me to be critical. But I have been on the receiving end of various church policies and edicts. So, I do have some peripheral experience with this topic. If you are actually in the ecclesiastical arena, doing battle with organizational entropy, life can be difficult. My sympathies.
Scout
I just watched the YouTube video "The Family That Addicted an Empire (Before the Sacklers)." It's about the Sasoons family that became rich and famous through the opium trade with China during the nineteenth century. Watching the video, it becomes obvious that modern day Christianity is using the same techniques used by this drug lord family. Churches create dependency by infantilizing their members and addicting them to their church by claiming that they alone are the one true church, and other brainwashing ploys such as Christ's return is always weeks if not days away (Dave Pack, no?). Philanthropy and concerts buys legitamacy.
Just watching about the last ten minutes, starting at the 14.00 minute mark captures the core of the video.
Toxic abuse as well as control. Sadly not surprised.
Amen! to Anonymous @ Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 3:59:27 AM PDT
So he's made himself the Pope.. not the first time. You know, you're really stupid if you still believe armstrongism. Like super low IQ. And if you listen to Brisby, IQ is even lower. He's right, his flock is just a bunch of retards.
Alright, now who and where is Jon Brisby? Which group? Please tenkyou. How about including notes like that in such articles.
Toxic labelling of others not a healthy state of mind. Many would say labelling others is a sign of low IQ.
As always a reasonable grown up, calm discussion of a post is not allowed. Why is that one must wonder ? The same old usual responses repeated, as if a pattern of the same minds, again and again being played out to the audience. Freedom of thought to take a discussion in a multidude of angles not allowed. Honestly seems lacking, it all reads somewhat hollow.
I do not think the controllers of this blog mean one word they type on any given subject. A strong spirit of immense manipulation and control is woven into this blog.
Manipulating and changing people's comments as well....
Looks like some people forgot to take their Midol
No idea what Midol is. Rather sad to always be putting others down with snarky cruel comments, even to the extent of telling bare-faced lies about others. It reveals to God and your targets your true character.
11:08 said "A strong spirit of immense manipulation and control is woven into this blog."
How so? Manipulation is always a possibility on any blog. If so immensely manipulative then you should explain how. Did you want to talk about a topic that they thought didn't match with the current subject? Submit a reasoned paper that includes how your comment relates to the given subject and I'm sure they would consider posting it.
I don't see the control except that which any blog has over their content. They certainly aren't controlling me or you; set up a competing blog to address your complaints.
11:09 wrote: "As always a reasonable grown up, calm discussion of a post is not allowed. "
I have not edited, deleted or manipulated any comment on this article. I cannot edit or manipulate people's comments. Delete, yes, but not edit.
As long as someone is not being an obnoxious ass, comments get through.
It is not my fault that Jon Brisby is a manipulative fraud and a fake teacher of false doctrines and extraneous rules.
My understanding is that the early church always had a plurality of elders, not just one man. This would allow for a more balanced leadership and accountability. Plus, the congregations appeared to be independent, cooperating with one another, but not controlled by a single HQ leader. And, it was the congregation itself who appointed their leader, not a HQ official. Local members knew who was able to serve as an elder better than someone far away. I recommend the book, Understanding the Church by Vogl and Fish and Alexander Strauch's book on Biblical Eldership. A reform in the leadership won't happen since those in power would have to give some of it up.
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