What an absolute thrill it must be to slog through life as an LCG member, getting your nose rubbed in the fact that you're the church's crowning achievement in epic failures—like, congratulations, you've out-screwed-up everyone who's ever darkened their doorstep! Those hapless LCG folk can't catch a break, perpetually hauled over the scorching coals for daring to breathe wrong, all while their oh-so-merciful God simmers in eternal rage mode, because nothing says "divine love" like non-stop fury.
And let's not forget, true-blue team players would never stoop to criticizing the sacred church or its infallible ministry—oh no, perish the thought!—or that brain-meltingly tedious sermon from last week that could cure insomnia worldwide!
But gosh, imagine the sheer genius of actually shifting their gaze to Jesus Christ, you know, like they're supposedly meant to? Poof! No more drowning in that glorious swamp of rebellion, petty bickering, and seething envy. Revolutionary stuff, folks—who could've thunk it?
Are You a Team Player? God has called us to be part of a team—with a mission. Effective team players have skills and perspectives that can be identified and learned. Christian team players must be focused on the same goal—the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33)—and work together to preach the Gospel to the world (Mark 16:15). They strive to avoid saying or doing things that offend others (1 Corinthians 10:32; Matthew 18:6–7). They are forgiving and able to overlook slights and insults (Proverbs 10:12; 17:9). Team players don’t criticize or sit in judgment of others on the team; instead, they make sure their own lives are in order (Matthew 7:1–5; James 4:11). Effective team players have learned to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9), and they treat others gently and respectfully, willing to listen (James 1:19). They appreciate that the team is made up of individuals with different talents, and they let other team members know that they are appreciated. In short, good team members have learned to love their neighbors. Let’s strive to develop these vital qualities.
Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
6 comments:
Are You a Shepherd or a Hired Servant?
God has called His servants to care for His flock—not to control it. True shepherds lead by example, not by domination (1 Peter 5:2–3). They encourage growth and maturity in others, not dependence upon themselves. Christ warned that the hired servant flees when he sees the wolf coming, but the true shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11–13).
Faithful leaders understand that the flock belongs to God, not to men (Acts 20:28). They speak truth in love, not fear (Ephesians 4:15), and they remember that the authority they hold is meant to build up, not tear down (2 Corinthians 10:8). When leadership becomes heavy-handed, or when brethren are burdened with guilt rather than strengthened by grace, something precious is lost—the very spirit of liberty Christ came to give (Galatians 5:1).
A wise servant examines himself daily to ensure that he is not lording it over God’s heritage, but serving humbly as an example (Luke 22:26–27). The true work of God is not merely to warn the world, but to love it—just as God so loved the world that He gave His Son (John 3:16).
Let us, then, be diligent to remember that the Church is a body, not a hierarchy of fear (1 Corinthians 12:12–27). Each member is precious in God’s sight, and no part should despise another. May we all learn to serve one another in humility and sincerity, uplifting instead of controlling, encouraging instead of condemning.
Let us strive to develop these vital qualities.
Have a peaceful Sabbath,
ACM
IMHO
As with sports, LCG and WCG before them, practice promoting the leadership of who they considered the "super stars". The one-man who knows and his friends who know a little less that seems to rise above all others. Ignoring the average but common sense driven member or pastor is just not in the picture or invited in to be.
Non-team "team leaders" don't listen to anything but the sound of their own voices. They don't take advice from the average practical on the ground member or employee who sees what they see but so what. We're not asking or including you. . Who you are is more important than what you know or can accurately observe and present. No one is going to ask you to present anything. The team leaders already know everything. It is the team's responsibility to make it work and not to suggest it won't.
Herbert Armstrong did not have a team. He had salesmen. I was not an educated theologian or pastor. I was a salesman for the Armstrongs. The first century Church did not have a team. It had competing superstars. Modern sports teams focus on superstars and ignore the power of the average player, who merely passes the ball, by comparison who makes the Superstar, well, a superstar.
The only way such "teams" understand their problems is with the average member or employee voting with wallet or their feet. WCG learned that the hard way but why would any team leader not understand that was going to happen in the first place? "Jesus worked a miracle in the Church" became cover story for "We don't listen and we didn't ask you. We f...cked up".
"In the council of many there is safety" or wisdom, you pick, never crossed the "team's" mind.
LCG, Dave Pack's RCG and Flurry's PCG aren't teams. They are one man shows that are doomed to fail. Presiding Evangelists, Apostles and Elijah's to come are simply Superstar nonsense.
Dave Pack often refers to his "team" as being in total agreement with him on Dave's knowledge of what is "impossible, impossible, impossible" to deny, disprove or question. We know how that goes. The man is a fool. Whoever the counselors to Dave Pack are, they mere salesmen in waiting, perhaps, for Dave to fail so they can step in and keep "the team" going under themselves.
The concept of "We few, at the top are the leaders here and you are nothing" comes to mind. That actually makes the Leaders the Leaders of nothing.
“The team has gotta do this. The team has gotta do that.” Blah blah blah. The coaches (ministers) are self serving and unaccountable other than needing to kiss the butt of their boss. Hollow words.
Does Doug even realize that his silly little repeated message is a strong indictment against Herbert W. Armstrong, who by Doug's stated criteria was absolutely NOT the team player that Doug tells us a Christian ought to be?
There are nurturing churches which administer to members' spiritual and emotional needs. Armstrongism has always been contrarian, an agitating church, keeping members always on edge. The latter causes most humans to be dysfunctional. It's a method of control and is just plain wrong. Christian churches have a history of existing as sanctuaries, providing respite and shelter from the forces of this world which tend to beat one up.
BB
Best resutls come from concensus leadership. Armstrongism has always been "My way or the highway."
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