Showing posts with label Church of God a Worldwide Association. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Church of God a Worldwide Association. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

COGWA Wants You To Know They Don't Water Things Down


Remember, THIS is a Church of God stating this! A splinter group of a splinter group. A splinter group who thought they were more evolved than their mother church, the United Church of God. So, in normal COG fashion, they had a sanctimonious hissy fit and left to form their own church, taking with them hundreds of ministers and members, only after they had enough money to keep the ministry in their privileged lifestyle. The best example of 1st-century Christianity ever!

Our job—the mission Christ gave to us—is to share God’s message of life, hope and truth with the world. We don’t believe that message needs to be updated or polished or reinvented for the modern age. The words of God are as timeless and powerful today as the day they were first recorded.

Throughout the centuries the church has ALWAYS  updated itself, polished and refined itself, and reinvented itself to adapt to the rapidly changing world they were in. While the basic principles might remain the same the overall mission and action of the church has always made itself relevant to the age it was in. Unless of course, you are a Church of God and think you are better than everyone else and you remain stuck in the unreachable "glory years" of the Worldwide Church of God under Herbert Armstrong. The current COG movement is stuck in the past, always trying to recapture some lost value or pipe dream that remains stuck in their heads.

The Bible contains the reason you were created. It contains God’s plan for you and what He expects from you. It explains where the world is heading and why—and how God is going to rescue it. It contains the blueprint for living a successful, meaningful life in the present, and inheriting eternity in the future. 
 
As the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, our job is to share that message with the world and then care for those who respond to it—to give them a place to grow and flourish. We are a community, a brotherhood of believers, marching together toward a common goal—the future promised to us by God.

COGWA, while larger than the improperly named "continuing" Church of God is almost in the same league. No one knows who they are. Other than continuing to poach COG members from other groups, little is known about them. 

Our Values 
 
Our values are developed from those of the New Testament Church. We teach the living Word of God from both the Old and New Testaments, which transforms peoples’ lives. 
 
The Church of God, a Worldwide Association, teaches and practices the same way of life Jesus Christ and the first-century Church of God followed. We observe the seventh-day Sabbath and the annual Sabbaths or Holy Days, as did Jesus and the early Church.

There is no Church of God today with any ties to Herbert Armstrong that teaches and practices what Jesus taught and what the 1st-century church did. No matter how much they claim this, they do not. 


Monday, January 10, 2022

COGWA: The Duplicitious Actions Of Mark Fike

 


When we were love-bombed the other day by Mark Fike, he made all kinds of baseless accusations against us here. When I saw his name it rang a bell but could not place it. Then when someone posted a comment that James Malm had information about him it dawned on me. Mark, in direct rebellion against United Church of God and in direct rebellion against the government he claimed to follow, threw a Bob Thiel style hissy-fit and left United Church of God to join ranks with COGWA.

We even featured the story of the Reno debacle here: COGWA Crowing About Latest UCG Defections

Remember, boys and girls, this is the face of the Church of God movement today.

James had this on his blog:



Wayne Icenhower
11/02/2020 at 11:10


I’ve been on the periphery, and in certain cases involved directly with the ongoing debacle. I’ll state here that I (along with a few others) strongly advised UCG administration NOT to promote Mark Fike a so-called interim pastor, as he and others in the local leadership were either a part of the problem, or THE problem. I warned Mark Welch in writing that if he continued with the plan to put this guy in charge, there wouldn’t be a UCG congregation in Reno. It didn’t surprise me at all that he was working to move people to COGWA, even while continuing to deal with UCG. Maybe he thinks they’ll give him a paycheck, to get on the payrolled gravy train (so he thinks). 
 
I’m aware of some “doctrinal disagreements”, one of which is honoring baptisms of SDA members. Not much else. Also, Joe “officially” resigned in August, and was not fired twice. Don’t know where that misinformation came from. COGWA certainly didn’t split from UCG a decade ago for “doctrinal reasons”, so I perplexes me why at least of few of those embarking on this new project really think the doctrines are going to be any different. 
 
I also think the numbers are double the actuals. I’ve attended Reno services a few times in the past, and there weren’t more than 15 or 20 total in attendance at that time. Now, I understand there are 6 to 12. 
 
Seems to be some misplaced hubris on the part of Dave Register and perhaps Franks and others, as this certainly doesn’t rank as earthshaking. They don’t know what they’re getting yet, obviously. Most of these folks are troublemakers–in particular their so called “elder” Fike. This guy, ironically, was ordained by Joe Horchak back in 2010 or so, as a reward for being loyal to UCG during the UCG/COGWA split. I can say, first hand, that since we’ve been associated with UCG in this area, Fike has worked to sabotage church functions for nearly all of that four year period. Joe should have removed his credential long ago for insubordination, but he shied away from conflict. 
 
In summary–with regard to Fike and few other of his close associates and family members — GOOD RIDDANCE. I think it will be a very short honeymoon. I don’t have anything personal against either UCG or COGWA, but I would encourage them to pull background checks on folks going over before promoting them to any type of leadership position. 
 
Regards, 
 
Yes, the political intrigues are shocking and totally ungodly. As for firing/resigning it is customary to ask for resignations in place of firing a person in order to make the situation easier for all sides. The word fired was a word used by a source and perhaps firing was a bad choice of words given the deep internal divisions you have revealed in Reno. The whole affair is disgusting. James

Another one of James readers comments:

As someone who was in the congregation when Joe first was fired and Ken was brought in. I can say without a doubt our congregation at the time was split in three groups, two divinding families one out of respect I won’t mention and the fikes. Thirdly those of us caught in the wicked web of lies and manipulation by M & J Fike. To your face they acted so great but behind doors they’d cast eyes and slander words. They’d try in secret to have letters signed to complain about Ken literally the first week he was there. I was shocked to see how low they would go. Ken confronted it and had a large circle meeting with us all and wanted any complaints openly heard and talked about so WE as a congregation could move forward. What a shock when myself and only a handful of others that weren’t directly related to either party by blood relation spoke up about the division and what is being said behind closed doors. Mark fikes face was priceless, stone cold. I’m not kidding when I say this he looked like he felt nothing, was hollow even calculating his next move when being called out openly for manipulative actions and dangerous and inappropriate conversations. His response was nothing. Nothing got better just more coldness in the congregation. The fikes would spread rumors of young men in the congregation being too forward with relationships (young man brought his girlfriend to church and held hands) or how one family is trying to “pawn” their eldest daughter off on another young man who was attending (he left after hearing such a thing) these were real time examples and factors into a small glimpse of what that family whom seems morally bankrupt was willing to do to stay in charge or take charge. I left soon after Ken left not to join them but put it all behind me, now most 10 years later I find this post and it just opened up so many old.wounds and memories and nasty interactions with that family.

 

Update 13 Feb:  More information has been coming in and it now appears that Aaron Creech was the victim of a long conspiracy by the local elder Mark Fike who was working to gain a congregation for himself in Reno.  It seems that in this case doctrinal issues were largely blown out of proportion or invented.  That does not mean that there are no doctrinal issues in UCG. 

Mark seems to have made big issues out of every little thing for a very long time including while Joe Horchak was there in an effort to gain a following and congregation of his own.  When Aaron Creech was assigned to take over Reno a great effort was made to undermine him.  When only a few would agree with Mark he opted to lead those who would follow him to leave UCG and join COGWA.  

Update 11 Feb: Gerald Coleman the website manager for Sacramento wrote to say that no sermons by Aaron Creech were ever uploaded or removed from Sacramento.

The Reno site was checked and there were several sermons by Aaron in the evening and the next morning they were gone.  Other persons have told me the same thing and I do have copies of incoming emails corroborating this. 
In fact Aaron was the Reno elder for four months and did have sermons at the Reno site.  I may have erred in including Sacramento but I stand by my statement in reference to Reno.

Update 9 Feb: After this post was published all of Aaron Creech’s sermons were almost immediately removed from the UCG Reno site.   

The sun has set on the Sabbath almost two hours ago so I will post this by popular demand. 

After Joe Horchak was fired from UCG for the second time, Mark Fike was made interim pastor of Reno and served from August until Aaron Creech arrived as senior pastor in Sacramento / Reno last November.  

For several years the clique now running the CoE in UCG has been slowly and subtly conditioning brethren, especially in their home areas and areas run by their close associates, to accept various doctrinal changes.  

Once Aaron Creech was established in Sacramento / Reno, 25 people have left UCG-Reno due to claimed doctrinal / false teaching issues. One should remember that these are strong UCG loyalists who refused to follow Ken Geise in 2010.  

Not counting the Creech family that travels from California to Reno twice per month, only 12 UCG members remain and that could change. 

Pastor Mike Fike resigned last Wednesday and all local speakers, song leaders and the area elder have chosen to exit. 25 persons have chosen to affiliate with COGWA. The 25 new COGWA members left UCG within the past month. 

 


Wednesday, July 14, 2021

UCG: I WILL NOT BE GUILTY OF ADDING MORE WOUNDS AND MORE TEARS TO CHRIST’S BODY!





For some reason, old news stories about UCG have been popping up in my newsfeed from Google. This one deserves some air time again. It was written by Mike Caputo a UCG minister around the time that the split with COGWA happened. 

What I find so interesting is the complete hypocrisy in the points below. Caputo, along with every other minister that left the Worldwide Church of God was guilty of every single thing he posted below. He rebelled against authority when he joined up with those that conspired for months prior to form a breakaway group that was planned so well that they all kept their income stream rolling in after they apostatized from the mother church.

Why did he refuse to submit to church authority, no matter how imperfect it was, when he joined up with Kubik and the other boys to form UCG?


1. I ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO BREAK MY FATHER'S HEART, ONE MORE TIME 
 
We are God’s family. Our loving Father detests seeing divisions in His family. God demands that problems within His family be solved, whatever it takes and whatever amount of time it might take. His heart has been broken many times since Lucifer created havoc in God's family and has continued to be broken unto our days. 
 
The Bible tells us that God hates divorce. Why? Because of the turmoil that ensues. Because of the damage that ensues, especially to the children. How much more so within God's own family; how much more so with God’s children.

Going along with people who cause divisions without sufficient and justifiable reasons means causing turmoil and anguish for the many. It means tormenting and damaging the minds of God’s children, and, consequently. it means adding pain to our Father's mind. I will have no part of that. 
 
I will not break my Father’s heart, one more time. 
 
I will not leave United! 
 
2. I WILL NOT BE GUILTY OF ADDING MORE WOUNDS AND MORE TEARS TO CHRIST’S BODY.

There is a reason why the Church is called, "The Body of Christ." It is something that is precious and dear to Him. It is His spiritual body.

Too many people through the ages have carelessly dared to tear at and wound that precious body. Too many people have cut it asunder and have done so with, at times, the most absurd and deplorable excuses.

I will not be guilty of such a terrible mistake. 
 
Before Christ died, He made it clear in His prayer found in John 17 that unity in His body was of the utmost importance to Him. Please pay careful attention to His intense and heartfelt words which He prayed with great intensity before He was killed.

John 17 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me that they may be one as We are.

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; (You and me) 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 

This is how much Jesus Christ longed, and still longs, for unity in His body.

I will value and honor Christ’s wish and prayer and will I not be guilty of adding another tear and another wound to my Savior’s Body.

I will not leave United!

It is amazing that Caputo had no problem adding more wounds and tearing apart the "body of Christ" when he convinced countless Canandainas to apostatize with him when he went with United. Typical ministerial hypocrisy. 


3. I WILL NOT LEAVE UNITED BECAUSE I WANT TO FOLLOW THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL’S EXAMPLE, NOT LUCIFER’S.

From the start, Michael proved to be totally faithful and committed to God. No matter what logical-sounding and righteous-sounding reasons Lucifer presented, Michael understood the critical dimension of respect for Divine authority and humbly submitted to it.

We know that Lucifer deceived 1/3 of the angels and that they finally even dared to rebel against the Almighty. Michael stood firm and fought for God. The book of Judegives us a hint of the kind of extraordinary character this Archangel had all along.

Jude 1: 8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

This scripture is of such profound implication that it bears a close analysis.

Michael, superior to Satan, dared not bring against him a railing accusation.

Why? Because Satan, in spite of his evil character, has been allowed by God to retain a position of authority as King of this world and as ruler over the rebellious angels and, though Satan according to Scriptures is evil, and a deceiver, and a false accuser, and a sower of discord, and a sower of turmoil and according to Christ, a liar and a murderer, Michael submitted to God’s wishes and left the judgment to God. “The Lord rebuke you!” He said. May God judge you, Satan, not I.

I refuse to stand in judgment of God’s appointed leaders. It is God’s duty to judge them, not I.

The people Jude condemns, though infinitely less important than Michael, did dare, instead, to “reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries”.

I dare not reject authority and speak evil of authority figures or follow people who do.

I will follow Michael's example, not Lucifer's.

I will stay in United!

"Jude 1: 8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries." Caputo rejected the authority of the mother church to do what he wanted instead of following the authority he claimed to follow when he was ordained. As he was defecting to UCG he spoke evil of the Worldwide Church of God and of the Tkach's. More ministerial hypocrisy. Caputo did this just like the dreamer Bob Thiel did when he apostatized from the WCG and then from Living Church of God. 


4. I REFUSE TO LEAVE UNITED BECAUSE I REFUSE TO FOLLOW KORAH’S EXAMPLE.

You know the story; Korah and a few others within the congregation of Israel rebelled against Moses, God’s chosen leader.

Korah did not want any authority over himself. Korah led a rebellion against God’s anointed. He criticized the authority appointed by God. His words sounded noble and sanctimonious: More power to the people; honor and respect for all; equality in the congregation.

“You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?” (Numbers 16:3)

If you read the story carefully you will find that in the end Korah had succeeded in causing so much anger, so much resentment and so much turmoil within the congregation that all of Israel finally stood up against Moses. This is the power of a Satan-inspired rebel. God, though, saw; God judged and intervened dramatically to purge Israel of the rebels. God will do the same with other rebels who dare do the same, if their motives are the same as Korah's.

JUDE 1: 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

Korah, his close assistants, and many others were destroyed.

This was the end result of Korah’s rebellion against God’s anointed and his "disregard" for peace and unity. Rebelling against God's appointed authorities can lead not only to temporary destruction but to eternal destruction, if not repented of.

I will follow Moses’ example and I refuse to follow Korah's example!

I am staying in United!

Yet, Caputo followed the satan led rebellion against the WCG to join up with some of the most corrupt men in the COG movement. Caputo was a modern day Korah. 

5. I WILL NOT LEAVE UNITED BECAUSE I WANT TO FOLLOW DAVID’S EXAMPLE, NOT KING SAUL’S EXAMPLE.

Initially, King Saul’s example was one of humility, but his attitude took a serious turn for the worse and he became rebellious and justified his attitude with absurd rationalizations. 
 
In 1 Samuel 15 Saul is told by Samuel to “attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them.”

What did he do, instead? 
 
9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them.

What was God’s response?

I Samuel 15
10 Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, 11 “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night. 13 Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD.”
14 But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”
15 And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.”
16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Be quiet! And I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night.”
And he said to him, “Speak on.”
17 So Samuel said, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel? 18 Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”
20 And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.”

Noble and sanctimonious-sounding, indeed. but what did God think?

22 So Samuel said:
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.

And now one of the most important scriptures in the Bible…

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
He also has rejected you from being king.”

It's funny how he can quote this verse to justify his reason for not leaving uCG when he did not care about this scripture when he left WCG. 

Would the merciful God have forgiven Saul, if he had deeply repented? Without any doubt.

What did he do instead? He rationalized his actions with "sanctimonious" excuses.

This is the spirit I believe I see in some of the main culprits of the present division. I see a disregard for God’s authority accompanied by rationalizations (Logical sounding but empty excuses).

A man who held a very high position within the foreign work of UCG was told not long ago to appear before the COE to clarify some issues and not go on a planned trip to visit congregations in foreign lands. He refused to do so because, and I quote his words, “It would have been a waste of money.” (How noble sounding…). When consequenced for his defiant attitude he did not acknowledge his serious error and, rather than repent, this is what he said:

"Since Roy stated that it was a Council 'request' that I cancel the trip and appear before them the next week I decided that I would continue with my plans. The Council did not order me to appear before them—they only requested it.” (Emphasis Mine).

Sound familiar? This is Saul’s attitude all the way.

Let me now quote the concluding remarks of this man’s email to our President:

“Denny, I hope that a way can be found to move back from this confrontation. I am willing to work with you on this. I believe that the starting point is for you to reinstate me as Regional Director. The Spanish ministry want this—in fact they insist on it. I do not see how we can prevent the inevitable (which no one wants!) unless I am reinstated.” (Emphasis mine).

Translation: You COE either submit to our will or we will leave.

Not only a rebellious spirit of Saul coupled with rationalizations, but demands and veiled threats.

Thank God our leadership stood its ground. Woe unto any ruling body of any organization that caves in to a spirit of rebellion on the part of its subordinates.

On the other hand, there is David. He submitted to one of the most evil, cruel, unjust, unfair, calloused and demonic men that ever lived.

The present disaffected group talks about abuse of authority and the right to cause a traumatic division because of it. What did David do, under "undeniable" abuse of authority?

David had been ordained by God to be the next King. He could have had lots of reasons to say, “This man is unjust with God’s people; he abuses God’s people; he is evil; he has left God; he is demon possessed; he deserves to die and it is my duty to God’s people to get rid him.

He, instead, refused to dishonor God by rebelling against His anointed.

He waited on God to deal with Saul, as He saw fit.

Unlike Saul, He passed the great test.

Now let me read to you the words of Fred Kellers, a UCG minister who clearly has David’s heart. This is what he had to say:

“I've not always agreed with the council but I have always agreed that we have chosen to ask Jesus to guide us as a group, either through the General Conference of Elders for some items and through the Council of Elders for other things. If I don't agree with the council, I have ethical ways to show my disagreement. I can also fast and trust Jesus Christ to be the head of his body. What I don't have the option of doing is causing division and upset. My job is to help lead His sheep beside the still waters.”

This is David’s heart. This is the heart I want to emulate. I want to emulate the one who dares not rebel against

God’s appointed authority, not the one who openly rebelled and then dared to rationalize his actions with absurd rationalizations.

This is one more reason why I will not leave United!

6. I WILL NOT LEAVE UNITED BECAUSE THE WORDS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL ARE MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN THE WORDS OF OTHER SELF-APPOINTED SAVIORS OF THE CHURCH.

Paul reflected the wishes of Christ. Paul demanded that Christians and Christian leaders reflect the wishes of Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:10" Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."

Caputo and UCG had no problem causing division before, so why the self-righteous indignation at COGWA? 

Why?

1 Corinthians 12:12 "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ."

Strive to be perfectly joined together, because we are the body of Christ.

What is the real cause of most divisions, according to Paul? Is it noble- sounding reasons? Is it a “seeming” love of justice and righteousness?

1 Corinthians 3:3 "For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?"

Carnality, is the major reason for strife and divisions, not spirituality.

What should be our response to people that cause divisions within Christ's Body?

Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.

I know who is presently causing divisions in the Body and I, in obeying Paul's injunction, have chosen to avoid them. I want to heed Paul's words and I refuse to follow anyone who causes strife, offenses and divisions.

I will not leave United! 
 
7. I REFUSE TO LEAVE UNITED BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THE SACREDNESS OF THE PRINCIPLE THAT CHRISTIANS OUGHT TO SUBMIT TO AUTHORITY, ESPECIALLY IN THE CHURCH, FOR AS LONG AS THE LEADERS DO NOT TAMPER WITH GOD’S LAWS. 
 
This is what Paul says, unequivocally, about the kind of attitude we are to have toward authorities: 
 
Romans 13: 1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 

If this is true of secular authorities, how much more so of authorities within the Church. How much more so of people who have been entrusted by God to be His representatives, to love and serve and protect His people and to bring His message to the world.

Yes, it's true; if the leadership blatantly rejects God's laws and refuses to repent then we have the right to stand up for what is holy and right. Unfortunately, some people are now using this rallying cry to say that the church is trying to abolish the Sabbath, and thus they are free to depart and create another group.

That is a total absurdity.

The laws of God at times need to be applied with a spirit of mercy. The Sabbath has gray areas. The Church will at times be called upon to render judgments with a spirit of mercy. Other decisions will also be rendered by the Church which might perturb extreme conservatives or extreme liberals. Sometimes we will move somewhat to the right or somewhat to the left. Christ in time has and will bring about adjustments to bring us closer to a balance.

At times I will agree with the decisions rendered by the COE, at times I might not agree. When I agree, other ministers might disagree. When I disagree, other ministers might agree. No matter where I stand, I will respect the decisions of our church authorities, when it come to the applications of some principles.

Why? Because, as we have seen, that is of utmost importance to God. Submitting to authorities is critical, because God told us to do so, and because it tells God where we stand toward "Him."

Submitting to imperfect authorities, tells God that we honor His wishes and are willing to submit to His authority.

More hypocrisy. Submitting to WCG was not convenient for him so he rebelled. 

If United were to abolish any one of God's commandments, we will again stay firm and faithful to God. We would not rebel by doing so. The Church would rebel. It would leave God, we would not.

But there is no such reality going on right now, because such a move requires a 3/4 majority approval on the part of all the ministry and this is not even remotely close to happening.

As the COE tries to apply biblical principles in a merciful way, I will remain respectful of their decisions. I don’t have to agree, but I do have to remain respectful.

That’s what Michael understood; that’s what the great men of the Bible understood and they are the ones I want to emulate.

This is one more reason why I will not leave United.

8. I REFUSE TO LEAVE UNITED BECAUSE I DO NOT TRUST THE MOTIVES OF THOSE WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS.

When you listen to those who cause divisions, they invariably sound especially righteous and just. Yet, when I see the spirit of division, I always question their ultimate motives. Why? Because the Bible tells me to.

Yet he failed to question the motives of Kubik and the other apostates who spent months conspiring how they could take the most money and members with them. 

This is what Paul told the elders in Ephesus, before his Departure from that city.

Acts 20:28-30 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselvesmen will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

I respect people who have disagreements with the church and leave in peace. They cause no turmoil; they do not try to convince others of their ways. They leave and do not cause divisions, understanding the seriousness of the matter.

Unfortunately, in way too many cases, leaders who have left took a following with them. This fact should make all ponder why they are really leaving. Paul gives us one central reason: “...to draw away the disciples after themselves.”

Paul then gives us one more critical detail in his critique of the Judaizers who continually caused turmoil and divisions in the church when Christianity started.

They appeared to have very noble motives. They wanted strict obedience to the Law. They wanted uncompromising righteousness. But that was the sanctimonious surface. What was under the surface that a lot of members could not see? But was the real motive?

Titus 1:11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. (Their tithes).

There is more, of course. Sometimes the major cause is anger because of offenses that may have happened and were not forgiven; sometimes it's envy; envy for positions they don’t have or that they had and "no longer have."

I do not trust the leaders of the present disaffected group. Of course, some may be less guilty than others. Yet, when I see people who create divisions, I look beneath the veneer of sanctimonious excuses to find what Paul told me to look for: lust for power and control, taking people's tithes, resentment and envy.

All we have seen so far and will continue to see here is one sanctimonious excuse after another as to why he felt it was ok to leave WCG to join another splinter group. 

I do not trust the motives of the leaders of the disaffected group.

I will not leave United! 
 
9. I WILL NOT LEAVE UNITED BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT CHRIST IS IN CHARGE OF UNITED.

Jesus Christ is the mind that runs His body. He is fully aware of every member and organ in that body. He knows which is strong, which is weak; which is sickly and which is vibrant. He is strong enough to deal with each and every one of the members of His body. I will trust that He will do that, if necessary, in due time, in United.

Are there weak members in the COE? If so, He knows it. Is there injustice at the very top? If so, He knows it. If so, can Christ deal with them as He deals with me to bring them into a state of sobriety and repentance? Absolutely!

Jesus Christ does not need me to set the leadership of the church straight, "if" they go astray. I will trust in Him and will wait on Him. I will not trust people who tell me to trust "their" judgment and "their" perspective on facts and follow them.

I will not follow such people.

I will remain in United!

10. I WILL NOT LEAVE UNITED BECAUSE I DO NOT FOLLOW PEOPLE WHO EXHIBIT THE WORKS OF THE FLESH.

How, you may say? Five of the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5 deal with attitudes and behaviors that cause divisions: Variance, Emulation, Strife, Seditions, Heresies are all manifestations of the same spirit which leads to the same painful and destructive results: confusion, strive and schisms. Furthermore, divisions may also find its roots in two other “insidious” works of the flesh, described before, that are hard to see and that often are often also at work, “envy” and “hatred” (or its milder manifestation, “resentment”).

No matter how they slice it, no matter how noble their reasons might appear, the results of their actions have been turmoil and divisions.

That is enough for me. "You shall know them by their fruits," said Jesus Christ. I have looked at the fruits and the fruits of turmoil and division are not from God.

I will not follow people who exhibit attitudes and actions that bring about turmoil and division in Christ’s body.

I am staying in United!

11. I WILL NOT LEAVE UNITED BECAUSE I DO NOT FOLLOW PEOPLE THAT DO NOT EXHIBIT THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT.

Nice sermons will not suffice; pleasant personalities will not do; a warm smile and a firm hand shake is not enough. I looked for the fruits of Agape love and, instead, I found accusations, exaggerations and demands.

I especially, and most of all, looked for Agape love for God’s people and instead I found the willingness to traumatize again a traumatized people; the willingness to wound again a wounded people; to cause anguish again for people who have already tasted more than enough anguish.

I did not see in them the Agape love that longs to give peace to them who are in dire need of peace.

They say to us, “Where is the love in the leadership of United?”, for dealing with rebellious attitudes with firmness. They sound as though they have the corner on love, when in reality they show lack of love towards God’s people by being willing to traumatize God's precious flock, once again, with one more unnecessary split.

I ask of them, “Where is your love?”. Have you considered the casualties that you will leave behind? Have you considered how many Christians will say, "Enough is enough; I want nothing to do with Christianity ever again!" Have you considered the ones who will fall into such confusion and depression again that their daily lives will be severely affected? Have you considered the ones who will be so hurt, so disappointed and upset that they will leave God altogether and who might even become unbelievers?

I would also ask them, “Have you considered the number of families that will fall part because of your decision? The number of friendships that will end? The number of couples that will divorce? The number of parents and children and brothers and sisters that will end up in conflict?”, as we have seen already in the past.

You seem to glow with warmth and kindness, but where is your love?

The turmoil and confusion you have created is not love and I want nothing to do with you!

I am staying in United!

12. I WILL NOT LEAVE UNITED BECAUSE OUR SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES WORKS, WITH PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL.

Is there a probability that the COE can weaken spiritually? Yes. That was the assumption on which our system of government was built. There is a possibility that the leaders could deviate and weaken spiritually.

The solution? Close scrutiny on the part of the GCE and re-election of the members of the COE every three years.

Every year “three” COE members are up for re-election. Every twenty four months we can theoretically have a new majority on the Board (9 out of 12).

This is the peaceful, decent, orderly, civilized, godly way of dealing with a COE that may go astray.

There is no need for revolutions.

There is no need for new groups.

There is no need for turmoil and divisions.

There is no need for people to quit the COE.

There is no need for ministers to resign.

There is no need for members to move to another group.

But there is a need for people of good will, who are patient, who are filled with trust in Christ the Head of the Church, and who are willing to let the system "self-correct," as it was meant to do from the start.

ROTFLMAO! Talk about hypocrisy! 

Some of the ministers who have left helped create the system, but failed to wait to let it work.

Why? Did they forget how the system works? Why the impatience?

I will not follow people who are impatient and who do not trust in Christ and who don’t have the nobility to allow a system that works, to work.

I will stay in United!
CONCLUSION

Let me now conclude by repeating what I have already stated, lest there be any doubt as to where I stand. 
 
I will not leave United to follow the leaders of the splinter group because,

1. I refuse to break my Father’s heart one more time. 
 
2. I dare not put another cut or tear into my Savior's body. 
 
3. I will strive to follow Michael’s example, not Lucifer’s. 
 
4. I will strive to follow Moses’ example, not Korah’s. 
 
5. I will strive to follow David’s example not Saul’s. 
 
6. I will strive to follow Paul’s words, not the words of self-appointed saviors of the Church. 
 
7. I will submit to Church authority, though imperfect, because God wants me to. 
 
8. I do not trust the motives of anyone who causes divisions. 
 
9. I believe that Christ loves United, that He is in charge of United and that He rules among United and that He will set things straight, if and when the necessity arises. 
 
10. I will not follow people who exhibit the works of the flesh, especially as pertaining divisions. 
 
11. I will not follow people who are more concerned about implementing their own agenda than loving and protecting God’s people. 
 
12. I will not leave United because I believe that our system of checks and balances works, when people of good will wait for it to work and when they are willing to help it to work. In my view, the people who have left have not shown sufficient willingness to do either. 
 
These are my major reasons for staying in United. I hope and pray that you share most, or all, of these reasons and that, in fact, you may actually have many more than mine. 
 
It is an honor to be a minister in the United Church of God; it is an honor to serve with special ministers who with me will stay solid and faithful; it is an honor to serve the members who have chosen to remain faithful in our Church and, most of all, it is an honor to submit to God and Jesus Christ and their will that I do not contribute to turmoil and division but, rather, to peace and to unity.

Never has there been a more tone-deaf COG minister than this. Caputo is another Bob Thiel. 


Tuesday, June 15, 2021

COGWA: Your voice doesn't need to be heard

From a COGWA source.

6/5/2021 Sermon Transcript. Caleb Froedge, Pastor Kansas City COGWA.


I would like to start out today by talking about a riveting story introduced by Taco Bell. It is a commercial that I saw the other day on Taco Bell, and it was called chicken philosophers and it had philosophers arguing about what is the best chicken sandwich. I think maybe many of you have probably seen this commercial, but they're arguing back and forth. About pointless discussion, items that really don't make a difference about this chicken sandwich. Debating what is the best chicken sandwich? And they kept arguing chicken, mayo, pickle, bread. Bread, chicken, pickle, mayo, and every way with the same ingredients. It didn't make a difference; it was still a chicken sandwich. And then you have the wise come in with tacos. They didn't get into the debate, and I know there's things out there about those taco lovers and it's always going to be a taco over a chicken sandwich. But they stayed away from the pointless debate.

Now philosophical debating is something that we can be trained in. There are debate teams. You can learn the art of the debate. There's a political science. There's a science of debate. There's a science of philosophical studies. And one can really try to make an impact with their knowledge and wisdom and a philosophical approach. But can debate and philosophical discussions, even of the Bible, just because it's the Bible, does that mean this is what God desires from his members? Could debate and philosophical discussion on biblical matters actually cause someone in God's church to be entangled to their own demise? How much time does God want US spending quarreling, debating on speculative details in the Bible? Of course, you know, we're all going to have different opinions on speculative parts of the Bible where there's really no conclusive determination, well why was this? Or you know anybody who's been to FI, you know you're going to ask those questions and sometimes it is, “I don't know.” You know, watching the FI online with Mr. Ken Giese on the most recent one on Joshua and Judges, you know there are really good questions and thought provoking. But then sometimes the answer is well I really don't know. And so, you know it's, it's fun to sometimes talk about those things and explore. And uh, but can there be too much where we don't actually focus on the trunk of the tree and those foundational truths that are so very important?

It was funny, I saw a post the other day from a member, and it said which side of the paper clip, which side of the paper does a paper clip go? And of course, we know it's the left side, you know? So, I didn't know why that was really a question, but yeah, you know, everybody is going to have a different opinion, why? Well, I don't know why. Why is it the left side? It just seems right. It just feels right, but there's a theory for what is right and why we should do that, and it's fun to sometimes go over those different philosophies, if you will, arguments if you will. And it’s fun to kind of take silly things and get everybody's opinion. Again, another post I saw was let's end this lifelong debate. What is better, Coke or Pepsi? And then of course you have those rebels that put Dr. Pepper instead, they don't even get into the debate on that, but you know it can be fun to do at times.

You know, but to what point are we to involve ourselves in debates, quarrels? How fruitful will that become even if it's in biblical studies? Again, we are not going to all come to the exact agreement on every single thing, but those core fundamental beliefs we are to be in agreement on. We are to be in agreement as a church and that is a very positive thing. But are we to explore all of our disagreements? Is this a positive thing for the church? Is this where we should put our time?

Some have made their own religion about philosophical points in the past. They've looked for some obscure detail, and in studying a certain topic, maybe it's kind of a, it's not the trunk of the tree, it's a twig and, you know, they focus on that twig so much now it becomes, you know, “I have superior knowledge, I have superior intelligence and I've taken this idea and now it's become my baby.” Now it's become a pet doctrine and it is coddled like a little baby. You know, do some have some sort of superpower to understand speculative scripture? Is it a superintelligence or is it making one wise in their own eyes? But, you know, you can take a philosophical question in the Bible. or for anything for that matter, and you put in all this research into and come to your own conclusion, but should we really take it in and hold it tight to us? Those, you know, philosophical questions, the all-important, which came first, the chicken or the egg? If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around, does it still make a sound? Yeah, you can find little things in the Bible that we would also, uh, look into and try to figure out as well.

What should we be aware of as members in the Church of God who study the Bible? One, we want to be aware of our own actions as we study the Bible. We study the Bible to look inwardly; to look at ourselves. You know, it is, God's word is to be a mirror to our path, a light to our path. And we look at and study the Bible as inwardly first we look how does this affect my life? How does it change my life? Do we study the Bible to feel superior? Do we study the Bible to correct others around us? Is that our, is that what God wants us to do? We have the knowledge, so now we can go sharpen one another with our words and tell everybody where they're wrong.

Are we aware of false teachers of the Bible? Teachers who do not have authority from God but they’re self-proclaimed teachers. Now, they have put themselves up on a pedestal, and they've said, “I'm, I'm going to put myself in a position of superior intelligence and I'm going to judge the Church of God, and I'm going to make claims, this is the way the church should function. This is my philosophy. This is what the church should do.” Are we aware of false teachers? Really, there's nothing new under the sun, and there's those who have fought against the Church of God and the core doctrines over the ages, and many have done it in the name of theory and philosophies, superior knowledge, and philosophy. Men who have, came along with no authority to teach, but yet they claim superior knowledge and intelligence. And they, in turn, are drawing members away from the Church of God, where there are firm proven truths.

Paul had to fight against such knowledge and philosophies such as Gnosticism and different things that stem from Gnosticism: Docetism, Gnosticism. And it takes the name of the Greek word, gnosis, G-N-O-S-I-S and it means knowledge, especially spiritual truth, and there's this great spiritual knowledge. And so many of the so-called gnostic groups are characterized by mythiology [sic] and distinguishes between the inferior created world - the physical - and the more transcendent god and the order of being. But in the book of First John, he wrote to reassure and to comfort the church members who were contending with dishonorable individuals, intent of shaking the faith of the members through false and heretical teachings. 1 John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not of us.” So, the indication was that they were once members with the church, but then they went, and they left. “For if they had been of us they would have continued with us, but they went out that they might be made manifest that none of them were of us. But you have an anointing from the holy one and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is the Antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either. He who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. Therefore, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning, that what you heard from the beginning abides in you. You also will abide in the Son and in the Father, and this is the promise that he has promised us – eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.” So, there is a deception. He was talking about some had come out from among them. There's sufficient internal evidence that suggests that certain people from within the church, likely former members, were expounding HERESY contrary to authentic and foundational doctrines.

The Zondervian [sic] illustrated Bible Dictionary states, “The purpose of the author was to warn the readers against false teachers who are trying to mislead them and to exhort them to hold fast to the Christian faith that they had received.” What was the heresy in this particular case? According to David and Pat Alexander, the Lion Handbook of the Bible, “John’s letter was written to counter some of the early form of ‘Gnosticism’ being propounded by men who were once church members but had now withdrawn from the group. They liked to think of themselves as intellectuals, processing [sic] a superior knowledge of God. They made a complete distinction between the SPIRITUAL (which was pure) and the material (which was evil). In practice, this often led to immortality – because nothing the body did could tarnish the purity of the spirit. It also led to the denial of Christ's human nature – which was either ‘make-believe’ or temporary [in their mind]. The Christ – being spirit – could not have died.” So, this was where that superior knowledge LED them ultimately to rejecting Jesus Christ as a Savior. And you start getting out on the limb – superior knowledge – putting oneself on a pedestal and making judgments towards the Church of God, it leads to the denial of Jesus Christ.

So today, I want to look at philosophies, a little bit about false philosophies that are out there, and philosophies that we should be aware of as the church. We need to understand what ideas are out there and what are being promoted so that we aren't straying from the church. And now, there ARE teachings that are just wrong, they're not biblically supported: Heaven and hell theory, Trinity, Sabbath is on a Sunday, that’s just strong philosophy, you cannot back them up biblically. But then there are those that may have an understanding of the truth but yet they have put themselves in a position to be a teacher, not by God's authority, but they put themselves in a position to make judgments on the church, “This is the way the church should function. This is the way this is the way the overall culture of the Church of God should be.” And they're teaching this is what should happen within the church. And it's based on philosophical wisdom and not biblical instruction, and it's very dangerous, and it's very hard to recognize sometimes that it's actually a false teacher.

00:13:57

So, let's look at some of the false philosophies that are floating around. I'm not saying this is from any particular individual, but these are philosophies that are out there and they're philosophies that are going. Some have put themselves into a position of quote unquote superior intelligence and it's a theory, and it's a philosophy and basically ADVISING and putting themselves in a position of being a church auditor, basically, and going to ADVISE the WHAT the church should be doing. That's called division, that's called discord. One is NOT going through the church to do this – away from the church putting themselves in this position, and now this is what the church should be doing out of discontentment – so, something we must be aware of.

But one of the philosophical ideas that are out there is that the church needs to learn to disagree, the church needs to learn to disagree. We need to WELCOME disagreements, be brutally honest, speak your opinion, welcome criticism. Is this what we should be doing as a church culture? Would this help create unity? In the name of unity, we all need to have more emotional intelligence, if you will, to handle disagreements, to handle to handle conflict, to PROMOTE disagreements. Is this what our focus should be? As members, is it going to help create unity? Is this the right philosophy that should be applied to the Church of God?

First Corinthians 1 and verse 10. What is it that brings unity? Does God want us to explore our differences? “Let's all focus on our differences.” Or are we to be in agreement? What is it that creates unity in the church? First Corinthians 1 and verse 10. If we look hard enough, we can find where we don't agree on certain details, but shouldn't we focus on what we do agree, and focus on edifying, and focus on encouraging one another as was brought out in the sermonette? First Corinthians 1 and verse 10? Is it disagreement that brings unity or is it agreement? 1 Corinthians 1:10,

“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be NO divisions among you, and that you be perfectly joined together in the SAME mind in the same judgment.”

Teach as we've been taught. This was also brought out in the sermonette. God does not want divisions; God does not want there to be disagreements among the brethren. That doesn't mean that we all don't have different backgrounds, different ideas, different thoughts about certain subjects. If that was the case where we're all yellow pencils and we all are exactly the same, you know, it's just not the way it is. There are disagreements in particular areas, but if we're all to be in agreement in that way, we all walk alone, but we know that, “can two be together unless they are agreed?” We are to WALK in agreement. That's a part of what brings us to the truth in unity. There is ONE Spirit, ONE body of Christ. There is a unity, one Father, there is a oneness. And we are to speak the same thing in love, there (are to) be NO divisions. You know, even though this was not a doctrinal issue, as you can kind of continue on, the contentions among them, “I'm of Paul, I'm of Apollos,” there's an issue there, and it was a people issue. But the same point in this is, “I plead that you be an agreement.” There needs to be an agreement here. There should not be the contentions. Can two walk together unless agreed?

As the body of Christ, we are not of the world, we are not of the world’s philosophies. There is a world philosophy out there which does say, you know, we are to kind of be everybody’s auditor and everybody needs to buck up buttercup, and, you know, listen to the tunes. But if you if you want honest opinion you need to hear honesty and I'm going to tell you all your faults and this is going to be honesty. If you don't WELCOME that then there's problem, you’re not going to really have unity as you want, and that's a worldly philosophy that's found in worldly workplaces, it's found in corporate America. This is the body of Christ. This is not corporate America. It does not function the same way. You don't take the handbook of Google or Amazon and try to apply that to he Church of God. We are to be in agreement, it's the spiritual matters, and Bill Gates is not the head of the church, it is Jesus Christ. It isn't to function as corporate America where, you know, everybody needs to have a little more, a little thicker skin. You know, yes, we are not to be easily offended, that is what love is, but we are also not to provoke. We are also not to seek our own. Let's go ahead and turn here, of course I didn't have this in my notes, but it is worth looking at. Because you can have knowledge, you can have a certain amount of knowledge and understanding, it's nothing if you don't have the right attitude behind it. 1 Corinthians 13:1, this is what love is. So, are we to disagree in love? Is that our focus?

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, if I have not love, I have become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy (there's knowledge), and understanding all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, if I have not love, I am nothing.” What's the point if we can't have love, and what is love?

“And though I bestow all goods and feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love is (patient) suffers long.” You know, if the first time we hear, see something we don't like about somebody, maybe we should just go up quickly and tell him about it, “Hey, you got a problem here.”

“It suffers long, it is kind; it does not envy; does not parade itself, it is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, it does not seek its own, is not provoked, it thinks no evil; does not rejoice in sin, but it rejoices in the truth; it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” We are to be patient with one another. Our aim is not to see where we can disagree in love. We are to be in agreement. Our focus is not to go at each other and to stir up contentions. Could you imagine if that was our focus, and this is what we have prodded to do every week? We should come in here and we look at each other and we start telling people where they're wrong. That would really build a lot of unity within the body of Christ, wouldn't it?

The apostle Paul had something to say about this too. Colossians 2 and verse 4. Colossians 2:4.

“Now this I say lest anyone should DECEIVE you with *persuasive* *words*. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I'm with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the STEADFASTNESS of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ROOTED and built up in him and established in the faith, as you have been taught (again from the beginning, they've been taught these things) abounding in it with thanksgiving.” You know, our approach should be with THANKSGIVING and a content heart, very thankful for what we've been given, that we have been set apart and called into the body of Christ. What a wonderful gift.

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men….” There's always been, from the very beginning, there's been philosophies, there's been man’s ideas of what will work, and we should be aware of that. There is a philosophy of the world that does say, you know, it's your due diligence to go after your brother and they should, they should uh, they should just be more willing to accept that. Is that, is that really emotional intelligence? And if we could all come to this certain emotional intelligence, then we would be able to disagree more in love and have more unity. Well, that's foolishness. We would not… you know, emotional intelligence that is something that is taught in the workplace, and we need God's Spirit working in us, we need that we don't need this physical self-help book, emotional intelligence, that…YES, it is a great tool, we should respond to each other in a positive way, we should have tolerance, but we need to bear the fruit of God's Spirit that is love, and joy, and peace. Peace, not being full of contention or disagreement.

“For in him dwells all fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in him, who is the head over all principality and power.” So, don't let someone cheat you with philosophies. Be thankful. Be thankful. Who was it that wasn't UN thankful? Who was it that were discontent? Who was it that was critiquing Jesus Christ all the time? Nitpicking Jesus Christ, critiquing, who was it? Who was constantly challenging through philosophical debate? It was the Pharisees. They were some of the most argumentative debating, contentious, quarrelsome people mentioned in the Bible, and God referred to them as a brood of Vipers and of their father the devil.

What does a servant of God look like? What is the mindset that God leaders are to have? Second Timothy 2 and verse 23. 2 Timothy 2:23, “But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate STRIFE.” This is something we avoid. We don't generate strife; we don't look for disagreement. We look to be IN agreement. Where do we share the unity through God’s Spirit? And a servant of the Lord MUST NOT QUARREL, but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition…” I don't find… well, I won't go there, “If God perhaps will grant them repentance so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” Satan is very crafty. He wants God, people to disagree MORE, criticize MORE. Constructive criticism is… if that's… if there's a time and a place, you know, I do understand, there are the scriptures, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend,” as was also mentioned in the sermonette, basically, you know, that we will. But if you're talking about sin here, you're talking about there's a sin that is noticed and you go to your brother and you let him know, out of love, is it would be better to let him know, “Hey, you're getting close to the cliff!” As a friend, you know, you're going to let him know in that way where there is SIN involved. That is where we should go to our brother in that way. But we aren't too… it's not going to bring a healthy unity to look for where we are in disagreement. But he's crafty, you know, he wants us to disagree to get into POINTLESS disputes, idle babblings. Foolish and ignorant disputes is a tactic of Satan the devil.

Philippians 2 and verse 2. Philippians 2:2 (reads verse 3), “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in loneliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” As when we come to church services, our goal and our aim is to lift each other up to edify. That's what edification means it is to build up; we’re to strengthen one another. We are looking to encourage one another. “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus….” We are to be of the same mind, the same mind, a lowliness of mind, encouraging one another. You know, *swift* *to* *hear,* slow to speak. We are to be slow to speak and swift to hear. God wants us to encourage one another, edify one another. That is what a friend is for. That is what friendship is about.

What about iron sharpening iron? Aren't we to go after one another? “I need to sharpen my friend.” Isn't that what a friend is for? (Mocking) We need to hash out some disagreements, open criticism. We have this emotional intelligence because of it. We're really becoming better by doing this. What? “Iron sharpening iron.” Let's turn to Proverbs, I think it's 27. Proverbs 27 and verse 17. Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the COUNTENANCE of his friend.” It’s encouraging the countenance of a friend. And that's the other thing, they're already friends, they're in agreement, iron, sharpening, IRON. Not iron sharpening clay, not iron sharpening something else. It's talking about they're in agreement, they're the same, that we need to have that, there needs to be that unity. And that is what will sharpen one another, and build the friendships, and edify one another. Again, we do understand that “Open rebuke is better than love, carefully concealed,” there's a balance, but that is, we're talking about sin, we're talking about, we notice a sin and it's a friend and we go to them and let them know is better than love that is concealed. But it isn't talking about our, focus is to go after each other and to sharpen one another, that our due diligence is to stir up disagreement, discontentment, discord. Playing devil's advocate, we've heard that before, there's always the flip of the coin. You know, you can say something: this water is half empty, you know, “Oh, I think it's half full.” OK, so that really accomplishes a lot, you know. We can be a devil's advocate. Who wants to be a devil's advocate? Doesn't sound like that's a good friend. It's called contention. In the Church of God, he has called us to be in agreement so we can be of the same mind so we can build each other up so we can speak the same things and love. We are to edify one another.

I think we're all thinking about Larry Williamson and, I too, you know, didn't get with Mr. Anderson before, and we didn't talk about we were speaking on, but I thought about friendship with Larry Williamson. He was a good friend. When I think about the friendship that I had with him, I think about at services, you know, you come with him, you talk to him, and you walk away edified, you walked away encouraged. He would share stories of faith and how God's word was true in his life. And those words of encouragement, you know, he used God's word as a way to edify, to build up. He would offer advice, but it was how it worked in his life. And I remember, you know, there are certain things I’d talk to him about he said, you know, “This is what I would do; this is how it helped me in my life,” and it was really edifying. He used God's word to edify, to encourage, to build up. He esteemed others better than himself. He was a friend. You know, he did not… he was not one that sparked debate or dug up disagreements, he was not one that did that. He was very… he had a strong foundation, he was strong in the faith, and he sharpened the countenance. I would go over there wanting to talk to him and encourage him and I'd walk away encouraged. That was Larry Williamson. His focus, you heard it all the time, his focus was the Kingdom of God; it was always pointing to the Kingdom of God. You would talk to him about things, and it was when God's Kingdom comes it's going to be like this. He was focused on that future. He wasn't focused on the here and now. But we want to use God's word as a tool to edify one another, to encourage one another.

Proverbs 13 and verse 12, you know, thinking about, you know, iron sharpening iron in agreement of the same mind as a friendship there, that's a part of that unity that's already there, which builds on the friendship. Proverbs 13 and verse 20. Proverbs 13:20. “He who walks with the wise man will be wise (you know, your wise? Walk with the wise), but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” We don't want to associate with foolish discussion, quarrels, foolish debate. What does it bring about; what's the fruit of it? That's not the sharpening that will help. It's not going to sharpen our countenance. Now, there's a safety, as we see here, a safety of being with the wise. We want to be in agreement from the beginning.

Proverbs 11:14, “Without wise leadership, a nation is in trouble, but with good counselors their safety.” We want to associate where there is safety. There's not safety with wrong philosophies and self-proclaimed teachers.

There is a philosophy out there that, you know, in judging the church, they've kind of taken a step back, put themselves in a position to judge and say, “We don't like the way the Church of God is doing dot-dot-dot, and as a result we are going to get it done ourselves.” Is this wisdom that is of meekness [that it’s] talking about in James? Is that a meekness and a wisdom that started with meekness? And there's also a philosophy you need everyone else’s opinion. Everybody has an opinion and that has to be… there needs to be an open opinion, everybody's opinion is needed. What if a family worked like this? “OK kids, we're gonna go out to eat today. What do you want? Every opinion matters. What do you want to eat?? Pizza! Hamburger. Tacos. Say, “OK, we're gonna do Italian.” Now you have a car load full of very happy content. Individuals, don't you? “I'm glad I got everybody's opinion. Thank you for sharing. Now we're going to Olive Garden.” Should we get everybody's opinion on everything? Is not being honest, you know, as the Church of God, not being honest unless you get everybody's opinion? You're not, you know, not gonna have the right unity unless everybody’s opinion is involved.

Romans 12 and verse 9. Romans 12:9, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another, not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind with one another (we are to be in agreement). Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be WISE in your own opinion.

Not every opinion matters – just the way it is, and we should not be, you know, love does not seek its own. If we have an opinion, again, slow to speak, quick to hear. This is what God's word tells us. So, if there's other teachings out there saying otherwise, and this is the way the Church of God should function, we should disregard that opinion. That opinion is only an opinion. Are we to prove all things? So is opinions, is welcoming everybody opinion – open opinion; everybody needs us put in their opinion – is that the way we should prove all things? If we don't do that, we're not proving all things. Is that what it is talking about in proving all things? When you look at the context of proving all things and testing the spirit it is basically before you even acknowledge someone's opinion you're testing, “Is it true?” Now, of course we study God's word, and we prove all things, Mr. Armstrong always said, uh, you know, “Don't believe me, believe the Bible.” And that goes both ways: if somebody is out there preaching a philosophy that the church should have, don't just take their word for it, prove it in the Bible, what does the Bible say? We have to test the spirits.

First Thessalonians 5 and verse 12. 1 Thessalonians 5:12, “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly. Well, this is advice for brethren; this is vice for you and I. “Now we exhort you, brethren warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourself and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecy. Test all things; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from evil.”

There is a testing of what is good and what is evil; what is of the spirit and what is not. And we are told in a variety of scripture what God’s Spirit, and the fruit of God’s Spirit looks like, and it's not the promotion of contention, discord, disagreement. We must test the spirit.

James, three and verse 13. James 3:13, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” So the action, you know, if someone is to take it upon themselves, build their own platform and say, “I'm going to judge the church. I'm a self-proclaimed teacher,” is that done in the meekness of wisdom? “But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but it is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.”

It's very clear. Those actions that we are to acknowledge as wisdom or not. There are certain actions that we must reject. If someone has stepped aside and said, “I'm going to be a chief auditor of the Church of God, and this is what the Church of God needs to do. This is what the members need to do,” I would be very aware. If someone is saying, “Be critical, speak up! Let your opinion be known. Don't keep quiet, form your own opinion. Every voice needs to be heard. Learn to disagree in love,” that's not of God. This promotes foolishness. Satan is very crafty, and he is going to welcome disagreements, criticism, debate, contention in the name of philosophy.

Proverbs 29 and verse 22. Proverbs 29 and verse 22. What type of individual stirs up strife, stirs up contention, stirs up conflict? Proverbs 29:22, “An angry man stirs up strife and a furious man abounds in transgression.” An angry man doesn't have to just be outwardly angry in all his speech and actions. He can have a pinned up, frustration and anger, that's deep inside. And this willingness to divide; a willingness to stir up disunity, one can come across very charming – nice outwardly – but they're stirring up conflict as it says, it is a man of sin, it’s a man of anger and full of sin.

The Bible is very clear in how we should. Be towards one another. Philippians 2 and verse 14. Philippians 2:14. “Do ALL things (so this doesn't leave anything out), do ALL things without complaining and disputing, that you become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in whom you shine as lights in the world….” Everything without complaining, and other translations say without complaining, without arguments.

Titus, three and verse one. And Paul is giving instruction to Titus on how he should admonish the church himself. And he was to warn the church, Titus 3:1,

“Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey (you know, be willing to yield to the authorities that God is put in place), be ready for every good work and to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior towards men appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing and regeneration of the renewing of God’s Spirit, of the Holy Spirit.” You know, God has given us his Spirit so we can be peaceable, so we can have and share in the same love, not deceived, “Whom he poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by his grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”

Second Corinthians 11 and verse one, 2 Corinthians 11:1,

“Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly – and indeed you do bear with me. For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” So here is this example of future bride of Christ, and God is a jealous God, and there's a jealousy there. But what is it that is going to provoke God? “But I fear lest somehow as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you have received a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted – you may well put up with it!”

False ideas; deceptions. Christ is looking for a bride that is going to be in disagreement with him or agreement with him? Is he looking for a bride that is going to criticize MORE, always object? Is that what Christ is looking for from the church?

What is the closest friendship that you can have in this life, as was also mentioned in the sermonette? Our spouses, a physical relationship with our spouses. Should we be in disagreement all the time, so we look for fights? Should we look for disagreement? Would that be a very positive thing in a marriage?

What does God want? Now, First Timothy 3 and verse 3, and we have some advice towards a spouse, towards a wife, and you think if this parallels a wife and husband relationship in the physical, what is Christ looking for with the church, with the spiritual Church? What will it be like? And also, to think about here too, you know, this does not just to apply, this this attitude, only applied to a wife. You know, a husband needs to also adhere as well, (so) we don't want to be contentious as well.

First Timothy 3 and verse 3. (I'm in Thessalonians, excuse me, that didn't look right). 1 Timothy 3:3, qualifications of an overseer here, and goes into the detail, “Not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence….” I had the wrong verse here, so I apologize. OK, here we go. (I Timothy 3:11), “Likewise, (and talking about qualifications of deacon) likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all issues….” And I'm looking for a different verse, but I don't have it in front of me, so I apologize, but it is basically, you know, a contentious wife, that's not what God desires in a wife.

Titus, two and verse one. We can turn there. Again, I apologize, I did not have this in my notes, “But As for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound, in faith, love and patience. The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, or given too much wine, teachers of good things – that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”

But there are other scriptures in talking about, you know, not being a quarrelsome or contentious wife, you know, but a husband is not to be contentious towards their spouse either. It's not going to edify, it's not going to encourage one another. You know, “Hey, would you mind buying some towels for the bathroom?” And they buy towels, they go to the store, go shopping, “But you didn't get my favorite color, take ‘em back!” You know,

“I made you this dinner, I hope you like it.” “Well, I didn't know you hated me this bad, why would you do that? I don't like this stuff. Take it back!”

You know, “I think the fastest route would be this way, this is what the GPS says, maybe we can do that.” “Ahh, I know it's going to be bad; I'll do my own way.” Everything, you know, it could be, you could drive somebody INSANE. At every step of the way there's a contentious, or there's something on the flip side, “Well, we need to look at this and over analyze it. You know. Now, we apply this within a physical relationship in marriage, but what is it that God is looking for from his future BRIDE the Church of God? Is it always, you know, my opinion matters the most all the time, and my voice needs to be heard?

As we conclude, I'd like to just give one final thought, and, you know, if we accept these damaging philosophies and we don't acknowledge what God's word says, not only will we have more strife among ourselves and our relationships; not only will we not have unity, but we’ll also and it will lead to rejecting Christ’s supreme authority. It will lead to quarreling, debating, criticizing and putting themselves in a position to judge the church, which is led, and the head is, Jesus Christ. So (if) we ever get to a point where we think, “I can do it better, and I'm not going to wait around for anybody else. I don't (basically you're saying) I don't trust God. I don't trust the Christ. I'm going to fix it myself,” then we should reconsider.

Remember Job, he did not understand what was going on when he was facing, you know, the trial beyond any comprehension. He did not understand, but he got to a point, he didn't understand it, and so he wanted to debate with God. “I'm ready to debate you and your intent, and I'm ready to quarrel. You don't know what's going on. You don't have it right, and I question you.” And then God responds to Job with 72 questions of his own, that he has no answer for. God’s thoughts are above our thoughts, his ways are above our ways and we have to remember that. Job 40 to conclude. God’s intelligence is the supreme intelligence. Job 14 verse one, Job 40:1,

“Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said (you know, this is after he's already asked him quite a few questions), ‘Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.’ Then Job answered the Lord and said: ‘Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer you? (‘I have no answer,’ he was seeing himself clearly. ‘I should not have tried to debate with you. I should not have, uh, I should not have done this’). Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.’” And then God challenges him more and goes on with more questions.

Drop down to verse 42 [sic], and Job responds again after those 72 questions. (Job 42:1), “Then Job answered the Lord and said: ‘I know that you can do everything, and that no purpose of yours can be withheld from you. You asked, “who is this, who hides counsel without knowledge?” Therefore I have uttered what I do not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I do not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

And at that point God poured out the blessings on Job. Job contended, he wanted to quarrel, he wanted to debate. He disagreed and he went after God; he questioned him. And God helped him to see that his thoughts are much higher than Job's.

There have been many arguments, debates, philosophical ideas out there that have attacked the Church of God over the years. Gnosticism, whatever it may be, you go back, there's always a philosophy, there's always an idea. There's always a, “We can do it better ourselves.” But maybe before one takes the time to introduce criticisms, opinions, quarrels, debate, criticism towards the Church of God, they should first answer those questions that God questioned Job with. And until one has those answered, maybe they should stop questioning, themselves. Job repented, Job responded, and God blessed. Until we can answer those questions, maybe we should do the same and be quick to hear and slow to speak.