It was kind of funny reading how Gerald Weston wants us to beware of fake news. Remember, this is coming from Living Church of God..need I say more?
We hear a great deal about fake news these days and there is no lack of it coming from all quarters, as objectivity is sorely lacking in politics, academia, media, and popular culture. However, there is also much misinformation regarding God’s plan and how He is working it out. The doctrines of Jesus and first-century Christianity have been drastically altered, watered down, and infused with pagan philosophy and religion. You likely understand this, being readers of Tomorrow’s World and viewers of our television program. Our booklets point out biblical truths that you never hear in most churches, where greater emphasis is placed on “feel good” gospels rather than straight-talk messages from the Bible about the need to change and become conformed to the Jesus Christ of the Bible.
Look at the decades of misinformation that has streamed out of the church, doctrinally and spiritually. Weston is in no position to warn us about misinformation, particularly when it comes to religion. Living Church of God does NOT follow first-century Christianity. That is a totally impossible thing for any of today's groups to do. It doesn't matter how much they claim to.
LCG's booklets do not steer people to the truth but to legalistic mumbo-jumbo that is not required of new covenant Christians. The so-called "straight talk" is devoid of anything about grace, mercy, and justice, all things Jesus talked about and accomplished.
Paul’s rebuke of the Corinthians is as relevant today as it was in the first century: “For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it” (2 Corinthians 11:4). Paul explained later in this same chapter about those preachers who bring a different Jesus, a different spirit, and a different gospel: “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into minister of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (vv. 13-15).
Paul's rebuke of the Corinthians is certainly relevant today when it perfectly describes the hundreds of splinter groups all doing what they want and not being followers of the Word.
Of the five things listed below they have zeroed in on one of them...REBUKE. LCG has a sad reputation of using this to the extreme, though rather selectively depending upon who you are. Rod Meredith was heavy-handed at this down through his slash and burn periods when he was over Church Administration and then as leader of two separate splinter groups. Long-suffering has never been quality that LCG and its leaders practiced, but then neither did Herbert Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God.
Of the five things listed below they have zeroed in on one of them...REBUKE. LCG has a sad reputation of using this to the extreme, though rather selectively depending upon who you are. Rod Meredith was heavy-handed at this down through his slash and burn periods when he was over Church Administration and then as leader of two separate splinter groups. Long-suffering has never been quality that LCG and its leaders practiced, but then neither did Herbert Armstrong and the Worldwide Church of God.
No, the problem was not for that day alone. The Bible prophesied this would be an issue for our day as well. Paul instructed the young evangelist Timothy, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:2-4).
And the prophet Isaiah was instructed to take God’s warning and to “write it before them on a tablet, and note it on a scroll, that it may be for time to come, forever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the Lord; who say to the seers, ‘Do not see,’ and to the prophets, ‘Do not prophesy to us right things; speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us’” (Isaiah 30:8-11).
And here we go again, sex. Is there any topic that fascinates LCG leaders more than sex?
It has never been popular to teach the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and to warn this world of what is to come if we do not turn around and go a different direction, but it is shocking how rapidly censorship of non-politically correct ideas is descending on our Western world. Truth is suppressed, while every kind of sexual filth and violence is promoted. You would be surprised how often one of our television programs is rejected by a station or governing authority because it does not fit the politically correct narrative.
Ah, the other favorite topic of Weston and select COG leaders...we are being persecuted. These sad boys have no idea what persecution is. Having an asinine broadcast or article rejected is not persecution. Real Christians around the world face persecution every day from Muslims, Hindus, and others. They are dying for their belief while Weston, Theil, and the rest of the boys go home every night to their nice homes, feed their faces, drink their wine, and play on their computers. Persecution has never been so horrible!
Paul instructed Timothy regarding “the last days” and how they would be marked by danger, as “men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control. . .” (2 Timothy 3:2-5). Danger may come in many different forms and include physical injury or death, but what about the danger we see today of someone losing a job for tweeting a comment that does not fit the agenda of today’s “social engineers”?
This is the world in which we are to preach the truth unapologetically, and God tells us through the prophet Ezekiel that we will be held accountable if we fail to do so (Ezekiel 33:1-7). Even the Proverbs warn us that we will have to answer to God if we hold back from warning the world of where it is heading: “Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, ‘Surely we did not know this,’ does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” (Proverbs 24:11-12).
LCG and the mother church never preached the truth unapologetically. From Herbert's, "A strong hand from someplace" tot he wishy-washy sermons and mind-numbing cable programs, LCFG and most of the COG's are like kindergarteners playing on a playground spinning the merry-go-round as fast as they can to see who they can throw off.
Dear brethren and co-workers, we have a job to do. We are faithfully doing it and your prayers make a difference. When we receive an unexpected tithe from someone who is not even a subscriber, or an inheritance from someone we don’t even know, we recognize that God is blessing us and answering the prayers of His faithful people. Frankly, those of us here in Charlotte and in our offices around the world have been humbled at how our Creator has blessed us during this difficult economic time. I cannot thank you enough for your generosity and for your heartfelt prayers. Please remember to give thanks for the way God is blessing His Work, and for the blessings He pours out on each of us individually.
Sincerely, in Christ’s service,
Gerald E. Weston
Always end your letter with a money appeal. While you lazy and unappreciative brethren fail to send in money, we want you to know that random people send us money all the time. Even more amazing is random people sending us tithe money! Woo Hoo! Now get off your butts and send us your money, too!
