LCG: Members need to think more

 

Why is Living Church of God and the broader Church of God movement so attuned to Old Testament stories, characters, and books instead of having their readers study the life of Christ and what he said and did? If one wants to grow as a Christian then one would assume they would want to follow the dude they claim they are following. As most LCG members or most COG members what grace, justification, and sanctification mean and they would be at a loss for words, but have the explain the law and they can wax poetic on how wonderful it is. Jesus, not so much. But why worry about Jesus when your time spent thinking makes your mind more like God's (which you will be one day soon and then you won't have to worry anymore about JC because you will be just like him).

 

Take Time to Think: For many today, the pace of life is frantic and filled with distractions. Yet, Daniel warned that at the end of the age, “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4). Jesus also warned, “the cares of this world” can “choke the word” and cause us to miss out on the Kingdom of God (Matthew 13:22). One of the biggest challenges Christians face is the battle that goes on in our minds with thoughts that determine our actions. Solomon wrote, as a person “thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). David observed that a wicked person does not seek God and “God is in none of his thoughts” (Psalm 10:4). Yet, David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22) because he meditated on God’s law daily (Psalm 119:97). David wrote that green pastures and still waters were restful and restorative (Psalm 23). Such places are conducive to thinking and reflecting on God’s creation and his Great Plan for human beings. If we want to grow and prepare for the coming Kingdom of God, we need to take time to think and meditate on God’s word. Read a Psalm every morning or evening and meditate on the subjects mentioned in Philippians 4:8. We can develop the mind of God if we think on these things.
Have a profitable Sabbath, 

Douglas S. Winnail

LCG: Are you thankful for the "precious Truths" we give you?

Once more, its close to the COG version of the Sabbath, and the Living Church of God has sent out its weekly announcements and Sabbath "love bomb" to its members telling them that they are failing once again to remain true to the path and accept everything the leadership says as 100% "precious truth." Apparently, some are falling short and allowing Satan to blind their eyes to the "incredible privilege" they have to be "called out of darkness" and into the glorious light of the Living Church of God. Can LCG members ever be praised and thanked for a job well done, with no "but's or however's" attached? Is this too much to ask? Once a year, at least? That is just one time out of 52 weeks. Just once?

Be Thankful for the Truth: The Sabbath is a good time to reflect on an important question: Are you thankful for the Truth? It is easy to take the Truth of God for granted if you are a longtime member or if you have grown up in the Church. Yet, Jesus emphasized that people cannot come to a real understanding of the Truth unless they are called and their minds have been opened to see the big picture (John 6:44, 65). The capacity to understand the plan of God, the purpose of life, and the true way of life is a gift that God is making available to only a few people at this time (1 Corinthians 1:26–27). These precious Truths are a mystery to most people (1 Corinthians 2:7–8) because Satan—the god of this age—has blinded their eyes (2 Corinthians 4:3–4). Jesus said that it is an incredible privilege to be given an understanding of the Truth (Matthew 13:10–17). The Apostle Paul said that being called out of darkness into the light of the Truth is something to be extremely thankful for. He also said that those who were unthankful and let go of or rejected the Truth of God will reap the penalty of their error which is due (Romans 1:18–32). Let’s never forget to be thankful for the opportunity to understand the Truth of God that “endures to all generations.” 

 

Have a profitable Sabbath, 

 

Douglas S. Winnail

It is always interesting that COG leaders place so much emphasis upon God calling people into the church (a COG, of course) and yet those who feel called into Christianity in other Christian churches have fake calls. God calling people into the COG is always right, God actively calling people to be real Christians who might attend other churches are always fake. The logic doesn't compute.

You never hear COG ministers quote these scriptures much as the focus is just on believing, not following all the commands of COG leaders and the endless stack of laws they dish out. Followers aren't "called to "believe", they are "called to "obey".

Just believe...that can't be right!