The legalistic hate mongers in the Church of God have been on a roll this year. Apostle Malm, Prophet Thiel, and others have all been in a rage about Christmas and New Years celebrations. You would think people were slaughtering first born on both of these days. For some reason the COGers seem to think these are the worlds two most offensive and putrid celebrations the face of the earth.
Why do so many Church of God folk watch New Year's celebrations?Some of these people give sermonettes (because they are related to someone or are wealthy not because of ability or knowledge). I must say that their 'sermonettes' are nothing but piffle and dribble anyway with no depth of understanding. As such, as a Church of God member I am under no obligation to listen to them...
So what's the difference between celebrating New Year's and Christmas? They are part of the same Babylonian Mark of the Beast! So should Christians be celebrating it or watching the fireworks? Time is short; life is short; why are members no longer interested in studying God's Word? Study and discuss the Bible, not get into New Year's trash!
The COG has always had a tradition of working the Rose Parade in Pasadena for well over 50 years. The college and church basically ran all grandstands, parking lots and most concession stands on the parade route for years. Even to this day members from the various splinter groups still do some activities to raise money. They park cars, usher in grandstands, sell programs or concessions and are even members of the organization. LCG even has a member of their church in the Tournament of Roses. Yet Prophet Thiel spits and sputters about the evilness of New Years. I am sure that LCG member appreciates being lied about by Prophet Bob.
William Ellis wrote in a 1964 Plain Truth the following that COGers just love to promote this time of year:
The New Year's festivities that had originated in Babylon found their way to Greece and finally to Rome. The Romans called it "Saturnalia" -- in honor of Saturn. Among them it was extremely popular -- a time of revelings, drinking bouts, orgies -- finally ending in HUMAN SACRIFICE!
There is nothing better to start the new year off than a fresh sacrifice on the altar, especially if it is a pink juicy baby! Then he goes on to talk about many Feast of tabernacles sites: "... a time of revelings, drinking bouts, orgies..." There have been many reports over the years of the drunken and gluttonous COG members at Feast sites. There have been sex orgies and wife swapping by ministers and members. I would think these Armstrongites would get their own houses in order before damning the world around them.
Ellis goes on to write:
Today, New Year's Eve has become a time for people to wallow in excesses of liquor! The modern attitude seems to be, "have a wild time on New Year's Eve, and turn over a new leaf on New Year's Day!"
New Year's resolutions are empty and meaningless, usually trifling matters of jest! Few people make a lasting change. (OrginalWCG Yahoo Group)
The first paragraph describes a typical COG Feast site and the second sounds exactly like COG members who make all kinds of promises to God right before Passover and afterwards. They beg God to forgive them for the past years sins and make promises not to make the same mistakes for the coming year. Then like the people who make New Years resolutions they then proceed to break all those promises.Hypocrites!
