Romans 13 in the 21st Century

God will choose 
(Bob Thiel says don't vote for either )

Political leaders are for our good.
(Bob Thiel says watch out!)

They only will give you problems if you are a wrongdoer.

... Says the Apostle Paul


How Do We View Romans 13 in the 21st Century?
( or ever?)

Romans 13New International Version (NIV)

             Submission to Governing Authorities

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.The authorities that exist have been established by God.

2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. 

But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

LCG/UCG, The Azazel Goat and the Book of Enoch

For many decades the Church of God has worked overtime to write about the significance of the Azazel goat in association with the Day of Atonement.  United Church of God, COGWA and Living Church of God pay particular attention to the story.

The church has always associated the Azazel goat with the arch-deacon, Satan.  That "teaching" apparently stems from The Book of Enoch.  Living Church of God teaches a belief from the book, yet they disfellowship people for reading the book.  They use it to support their doctrine yet tell their plebe members that it a heretical book. What a pickle LCG is in!

Living Church of God fails to see that the Azazel Goat association with demons was the major premise in The Book of Enoch and its fallen angels. The very same book that the LCG went ballistic over after it was discovered that some LCG members were reading and discussing it.

For more on the story check out:   Just what do you mean...Atonement?

The United Church of God, another splinter, aptly explains the symbolism Herbert Armstrong attached to the Day of Atonement through the lens of speculative prophecy, for which he was famous. Armstrong claimed that the scapegoat released in the wilderness pictured Satan being be bound and thrown in the bottomless pit, as described in Revelation 20. Removal of the devil would allow man to achieve "at-one-ment" with God, they say.

"This sending away into the desert is part of the reason for translating Azazel as scapegoat, or goat that escapes. But many scholars identify Azazel as the name of a demon inhabiting the wilderness," UCG explains. "It stands to reason that Azazel is one in stark contrast to the Lord—indeed, the ultimate enemy Satan the devil."

This explanation sounds good until you examine the context and timing of Leviticus versus the literature that names Azazel as a demon. The primary source scholars use to support the Azazel theory is the Book of Enoch. Scholars believe the Book of Enoch was written between the 300s B.C. and the first century A.D. because it includes late Aramaic names not present until that time period, according to The Expositor's Bible Commentary. It is likely that the Book of Enoch used Leviticus, which is believed to date to the 1440s B.C., as a source. Not vice-versa. The demon of the wilderness likely got its name from lore related to this ancient ritual, according to both Expositor's and the Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon. The ritual did not borrow a name from a figure that appears in literature at least a thousand years later.

Further, the COGs have traditionally rejected non-canonical sources such as the Book of Enoch. In fact, the Living Church of God disfellowshipped members last year for reading and discussing the Book of Enoch. So the Azazel teaching puts the COGs in the precarious position of placing faith in a book that it tells its own members is heretical.

Day of Atonement: Are You Fasting?

Today is the Church of God version of Yom Kippur, Atonement, one of the most holy days for the Jewish people. Various churches are afflicting their bodies today by abstaining from food and drink.  Some COG groups however have already celebrated Atonement a few weeks ago.  As usual the church cannot agree upon anything.

Today the most arrogant and legalistic of the official church Pharisees, James Malm, made the following proclamation on behalf of the self-made creature god he follows.

What does it mean to be “cut off from your people”?  It means that if we do not fast on this day we shall be rejected from being a part of the Covenant people; rejected from being a part of the bride – the Ekklesia of the faithful!

So there you have it.  Because you took a drink of water, had some orange juice or a bagel this morning you are damned to the lake of fire. There is no chance for you now.

A comment from a 2013 posted on this blog had this:

Rather than realizing that the Old Covenant shadows were fulfilled and no longer required to be kept, HWA instilled marketing elements into them to further his own empire and purposes. These marketing elements modified their ancient Jewish significance by injecting Herbert Armstrong's exclusionary Revelation-based understanding of Jesus' nature and personality into them. He also tainted them with his non-Holy Spirit motivated "government from the top down" and British Israelism.

Probably the Jews and Messianics in temple today are receiving better, more accurate insights into these shadows. In most of the ACOGs, unfortunately, chauvinism is being created and nurtured.

Relive those fun days by listening to this:

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Living Church of God: God Punishes Church By Allowing Hurricane to Damage Two Feast Sites

Living Church God seems to have one trial after another lately.  It's latest issue is with two of its Feast sites.  One has been cancelled due to the hurricane and the second is scrambling to find another venue in Haiti because of the horrendous damage.

Gone are the days of COG's boldly proclaiming from their pulpits how God directed a hurricane away from Caribbean, Latin America and Coastal U.S. Feast sites.  Now God just lets the hurricanes slam ashore and mess up hotels and sites fully booked.  Gone are the days of celebrating hurricanes turning around and destroying Cuba and other islands just so COG faithful can have eight days of millennial bliss as they overindulge on food and alcohol while the unwashed "gentiles" suffer God's wrath elsewhere.

God's protection seems to be slipping away.

From an LCG source:

It looks like God has stricken one of the feast sites of the purest, cleanest, holiest, most godly, sole Philadelphian remnant of the one-and-only true church of God. 

For the 1st time in the history of ACOG splits, a feast site is cancelled all together AFTER hundreds of members have put down their deposits and made their travel plans. 

Today, LCG announced that they have cancelled their feast site in Hilton Head, SC. 

According to LCG, God is now (suddenly) "placing His name" in Charlotte. 

Was LCG's festival planner Lil' Jimmy Meredith not listening to God when he signed the SC contract? Or did God "place His name" there but then suddenly decide to change His mind? It's obvious to many of us that God has nothing to do with LCG but it's hard not to wonder how they will spin this since they believe the are the "one-and-only church of God". 

LCG has a booklet called, "Who Controls the Weather?" If one follows the reasoning outlined in that booklet, it seems pretty obvious that God is punishing LCG. 

One thing is for sure, lying Rod Meredith will figure out some way to sell it to his congregants that will have little to do with reality or repentance. 

Now LCG members get to have the feast in the very same town where 90% of them live and work anyway, Charlotte, NC. How exciting! 

Lil' Jimmy is working out the details now and will soon let the membership know the name of the place God is placing His name in Charlotte (my guess is it will be where they have their Christmas party every year). Until then, we will all be waiting with baited breath!

This was posted on lcg.org:

Dear brethren,

Hilton Head Location moving to Charlotte...  We continue to pray for the thousands of people who were affected by Hurricane Matthew.  Lives and homes were lost and much damage occurred in Haiti, other islands, and up and down the East Coast of the USA.  There is also flooding and various damage in Hilton Head, which was one of our planned sites for the Feast of Tabernacles this year.  Due to the hurricane, the resort we had planned to use is not available. 

We are planning on moving the location to Charlotte with Mr. Richard Ames being here the first half and Mr. Gerald Weston will be here the second half.  Several additional ministers will also serve at this site.  We are still trying to nail down the exact venue, but trust that God will provide the right location.

If you had reservations with the Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort, your refund is in progress.  However, it could be 5 to 7 days before it is credited to your account.  If you made plans offsite or through other means such as VRBO or HOMEAWAY, then of course we encourage you to quickly request cancellation due to these unforeseen circumstances. 

Activity ticket refunds will be issued as soon as possible; however, regrettably you may not receive it before the Feast begins.  Festival Advisors, your immediate attention is requested to help those without internet access. 

We are working on an orderly plan to quickly re-distribute members to various Feast sites where space is available.  Accordingly, we are asking all those registered to Hilton Head to RE-REGISTER to one of the following sites:

USA FEAST SITES WITH SPACE AVAILABLE:

Panama City, FL

Osage Beach, MO

Traverse City, MI

Mount Snow, VT

San Diego, CA

Please re-register at one of the above sites, as soon as possible.

Again, we all are very disappointed by this most unfortunate reality, and the hurried situation this puts all of us in to make new plans for the Feast.  The Festival Office and Festival Coordinators will do everything we can to make the transition as smooth as possible.  Remember, brethren, God is in charge, and He has promised that “all things work for good to those that love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). 

Even through the trial, let’s thank God for His protection and guidance, as we ask Him to provide the way to keep His wonderful Feast of Tabernacles!

An additional notice was put up by Gerald Weston:

Greetings from Charlotte,
This has been a very active week. Many of our ministers in all parts of the world traveled to serve our members for the Feast of Trumpets: Mr. Richard Ames in Missouri, Dr. Douglas Winnail in Tennessee, Mr. Dexter Wakefield in New England, Mr. James Meredith in South Africa, and Carol and I were in Atlanta where we had six ordinations in the three congregations represented there. When we talk about the weather this week, it is not small talk. Hurricane Matthew devastated a number of islands in the Caribbean, including Haiti where the only bridge to our Festival site was knocked out.  Dr. Wilner Pierre is now busy scrambling to find a new site. As far as we know all our brethren are okay in the Caribbean, but it is almost a certainty that many have suffered property damage. By the time you read this, Florida will have been affected by Matthew to a greater or lesser degree and many hundreds of thousands will have had their lives disrupted.  I would like to mention that Mr. Terrence Kennell, an elder in Florida, died this Thursday. Dr. Meredith is planning to attend the Feast of Tabernacles in San Diego. Your prayers for Dr. Meredith and for all our ministers and members who are traveling during this Festival season are greatly appreciated.—GEW  

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Willam Behrer Resigns From Restored Church of God

It has not been a pretty sight in Wadsworth these past few months.  Dave Pack's self imagined and designed personality cult has been rocked by countless ministers resigning.  It has been such a debacle that almost every couple of weeks another minister turns in his resignation.

This has been a serious blow to the prideful Pack who was looking to these ministers to help with the tens of thousands of COG members who are supposed to be soon flocking to the Restored Church of God after Dave's god sends a strong wind to blow down the HQ's of UCG, PCG, LCG, COGWA and others.  These ministers were supposed to help reeducate the wayward Laodiceans into the new truths that have been revealed to Dave, especially concerning the First Dominion and his roll in it.

This past week Dave suffered a major blow when William Behrer and his wife resigned. This was particularly bitter to Dave's ego considering that the RCG had sent out to all RCG congregations Behrer sermon from one year ago to be played on Feast of Trumpets 2016.  As this was being played, Behrer was walking out the door.

Behrer was one of Dave's senior ministers in Wadsworth.  Behrer had a reputation for being one of the most loved RCG ministers.  He treated members with fairness and grace, which are qualities seriously lacking in Dave Pack and other RCG henchmen.

At one point Behrer was one of only three pastor rank ministers.  Now he and another minister have left the church.

Previously a minister from the Carolina's resigned, as has a minister serving in England.  Canada also has not been immune to RCG resignations. The minister serving the Ontario and upstate New York also resigned.

Almost all RCG members know nothing about these resignations.  Dave and his crew in Wadsworth have kept it from them.  Most members have not even heard about the several ministers who resigned earlier in the year!

Even with all of Dave's new sermons being added to his endless series of new revelations, it has not been able to stop the exodus.   After all, this latest sermon was #45 in the series. Yes, you read that right...45! Many of these sermons are 2 hours in length!  Members are leaving in droves, many from sheer boredom!

Perhaps these men have finally seen through the lies of Dave and his perverted quest for power and dominion.  His pipe dream of being the person to train the two witnesses is imploding around him.

The dramatic drop in income from ministers and members leaving has thwarted his plans to complete his mini-me Ambassador campus in Wadsworth. The David C Pack Auditorium is a pipe dream right now.  What will the people of Wadsworth do without a concert hall?

Dave has turned into his own worst nightmare.  Sadly, those remaining members are left terribly unhappy and confused about the slow collapse around them.  How could God be letting the only true church implode, again? It has been one failed prophecy after another.  Three COG leaders have not been struck down.  Their members have not joined the RCG in its final work.

Even all the headache pills in the Giant Eagle across from the most superfantabulous Church of God HQ in humanity's history can't stem the massive headache Dave is suffering right now.

Ambassador Mansion For Sale: You too can buy a piece of COG history and start a cult like Bob Thiel!

No Church of God leader can have a legitimate empire without owning or imitating something that Herbert Armstrong touched or acquired.  You too can start your own cult and live in luxury on the Ambassador Campus, just like HWA did!  Better yet, you can dream dreams in one of the bedrooms and then have someone doubly-bless you in the basement and you will be set to go!

This grand Italian Revival mansion isn’t just one of the swankiest homes on Millionaire’s Row in Pasadena. It’s also been an integral part of a controversial religious institution. Now a devoted buyer can write his or her own intriguing chapter in one of Southern California’s oldest and most famous communities—for $4.8 million.

When you hear “Millionaire’s Row,” your mind races to Beverly Hills or Bel Air. However, this seven-figure home is located in an enclave in relatively sleepy Pasadena. If you’ve seen the city’s Rose Parade on New Year’s Day, you might have noticed some of the gorgeous historical mansions along the parade route and wondered, “Who lives in those houses? I bet they have some great stories.”

-------

The home was a private residence until 1947, when Herbert W. Armstrong, leader of the Worldwide Church of God, came to town and began acquiring the lavish mansions on Millionaire’s Row to anchor his newly founded Ambassador College.

ulousThe educational institution was established as a liberal arts college, but its main mission was to prepare youth for life and service in the church. The church had a checkered history over the decades and was besieged by controversy and scandal.

In the ’90s the college was moved to Texas, and the church began selling off small parts of the once-thriving college.

Many of the buildings sat vacant for more than a decade, but this particular home was used for special events (e.g., it was a staging area for nuptials held in its gardens). Around the turn of the century, developers bought the 19-acre property and turned it into a community known as Ambassador Gardens. The development includes the three historic mansions, an original sunken Italian-style garden and other formal gardens, the Ambassador Auditorium, and a number of luxury townhouses, condos, and private residences.

Bob Thiel could run his mind boggling end time global empire from the basement and store his secrets behind the hidden room in the basement. 

Perhaps Gerald Flurry can buy it and move it to Oklahoma.  Better yet, Dave Pack can move it to Wadsworth and not have to worry about building his new home.  Dave can then say he trained at Herbert's feet in this very building!

See the entire article with pictures here:  Live on Millionaires Row In This Fascinating Italian Revival

Please, Mr. 

Massive Earthquake to Destroy U.S. October 11/12. Are You Prepared?

double click to enlarge

This is a screen shot of the posting on itstimecog earlier this year.  On October 13, 2016 we will see how true this really was.  Did God delay the earthquake because the brethren were not ready?  Did God delay the earthquake to find out who will win the U.S. Presidential Election in November?  Is God giving the church more time?

We all know that it is not going to happen. Sure there may be earthquakes somewhere on October 11-12 in the U.S. particularly here in California.  We have them every single day.   Totally destroyed?  Not so much.  False prophets? Very much so.

Bob Thiel: The King of "irrelevant and superfluous degrees, studies and titles"

...why do false teachers have such a love for strings of titles? 

After all, there are worldly religious figures I respect more than you, 

who themselves are doctors, but they do not obscure it 

with a long list of irrelevant and superfluous other degrees, studies and titles.

Several people have recently sent me emails concerning Almost Arrested, Doubly Blessed, Elisha, Elijah, Amos, Joshua, Chief Overseer, Apostle, Prophet, Mayan Authority and End Time Witness Bob Thiel and his constantly changing story about his "theological" education and the Ph.D  and Th.D he attaches to his name to legitimize his prophet status in the eyes of his deceived followers in Africa and gullible media personalities that include him on there radio broadcasts.

As one reader here points out, the self-appointed false prophet got his Ph.D from a diploma mill in Cincinnati called Union Institute and University.  It does not take much searching online to find out that UIU has some serious issue with their diploma's, particuarly with the Ph.D's it issued at the time the self-appointed false prophet claims he was earning his.

The false prophet has this posted on his "Who is COGwriter?"

I have studied graduate level Early Church History from Fuller Theological Seminary and other schools in and out of the USA, and after a lot of writing, was granted a foreign Th.D. in early Christianity. A doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree was earned from the Union Institute and University (1993) where I studied various biological sciences and research methodologies. I also have other degrees/training, and have studied theology, both formally and informally.

By lumping a few classes at Fuller Seminary close to his "Th.D" it gives the impression his "theology" Th.D degree is from Fuller.

Compare this to the story Ambassador Watch posted in April of 2016 after Thiel said he had a Th.D from TCU, which if you are from the U.S. means Texas Christian University.  One of AW's readers contacted TCU and this is what transpired:

...in the endeavor to "prove all things" I called the Registrar's Office (817-257-7825) of Texas Christian University located in Ft. Worth, Texas – and talked to one Kristi Harrison at the Registrar’s Office. She informed me of the following facts: First of all, Texas Christian University does NOT have a doctorate of theology (ThD) program. They do have a Masters of Theological Studies program, a Master of Divinity program, and a Master of Theology program – but not a ThD program. And second, the name of Bob (or Robert) Thiel does NOT show up on ANY student listing the university has. They have a computerized file dating from 1984 forward – and Thiel is NOT on this one. And they have a microfiche file for students who attended before 1984 – and Thiel doesn’t show up on this one either.

Thiel, then changed his web site to state this:

...I have studied graduate level Early Church History from Fuller Theological Seminary and other schools in and out of the USA like T of CU, where a Th.D. in Early Christianity was earned). A doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree was earned from the Union Institute and University where I studied various biological sciences and research methodologies. I also have other degrees/training, and have studied theology, both formally and informally.

It was then discovered that Thiel got his diploma from another diploma mill in India, even though it is essentially attached to a fundamentalist Calvinist belief system:

Bob may have acquired a mail order degree from Trinity School of Apologetics & Theology in Kochi.

Kochi?

TRINITY??

Following up on an anonymous tip in the previous comments section, a web search revealed that Trinity is a fundamentalist institution in India which has a Calvinist orientation, and offers "Free Apologetics/Theology Graduate Distance Programs." It's listed in places like Conservapedia and Creationwiki, and is sited next to Cochin University, but from what I can tell is definitely not part of that institution (although to read the Trinity website you might assume it was!) T of CU would then mean Trinity of Cochin University, which seems to be a clear misrepresentation.

Not only did Ambassador Watch take on Thiel's bogus degrees, but a Living Church of God member, who knows more about Thiel's shenanigans than most, also laid into Thiel's lies.

Take his “doctor” title. Doctor of what? If I came to you and said I was a doctor and gave medical advice, wouldn’t you assume by my actions I was a doctor of medicine? Likewise, if I went around putting “Dr” on my books, and the books were on religion, would you not assume my doctorate was in theology? And, if those things turned out not to be true, wouldn’t you believe I was a fraud? And, rightly so! 

Buried deep within his website is the admission that “I have studied graduate level Early Church History from Fuller Theological Seminary and other schools in and out of the USA, and after a lot of writing, was granted a foreign Th.D. in early Christianity. A doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree was earned from the Union Institute and University (1993) where I studied various biological sciences and research methodologies.” 

Not that it matters, which makes it even more curious that he would use such a means to elevate himself. However, his pride in his research is obviously flawed...

Which makes you wonder why anyone would follow such a person who claims to hold the truth dear when they obviously do not. Thiel twists COG current events and the Bible in a similarly deceitful manner.

A quick check of the internet pulls all kinds of stuff up on the Union Institute  and University.  One of the more telling things is how UIU lost their ability to issue Ph.D just a couple years after Thiel claims he got his.  This means his "degree" was "earned" without the expectations that normal doctorate students have to follow.  Plus, being a self study program basically let Thiel do whatever the wanted to claim his expertise in.

The Union Institute's Ph.D. program came under scrutiny by the Ohio Board of Regents in the late 1990s, early 2000s which culminated in its 2002 Reauthorization Report. The report was critical of the Union Institute's Ph.D. program, noting in particular that " ... expectations for student scholarship at the doctoral level were not as rigorous as is common for doctoral work ... " (OBR 2002 Reauthorization Report, page 13) As a result, The Union was put on probation, the Union Graduate School was dissolved and the Ph.D. program was restructured.  The Gist

Thiel has this to say on his Doctors's Research site where he peddles herbs and vitamins:

The research group at Doctors' Research is directed by Robert Thiel, who holds a Ph.D. in nutrition science. He is licensed as a naturopath by the State of North Carolina, registered as a naturopath by the District of Columbia, and is licensed as a naturopathic physician within Idaho. He maintains a natural health clinic in Arroyo Grande, California.

His UIU PH.D that was "earned" under less than desirable doctoral research.

Thiel uses this Ph.D and his questionable Th.D every chance he gets.  The gullible Africans might fall for it, but COG members do not.

Thiel also claims he has other qualifications:

Dr. Bob Thiel holds a Master's degree from the University of Southern California and a Ph.D. from the Union Institute and University. His writings have made him a sought-after expert in the fields of philosophy, religion, research, science, and prophecy. In the past twelve years, he has published scores of articles on these topics in a variety of respected print publications. Dr. Thiel has also received several awards for his research. Dr Thiel is a Christian who relies on Bible prophecies. He has been married to his wife Joyce since 1981. They travel extensively to ancient and prophetic sites throughout the world, including Mayan sites, Asia Minor, Greece, Asia, Africa, Fatima (Portugal), the Vatican, and Washington D.C. Armageddon Books Thiel uses his travels as if he is the authority upon all the areas he goes to.  Just because he has been to Cappadocia, Turkey, Israel, the Vatican and scores of other places does not make him an authority these places. I have been to England many times have have had private tours of Westminster Abbey and personal conversations with historians and vergers working there. I have an extensive library filled  antique and modern books on UK and Anglican history, but that no more makes me an authority on Westminster Abbey, the UK or Anglicanism, than Thiel is an authority the Cappidocians, Ephesus, Asia Minor. I know what he is doing though.  He is following in the myth that Herbert Armstrong used as his excuse for not getting a theological or college education.  He earned his degree in the School of Hard Knocks.  Even Thiel's spiritual Daddy, Rod Meredith has used that phrase for decades. The Church of God Perspective site asked Thiel the following: You yourself stated that your PhD was not in Theology. If that has changed, then so be it.  However, I know it will go above your head the fact that this makes you an even smaller man that even I could have imagined. Please, tell us, Dr Thiel, why do false teachers have such a love for strings of titles? After all, there are worldly religious figures I respect more than you, who themselves are doctors, but they do not obscure it with a long list of irrelevant and superfluous other degrees, studies and titles. Title's and studies have been very important to certain COG leaders over the decades.  Every single one of them ended up being liars and false prophets.

For more see:

Bob Thiel and his remarkable PhD

Bob Thiel: Is Still a Liar and False Prophet 

COGWriter Bob Thiel is a seriously delusional character.


Thiel's personal sites:

Nazarene Books

Doctors' Research

Spiders and Snakes

Narcissism and the Rise of Split/Splinter and Sliver Apostles

Until I was about 45, I never knew what a narcissist was , or at least had only vague ideas of what the mental state of one given to such actually meant.  In hind sight , and in my own WCG experience, I was surrounded by them and it should be obvious now after all these years of the rising Apostles, Prophets and Wanna Be's , the Worldwide Church of God, was infested with them waiting for the right time to rise to their perceptions of ministry and power.  I do recall a few times listening to the sermons or ideas of or having to react to members rage at what their local minister was doing to the local church or to them personally, and wondering whatever happened to "Let him who is greatest among you be your servant."?   I understand Ron Dart also noticed that and said as far as he was concerned that was the only scripture about Church Government that mattered. Yet it certainly has escaped the split/splinter and sliver types beyond comprehension.

We have all here on Banned heard the term and seen it defined but let's remind ourselves:

A 2012 book on power-hungry narcissists suggests that narcissists typically display most, and sometimes all, of the following traits:^[7]

• An obvious self-focus in interpersonal exchanges
• Problems in sustaining satisfying relationships
• A lack of psychological awareness (see insight in psychology and psychiatry, egosyntonic)
• Difficulty with empathy
• Problems distinguishing the self from others (see narcissism and boundaries)
• Hypersensitivity to any insults or imagined insults (see criticism and narcissists, narcissistic rage and narcissistic injury)
• Vulnerability to shame rather than guilt
• Haughty body language
• Flattery towards people who admire and affirm them (narcissistic supply)
• Detesting those who do not admire them (narcissistic abuse)
• Using other people without considering the cost of doing so
• Pretending to be more important than they actually are
• Bragging (subtly but persistently) and exaggerating their achievements
• Claiming to be an "expert" at many thing
• Inability to view the world from the perspective of other people
• Denial of remorse and gratitude

It is not just a male Apostle issue

Why those who still follow those who have risen to the top of the ash heap of the WCG , with all of their obvious inflated views of themselves , to the point of seeing themselves spoken of in the scriptures , remain blind to this psychological state of mind in their leaders is beyond me.  It seems the mind grows numb when the more outlandish and ridiculous the claims of the leader are repeated weekly from their bully pulpits.

They ARE wrong, wrong, wrong in their bold pronouncements , over and over and over again, and still the sheep are stuck in the pen hanging on every word.  It goes against the natural reaction of humans to quickly release or brush off a spider or a snake. Why not in these cases?  Is the message so strong and so threatening as to what will happen to YOU if you don't believe ME, the member goes brain dead and cannot think critically about what they are being told?  Are they afraid they will "not make it into the Kingdom"? or get fried like the errant Jews and non-RCG types?

How many times can one be bullied into selling homes, sending in retirement monies or giving property and resources to these wolves in wolves clothing?  Why do they quickly believe it when a man says, "And yes Brethren, I am an Apostle" as if just declaring it makes it so.  Not to mention getting "double portioned" under dubious circumstances.  And the many many more blatantly stupid and false statements these offshoot Apostles make that we are all very familiar with here at Banned.

If you are a lurking follower of Mr. David C Every Title in the Bible is ME, Gerald Just Leave Your Families Behind and Follow ME, Ron I Will Get It Right Someday, Bob We and ME at the Continuing Church of God , Rod I'm Not Kidding Fellows and Girls or any other human being who feels compelled to tell you how all of life, history and the Bible points to them, take a good read of the common and well known traits of the narcissists among us and those given to religious delusions about themselves and think it over long and hard.  Your own future mental health and that of your family and children are definitely at stake. 

Ian Boyne, The Journal, Ambassador Watch and This Blog

The Journal: Issue 188

The latest issue of The Journal is out and there is an article by Lonnie Hendricks (an occasional contributor here) concerning Ian Boyne venturing into the lions den of this blog and Ambassador Watch.

The post that Ian contributed to was this one: LCG Preaches The Godly Love Is The Most Important Quality the evolved into a discussion of the policy of the COG when it comes to disfellowshipping members, Ian had this to say:

The response of Anonymous 12:23 is a perfect example of my thesis that the elephant in the room is the Bible---at least if one is applying a conservative hermeneutic to it. The Bible clearly gives the ministry the right to excommunicate for doctrinal reasons.Does Anonymous disagree with that? Even liberal scholars would admit that ,while saying one might choose to ignore those passages in favor of a higher principle To say that Winnail was unloving simply he applied a tool which we all knew upon becoming members was a part of the church's toolbox is, respectfully, nonsense. All organizations have rules of association and dissociation.I don't know the particular case It might well have been an abusive disfellowshipment But to suggest the act itself is contrary to Doug Winnail's pronouncement of love is a non-sequitur.

I personally as a minister choose not to disfellowship for doctrinal disagreement I consider most of the doctrinal disagreements my congregants have to be inconsequential and even those which might be significant I don't disfellowship for because I have the pulpit to counter them I don't doubt my ability to do so. In my congregation I have a group of fellows who routinely on the sabbath discuss all kinds of doctrinal ideas and freely disagree with what is taught from the pulpit They pose no threat and they are going nowhere for they can find no better alternative and fully see the bankruptcy of orthodox Christianity. This another Jesus, another Gospel that Anonymous refers to seems to be coming from that foolish, reactionary view that any emphasis on Christ is Protestantism through the back door. The same obscurantist nonsense that caused Charles Bryce to leave Living. Some of the fanatics will leave Living to go elsewhere because of the small reforms taking place there which Chief Pharisee Malm deplores.But the ministry has the right to withdraw the hand of fellowship Look at the harsh, strident words Paul had for those teaching a different doctrine. While Armstrongism continues to accept the Bible as its rule book, you can continue to expect disfellowshipment In my view it ,is used far too frequently and carelessly and often is a mask for the theological incompetence of ministers Here in Jamaica I offer a platform for those who disagree and I use the pulpit to proclaim the tenets of Armstrongism so that the membership is firmly grounded in Biblical truth Yes, in my view Armstrongism represents Biblical truth I hold that provisionally and tentatively ,fully aware that I could well be proven wrong. I keep reading widely so if I am wrong,I will, hopefully, find out and then renounce Armstrongism. If there is any book anyone wants to recommend or any scholarly material which might prove useful in opening my eyes ,please recommend it And yes I have already read all the scandal-revealing books like Tangled Web, as well as those by Marion McNair, John Tuit, William Hinson --every single one written by every ex-member And ,yes ,every issue of Ambassador Report .Give me some intellectual arguments now.

But, please ,let's not talk foolishness about disfellowshipment automatically and necessarily indicating a lack of love Ian Boyne

March 28, 2016 at 3:20 PM 

Because I want people to freely comment, I rarely contribute to the conversations. I feel the people should have the ability to express what they need to say, though I will delete an occasional post from obviously nasty people.  What this has allowed is scores of LCG members and other COG members to find a place here that they can comment and express their frustration at the current state of affairs of their respective churches.

Ian and I did however have several email exchanges which were rather pleasant. I think he was surprised that I was not an atheist with a chip on my shoulder.  I also told him that if we ever sat down to talk about things that we would probably have more in common than he imagined.
It is quit obvious though that he and I both do not agree on some things.

I find his take on "reimagining Armstrongism" interesting, though I see no way imaginable that it could survive in the long run.  There are too many bodies scattered along the road over the last 80 some years to make preserving Armstrongism as a viable belief system.

Weather or Not and As God Tries to Get Your Attention....

Who Will Bob Thiel Divine Blame for Hurricane Matthew?

https://www

.youtube.com/watch?v=rIj7AAQvDGE

The Pope

Gays

Hillary

Trump

Miami Dolphins

Obama

All the Other Continuing Churches of God
The Laodiceans
Drugs

You
Us
Them
?

You Decide

Why Is Living Church of God Embarrassed About Its Message? (Updated)

Rod Meredith and others love to proclaim they have a forceful message that is important to get out to the world.  They claim to be a bold witness for truth's lost to the world.  They and only they have the true words of God to call to task the evil world they live in.

From Rod Merdith warning about your gay neighbors, unisex bathrooms and rampaging Chinese/German/Muslim hoards,  to Jimmy Meredith preaching at the annual Christmas party, these great messages can no longer be heard online without giving LCG your name and getting a password so you can listen.

Gerald Weston has laid down more laws as he rises in power.  He and only he was will approve which messages the unwashed masses can listen to online.

Live broadcasts are no longer open for anyone to view.  

David Good’s service for COGWA - which allows non-members to request a password to view live Sabbath and holy day services - has been discontinued by LCG. Only recorded sermons that have been authorized by Gerald Weston will now available.  

Roderick Meredith will of course decide if the livestrem service on Christmas Eve during the Family Weekend festival is to be open to everyone, as it was last year.  COG News

Any church that claims to be presenting a witness to the world does NOT hide their sermons and articles behind password protects. LCG needs to do this because Rod Meredith, Gerald Weston, Richard Ames and others says stupid things.

It has nothing to do with the "milk and meat" nonsense that the church has always used. Babes to the "truth" don't need milk sermons anymore than regular members need "meat" sermons. 

If prospective members actually knew what LCG preached they would run the other direction. After publicly being shamed by Meredith's sermon contributing to the Milwaukee murders, LCG knows it can't afford to the have sermons freely up online for the public to listen to.  

Boasting that your message is BOLD and a WITNESS TO THE WORLD is a lie when you hide behind firewalls. The gospel is free to anyone who wants to listen and cannot be thwarted by embarrassed men hiding behind passwords to protect their uninspiring, legalistic, and graceless messages.