An Open Letter to All COG
Churches, Leaders and Ministers
Twenty –two years have past
since 1990 when the first of the splits occurred with with WCG by PCG leaving. Subsequent splits occurred year after
year. I beg to ask the question, where
has this gotten any of us? In recent
letters from a prominent minister who has joined RCG, he stated that when UCG
was formed, “The idea was to keep our eyes
open --- to watch for fruits of a work that might emerge in or from one of the
“Church of God” organizations. It would reflect the Government of God at work,
and have fruits similar to the WCG when it was on track and being so obviously
blessed by God. THIS would be the signal for all the groups to reunite as
one”! Well then, why even form United
under the guise of a voting democratic state if all you wanted to do was look
for another organization that was exactly the same as WCG was under Mr.
Armstrong? Why not start United, right
off the bat as that organization that was exactly the same as WCG? If
the majority of ministers would have stood up in 1993, you could have ousted
Joe Jr. a long time ago and got control of things. Now you have the “big fish in a little pond”
syndrome. Why didn’t all the ministers
go with Flurry when he split, he holds HWA in high esteem. Or, with Meredith. They tried to keep things close to HWA
too. There were several opportunities to join
forces before further fracturing the church.
But no, split after split
occurred dragging brethren and their spiritual lives through the mud of each
“leader” thinking that they would restore the “true church” just as Mr.
Armstrong had the church on the track. Who’s
to say Mr. Armstrong had everything correct in his day. There are many examples of failed prophecies,
abuse of brethren and sheer avarice on his part. Does that show a church that Jesus Christ
founded? Did the Lord not criticize a
church that was rich and increased with goods? Did he not criticize people who hoard up
earthly treasures unto themselves? Many
members are tired of all this silliness perpetrated by the leadership. Many are opting to stay home. Many of them discuss amongst themselves how
sick and tired they are that the ministry cannot work together, and think that
a churches fruits are how many buildings and riches it has.
As you may remember, HWA taught
that the age would end in 1975. An
observation that a few of us have made is why was he building a college and
auditorium prior to 1975, if we were just going to flee and leave it? The Pasadena Campus was built on the blood,
sweat and tears of the brethren sacrificing their financial future. For what?
The present owners are beginning demolition of part of the campus. If this was God’s campus, wouldn’t He have
done something about it? Hence I cite
the Temple in Jerusalem, a place where God’s presence dwelt. Did He spare that? He saw that it became a monument to a
religious organization and men, not to God.
If we are now in the “last years of the last days” then why is RCG
building a new building, new college?
Why can’t he buy a commercial property and refurb it? Why another monument to nothing paid for
again by the sweat and tears of the brethren.
PCG and Gerald Flurry have just built a $5million debacle (in debt and
ready to go bankrupt) all in the name of preserving God’s government. Is God going to dwell in any of these places
or are they going to become defunct wrecks of human ambition?
Who among any of the leaders and
ministers can say that they are fulfilling the roll of an apostle when Jesus
Christ Himself said that “whoever of you would be great must be a
servant”? That those who exalt
themselves will be abased? That the
greatest will be the least in the Kingdom.
What constitutes the office of Apostle?
One who is sent forth. Not one
who sits in their edifices of glorification to themselves and their
organizations. Or, by merchandising the brethren to pay for
trips abroad and not preaching the name of Jesus Christ does not equate with
being sent forth. The apostle John sat in a cave on an island in
the middle of nowhere. The glory he
received was the Revelation of the coming of the Lord and also a vision of
heaven. John’s writings are in every
Bible that has circled the world. Are
the writings of any of these groups as popular as the Bible? The example of all the apostles were not
that of setting themselves up on pillars, but of poverty, rejection and
sometimes dying as martyrs for their faith.
So what constitutes David Pack claiming to be an apostle?
Is he healing people by the
hundreds? Is he performing
miracles? The way he departed from Global was less then
honorable. The membership is not blind,
they are aware of what happened when Global split. The same with Gerald Flurry. He is not “that Prophet”. Even Jews know that that title is reserved
for the Messiah himself.
I’m not saying that any leader,
organization, or person has to be perfect.
But seriously there is one small word that has been forgotten over the
years. Its HUMILITY. Hey,
I’m not claiming to be perfect. I’m a
poor, broke person who is a sinner just like everyone else. I’m not putting my 2 cents in here because
I think I’m better than anyone else.
The reason for this letter is too many people have been hurt for too
long in the name of “the Church of God”.
Taking God’s name in vain isn’t just cursing. Its usurping God’s name and God’s word to
fulfill your own ambitions, no matter how many scriptures you use to support
your position. If you hurt people by
lying, cheating, stealing, in God’s name you are breaking the commandment of
loving your neighbor. Taking titles
that you don’t deserve is receiving your reward now.
In conclusion, I just ask any
minister or member who reads this to ask themselves what are the fruits God is
looking for? Buildings, magazines,
booklets, or are they, love, peace, mercy, kindness, justice?
Reread the New Testament and for
once, listen to what it really says.
Sincerely,
A Lowly Nobody
