Is Truth Too Simple?

 

Is Truth Just Too Simple? 

by Zen Gardner

I find it amazing how people can’t see the simplicity of it all.

Honestly.

Is it a desire to hold on to their beliefs–religious, scientific, intellectual or otherwise–because they think that’s their identity?

If so, you can sure see how easily swayed humanity would be.

Which it is.

It’s true though. Try to tug at someone’s belief and watch their identity get yanked with it. How did we get to identify with our ideas and beliefs as if they are ourselves?

ht:  Dennis

Van Robison: The Quest for Answers that Never Ends

The Quest for Answers that Never Ends

I think for those of us who seek answers, the journey is life long.  It will not cease even in death, because others will still be seeking when we are laid to rest.  In this life we will never come to some final conclusion about life and its many complexities.  We may think that we have "arrived", but that is self-deception.  We are not God and our limited human thinking will never stand against the timelessness of eternity.  No matter what we think, it is most likely a very narrow view when seen against the knowledge of the vastness of eternity.

In life there are those who "think" much more than many others.  It therefore becomes a responsibility for the "thinkers" to influence others to also "think" and not to assume that human personalities that are more dominate have the answers or "truth" to the issues of human life.  There is no doubt that strong personalities will dominate over the more docile among human beings.  I suppose that is why the many who think they are "pastors" are in that situation.    It seems to be very human to just roll over and allow the dominate to control and this is what dogs do.    "Pastors" assume the role of the alpha male or alpha female, as in the animal world and control those whom come under their false and fake authority.

The weak in mind submit to those who assume position and power over the weak.  Unless the weak in mind somehow come to their senses, they will be controlled for life.  This is a very common reality among humans in life on earth.  This is the reason why some church groups have hundreds, thousands or millions of weak minded followers.    The weak in mind are not thinkers, they are followers and clones of their leaders.  There is a difference in following Jesus Christ however, because Jesus Christ was NOT a religious cult.    Herbert W. Armstrong was a religious cult, as are many other church groups in the world.    It is next to impossible to convince a religious clone that he or she has been religiously cloned.    From their perspective, anyone who challenges their belief system is "persecuting" them or at the least is off the deep end of "truth."

The sad situation about all "Bible" colleges or religious schools is that the young people, who are the most vulnerable, are the victims of religious programming and are caught in the web of deception that impacts their lives dramatically.  In reality it is religious or spiritual abuse.  Bible schools are NOT really about Jesus Christ, they are about indoctrination and religious programming to etch in the minds of young gullible and naive students the religious propaganda of the particular school they are associated with.    Ambassador College was no exception.    The "Bible" correspondence course of the Worldwide Church of God/Ambassador College was the means of mass religious indoctrination into the particular cult beliefs of Herbert W. Armstrong.

Many of us seek answers and even when we may think we have arrived at some final conclusion, it is just a mirage.  We are all just one speck of sand upon the seashore of human life and we will end life having so much to learn, that we will enter into our grave as kindergarten students, never having "arrived" at the answers to the mysteries of human life.  All we have are personal opinions.


Van Robiosn

UCG Ministers Code of Ethics

Here is the code of ethics that UCG ministers must agree to now.  I guess the rebellious heretics that all jumped ship to COGWA would never have agreed to these items.  If they did, and they should  have signed something prior to this, it goes to show that COGWA was not formed ethically.  But then, when has ministerial ethics ever been in the forefront in COG history?

MINISTERIAL CODE OF ETHICS

United Church of God, an International Association

PREAMBLE:

As a minister of Jesus Christ, I accept the duty bestowed on me through ordination, by prayer and the laying on of hands. I am dedicated first and foremost to preserving my personal relationship with God, therefore I am committed to basing my life upon the foundation of the Word of God. I am resolved to conduct myself in the ministry according to the ethical standards set forth in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 and as amplified in this Code of Ethics so that my service in the ministry will be acceptable to God and beneficial to the Church, and my life will be a godly example to the Church, the community and the world.

Serving as a minister of Jesus Christ and as an elder in the United Church of God, an International Association (“Church, or “UCGIA”), I fully accept and agree to abide by the following goals, guidelines, commitments and ethical principles:

Personal Responsibilities:

1) I will strive to maintain my relationship with God through prayer, Bible study, meditation and fasting.
2) I will endeavor to maintain my physical, mental and emotional health.
3) I will strive to manage my life by maintaining a balance in family matters, church duties and personal needs.
4) I will not use the office of the ministry to take advantage of any relationship or activity that may lead to a conflict of interest, the exploitation or manipulation of any member, or any unethical personal or material gain.
5) If I become a substance abuser, acquire a harmful addiction or have a diagnosable mental disorder, I agree to seek professional counseling and care in order to recover. I understand that if necessary, I may be relieved of my ministerial duties while undergoing treatment for the same.

Family Responsibilities:

1) If married, I will place my marriage and family as the highest priority in my life after my personal relationship with God and Jesus Christ.
2) If married, I will respect the unique role of my wife, to love, honor and recognize her as a partner in marriage and the family, and will seek to meet her physical, mental, spiritual and emotional needs.
3) If blessed with children, I will regard them as a gift from God and seek to love them and meet their individual mental, physical, spiritual and emotional needs.

Church and Congregational Responsibilities:

1) I will strive to faithfully shepherd the congregation(s) I serve by following the example of Jesus Christ in love, service, humility, respect, patience, wisdom and integrity.
2) I will strive to faithfully use my time and energies in ministering to God’s people through proper work habits and schedules.
3) In my preaching and teaching responsibilities I will give priority to adequate prayer, planning, preparation and spiritual growth through conscientious study so my presentations will be biblically based, historically and doctrinally sound, interesting and clearly communicated.
4) I will keep confidential all matters discussed in a counseling setting, unless the person being counseled gives the indication of being a danger to themselves or another person, such as a revelation of child sexual abuse or other disclosures required by law.
5) In my ministerial counseling I will limit my advice and counsel to my areas of expertise or formal training and will refer members to other ministers and professionals for any matter for which I am not qualified.
6) I recognize the influence I hold over those I counsel and will never take advantage of their vulnerability, such as becoming sexually or romantically involved with them. I will arrange visits in order to avoid being isolated with a woman who is not my spouse or with another’s child unless accompanied by another person.
7) I acknowledge that all local congregations of UCGIA are, under our Rules of Association, a part of UCGIA. I further recognize that any and all physical assets, including local bank accounts used by or for those local congregations, belong to UCGIA for use as directed by the UCGIA administration. Consequently, I agree that should I leave a congregation(s) or not remain as an elder in UCGIA, that I am not entitled to take, and must return, any assets of UCGIA and/or of a local congregation of UCGIA or its affiliates around the world.

Responsibility within the Ministry:

1) If married, I will endeavor to honor and respect my wife as part of my ministry, so that my ministry may be more effective.
2) I will endeavor to honor and relate to all ministers, especially those with whom I directly serve as coworkers in the work of God, respecting their roles and cooperating with them.
3) I will strive to serve my ministerial colleagues and their families with counsel, support and personal assistance when needed.
4) I will seek to promote an atmosphere of openness and unity within the body by supporting and appropriately communicating with the home office staff or the international equivalent.
5) I will endeavor to promote respect for Church leadership and unity within UCGIA. I will seek to eliminate destructive gossip or hearsay by going directly to the individual involved. I will communicate directly with the responsible person(s) to obtain clarity or to clear up any questions or accusations that are causing division.

Responsibility Within the Community:

1) As defined by Scripture, I will accept my duty to be a godly example and light in the world.
2) I will practice responsible citizenship and not engage in activities that are illegal, unethical or unbiblical.

Responsibility Toward the Governance of UCGIA

As a minister serving in the United Church of God, an International Association, I affirm my commitment to uphold:

• The Fundamental Beliefs as stated in the Constitution of the United Church of God, an International Association.
• The purpose, mission, goals and values of the Church.
• The Constitution, Bylaws and Rules of Association of the Church and the governing structure described by them.
• The decisions of the General Conference of Elders (“GCE”), the Council of Elders (“COE”), the UCGIA administration and international equivalents. If I disagree, I reserve the right to respectfully seek change in any decision of the Church’s governing and administrative bodies in accordance with the governing documents of UCGIA, procedures and precedents.

I further agree to:

• Denounce divisions and schisms as a means of resolving differences.
• Support and assist the GCE, the COE and the administration or international equivalent in denouncing and curtailing divisive behavior on the part of anyone in the ministry or membership by word or deed.
• Encourage all to follow, and to work within, established procedures and processes of the Church for any grievances or for any desired change in either governance or leadership in the Church.
• Should I ever leave or otherwise not remain as an elder of the Church, I will not proselytize members of UCGIA in order to draw them away or to gain a following for myself or some other religious organization.

I am in agreement with this Ministerial Code of Ethics and will always strive to practice these ethical
principles. I agree that this Code supersedes and replaces any previous UCGIA Ministerial Code of Ethics.


Signed: _________________________________________________ Date: ___________________
Print name ______________________________________________