Poor Dave. As much as the lanky guy tries he just cannot get Church of God members to flock to his fledgling splinter group. All of the enormous amounts of empty hyperbole spewed out weekly still hasn't drawn them in. Even the impending deaths of three current COG leaders that he has predicted still will not bring in new members. The poor guy has become as much a laughing stock as the weak little man Thiel has become.
Dave wrote about the new Pope and the Christian actions he has carried out towards the poor, the marginalized and downtrodden in the world. This must really be embarrassing to Dave since he has absolutely none of the Christian qualities that the new Pope has.
Dave
writes:
In religion, Pope Francis is bringing a radically different approach
to his office—an approach being described as more humble and much more
inclusive. He is quickly becoming the most beloved pope in recent
history—and not just by Christians. Time magazine ran a cover with the headline “New World Pope” accompanying a photo of him. A CNN
opinion piece titled “Pope Francis’ Gestures Strike Fire in Our Hearts”
summarized his actions this way: “So far, he has waved off any vestige
of opulence (gold pectoral crosses and ermine lined mantles), walks
rather than rides in a chauffeured limo, and for now at least refuses to
live in the Apostolic Palace…He chooses to live in a less pretentious
guest house.”
In the Restored Church of God, Dave actually had a chance to also bring about a different approach to the office he now holds. He could have been more humble and more inclusive in his methods of leadership as compared to the WCG tradition. However, that was NOT what happened. Humility is not a word that is known to Dave. Inclusivity certainly isn't a part of RCG either. Marriages have been broken up because of him, families torn apart because of his hardline doctrinal stance. Incomes have been decimated with quadruple tithes and demanded offerings. He has quickly become the most despised COG leader ever! That's saying a lot considering the track record of Gerald Flurry.
Will there be a day that Dave strikes fire in the hearts of people and brings the hands of Jesus to earth? Has Dave waved off any vestige of opulence? Does he walk instead of being chauffeured around in fancy cars? Has he moved out of his luxurious home into a simple dwelling? Has Dave set the example in anything Christian?
Then there was the recent example of the pope washing inmates’ feet,
including those of two women and a Muslim. This longer excerpt from The Washington Post
speaks volumes about the pope’s new style (italics added): “With one
act of humility after another, Pope Francis has proven he’s willing to
break with tradition…An act of Pope Francis’s on Thursday perhaps says
the most about his humility. Taking part in a tradition of
Christianity’s holy week…Francis washed the feet of 12 people. What was
unusual, however, was that he did not wash the feet of priests or even
lay men, as have his predecessors, and he did not do it within
the hallowed walls of a Roman basilica. Rather, he washed the feet of 12
juvenile prisoners at the Casal del Marmo Penitentiary Institute for
Minors. Two of the young people were women and one was a Muslim, marking the first time
a pope had included either group in the ceremony…the pope’s latest
convention-busting move at the very least shows an interest in greater inclusivity. It reveals Francis to be a leader who is not merely humble, but courageously willing to reach beyond the Church in new ways.”
When was the last time Dave washed the feet of a lowly member? When has he washed the feet of the homeless in Wadsworth? When has he washed the feet of a prostitute or a gay person? When has he washed the feet of a Muslim? Better yet, when has he EVER spoken to a Muslim!
Tradition holds in Armstrongism that the person's feet he washed had been hand selected. Usually another ordained person or a major donor. He has warm water and fluffy towels to wash and dry feet with. He probably also has a private room so that the lowly members cannot see his bare feet.
Is Dave willing to break from COG tradition? They Pope can and has, Dave can't and will not.
When has Dave visited the Ohio State Penitentiary and ministered to the prisoners or washed their feet?
Pope Francis has proven that he really is a leader who is not only humble, but courageously willing to reach out BEYOND the walls of his church in new ways.
Dave has proven that he is not a leader that is humble and is not willing to reach out BEYOND the walls of his church in any way whatsoever.
Pope Francis has already proven to be a better man and a better Christan than Dave. How humiliating that must be.
