It should no longer be a surprise to read some of the mind-numbing stupidity coming out of the Philadelphia Church of God. Most of this idiocy is written by "men" who were trained by Flurry at his cult college. They have had no real college level education, have no "worldly" experience with interacting with the rest of humanity, and have never worked an honest days work in their entire short lives. Yet, these are the morons writing the articles, counseling church members and instructing the sheeple on how to be "Christians."
One of Flurry's acolytes, Brad McDonald in his article, "Lessons From Your Tabernacle" has this to say in relation to "temporary dwellings" that COG members are supposed to be in at their "feast."
Lesson 30 of the Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course (1986) noted this point. “[Our] physical bodies—with all their imperfections, their natural desires, their weaknesses, aches and pains—are meant to last only long enough for them to learn to serve God in this life.” Our physical bodies are simply temporary dwelling places.
The Apostle Peter, nearing the end of his life, said, “shortly I must put off this my tabernacle“—or his physical body (2 Peter 1:14).
“By staying in temporary dwellings each year during the Feast of Tabernacles, God’s people are reminded of this important knowledge. They understand that … they are merely pilgrims in this present life, waiting to inherit the Kingdom of God!” (ibid).
Our bodies are like the hotel rooms we stay in during the Feast. Some people’s bodies could be likened to a five-star resort hotel off the Pacific Coast. Others are more run-down and aged, like a two-star hotel room some might stay in during the Feast.
By staying in temporary booths during the Feast, we are reminded that it doesn’t matter how strong and beautiful, or aged and worn out, our bodies might be: Both are just as temporary!
McDonald then wants to make it clear that you can have a profitable "feast" while staying in a 2-star hotel.
First, our human bodies are not the deciding factor of spiritual success. It is entirely possible to stay in a five-star resort during the Feast and not have a spiritually productive Feast. On the other hand, a person can stay in a leaky tent and still have his or her best Feast ever.
The clueless fools that write this drivel fail to realize that MOST PCG members cannot stay in 5-Star resorts because they are COMMANDED to give most of their income to Gerald Flurry. The only people staying in these resorts are the elite of Flurrydumb, the 1% of the chruch members and employees.
He contnues with his strange analogy stating that it is what goes on "INSIDE" the aging hotel room (and your body) which is more important. HOWEVER, if you are fit and healthy chruch member you are MUCH MORE in tune with "godly" things than the sick and poor members.
What goes on inside is what matters. Anyone who has been to the Feast of Tabernacles knows it is the heartfelt prayer, the digestion of the God-inspired messages, the deep meditation, the commitment to serving the other brethren, and the joyous and bonding fellowship that make the Feast successful.
The temporary dwellings we live in during the Feast certainly can facilitate these things, but they do not make it the best Feast ever.
Our human tabernacles can be run-down and beset with all kinds of ailments and pains. Our visage can be like that of a worn-out old tent. But we can still have a powerfully productive and rewarding spiritual life. We could literally be dying physically and still have a spiritual life of the highest quality. It is what is going on mentally and spiritually that determines our spiritual success!
The Apostle Paul said that even though the “outward man,” or physical body, might be perishing, “the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
Remember, however, that a fit and healthy body will facilitate a strong and more vibrant relationship with God. Our attitude toward our bodies does indeed reflect our spiritual mindset.
