More from Charlotte
Living Church of God's Rod McNair imagines himself as a great theologian and preacher. As a preacher we all know that when a Church of God minister speaks something from the pulpit that they NEVER say anything that is not true. As God's chosen mouthpieces that is an absolute impossibility...at least in the Living Church of God culture. When LCG ministers speak, especially Rod McNair, it is to let members know how benevolent they are towards the members. Being the benevolent loving leader that he is, he wants all LCG members to know that they CAN disagree with those in authority in the LCG without ANYONE disciplining them for doing so! Who knew? Is that really true? Living Church of God members know this is blatantly NOT true! Just look at the trail of destruction, McNair, League and Meredith have left in their wake over the last year or so.
Below is a clip from a recent sermon of McNair where he says that members can disagree with those in authority in the LCG without fear of discipline. Really???? Many Living Church of God members know this is NOT true! Just look at the recent purge of LCG members who disagreed with the new "upgrades" in the church and for the church's stance on British Israelism. The repercussions to that were swift and vicious. They were supportive of the church on big issues. Just not
willing to swallow all Winnail and Ames "new understandings" and
other non-Biblical teachings.
"McNair2" LCG says they don't kick people out for a time period "not
so long that could discourage them beyond being able to recover
themselves." Really? Some of the recent purged victims were told specifically that no one from LCG would even talk to them till a year had passed. Most COG members would agree that one year is excessive, but not McNair. Even his boss, Rod Meredith, whined and moaned about being exiled to Hawaii for a year by HWA. He felt that was way too long, yet he does the exact same thing to his own members. The only difference with Meredith is that he was restored to power again as a minister, while those he disciplines are rarely restored to anything other than being a money making machine for the church. One's position and credibility is destroyed but those dollars sure look good!
The following clip is of McNair stating that the LCG does NOT disfellowship anyone if they have voluntarily left the church. Those in Charlotte know this is not true! One member from the Charlotte congregations was disfellowshipped AFTER he had left LCG on his own. McNair publicly stated that the reason they did this was specifically because the person had disassociated themselves from the church. When McNair, Meredith, Ames and others do this they are using this as a tool of control over LCG members who have doubts and questions. Fear is a great tool in preventing members from leaving and being publicly humiliated. Plus the threatened of losing ones salvation by being kicked out of the "true church" is a mighty weapon of control.
The "McNair3" clip below shows once again how McNair and the LCG lie through their teeth. He says that the ministry of the LCG "strives" to NOT make comments that would impeded a wayward members journey back into their congregation. Really dude? Really? Character assassination is the modus-operandi in LCG. The ministers share with their wives who in turn share with
the other ladies who in turn share with their husbands and before you know it
LCG members in other congregations have some altered version of the original
story. LCG wants to villainize ex-members. It's often the only way they can
justify their harsh treatment of people who in many cases aren't deserving of
the punishments inflicted.
The clip below warns LCG members to "withdraw from brothers who don't walk according to the tradition that he received from
Jesus Christ." Many LCG members have been struck by how many of the recent LCG members who were disfellowshipped by the church have remained LOYAL to standard Church of God beliefs. McNair
wants to use this verse to admonish loyal LCG members to stay away from those severed
from the body but if they are still believers how does that work out? Maybe
McNair should re-write the scripture or perhaps not use it at all since it
really didn't apply to the majority of purge victims who are still keeping the
commandments and the holy days.
This last clip is of McNair stating that before anyone is "marked" by the church that they receive counseling beforehand. Well over 200 members in the Charlotte congregation know this is not true at all! In fact this has never been true in the Church of God culture whether it was in Pasadena or Charlotte. I have seen the letters that Meredith sent out to disfellowshipped members in Pasadena and from Charlotte. No counseling was ever involved. It was a cold, clinical letter that was devoid of any love or compassion.
Rod Meredith and the Living Church of God had a great opportunity when they jumped ship from the Worldwide Church of God to start anew and do things "right." Power, narcissism and ego remained the dominate factors of the church hierarchy that carried over. That is why the Living Church of God has been incapable of growing in significant numbers or even maintaining its present members. They carried over the abuse and fear tactics that Meredith and others used while in WCG and terrorize LCG members with it to this day.
What new things and truth do they have to offer anyone? What love does the LCG offer to their members? Is being lied to from the pulpit love? Is being publicly humiliated in front of Charlotte members or local congregations showing love?
If the Living Church of God is supposedly a foretaste of the soon coming Kingdom of God then people should really think twice about being part of the LCG.
Belligerent towards others, clannish, high rates of alcoholism in the church, and anti-intellectualism is a perfect description on how the Churches of God operate. Troublemakers reigned supreme in the COG. Just look at how the church produced over 700 splinter groups in its 80 years of existence. It took Christianity centuries to do that, yet God's most perfect church accomplished it in under 80 years.
Look at how intolerant the present day Churches of God are with each other. Flurry despises Pack and Meredith, Meredith hates anyone outside his group. Pack hates them all and claims that his god is going to strike down thee of the larger groups leaders. Almost all of the hierarchy of the larger Church of God's operate like thugs terrorizing members with threats and intimidation. Pack, Flurry and Meredith are each on the verge of imploding as small groups schism off.
Herbert Armstrong's death sure stirred up mess!