Rod Meredith Looks Into The Hearts Of Men

Many in LCG have watched in confusion over the years at the overt inequity with which their ministers rule and discipline members of their congregations.   For example, some members have participated in "private Bible studies" (aka unsanctioned Bible discussion without an LCG minister present) and get away with it, with no more than a slap on the wrist, whilst others get disfellowshipped for the very same offense.  A couple of years ago in Charlotte there was a rash of members engaged in adultery. Many were disfellowshipped without a second chance in spite of their shameless pleadings. Others got to remain employed at HQ's and are still active members of the congregation to this day. Some members can read the Book of Enoch but others have lost their HQ's jobs for the very same "crime". Some get suspended for getting caught smoking cigarettes or for refusing to cut their hair into a "proper men's style" while others are actively using street drugs such as marijuana and methamphetamine and get to remain in church week after week.  Some are permitted to divorce and remarry for the very same reasons that others are not. Sometimes LCG ministers will marry two people viewed as "unequally yoked" (different races, big age differences or an unbelieving partner) but others are told "no" forcing them to get married in shame at the Justice of the Peace. Some offenses are covered up such as trips to rehab and child molestation while other, seemingly less grievous offenses, are spread through congregations by whispering campaigns initiated from ministers who wish to diminish the reputations of those they are rumoring about (usually to rationalize their own unfair treatment of these people).

How does LCG ministry justify this kind of blatant favoritism and unfairness? Well, according to the top men at LCG headquarters, it is because they are Christ's apostles on Earth and as such, they are able to look into the heart of a man to assess real (verses fake?) repentance.

We have heard Rod Meredith use the claim that he is "3rd in all the universe" to command his ignorant followers into submission and obedience. Now he is using his self proclaimed Christ-like powers to judge the hearts of men and women who have the misfortune to end up in his self-serving, tired little cult.

You see, it isn't enough to say you're "sorry". Apologizing after one is caught doesn't really count in their estimation. Only "God's ministers" are able to really look into the offenders heart to determine if true repentance is found.

In true Amstrongism form, LCG ministers simply do not understand that God is the only Being in all the universe who is able to assess repentance. God the Father is the only One who can give mercy or take it away.  LCG puts themselves in God's place time and time again. They really don't get it. How many of Rod Meredith's victims have given up on God all together because of the harsh and hateful treatment they received in what they thought was God's church? What will Judgment Day be like for a man with such uneven scales and a heart full of arrogant pride and self righteousness? Surely RCM, Rod McNair and others in power at LCG have read that Jesus sat with tax collectors and sinners. Surely they have read "judge not, lest ye be judged" and "let he who is without sin cast the first stone". James 2:13  says, "blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" and Matthew 5:7 warns that men who don't show mercy "shall have judgment without mercy". It is vexing to see that they sincerely feel these scriptures don't apply to them.

It should, however, go without saying that when LCG ministry makes a mistake, the members should remain focused on the "big picture" and remember that ministers are still human and deserve mercy; even if they are unwilling to afford it to others.

Justice dictates that the same crimes should have the same punishments. Justice doled out by ministers in LCG is  more often than not perverted and corrupt. LCG is rotten to the core.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil, is that good men to do nothing." (quote by Edmund Burke)

From a guest contributor with ties to LCG.

Dave Pack: Rejecting me will lead to your utter destruction!

God's most awesome leader of the most superfantabulous Church of God EVVVVVVVVVER, has produced a set of video sermons lately that claim to tell who he is according to the Bible.

Dave now thinks he is "that prophet" mentioned in Acts 3:22-26.  Some in the Churches of God and much of Christianity understand this verse to be referring to Jesus Christ.  However, in Armstrongism we have those even claim this verse is written to specifically describe them.  Gerald Flurry claims this and now Dave Pack.

The Bible foretells the arrival of Elijah and That Prophet just before Christ’s Return. Many Christians believe That Prophet is Christ. Jews believe he and Elijah are different men. Are they correct?

22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' 26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities." (Acts 3:22-26)

Just how many biblical mantles of leadership can Dave take on?  The title of being Elijah and Joshua apparently was not been enough for him.  What's left?  Being Jesus Christ on earth? Is Dave Pack now subconsciously claiming he is Jesus Christ? He is narcissistic enough to do so. Either way, he is claiming the rejection of him as a minister will result in a person being utterly destroyed.

Thankfully salvation does not rest in Dave Pack's hands or Gerald Flurry's.  It doesn't rest in keeping the sabbath or eating "clean" meats or being part of numerous quibbling groups ending up in Petra for "final training."  Salvation does not rest in the hands of "doubly blessed" prophets, Canadian Pharisees, or in the hands of "sinless" COG leaders. Of that we can all be assured of!

The "Loose Brick Theology" of Armstrongism

Here us an interesting excerpt from an article in the Baptist Press about a former Church of God International minister's journey out of Armstrongism. One of the first things he debunked was the British Israelism myth. After that the house of cards quickly fell.  This tends to be the path of many out of Armstrongism.  Once a person debunks the British Israelism myth, things start collapsing quickly.

Theology and doctrinal study by church members is not something many did.  If it wasn't printed in a booklet for them most never studied theology or doctrinal history.  The Correspondence Course was the end-all when it came to established belief. Theology classes at the various campuses were never taught be well rounded theologians, but by men trained at the feet of Rod Meredith, Herman Hoeh and others. We all know now that these men were theologically bankrupt.

Once in cult, student now sees importance of knowing theology

“Armstrongists have a ‘loose brick’ approach to theology,” Bell said. “They look at doctrine as a complete whole or as nothing at all. That’s why they refer to their system of belief as ‘The Truth.’ person any one doctrine falls then the whole system falls.”  

Bell had been a member of the movement for three years when he began to question its teachings. In 1995 he founded the Owensboro church but soon began to examine central Armstrongist teachings under the microscope of Scripture and history.  

For Bell, the first brick to crumble from the wall of Armstrongism was the sect’s doctrine of “Anglo-Israelism.” Influenced by a book called “Judah’s Scepter and Joseph’s Birthright” by J.H. Allen, Herbert Armstrong taught that Anglo-Saxons are direct descendants of the 10 lost tribes of Israel. Armstrongists see this teaching as the key that unlocks a true understanding of biblical prophecy.  

Bell read “Judah’s Scepter” and was incredulous at his findings. 

“When I got finished with it, I thought, ‘There are some interesting ideas here, but this is historical fantasy,’” he said. “... I began to research it in more depth and quickly tossed it out.”  

Though spooked by this revelation, Bell nevertheless dismissed the doctrinal aberration as a peculiarity of Herbert Armstrong’s system of belief. 

The next doctrine to tumble down was the Trinity -- Armstrongists are strongly anti-Trinitarian. The final Armstrongist brick that Bell dislodged was the group’s teaching on God. Armstrongists believe that man eventually accomplishes ‘god-status,’ a qualitative equality with God. 

It didn’t take a seminary education for Bell to realize that was blasphemy. 

 “When I was first getting into the Armstrongist movement, I read a booklet that said the resurrection (of the dead at Christ’s return) would be the most momentous event in the history of the world because it would be the birth of gods,” Bell said. “When I read that, I said ... ‘that’s blasphemy.’”

Still, Bell decided to ignore the booklet because Garner Ted Armstrong had not written it. He remained in the movement. 

“I chose [to believe] that everything else I was hearing was so good, I was going to shove that aside,” he said. 

Under the leadership of Joseph Tkach, who succeeded Herbert Armstrong as leader of the Worldwide Church of God upon his death in 1986, the sect experienced a massive doctrinal shift in the mid-90s toward biblical orthodoxy.  

The group’s website trumpets this radical transformation as a “Damascus Road experience.” The Worldwide Church of God was admitted as a member of the National Association of Evangelicals in 1997.  

As an Armstrongist devotee, Bell saw the change as a great apostasy. Other true Armstrongists agreed and the Worldwide Church of God lost more than half its members and ministers because of the shift. True Armstrongists still hold fast to the teachings of Herbert Armstrong and have churches scattered about the country, Bell said.  

It wasn’t until the spring of 1998, after a series of sexual misconduct allegations were lodged against Garner Ted Armstrong, that Bell’s foray into Armstrongism came to an end.  

The allegations turned the Church of God International on its head and struck Bell with sledgehammer force. Due in large part to the accusations, Bell eventually resigned the pastorate and began the journey back to Christian orthodoxy.  

Bell enrolled at Southern in the fall of 1998. It was a revolutionary experience and within one year, his view of theology underwent a profound metamorphosis. 

That first year, Bell studied Baptist and church history, theology, and hermeneutics. Soon, he had embraced fully historic evangelical Christianity.  

“By the end of my first full year at Southern Seminary, I had my theological world rocked,” he said. “I emerged from that a convinced evangelical.”