PCG: Ministers Must Be Ready To HAMMER Home The Basics

God’s ministers must be extremely well organized in order to ensure we get the maximum out of this worship of God and that we are ready to rule church and state when Christ returns! If ministers do not do their jobs, disasters will result! 

This comment was made at the Philadelphia Church of God Ministerial Conference at the end of December  2018.  Of course, this conference, like very single PCG conference, dealt in Old Testament books and personalities.  Jesus was not part of the conference, as usual. The law always trumps Jesus.

This conference centered on the Book of Chronicles, Ezra, and their emphasis on the Levites and the rules and order it lays out for them and the tribes. Governance and order are extremely important to the PCG as it is used as a tool to keep members in line and submissive.

Since Gerald Flurry declared himself the rightful heir and KING of the Church of God last year with the declaration that he is now in possession of the new coronation stone, the PCG has to search for any connection they can make to that kingship.

So Ezra is talking about both kings and priests, which also shows that this message is mainly for us. All the priests and the Levites were organized very carefully. Like David, God’s ministers must be extremely well organized in order to ensure we get the maximum out of this worship of God and that we are ready to rule church and state when Christ returns! If ministers do not do their jobs, disasters will result! Today, 95 percent of God’s people have turned away from Him—probably the greatest disaster ever to strike God’s Church! Satan has taken them captive because they were not able to preserve God’s truth.

Lange’s also notes that “Ezra was showing the magnitude of the festivals.” Why was this important? Because Israel went into captivity for breaking the Sabbath and polluting God’s holy days. 

God’s Church must make sure those holy days are organized. Those festivals picture God’s master plan, and they have so much depth that we will never get to the bottom! We must never allow them to become mere rituals, or a major catastrophe will always strike!

Of course, they can never "get to the bottom" of the holy days as they ignore the very one they supposedly pointed towards.

What causes righteous nations and churches to go astray? The Sabbath and holy days become ritualistic; the ministers’ messages become dull, boring and meaningless. We must never let that happen. Ministers are there to make the holy days deeper and more meaningful every year. 

Ezra was showing the Jews why they went into captivity. It revolved around polluting and profaning the Sabbath and holy days.

Philadelphia Church of God ministers have routinely profaned the Sabbath and interfered in its members' worship of God since its inception. Gerald Flurry's "no contact" policy, the appalling actions of Wayne Turgeon and other leaders has ripped families, marriages and the lives of members apart with legalistic filth that keeps their followers trembling in fear.

Remember though, Flurry got his training in this legalistic crap at the feet of Herbert Armstrong.  While there were few teachings about Jesus there sure was a lot of teaching about the law.

Ezra was pounding home the basics. God’s people have had a terrible, terrible track record in this age. At the end of his life, Mr. Armstrong grew upset with and even pleaded with the ministers, saying, You men need to talk more about the Sabbath! That was stunning—yet look at what happened when they failed to heed that admonition and got away from the basics.

PCG ministers have now headed home to force upon the brethren more laws about the Sabbath and other regulations that Flurry passed on to them at the conference.  They were told by Flurry that whatever they preach that God will back them u, even in the members do not respond.

If a minister sees that such a basic subject is really needed, he should prepare and deliver it and see if God doesn’t give him special help—even if people respond to it negatively. The minister is not up there to impress somebody or make himself look good. He is there to try to give God’s people what He wants them to have. God always backs that, even if it is the most basic subject you have ever heard in your life. If it’s what they need, that is what God’s minister should give!

Those Who Dare To Leave The "c"COG Are Doomed To Destruction

The Great Bawana has already started with the "threats" to his African members. Like most Church of God leaders, threats have to be used to keep members in line and fearful of losing their chance at salvation. They have to be reminded that salvation is only available to them in a COG group and only if they follow the party line of the dear leader.  Bob Thiel has been very adamant that his group and his group alone is the ONLY true Church of God doing any work in the 21st century.

Concluding Comments

The Book of Proverbs teaches:

15 It is a joy for the just to do justice, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity. 16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead. (Proverbs 21:15-16)  

Brethren, notice that the just should do justice and that destruction comes to the workers of iniquity.

So far, so good.

But notice that wandering away from the way of understanding also results in destruction.

This may be part of the reason that the New Testament states:

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10-11)  

Be careful to remain diligent.

Do not neglect what you should be doing and so an entrance to God’s kingdom will be given to you.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer

January 3, 2019 Letter to the Brethren 

Ambassador Hall (Hulett C Merritt Home) sells as private residence.

Ambassador Hall has finally sold at a remarkably discounted price over

its orginal listing of $6,800,000.00. 

Part of the issue with this home is that it will have very little privacy due to the gardens and the closeness of the new condo's.  Add to this the association dues and this will never be an inexpensive home to live in.  Upkeep will be significant.