Doug Winnail: As a fellow worker in the church you need to learn to get along with each other and live in harmony.

Living Church of God just cannot praise its members and leave it at that. Every word of encouragement is followed by something they are constantly doing wrong.

Winnail starts off by praising LCG members as "workers" on a journey with the church in getting the gospel out, but then has to get in another dig at them for actually not being workers together, but for being haughty, conceited, judgemental, unable to get along with each other, not being humble enough, and rumormongers. 

Are people that miserable in LCG?

Keys to Working Together: Jesus referred to His disciples as His “friends” and encouraged them to “love one another” (John 15:12–17). The Apostle Paul referred to those who assisted him in his ministry as “my fellow workers” (Romans 16:3). He also referred to members of God’s Church as “God’s fellow workers” (1 Corinthians 3:9) and “workers together [coworkers] with Him” (2
Corinthians 6:1). These were exciting opportunities that came with important responsibilities. In the Scriptures, we find practical guidelines about how to work together. We are instructed to be “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” and not allow contentions to divide us (1 Corinthians 1:10–13). We are also advised to learn to get along and live in harmony, to avoid being haughty and conceited or ambitious for a position, but to be humble and do what is right, and to strive to work together peacefully (Romans 12:16–18). We are told that repeating rumors disrupts friendships (Proverbs 17:9), that “a soft answer” avoids stirring up anger (Proverbs
15:1), and that a converted person is approachable and “easy to be entreated” (James 3:17, KJV). If we learn to “love one another” and treat each other as “friends” we will be more effective “fellow workers” both now and in the Kingdom of God. 

 

Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail

Gerald Weston: It is now OK to sing "softly" in church

 

COVID Guidelines—Singing at Services
During his sermon of December 26, Mr. Weston explained the updated policy regarding singing hymns during congregational services. In case some brethren did not hear the sermon, we will briefly summarize his comments in this issue of The World Ahead. He explained that last summer it was decided we would not sing aloud because of reports of how the virus is transmitted. We’ve also been wearing masks and social distancing since that time (in the United States—in some cases outside the United States, the protocols have differed). Thanks to God, we have not had any major outbreaks from Sabbath or Feast services during this time. Therefore, Mr. Weston explained we would like to carefully move forward with singing softly while wearing masks, if local regulations and restrictions allow it. He explained that singing softly is reasonably similar to what we are already doing in fellowship. The overall format of services—two songs at the beginning, and one at the end—will stay the same for now. We can be thankful for this decision and encouraged by the opportunity to sing as we worship God together!

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