The Official Church of God Football Prayer

This was printed in the April 1, 1973, Worldwide News.  This was probably too early for the doubly cursed false prophet of the COG, diploma-mill "dr." Bob Thiel to have begun his tirades against football.  If he was already spouting his silliness, I am sure this frosted his self-righteous butt big time.

Everyone from Herbert Armstrong to the student body watched football when it was on TV.  Students attended football games all over Southern CA, clear up till the day they officially shut down the campus.  Members did too.

Poor Bob, never on the train and always left behind.















clipping by SHT

Crackpot COG Prophet Claims Football Is A Lust For The Flesh And Eyes

Well, here we go again. God's most highly blessed prophet/apostle/chief overseer and dream weaver to ever grace the presence of humankind is back again telling us that REAL Christians will NOT be watching the Super Bowl football game this weekend. Jesus will NOT be watching the game and neither should you!

The doubly blessed dreaming prophet Bobiniah Thiel writes:

Would Jesus want you to watch the Super Bowl? What about the Apostle Paul who warned against approving violence? The same Apostle Paul who said to imitate him as he imitated Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Would Jesus or the Apostle Paul watch the Superbowl as football fans rooting for one team to crush the other team?

God's end-time man to 299 Caucasians says: 

The New Testament also warns Christians against being violent or approving of those that are (Romans 1:28-32), while history records that early Christians would not watch violent sports. Notice one such report from Theophilus of Antioch perhaps written about 180 A.D.:

Consider, therefore, whether those who teach such things can possibly live indifferently, and be commingled in unlawful intercourse, or, most impious of all, eat human flesh, especially when we are forbidden so much as to witness shows of gladiators, lest we become partakers and abettors of murders. But neither may we see the other spectacles, lest our eyes and ears be defiled, participating in the utterances there sung. (Theophilus of Antioch. To Autolycus, Book III, Chapter XV. Translated by Marcus Dods, A.M. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 2. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition)

Bobiniah continues:

Since American football games, like the Super Bowl, intentionally inflict various hurts, the following scripture supports the idea that American football will not be allowed in the Millennium: 

 

9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:9, NKJV) 

 

While “love does no harm to a neighbor” (Romans 13:9), what do sports like American football do?

The so-called doubly blessed prophet declares:

If Jesus Himself did watch the Super Bowl, would He watch it and hope that one team would tackle and crash into members of the other team? Or might He watch it, if He did, so He could make social commentary against the violence and/or distorted priorities of the land?

Would Jesus take pleasure in humans damaging other humans for entertainment?

Since most people in the USA have, at one time or another, made some hint of professing following Jesus, a relevant question may also be:

Would Jesus want you to watch the Super Bowl? 

 

Jesus, of course, taught “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39), while the Apostle Paul wrote “no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it” (Ephesians 5:29). 

 

The Bible teaches:

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17) 

 

Tackle football is a lust of the flesh and eyes. Those who claim to be Christian and endorse it are letting the pride of life deceive them.

It really frosts Bobiniah's homeopathic knickers that a lot of COG members will be watching the Super Bowl Game. How dare they!

How many who are in the COGs love the worldly sport of American tackle football and really do not care that it causes irreparable harm to its participants? Is not another reason that some watch it because of their lust for violence and/or for social acceptance?

Bobiniah says he will NOT be watching the game but assures us that there will be very high incidences of injury. He is a prophet, after all, he sees things.

Since I do not actually watch American football, I do not know how many violent acts are likely at this year’s Super Bowl, but the number is likely to be very high, and maybe even a lot more if thoughts of violence are included (cf. Matthew 5:21-22). 

The Bobiniah goes on to declare that even touch football may be evil! The horrors! Even worse the Bobiniah can't watch football games because he would be filled with lust for the cheerleaders!

In my view, the tackle version of the sport of American football is evil (touch football I would not consider to be inherently evil–though attitude is still a possible factor there). Also, no Christian can really defend how professional football cheerleading females are publicly dressed and displayed–and presumably some of how they will be displayed at the Super Bowl game. 

 

 

Would Jesus want you to watch the Superbowl? What about the Apostle Paul who warned against approving violence? The same Apostle Paul who said to imitate him as he imitated Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Would Jesus or the Apostle Paul watch the Superbowl as football fans rooting for one team to crush the other team? 

 

“Perhaps,” some might answer. And still others may ridicule and/or dismiss what I have written. 

 

However, if Jesus Himself did watch the Superbowl, would He watch it and hope that one team would tackle and crash into members of the other team? Or might He watch it, if He did, so He could make social commentary against the violence and/or distorted priorities of the land?

 

It's always fascinating to see COG false prophets whine and bellyache about all kinds of perceived evils in the world, but never lift a hand to feed the hungry, house the homeless, and care for the sick.   Their empty platitudes about some wonderful kingdom to come to the frozen chosen is empty and shallow. 

LCG: If You Are A Proper Team Player You Will "...deal with people gently, respectfully, and patiently, and are willing to listen..." Just Like We, The Leadership, Do With You

It looks like LCG members are not all "team players", especially when they criticize and say negative things about LCG leaders. 

LCG members need to remember that the ministry can treat you like crap but don't you dare criticize them! 

A good team player will forgive LCG ministers when they say or do something that hurts you. 

After all, if the ministry says something it is as if God is speaking.

Good team players will always promote harmony like the ministry does, especially when they deal gently, respectfully, and patiently with people. 

LCG leaders and ministers have always done this, right?

Skills that Promote Teamwork: Members of successful teams (families, congregations, business groups, and athletic teams) develop the necessary skills to work together smoothly to accomplish goals. These skills can be identified and learned. As Christians, we must develop the same skills—and many are clearly biblical. Effective team players avoid saying or doing things that offend others (Matthew 18:7; 1 Corinthians 10:32). Team players learn to forgive and overlook slights or hurtful comments because they have learned the value of not being easily offended (Proverbs 10:12). Effective team players do not sit in judgment of others—accusing, criticizing, spreading their discontent, or saying or assuming negative things about others on the team. Instead, they make sure their own lives are in order (Matthew 7:1–5; James 4:11). Team players are peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) who can promote harmony and work smoothly with others (James 3:17–18). They deal with people gently, respectfully, and patiently, and are willing to listen  ithout trying to justify their own position (James 1:19). Effective team players appreciate that a team is made up of individuals with different talents and abilities who can make unique contributions to the team (1 Corinthians 12:12). They know the main priority is to work together smoothly to achieve a goal while showing love to one another (Ephesians 4:16). In summary, good team players have learned how to love their neighbors. Let’s all strive to develop these important skills so we can do God’s Work effectively! 

 

Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail
Editor