Jon Brisby, the current head of the Church of God the Eternal, has not been known to be a sound theologian for many years now. Never having any real theological education other than a bunch of Herbert Armstrong's booklets, he resorts to lots of edicts that make no sense at all. That is evident in his silliness below describing how not supporting and criticizing the work is blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Bwana Bob will certainly get his holistic knickers in a major twist reading this since there is only ONE church actively doing the "work" today and it certainly is NOT Jon Brisby.
Jon wonders why his church is shrinking like the rest of the COG's, this is why:
Who then is in the greatest danger of committing this unpardonable sin—the sin that Christ said equates to blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? It is the one who is called by God to be part of His firstfruits harvest—pictured by the true Pentecost—but who is refusing to accept the Truth revealed in our very day by this same Jesus Christ. Christ confirmed that He did indeed do a Work in our day—these last days:
Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you (Acts 13:40–41).
Christ said by this that His divine Work is present someplace right now. But many of His called children are claiming otherwise. Because of the misbehavior of many Church of God ministers of the past, they have become jaded and resentful against any organized group today. They believe that they can worship God just fine on their own. But Jesus Christ said otherwise:
Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him (John 7:16–18).
Two facts are critical from this statement: First, the doctrine is everything. And secondly, recognizing the voice of God through chosen instruments who are sent is paramount. Christ promised that He would indeed preach that true doctrine through human instruments in our day:
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:14–15)
Yet many of God's truly called children today are kicking against this very fact. They have vowed to trust no man to teach them the Truth of God. They will get it all by themselves through their personal prayer and study alone. But that very philosophy is an absolute denial of the Work of God being done today through the Spirit of Truth. They do not realize it, but it is exactly the same thing that the Pharisees were doing when denying that Christ's healing miracles came from God. It is a vilification, an evil speaking, a railing, and yes, a blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Because if Christ is truly working through a human ministry someplace upon this earth, and if some of His called children are refusing to acknowledge that Spirit of Truth in action, then they are not just rejecting "a man," but they are rejecting the very work of God's Spirit by Jesus Christ Himself:
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, [it] shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning (John 15:20–27).
How then can you avoid being guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit and committing the unpardonable sin? No matter how much and how aggressively you may have been resisting God's divine Work thus far, it is still not too late. But you need to acknowledge that Christ truly is still working to feed His sheep miraculously through an organized remnant body. He promised that the gates of hell would never prevail against that true Church (Matthew 16:18). So it is here someplace. Wherever it is, it is a work that respects the original revelation of Truth given by God in our age through a chosen servant. If you are still claiming that Herbert Armstrong was not that servant—and you have every reason to know better—you are in danger. If you are acknowledging the legitimate origin of that true Church but are still chafing today at the requirement to "become part of" a remnant fellowship—because you refuse to be taught "by any man"—you are likewise treading on very dangerous ground. But if you are willing to fight against that enemy spirit which is seeking to keep you divided from the Body of Christ, and if you will humble yourself and hear the True Shepherd, even though it is coming through the foolishness of preaching (1 Corinthians 1:21), then you can escape the road that leads to death—eternal damnation. All it takes is an acknowledgment, and then a sincere walk in the correct direction. He will hear you, and He will lead you by His Spirit to bear real spiritual fruit. Member letter, June 2022
