Where would a good Church of God leader be without claiming Satan is angry around Passover and Feast of Tabernacles times? That is when persecution, at least what they think it is, seems to rear its ugly head to thwart the "work" of whichever COG leader there is mouthing off about it. Truly the modern-day COG movement is the most persecuted church on the face of the earth today. Forget the Iraqi and Indian Christians routinely slaughtered for their faith. They are just so-called "Christians". Only true Christians can be in Bob Thiel's little cult.
So this brings us to today when Bob released his weekend end letter to his rapidly dwindling flock. Satan is angry and persecuting Bob and his family!!!!!! Oh, noes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Greetings from Grover Beach, California.
Some years there are more trials before Passover than others.
For my family and the Continuing Church of God, this has been one of them.
Recently, I dealt with many of the CCOG related matters in the sermon: Hierarchical Governance and Corruption. But some still have been “speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after themselves” (cf. Acts 20:30).
Here is something from the Apostle Paul to consider:
15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. (Titus 1:15-16)
There are many false witnesses (cf. Matthew 26:60) and there are lot of people who seem to prefer gossip to accepting facts (cf. Proverbs 26:16,22).
Oddly, people claiming to be Christians even denounced the leadership of the Apostle John (3 John 9-10).
So of course, anyone who denounces Bob and his ineffective leadership is exactly like those in Apostle John's time. They are all liars and false witnesses. Pathetic!
The claims coming out of Africa are not from one or two people with a grudge. It is multiple people in multiple countries and yet Bob turns a blind eye to it all. How could he ever claim to have been wrong? How humiliating for the one true prophet of the one true church to be wrong!
Bwana Bob pathetically believes he is just like the old Worldwide Church of God that was routinely "persecuted" by false accusations, rebellions people under the sway of Satan
The old Worldwide Church of God faced various members and former members rebelling against it and making claims against it and its leadership. Trials and being spoken against are a long-used Satanic tactic–however, faithful Christians should be aware of Satan’s devices (2 Corinthians 2:11b).
As far as trials go, the Bible teaches:
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; (1 Peter 4:12)28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)
Fiery trials, including accusations by detractors, have happened throughout the entire church age.
That said, hopefully you are preparing for Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread striving for perfection consistent with what Jesus commanded (Matthew 5:48).
Bob is NOTHING like the old Worldwide Church of God. That church refused to ordain him and Herbert Armstrong would have kicked Bob out of the church so fast his head would still be spinning once Bob committed apostasy and rebelled against the church.
