Lone Wolf Crackpot Prophet Ticked Off Football Season Starts Today

Football season has arrived with the start of September here in the United States.  Both College and NFL teams are starting their seasons off this month. Football stadiums will be filled to the brim with diehard fans. Televisions will be tuned to the games and food and drinks will be overflowing with fans.

But not in Grover Beach/Arroyo Grande, CA! No sirree, Bob! Our favorite crackpot, self-appointed, and deluded prophet is back getting his holistic undies tied up into another indignant knot.

After numerous quotes about sports injuries during the games, he has to open his undignified sacred mouth and make a royal ass of himself, once again. Satan is the father of American football and the Great Bwana to Africa is having none of it!

The National Football League (NFL) season is upon us as the 2024 NFL season is set to kick off on Thursday, September 5th. 

 

Should Christians support this? 

 

Early Christians would not have watched sports like it. 

 

What kind of sport is NFL football? 

 

A violent and damaging one. One that will hurt people this season.

The Great Bwana is "crying aloud and sparing not" when it comes to football. He is a beta boy when it comes to preaching about Jesus, but not when it comes to football! He speaks with force and power for all to see and hear! 

Many non-Philadelphian Christians do not wish to seriously consider that American tackle football is harmful, despite the facts, and would prefer that I not post about it. 

 

The Bible suggests otherwise:

1 Cry aloud, spare not;

Lift up your voice like a trumpet;

Tell My people their transgression,

And the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1) 

 

The reality is that American tackle football is evil–the players get harmed. This really is not debatable as it is an established fact.

A little later he has to drag Living Church of God into the mix due to the bitterness still raging inside him after all of these years. The Great Bwana Bob suffers from LCGDS: Living Church of God Derangement Syndrome. It eats away at his soul daily ever since the church rejected him en masse when he apostatized.

Clearly with any who have eyes to see, the fruits of this ‘sport’ are evil. 

 

Over the years, I have seemingly stood alone among Church of God leaders in the 21st century warning against American tackle football. I first spoke against it at the old Spokesman’s Club in the Worldwide Church of God last century. And, when I brought the subject up in the Living Church of God, it made many uncomfortable enough to take steps leading to my departure from that group. 

 

There is no doubt that American tackle football is dangerous to health. While some in the world consider watching it to be an ‘ethical uncertainty,’ true Philadelphia Christians (as well as many who are not) realize that something about this sport is physically harmful and should not be encouraged.

Apparently, Bad Philadelphians are justifying sin by watching football and not heeding the Bwana's words:

Let me state that there is a human tendency to try to justify sin. Many think if something feels right to them, it must be. According to the Bible, that is a wrong attitude:

9 “The heart is deceitful above all things,

And desperately wicked;

Who can know it?

10 I, the Lord, search the heart,

I test the mind,

Even to give every man according to his ways,

Bad Philadelphians are also displeasing God by watching football and those scantly clad cheerleaders. Sigh. 

I could not reconcile loving my neighbor as myself and cherishing my flesh and not doing violence to any man by watching others do it in a football game. Consider also the following:

9…You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:9-10)

Jesus also said:

20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. (John 3:20-21, NKJV). 

 

Is watching American football a deed that would be pleasing to God?

 

He drags in Apostle Paul to prove football is wrong:

The Apostle Paul wrote:

12… they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.(2 Thessalonians 2:12) 29 … they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:29-32, NKJV) 

The Great Bwana Bob then has to drag Herbert up out of the grave to use him to support his LCGDS:

The late WCG Pastor-General Herbert W. Armstrong categorized American tackle football as evil. 

 

You may be telling yourself, well since my church does not (presuming you do not support a group like the Continuing Church of God which does) condemn football and/or possibly encourages it, the Bible really does not apply here. If so, be careful about accepting that type of tradition. Jesus Himself taught:

7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth,

And honor Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me.

9 And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:7-9) 

 

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 

 

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked — 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. (Revelation 3:14-19)

The Great Bwana Bob then goes off by letting you know that in his household NO ONE watches evil satanic football and those who do are Laodiceans (especially LCG members who refuse to heed his call).

I do not watch American football. I consider that it is evil (also, no Christian can really defend how professional football cheerleading females are often publicly dressed and displayed). Others want to falsely act like there is nothing wrong with watching it. 

 

Some may not wish to hear about any of the evils of violent sports, and instead prefer smooth things, but hopefully I have tried to follow the Apostle Paul who declared:

26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:26-27) 

 

The bodies and blood of those who engage in violent sports is important. It does not show Philadelphia love. 

 

Regarding American football, do you believe that Jesus or the Apostle Paul would endorse it? This is something that Christians, and those that claim to be, should think and pray about. 

 

Those Laodicean Christians who are fans of American tackle football are NOT Philadelphians and will be subject to violence themselves as they will have to go through the Great Tribulation if they do not repent (Revelation 3:14-22). 

 

Encouraging violence in sports does not show brotherly/Philadelphian love. 

 

Philadelphian Christians do not watch American tackle football–whether the USA or Canadian version of it.

Armstrongism in Contention with Christianity: Concerning Jesus' Fulfilling of the Law of Moses

The Apostle Paul 

A Reasonable Likeness from the Fayum Mummy Portraits (Fair Use)

See note at end.

 

Armstrongism in Contention with Christianity

Concerning Jesus Fulfilling of the Law of Moses

 

By Scout

 

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; 

I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. (Matt. 5:17, NRSV)

 

When I think of Armstrongism the word that often comes to mind is “contrarian”.  I formed an impression years ago that HWA felt a kind of boost to his self-esteem by adopting the dissenting viewpoint – as if he were saying, “I seem like I came from the backwoods of theology but I am so right and you all are so wrong.”  And I believe this is a life-theme of many of his followers as well.  It is common to be a contrarian in politics but, alas, religion is not politics although there are some surface similarities.  One can be totally wrong in politics and it will have only secular, durational consequences.  Not so with religion.  Here is a midrash on a topic where Armstrongism takes the heterodox road.  This is an ancient doctrine that Christians sorted out long ago.  But it has been newly challenged by Armstrongism. (When I write Law with a capital that refers to the Law of Moses; law without the capital refers to the philosophical concept of law.)

The Initial Point of Reference

I will put my cards on the table.  The next paragraph is what I think Armstrongism says about Jesus fulfilling the Law of Moses.  I may be wrong.  Let me know.  I haven’t been an Armstrongist for a long time. 

Armstrongism maintains that Jesus came to fulfill the Law of Moses by making it stricter by requiring obedience not only to the letter of the Law but also the spirit of the Law.  And in this way Jesus magnified the law and made it honorable (Isaiah 42:21).  The Israelites had been unable to successfully keep the Law.  But God fixed this by granting the Holy Spirit that makes it possible for converted humans to keep the Law of Moses even in its new more demanding form.  And the Law of Moses is written on the hearts of everyone who is a converted follower of Jesus.  The exegesis for this is found in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus, for instance, tightened up the commandment concerning adultery by taking the requirement beyond the letter to include also lusting after a women.  Therefore, all Armstrongists are responsible for keeping all of the Law of Moses in the letter and spirit. Rod Meredith declared that this included not just the Decalogue but all of the statutes and judgements because the statutes and judgements are derived from the Decalogue.  Herman Hoeh stated that the statutes and judgements pre-dated the Old Covenant and could not be abolished when the Old Covenant was terminated.  But even though the statues and judgements are considered binding, to my knowledge Armstrongism has never defined a comprehensive catalog of spiritual intents for this body of legislation. The statutes and judgements seem to continue only in the letter.  Further, Armstrongists believe that they must follow the example of Jesus and Jesus kept the Law of Moses.  Excluded are the sacrifices and what Armstrongists refer to as the Ministry of Death.   The wild card is that Armstrongist leaders believe they can loosen and bind Biblical mandate including the Law of Moses although the doctrine is not well defined. 

Jesus Kept the Law of Moses Perfectly for a Reason

Jesus kept the Law of Moses perfectly but is that the example that we are intended to follow? Jesus was born under the Law of Moses. He was an Israelite living in the polity of Israel. And Israel was party to a covenant with God.  That covenant required the observance of the Law that had been conveyed through Moses.  So, Jesus was obligated to keep the Law of Moses by circumstances of human birth.   This is so even though he was Yahweh and had created the Law of Moses. 

Beyond this Old Covenant context in which Jesus lived, there is a profound, new, spiritual meaning. The perfect Law keeping of Jesus is important to all of us because it is part of the way that God implemented salvation for us.  We are blessed with the Vicarious Humanity of Christ.  Jesus met conditions for us, in our stead, securing salvation for us.   One of the conditions he met for us was the keeping of the Law of Moses. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NRSV) it states:

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

We cannot be made righteous in him unless he were perfectly righteous.  God expects perfect righteousness and that is what we cannot deliver.  The righteousness of Jesus is our righteousness by ascription.  And this ascription is not contingent on works.  While there is debate among different denominations how precisely the ascription happens, there is no debate about the fact that the righteousness originates with Jesus and is credited to us.  In the simplest terms, “by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous (KJV, Romans 5:19).   In Romans 4: 6 (NRSV), Paul states:

“So also David speaks of the blessedness of those to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works:”

In the larger context of Romans 4 we understand that this righteousness comes to us through our justification by God through the faith of Jesus that resides in us through the Holy Spirit.  There seems to be no exegesis that supports the idea that Jesus’ conforming perfectly to the Law of Moses created a requirement that Christians must follow the Law of Moses and in an even more exacting way.  Such an assertion would contradict the Biblical statements concerning justification by imputation.  

Nor is there any implication that since Jesus kept the Law of Moses that we then should follow his example, in his footsteps, and also keep the Law of Moses.  What we have seen this far is that Jesus kept the Law of Moses vicariously in our stead.  1 Peter 2:21 says that we should follow in the steps of Jesus in regard to suffering.  It does not mention observing the Law of Moses.  This aligns with James 5:10. Our relationship with Jesus keeping the Law of Moses is not one of imitation but imputation.    

The disposition of the Law of Moses after the Crucifixion is explained in Pauline theology.  It has been replaced by the Law of Christ.  Jesus as Yahweh can promulgate a new modified Law and did so.  The disposition of the Law of Moses is seen in this scripture from Romans 7:6 (NRSV):

“But now we are discharged from the law, dead to that which held us captive, so that we are enslaved in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the written code.”

The message is clear.  We are discharged from the Law – dead to it.  Its past impact on our lives is characterized as captivity and enslavement.  It is not the foundation on which the future will be built. Paul’s metaphor could not be clearer.  I remember hearing a sermon in the WCG in which the minister stated that “dead to the law” really means “dead to the penalty of the law” and that we do not experience the penalty of the Law any longer because we keep the Law and the penalty is not exacted – apparently we had to be keeping it perfectly for this model to work.   But there was no basis for inserting “the penalty of” into Paul’s language.  This was an artful dodge to justify the heterodoxy of continuing to observe of the Law of Moses after it was no longer in force. 

The Messiah will Magnify the Law and Make if Honorable

Jesus fulfilled the Law by transcending the Old Covenant and the Law of Moses with a new covenant and new law leading to a new purpose and by his personal example as the living Word of God.  It is a fulfilling of (not the abrogation of) the Law of Moses because it retains the moral imperative of the Law of Moses while rescinding or modifying the letter (think of circumcision). This fulfilling is not simply the idea that Jesus kept the Law of Moses perfectly as an example for us to imitate.   The reason for that is addressed in the previous section of this essay.  But the Greek word for fulfill is plēroō.   This word means to make abundant or to complete or to make something abound.  

The New Testament explains to us the way in which Jesus accomplished this flourishing.  Jesus achieved the fulness of the purpose of the Law by vacating the letter of the Law of Moses (Romans 7: 1-6), establishing in the place of the Law of Moses a new law, called the Law of Christ in scripture (Galatians 6:2; Romans 8:2; 1 Corinthians 9:21), and in his words and deed, as the living Word of God, setting a new example under this new covenant that we should follow (1 John 2:6) with the ultimate goal of accomplishing better purposes than the Law of Moses could provide (Hebrews 8:6).  This is what the Bible documents – an abounding of purpose intended and of purpose achieved. 

One might think that Jesus fulfilled the Law like someone fulfills the condition of a contract.  When the fulfilling action is complete, then the condition is satisfied and has no further bearing.  But in this contract model, not only the letter of the Law would be terminated but its moral intent also.  We know the moral intent reflects God’s nature and will not go away.   Jesus kept the Law perfectly not because he was simply discharging a contractual obligation but because his righteousness would be ascribed to believers, justifying them, as an essential element in the plan of salvation. 

Jesus fulfilled the Law by showing us a new, better way to the outcomes that the Law intended but Israel was never able to achieve.  And he showed us a better way by his words and actions as the living, embodied Word of God.  Jesus had the authority to change the Law.  Several times is the Sermon on the Mount he says, “You have heard that it was said, … But I say to you…”  Jesus was not inferior to Moses (Hebrews 3:3).  It was Jesus as Yahweh that gave the Law to Israel through Moses.  This establishment of a new way by Jesus was done not by preserving the letter of the Law and making it more rigorous but by superseding it with a better way of life – known to Christians as The Way.  

Jesus magnified the Law and made it Honorable by showing that it was not just a grounds for measuring performance but a grounds principally for love.  Jesus said:

“He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (NRSV, Matthew 22:37-40)

This is the purpose of the Law and the Prophets, these two commandments about love. This is not a new statement.  Deuteronomy 6:4 and Leviticus 19:18 together say the same thing.  But the Judaic tradition at the time of Christ was not following this.  The scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman taken in adultery to see if he would participate in her stoning.  And Yahweh who gave the Law and knew how he wanted it applied said let him who has not sinned cast the first stone.  This is radically different way of applying the Law – a way based on love and grace.  Jesus did not magnify the Law by making it harsher and more punitive.  He did it by bringing it to its original purpose – love of God and love of neighbor.

Conclusion

Jesus fulfilled the law, magnified it and made it honorable, principally by making love its focus, by giving us the New Testament, the Law of Christ and Vicarious Humanity of Jesus.  Dissenters from this view would assert that Jesus made the Law greater by making it more rigorous.  And keeping the Law of Moses is a requirement for salvation.  As for the Armstrongist idea that the giving of the Holy Spirit made it possible for people to keep the new demanding Law, this did not seem to work for the Apostle Paul (Romans 7:21-25). Nor did it ever result in Armstrongists keeping the full Law of Moses – they keep only select parts of the Law of Moses.   We should follow the example of Jesus not in the observation of the letter of the Law of Moses but in following the Law of Christ (The Sermon on the Mount and New Testament principles broadly).  And the Law of Christ carries forward whatever is essential in the Law of Moses.

Note:  For the image of Paul at the top of the article, I chose a portrait from the gallery of Fayum Mummy Portraits.  I believe Paul looked much more like this portrait than the common depictions of him as a Western European. While we cannot know Paul’s facial features, we can at least get the physical anthropology right.  The Fayum people were Egyptian or a mixture of Greek and Egyptian. Their genetic profiles are mostly Egyptian.  The portraits date from around the time of Jesus. Some may be early Christians.   We know from Acts 21:38 that a Roman Tribune mistook Paul for an Egyptian.  Later in the same account, Paul addressed a group of Jews at the Temple, and they were not comfortable with him by appearance.  He had to identify himself as a Jew and speak to them in Hebrew before they would settle down and listen.  Clearly, Paul was dark-skinned, perhaps darker than some of the Jews he was addressing. My guess is that he looked “Gentile” to these Jews. Followers of British Israelism will see in this an issue.  Paul is of the tribe of Benjamin and should have looked like a Norwegian.  The Norwegians are thought by Armstrongists to be the modern-day descendants of Benjamin.  This is a Biblical refutation of this point in the Armstrongist version of British Israelism. 

 

LCG Going Forth In Power To All The World On Rumble

 

Rumbling with the Living Church of God on Rumble.

The biggest witness ever into the four corners of the globe!

Nations tremble at their feet.

Thousands converted to the truth!

Oh, wait! 49 people are followers.

Rumble has 78 million people on it.

But, there are 49 followers. Woo Hoo!

In a fun twist, the Great Bwana Bob has more followers for his snake oil supplements than the LCG does for the truth restored.

Where would the world be without the Churches of God in its midst?