LCG Declares Day Of Fasting

Apparently, things are not exactly rosy for many Living Church of god members right now. Trials continue to afflict the church due to all the sinning members.

This Sabbath is a voluntary day of fasting for the Living Church of God. We see a lot happening in our world—2025 is shaping up to be a critical year—and many members are experiencing serious personal trials. Several of us here in Charlotte, therefore, thought it would be good to call for a day of fasting and prayer, as we have not had one for some time. Please do spend extra time confessing your sins and earnestly asking God to show us what we need to do and to deliver those suffering severe trials. —Gerald Weston

Salvation and the Art of Not Wetting Your Pants

Abraham 

(By Urs, Fair Use)

Salvation and the Art of Not Wetting Your Pants 

By Scout

This morning, I went for a hike. I was high up on the side of a canyon with mountains off in the distance. I stopped to take a leak and momentarily ran into a problem – a problem specific to me. I am not circumcised. So sometimes, if I am not careful, my apparatus causes the stream to go in an unexpected direction. And I thought I had wet my pant leg but I did not. I did think how that most men don’t deal with this concern. It is a logistical burden and, ironically, I am a little part Jewish. I am your actual descendant of Abraham. I can’t tell you why my parents did not get me circumcised. Probably no good reason.

My son was circumcised on the eighth day. This made me realize that the only valid Mosaic circumcision is on the eighth day per scripture. If you were circumcised as the Torah said, you were part of an elite group that would inherit the promises made to Abraham. But circumcision also has a history in the Gentile community. Historians think that circumcision has been practiced for 10,000 years. The Egyptians in the Sixth Dynasty did it. It is an ancient surgical procedure – maybe the first one.

I am curious about what the Circumcision Party, that clashed with Paul, expected First Century Gentile Christians to do about circumcisions that did not happen on the eighth day. You can’t climb into a time machine and go back and re-do historical events. Do you get a special dispensation for the wrong day from the Jewish priests so your circumcision can be rendered valid? I think originally the Circumcision Party was not making an argument that Gentiles who wanted to convert to Christianity should simply undergo circumcision. They specifically asserted in Acts 15 that it was circumcision “after the manner of Moses.” Not just any circumcision but eighth-day circumcision. I think they were contending that uncircumcised or improperly circumcised Gentiles could not be saved - ever. It was a way of saying that the promises of Christianity were for devout eighth-day Jews only. Maybe after the Jerusalem Conference, the Circumcision Party softened up a little on this.

I am glad that circumcision now is not by hands in the flesh but of the heart. Had I lived in the time of Paul, I would be disturbed if a member of the Circumcision Party sidled up to me and said that if I wanted to be a Christian and be saved I would need to get circumcised. But I have had Armstrongists tell me that I could not eat pork (I don’t like it anyway. Smells funny.) Or tell me I had to unleaven my house. Some Armstrongist denominations have little Mosaic quirks that they elevate proudly to requirements for salvation – like observing New Moons, maybe. Or believing in this or that oddity said from the pulpit. It sets them apart. And it means that they are going to the Place of Safety and will receive a better salvation and everyone else can pound sand. Because the others do not have the special knowledge that they have about New Moons. Or maybe about not eating mushrooms. Or maybe about not eating jell-o. Or whatever it is that makes them the only ones in God’s inner circle.

The Circumcision Party wanted to contain salvation. They wanted to control it and limit access. They wanted only a very few admitted to the inner circle. The Jerusalem Council blew all that away but there are some who still cling to it after 2,000 years. They also want to contain salvation. The smaller and more exclusive their denomination, the better. This plainly goes against the spirit of Christ who wanted the Gospel of salvation in Christ to be spread far and wide. Even among the Gentiles. This containment view will probably be one of the last errors to die when Christ returns. But, let me tell you, I am seriously happy that the Bible unequivocally states that physical circumcision is not necessary for salvation, even though other physical Torahic activities are not so dramatically set aside in scripture. I shudder to think what the misguided zealots might have forced on me.

Gerald Flurry's Open Letter to the ACOGs

Flurry's Open Letter to the ACOGs

Gerald Flurry's Philadelphia Church of God gets my vote for most delusional of the ACOGs - and there isn't even a close second! In my humble opinion, Gerald's slavish devotion to the memory of Herbert Armstrong, along with his attempts to imitate all aspects of "the work" that Herbie founded (including the Worldwide Church of God, The Plain Truth Magazine, Ambassador College, Ambassador International Cultural Foundation, etc.) put him in the "bat sh-t crazy" category! For me, this opinion was recently reinforced by his An Open Letter to the Churches of God.

The letter's opening tells the story about what follows: 

"Herbert W. Armstrong was part of something great. He led the Worldwide Church of God, which was a work of miracles. Do you remember that glorious history? Too many of God’s people don’t. God challenges us to always keep the big picture." 

 

Hmmmm, I remember that history well, but I do NOT remember it being "glorious." Indeed, from my perspective, I remember a manipulative, corrupt, and authoritarian regime that peddled a plagiarized, heretical theology and squandered the contributions of members and coworkers. I remember a narcissistic old con man and his adulterous son with a tremendous gift for oratory. I remember an organization that immersed itself in the Old Testament and Headline Theology. That's what I remember!

Mr. Flurry remembers things very differently. According to him: "Over Mr. Armstrong’s 55 years in Jesus Christ’s ministry, the work blossomed. It started with nothing and grew into a huge, Spirit-led work that spread God’s beautiful truth across the world." In other words, Mr. Flurry measures success by numbers (income, circulation, influence, etc.). I don't know about you, but that sure sounds like prosperity theology to me! He continued: "Do you remember that history? God put our tithes and offerings to magnificent use, and we were happy to be part of such a noble cause." Indeed, Flurry still believes that things like private jets and Steuben Crystal are a "magnificent use" of church folk's tithes and offerings!

What about you? Do you remember that history? In the words of Gerald Flurry, "Do you remember that glorious history?" Was God responsible for all of that "success" or was it a warped and twisted old man and his minions? Was God responsible for 1972/1975 in Prophecy? Was God responsible for the thoroughly discredited and racist teaching of Anglo-Israelism? Was God responsible for Stanley Rader? Was God responsible for Gerald Waterhouse? Was God responsible for GTA's shenanigans or his catastrophic fall from grace? Was God responsible for the State of California's intervention in Church affairs or the Mike Wallace expose on 60 Minutes? Was God responsible for Joseph Tkach's rise to power and overhaul of doctrine? Was God responsible for the collapse and splintering of the Worldwide Church of God? Was God responsible for all of those ruined marriages, deaths from not seeking medical attention, and abused spouses and children? If not, what exactly should we attribute to Herbert Armstrong?

Flurry finished his "Open Letter" by recounting all of the great "accomplishments" of his own Philadelphia Church of God. He lists the Philadelphia Trumpet magazine, Key of David television program, Armstrong Auditorium ("with its Swarovski Strass® crystal-trimmed chandeliers, Baccarat crystal candelabra, Spanish marble, Azerbaijani onyx, and world-class acoustics, is one of the finest performing arts venues in the world."), Armstrong College, and Armstrong International Cultural Foundation as the key achievements of him and his church. Really? Nevertheless, Flurry considers his greatest contribution to the church the new "truth" which he has introduced through his own booklets and pamphlets. You know, I think he may be right. The same god who inspired Herbert Armstrong continues to work through Gerald Flurry in 2025! What do you think?

Camelot? or NOT?

Lonnie Hendrix/Miller Jones