Church of God International on Racial Tensions

Some observations on CGI's latest web chat (Racial Tensions) - posted on their website

Church of God International pastors Bill Watson and Adrian Davis have posted their discussion on "Racial Tensions" in the United States as part of that group's "web chat" series. The piece was designed to offer some timely commentary on racial divisions across the U.S. in the context of recent events in Charlottesville and elsewhere.

First, while Mr. Watson's choice of a black colleague for this discussion is certainly understandable, one wonders why he chose a Canadian pastor over an American one. Was Pastor Bronson James unavailable or unwilling to participate in this discussion?

Second, if you were expecting the pastors to denounce white nationalists, klansmen and racists, you're going to be disappointed with this discussion. Instead, the principals launch into an attack on Barack Obama, whom they characterize as a "Neo-Marxist." For good measure, they talk at some length about folks like George Soros and Saul Alinsky and hint at "nefarious" activities and conspiracies. Pastor Watson alleges that protesters are being paid and trained by these kinds of folks to stir up trouble, and Pastor Davis says that protesters are being "played" by Marxists.

Next, they turn their attention to groups like Black Lives Matter (BLM) and speculate about how they went wrong. According to Mr. Davis, the oppression of black folks in America is a "false narrative." He goes on to point out that BLM is intent on destroying heteronormative thinking and was founded by lesbians and Marxists. This all apparently made Mr. Watson a little skittish as he felt compelled to declare "I like black people."

When the pair finally turn their attention to Charlottesville, Mr. Watson opens the discussion with a reference to an article that appeared on YourNewsWire.com. Sure, he admits the article "sounds conspiratorial," but then goes on to assert that he believes it. For those who are not familiar with this site, it should be noted that YourNewsWire.com is cited by most reputable news organizations as a notorious purveyor of fake news and conspiracy theories.

Finally, the pastors warn us against getting caught up in this stuff. They don't want us to unwittingly become involved in bringing down America (apparently the principal agenda of these left-wing groups). They go on to assert that those who are involved in this movement are "drunk and asleep," and that such folks have the potential for causing divisions within the church. Mr. Watson and Mr. Davis want their parishioners to keep their eyes on the Kingdom and follow the Golden Rule.

After listening to this web chat, it occurred to me that Pastor Watson and Pastor Davis would do well to follow their own advice. My suggestion is that they avoid this topic in the future and concentrate on the Kingdom and the Golden Rule. What do you think?

--Lonnie Hendrix/Miller Jones

Bob Thiel Makes Another Outlandish Statement On How His "god" Used The Weather To Make Romney Lose The Election

Almost arrested and jailed Elijah Thiel is back once again making yet another absurd comment on the hurricane in Texas.  This time he takes it even further though and brings in Mitt Romney and Barack Obama into the mix.   Did you know that Thiel's prissy and angry god used the weather to make Romney lose the election to Obama?

As far as God controlling the weather goes, in my view, weather was one of the reasons that Mitt Romney lost against Barack Obama in 2012 (cf. Daniel 4:17). There was a major storm, ‘superstorm Sandy’ that hit the north-east and that seemed to be the time more polls started to reduce Mitt Romney’s chances. Here is something I posted about that November 10, 2012:

I believe, for example, that God allowed superstorm Sandy which likely affected the election, in the favor of Barack Obama.  Others may disagree, but for the past 2-3 years I felt that something would occur within a week or so of the 2012  US presidential election.  And while superstorm Sandy was still going on, I discussed this with some I work with prior to the election, and mentioned that I felt that the superstorm would affect the election.

The Bible clearly teaches, “the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses” (Daniel 4:25).

God controls the weather.

Weather events should serve as a wake-up call.

Things in the USA will not remain as they have been.

Sadly, many will be complacent and not really think that disaster will happen, but that will be a mistake:  Rain and floods continue to affect Texas and Louisiana: Who controls the weather?

No one in their right mind should be listing to a false COG leader like Bob Thiel!  He is just one more in a long line of self-appointed deceptive frauds that preach unscriptural bullshit.  He can write all the books he wants and he is still a lying false prophet.

Thiel is like James Malm, the need a nasty vengeful god on their side in order to make themselves look spiritually correct and enlightened.  They are not.  They both a liars who worship at the feet of Baal and Moses.

Why has the COG culture deemed "personal calling" illegitimate?

The church has for decades sent out a mixed message when it comes to the members putting their talents to use.  On one hand, we were encouraged to use our talents to the best of our abilities.  These talents were "God given" and were to be nourished, but on the other hand, the church regularly beat down and diminished many members talents, deeming them unworthy because they just "might" interfere with the directives of the ministry.  In no manner were members to ever interfere in matters relating to theology.  God forbid if you were a nurse or doctor!  You might be needed to take care of someone on the Sabbath.  Be a Policeman?  No way!  Fireman?  Nope!  You just might need to be called in on Friday night or Saturday and that CANNOT happen. Being a Good Samaritan on the Sabbath is forbidden!

Wired into WCG culture was a notion that individual initiative on anything that actually mattered, such as with social or creative consequences, was not to be done outside the control of a top-down hierarchy. Even something as innocuous as a member organizing a book discussion group or an Amnesty International letter-writing group was unthinkable. A person feeling an internal calling to become a teacher or counselor or clergy to others, no matter how good and pure their intentions might be (to help people), would also be regarded as a threat by the hierarchy unless the hierarchy wanted to invite them. Was this why the concept of listening inside for one's "personal calling" was deemed illegitimate?            

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How Will We Remember Bob Thiel and James Malm When They Die?

Yesterday I posted a brief story about the death of William Dankenbring, a former Worldwide Church of God member, writer, and minister.  I deliberately did not make any comments about his track record of public pronouncements, predictions or esoteric beliefs.  That should not be the point of announcing the death of people who have historical ties to the Church of God movement, and of whom many of us know.  

Not so with Almost arrested and jailed Bob Thiel and Chief Pharisaical Zealot James Malm.  Both of these false prophets let the spittle fly right off the bat with righteous indignation.

Zealot Malm writes:

29 Aug:  Self proclaimed COG prophet William Dankenbring  died today from congestive heart failure and renal failure, he had been living in Omak, Washington. 

False prophet William Dankenbring had numerous prophetic failures and many obviously false doctrines, which were as unscriptural and as utterly fantastic as Dave Pack’s or Ron Weinland’s.   He left the WCG to form Triumph Ministries, establishing himself as a sacred names enthusiast.   Most COG folks saw through him but he did have a small following.

Elijah and Second Witless Witness Bob Thiel  was even more brutal:

William Dankenbring was a prolific, though often inaccurate, writer. He used to write for the old Radio and Worldwide Church of God until he left and went out on his own. 

Although I heard about him originally in the 1970s, my first encounter with William Dankenbring was about 25 year ago. I wrote to him then objecting to some of his writings and asking to be taken off of his mailing list–a mailing list I had never asked to be on. Well, he was not pleased and wrote a tirade against that which he published. All my encounters with him over the years were negative. 

William Dankenbring made many false predictions over the years that I have denounced. He was always in error and time proved that.

But perhaps the most egregious negative experience I had with him was when I informed him that a written source he claimed proved at 15th, and not 14th of Nisan, Passover did not say what he claimed it did. He refused to even look at the actual proof when I offered it.

He, like many, had an opinion, and did not want to believe facts that did not support that opinion. 

Here we have two certified liars and false prophets, who currently preach unscriptural baloney, proclaiming another fellow COG leader a false prophet and a liar.  Talk about total hypocrisy!  Thiel and Malm have both lied and made false prophecies and predictions.  They both teach heretical crap that has no relevance to a new covenant Christian.  Both continue to bow at the altar of Moses while ignoring and diminishing that so inconvenient dude, Jesus.  Whoring themselves out to the law apparently is not an issue for them.  Nor, is looking inward at their own warped sense of reasoning.

How people respond to the death of these two will be interesting to see.  It remains to be seen if they will continue to lie and set wrong dates, and then back peddle and lie again, as they already have been doing, and as Dave Pack and Gerald Flurry do. I can guarantee though that when Gerald Flurry and Dave Pack die there will be no mercy leveled at their death announcements.  Perverse men like these do not deserve the honor.

UCG Member Just Thankful To Be Able To Sweep Doorsteps IF and IF God Lets Her Into The Kingdom

Did you know that the life story of Herbert Armstrong is comparable to Jesus' story or that of the original apostles? Herb was betrayed by many loyal men over the years just like Jesus was.

Even worse though is the idea that the person has been brought up and taught by UCG ministers that as a woman in the church she was unworthy and that "god" just might possibly let her into the kingdom if she fulfilled all the commands of the church.  Works always trump mercy when law reigns supreme. Armstrongism has always taught that none of us were ever qualified to make it.  We could never do enough, do what was right, or ever please God.  Herbert Armstrong's coworker/member letters always brought this point out.

Here is what a UCG member said on Facebook:

I'm just hoping I can sweep a door step somewhere in the Kingdom.. As long as I get there.. I don't know what UCG church you went to but it wasn't the same one I know. As far as HWA is concerned, I never met the man but I have listened to hundreds of stories over the years about him and his teachings.. His mistakes.. His sins.. His great accomplishments.. His betrayals at the hands of those closest to him... His story sounds fairly similar to most every man on this earth.. Even some from a group of 12 many years ago. Was he.. I don't know.. Only God does.