Latest Armstrongite Flare-Up: WCG Wales

You would have thought all the legalists that worshiped all things HWA would have left WCG/GCI by now.  It seems they have not in Wales.

There has been a rebellion recently by a deacon there who is leading a small group of people away from WCG.  It seems a WCG minister came to celebrate Unleavened Bread in a small Welsh church and brought a loaf of regular bread.  Drama ensued and the deacon is seeking to negotiate with Spanky Meredith about bringing his group into Spanky's cult.

There is another extremely small splinter cult in the same area (Church of God in Wales), but the deacon will not join with them because he had a falling out with them previously.  They want to get back as close to HWA's teachings as possible.

From the UK Apologeticss site:

Here in Wales a WCG group which has met in the southwest Wales area for several years (some of them known to your writer) have suddenly become more militant, insisting that pure Armstrongism should be revived in their area. Apparently, civil war broke out when a minister from the UK 'headquarters' attended their west Wales meeting place on the First Day of Unleavened Bread, 2011, taking only fully leavened bread which he openly ate in the presence of all. He also preached, effectively telling them that it was time for them to grow up! I have now received a few reports of what ensued, though, as always in such reports, there are variations. According to one report, the anger almost came to blows being landed, certainly the official WCG 'minister' was accused of 'preaching heresy.'

We are told that the deacon who seems to have led the local rebellion now states that he will lead the west Wales WCG grouping out of the officially "reformed" WCG and will make contact with the 'Living Church of God' (Roderick Meredith's old, diehard Amstrongist group; website here), in order to recover full-blown Armstrongist teachings. Of course, numbers are now absolutely tiny, we speak here of about 20-25 people at the very most. But the official WCG in Wales is already very small so if this breakaway goes ahead this will make their numbers even more meager.

Interestingly, this part of southwest Wales (around Whitland) already has an extremist Armstrongist group, the so-called Church of God in Wales, Now this group is truly tiny, 3-7 people the last time I heard, but the new deacon-led grouping is currently insisting (although this could change) that they will not make contact with that group because of former clashes between the deacon and the former WCG local elder who later set himself up as leader of this COGW ('Church of God in Wales'). I understand that further damage was done when the former WCG local elder did not attend the funeral of a long-standing member in the area.

This is not something new to WCG.  Almost every congregation still contains a few members who are loyal to HWA's teachings.  They remain in WCG/GCI because that is where God placed them. They feel that God will correct the situation in due time.  Many feel that by staying put they will become leaders when the GCI repents of it's errors and they can begin teaching 'the truth'. to the returning and repenting flock.  They are sad, miserable people who make everyone around them equally miserable.

Robin Brace sums up their state of mind quite well:

One could be somewhat amused by all of these rather sad goings-on but the real tragedy is that the Lord Jesus Christ is not enough for these people, they are firmly legalistic, believing that they cannot be "true Christians" without being in subservience to a whole group of Old Covenant laws. These people hold to what is sometimes now called Galatianism, and the Apostle Paul's ringing condemnation of Galatianist legalism should be a warning for us all....

So the WCG legalists (yes, there obviously still are WCG legalists, whatever you might have been led to believe) just seem to be committed to judging their brothers and sisters and causing friction. When will some of these people grow up? When will they actually study the Scriptures for themselves instead of worshipping at the shrine of Armstrongism?
Robin A. Brace. June 25th, 2011.

Pain

Pain Is Weakness Leaving the Body

Pain comes in many forms. There is the pain of a headache and there are many kinds of headaches that produce various degrees and quality of pain. There is organ pain when something is wrong inside and muscle pain when they are pushed beyond the norm either by exercise or emergency. Pain can be mild and a mere annoyance, or brutal and debilitating.

Pain can be emotional and many say they'd much rather have physical pain than the kind of pain that spins the mind and weakens the body due to emotional upheaval. All emotional pain is the body's reaction to the mind. There literally are molecules of emotion released into the blood by the brain, that find their ways to our cells and lock on to produce the effects we know all too well when emotional pain strikes. It may be that kicked in the stomach feeling, dizziness, crying or shock, but it all has its roots in the chemistry produced by the mind when the mind has to deal with the way things are. It's why funerals are as they are and bad news sucks. It's why chronically bad thinking produces chronically bad health. We are both what we eat and what we think. Emotions can be checked by proper attention to the breathing which most never do properly. When we breath from high in the chest, we literally send the message to the brain we are stressed and anxious. In response,the brain sends the appropriate chemicals for fight or flight. To change that, we simply need to breathe from the tummy which literally sends the message to the brain that "all is well." The brain then says "fine then, here comes the feel good stuff." It's why Buddah's tummy is fat!

If you are like me at times, you worry too much about that which is beyond one's control or inevitable no matter what I wish or do not wish would be. Worry is a way we think to lessen painful realities that will come if you live long enough, or if you're lucky as one friend of mine puts it. Worry is what we do to prepare, as if you could, for that which we think will be painful for us. Worry is also one of the more useless endeavors humans tend to come up with to address reality. It ranks right up there with shame and guilt.

Perhaps there is another perspective about literal pain and that which is emotionally painful that would be helpful to keep in mind. Pain is also weakness leaving the body. Think of that. PAIN IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY.

Doing massage as I do can put parts of the body into pain. It shouldn't,but it does in reality at times. The pain tells me that part of my body is not up for the task, at that moment, of doing what I'm doing that way. However, as I keep doing it, the pain leaves and what was weak is now stronger and not painful. All physical workouts are designed to create pain so that weakness leaves the body and one is left stronger for all the hard work. Tissue is strengthened by being torn and left to heal.

It's painful when people we love or we ourselves become less than perfectly healthy. It's painful when loved ones die, either too soon or very late. It's painful when life changes, jobs are lost, careers change, relationships deteriorate or change. But all pain is still weakness leaving the body.

To not understand that death comes to everyone and to react to it as if life has thrown us, and us alone, a nasty curve, is weakness and needs to go. The pain of loss wakes us up to our emotional weaknesses and we either grow through or become bitter as some do. Most grow through and are stronger for the pain that comes into their lives. Without the pain, there could be no growth and no getting stronger. I suppose this is why we cling, at times, to "what does not kill me, makes me stronger." Very true. Sometimes you have to wonder what the outcome of pain will be because, well when it happens, it's painful! Life is a bit like walking. Walking is a controlled crash in the making that, with practice, we turn into graceful movement and progress.

Whether pain is literal and hurts the body, or emotional and hurts the mind and spirit, perhaps if we remind ourselves that "Pain is weakness leaving the body," we can see the bigger picture of what it might be here to teach us. It is universally true that in our weaknesses and pain, we are made stronger, if we allow it and don't allow self pity, anger and "why me" (why not?) to distract us from an opportunity to learn the lessons here at Earth School.

Dennis C. Diehl

DenniscDiehl@aol.com

UCG Using Evil NIV Bible and God is Ticked!

Poor Apostle Malm is having a snit fit again about UCG using the New International Version of the Bible.  According to James this Bible is demonic in it's origins and is a tool of Madam Blavatsky and Satan.

I am receiving reports from several UCG congregations that their elders have now switched to using the NIV mistranslation of the Bible.  The NIV was created by the Evangelical movement and contains very many subtle changes designed to promote the Evangelical agenda.  This book is copyrighted to make money for the group who “translated” it.  It is strongly endorsed by all Evangelical organizations including the 33 degree Mason, Billy Graham.

Do some research on the NIV: take the trouble to look up the scriptures used in the sermons in your KJV and be very careful about the subtlety of the nuanced changes.  This is not about any single obvious change, it is about a series of nuanced changes that add up to a overall total change of focus and attitude about Law, Grace and Tolerance for Sin in the name of Love!

Love.  Armstrongism's four letter word.  It's most despised concept.  How dare one love a sinner.  There are RULES! There are LAWS!  Fools!

Then the Apostle get's down to his business of warning the laodicians.The end-time is here!  Wake up!

I tell you the truth:  He delays NO LONGER!

Those who are close to God and are diligently following the lead of his spirit, have nothing to fear of the tribulation.  They know that the Eternal is their refuge.  The true and ultimate refuge is in our relationship with our Father in heaven.  We confidently know that whether we live or die; he will raise us up on that day.  No tribulation nor any other trial brings terrors to us; being filled with God’s spirit and the love of God which is the keeping of all of the Father’s commandments; we know that we love him and are pleasing to him. The perfect love of God casts out all our fears as we are filled with confident faith in HIM.

Those who are NOT zealously keeping God’s commandments and pleasing him, lack the love of God which is contained in his commandments.  They lack a close relationship with the Father, having compromised with his Law and Word.
The tribulation is God’s merciful correction for those wicked persons who would compromise with his law;  who would call the zealous foolish; who are lifted up with pride and will not receive instruction.

These people are beyond saving; for they WILL NOT be saved.  They are beyond instruction; for they WILL NOT hear.  They have left a loving Father with only one option: To bring their fears upon them; to crush their pride; to humble them; and make them once again teachable by forcing them to realize just how wrong they have been.

Almighty God is ANGRY; He is vexed at our self-righteous failure to exalt him above our corporations and human leaders.

I warn you with all gravity:  We have lost our relationship with our Father by becoming corporate church centered, rather than using  church’s as helps to become and stay GOD CENTERED.

Some Things Never Change in the COG

The new and improved, 'authentic' splinter group, Church of God a Worldwide Association, has laid down the law regarding how it's leadership will be run. The grumpy old men still rule.

In a typically crafted COG document they have laid out a plan that keeps the old guard in power yet again.  They were trained in WCG, jumped ship to UCG where they wielded the same power they thought they had in WCG, and now plan on continuing with that same power structure. New ideas will be left by the wayside.

Only ministers who have been ordained more than 20 years will be allowed to sit on the Board of Directors.

Board members will serve eight year terms.  If five out of the seven members object to a person they can vote to have him removed.  Elders can request a ballot to removed a board member if they gather 25% of the elders signatures.  Then it will take 60% of the elders voting the person officially out.

 (According to J Malm) In practical terms this 20 years point narrows down the Board to AC Alumni only.  This means that the split leaders will be in total control of COGWA regardless of the selection option chosen.  ONLY they meet the required qualifications.  In reality this is a choice between irrelevant options.  Elders are being allowed to decide the method they will use; and will have no real choice as to WHO leads!  With very little exception they can choose between members of the same group only! 

 They are being told to choose between two irrelevant issues!    The Franks/McCullough/Kilough group wins either way!  THE BIG CON!

Only those currently employed or ordained in the last five years are allowed to nominate men to the Board. This is slick because the ministers who have been employed by the COGaWA are those that were hand selected out of the entire group when they all jumped ship.

Malm writes: That is a condition which disenfranchises those unpaid elders who have not  had paid jobs for the past five years in UCG;   this is  great for the Old Guard. It may be preferred by the paid Old Guard like McCullough/ Franks/Kilough and friends.  This is the key issue behind the power struggle in COGWA; only the inner circle of friends and AC alumni have been hired; and may nominate candidates if Option One  passes. This entrenches the Old HWA Guard. This gives the lie to the mantra of "Servant Leadership" as they define it; because it maintains the same old Caste System of the past.

The president of the church must have fifteen years experience and at least five years with 'pastoral' experience.  He is chosen by the board and must serve their desires and  needs. In other words, he will not be a spiritual leader like Meredith is.

Isn't It Time You Started Questioning Sabbath Keeping?

from The Monty Python Haggadah

If Charlton Heston had never went up that mountain we would not have all the Sabbath keeping controversies today!

Armstrongism is continuing to lose members because they realize sabbath keeping is not required of Christians.  Seventh Day Adventists are leaving too.  In 2005 the SDA church announced that 1.5 million SDA's have left the church in the last five years.  Part of the reason why is the same phenomenon that is decimating Armstrongism: "The Internet has made information accessible to people worldwide who are seeking for the answers to their questions about Adventism."

  

There are numerous web sites out there that have a wealth of information for those who are questioning sabbatarianism.

Sabbath Keepers Refuted

Lying For God

Kerry Wynne is a former third generation Seventh-day Adventist.  William Hohmann is a former Worldwide Church of God member.  The Sabbath “heritage” of both authors goes back to one, single group of believers which adopted Sabbatarianism almost immediately after the Great Disappointment of 1844. Thus, these denominations are truly “sister” churches.   Both authors graduated from the universities which host(ed) the theological seminaries of their respective denominations. The authors have worked in association  with biblical researcher, Robert K. Sanders, a former Seventh-day Adventist who now hosts a comprehensive web-site which addresses issues in Adventism and Sabbatarianism—Truth Or Fables.Com. 

Sabbatarianism Re-examined

Support for Questioning and Transitioning SDA and Sabbatarian Pastors

Journey Out of Legalism

Truth Lead Me Out

Proclamation Magazine: Combating the Errors of Legalism and False Religion

Truth or Fables?

Apostle Malm's Endtime Timeline

double click to super enlarge

The Apostle has been on a roll this week whipping up a frenzy about the tribulation and how the church is not ready.  Today he laid out how the tribulation will SPECIFICALLY happen:

The tribulation period will begin like this.

1.  A major conflict will reset the regional conditions to allow for a genuine dialogue for peace.  This peace agreement has already been reached and only the will of the party’s to implement it; and a few details remain to be worked out. Therefore an agreement could be reached in a very short time, if the Israeli coalition were to be changed and the sides were motivated. At the same time a new International Economic System will be put in place which will insulate the world from the coming events and the collapse of the US dollar.

2.   At the appointed time the final false prophet will be set up as a miracle working pope calling for a new Europe.  The foundations of that Roman revival have already been laid; all that is needed is a strong motivation and the right catalyst to make it happen.  A miracle working religious leader appearing at a time of crisis with solutions and the fact that Almighty God has put this into the hearts of these men: Will make it happen in Quick Time.

3.   Europe may be united quickly, perhaps in a matter of weeks, but the Beast emperor will ONLY [marginal rendering] have power [be allowed by God] to make war for 42 months:  Rev 13:4 
As this is being set up; Peacekeeper’s, many from Europe; will be sent to Palestine to implement the peace agreement.

4.   This final false prophet will then go to the Holy Place as the fake prince of peace, 75 days after being set up in Rome.  That will trigger the great tribulation, as the extremist Jewish Settlement Movement rejects the deal and reacts violently. Perhaps some other similar event will trigger the actual violence, either way when this abomination goes to the Holy Place the tribulation will begin with the occupation of Jerusalem and Judea.
God’s two prophets will be empowered 26 1/2 days after this false prophet has bee set up in Rome, giving them about 45 days to provide a final warning to America, Israel and the world;  BEFORE these things begin.  These two will also lead God’s faithful who respond to the warning, to a place prepared of God. They will arrive at that place as this false prophet triggers the tribulation. 

5.   One of the key elements of this peace deal is under negotiation right now.  It is a mutual defense pact between Israel and the United States.  This pact is to be made sure by the coming war and US led intervention against Syria and Iran.
The US Congress is controlled by AIPAC and the various financial institutions which finance the election campaigns.  An election year is approaching and the Congressional men and women KNOW that they must support this pact as well as the defense of Israel during this summers conflict.  That lays the foundation for American support of Israel in their conflict with Europe.

6.   When the United States threatens the new Europe to back off of Israel, the Beast will strike first, because this is of God.  He will strike with a massive Cyber Attack that will bring the United States crashing down.  It is possible that a few nuclear bombs will also be used, but relatively few will be necessary!  For that the Force de Frappe is all that will be required. Please note the naval nuclear power of France, also note that each submarine missile tube carries a missile which in turn can carry up to ten weapons.

At the same time the Islamic world with the exception of  Egypt; will fully support Europe in its campaign against Israel and her allies.  In fact the whole world, fed up and seeing the Israelis and  their allies as great war mongers; will support the European forces.


GOD WILL BRING THE WHOLE WORLD AGAINST THE  JUDEO ANGLO AMERICAN COMBINE! 

THIS IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF A FEW EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AGAINST THE JUDEO ANGLO SAXON PEOPLE! 

IT IS ALMIGHTY GOD BRINGING THE WHOLE WORLD AGAINST US FOR THE MULTITUDE OF OUR TRANSGRESSIONS!!!

7.   This attack will leave Judea occupied and America in a state of  collapse, unable to respond.  Americans will be fighting for survival in a chaotic situation of  unraveling government  authority; as neighbour strives with neighbour for survival, natural religious and racial animosities will surface with violent result.  Unable to import oil, there will be a massive famine and lack of food, no fuel for plowing, planting, harvesting and distribution. A population weakened by famine will be susceptible to disease and massive epidemics will break out. Domestic fuel supplies will be fought over; I think you get the picture; chaos and a struggle for survival.
The total collapse will be an ongoing process that will last the entire 42 months. When the pride of our people has at last been finally and completely broken: the true deliverer will come with his saints to usher in a true New World!

During this time Europe will enjoy great prosperity for a couple of years, then they shall go to war against the Asian nations.

The next war will be a new kind of war mingled with the old.  There will be no need for occupation after defeat, although the enemy may want control of some critical nodes and bases.  The US fleet will be forced to go to various ports and may then enter into agreements to help defend host nations like Japan in exchange for succor.

Play The Herbert W Armstrong Apocalypse Game!

From the SILENCED web site.

Why the Book of Revelation is Heresy

Van Robison's recommended this article on the book of Revelation.  I could not get it to format correctly here, so check it out here:  Why The Book Of Revelation Is Heresy

The answer is that almost everything in John Patmos' hallucination opposes the Gospel Jesus' words, ways, and teachings. All one must do is pay attention to what John Patmos wrote. That will be done, with some detail, later in this critique. But first, some general background information is needed.

The Greek literary styles of John Patmos and John Apostle were examined in very early Christianity to prove these are two different writers. Eighteen hundred years ago, Dionysius (Bishop of the Patriarchy of Alexandria) stated that "Revelation" was not written by the same person who wrote John's Gospel and Letters. (Eusebius' History of the Church, 7.25) His opinion came from his comparing their two writing styles and found John Patmos to be entirely different from John Apostle and any other New Testament writer.

We do not need to be Greek scholars to look at the text of the Gospel and letters of Apostle John to notice John Patmos contradicts John Apostle at every turn. Those examples are examined in this report. But now we should remember that "Revelation" was doubted in Eastern Christianity and not generally accepted into the New Testament until AD 508. Some ancient Christian branches still do not include it in their Bibles. Therefore discussion and criticism of "Revelation" is not a new and is not a disrespectful activity.

Living Church of God's 'Brotherly Love'

LCG's Doug Winnail posted a typical COG doublespeak post the other day:

Real Philadelphia Christians:  The book of Revelation describes Philadelphia Christians as having a strong desire to carry out the mission that Jesus Christ gave to His Church.  According to the Scriptures, that mission involved preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to this world and especially to the Israelite nations (Mark 1:14-15; Matthew 10:1-7), warning the world about the difficult times that will arise at the end of the age (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) and preparing a people to reign with Jesus Christ in the coming government of God (Luke 1:17).  However, as the name “Philadelphia” means “brotherly love,” true Philadelphians will also strive to follow Jesus’ admonition to “love one another” (John 15:17).  They understand that showing unselfish, outgoing concern for others (versus sitting in judgment of others) is one of the distinguishing marks of a real Philadelphia Christian (John 13:34-35).  The capacity to show real love to others is also one of the most important fruits that indicate that we have and are using God’s Spirit (1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:22-25).  Let’s all look for ways to show “brotherly love” to others.  Douglas S. Winnail

Isn't it wonderful to know that LCG and Rod Meredith are the epitome of "brotherly love!"  Rod Meredith is well known on how the "love" gushes forth from his godly persona.

We got to see that love in action when he stood on the stage in Tuscon Arizona and blatantly lied about Leona McNair in front of 800+ ministers and wives.

We got to see Meredith's "brotherly love" in action when he tried to force long time ministers out of the Auditorium during the receivership, then stood on the stage and lied again when he accused them of undermining the church.

Various ministers have felt the wrath of Rod's "brotherly love" when he would start screaming at them and then kick them out of the church because the would not put up with his power hungry rantings.

Even Herbert Armstrong called Meredith on the carpet for his unchristian "brotherly love" towards ministers and members in his March 14, 1980 letter.

We got to see Rod's "brotherly love" in action as he was letting the WCG defend him court against the lawsuit Leona McNair brought against him, all the while planning on exiting the church afterwards and start up a new splinter group.

We got to see Meredith's "brotherly love" in action when Global Church of God decided to kick him out.  He then  jumped ship starting a new splinter group (LCG) all the while leaving the debt he accrued with the GCG folk.  Many GCG people had given hundreds of thousands of dollars to start Rod in his new church when Global formed which he left high and dry when he started LCG.

We got to see Meredith's "brotherly love" in action when he caused Raymond and Eve McNair  to grovel on their knees "with trembling lips" begging Rod's forgiveness.

We got to see Rod's "brotherly love" in action when Terry Ratzman went on a killing spree in an LCG church service killing and wounding LCG members, all because of the weird hate filled rantings of Rod Meredith that Ratzman had been subjected to in sermons.

We have seen Meredith's "brotherly love" spelled out in print towards gay people in the church who had to sit through endless spitting and blathering in class and in this article from the 1961 Plain Truth.


Rod's ministry and life is one of gracelessness, vengeance and power hungry control.   Yes, we have all seen Rod's brotherly love in action and it has left us all wanting. No one wants or needs the kind of 'brotherly love' that Rod Meredith or LCG has to offer.  Rod's graceless, legalistic cult has nothing to offer a hurting world.

Dr. Bob Concerned That Potential Suicides in 2012 Will Result In Lower Income For LCG

Chiropractor/naturopath/COG apologist/author, and all around important person is worried that the chance of increased suicides in 2012 because of idiot false prophets will cause a drop in LCG income and the prohibition of LCG preaching it's warning to the world. (One can only hope.....!) 

French Worried About 2012 Suicides: A Prelude to Interference of the Work?

 The Mayan 2012 flood prophecy will be proven false.  But 2012 will affect the world in ways that most who have discussed it publicly have not mentioned.

 While I have many concerns about the ramifications of the December 21, 2012 prediction (including an increase in prophetic scoffers, see 2 Peter 3:3-9, when the world does not end then), a relatively new one (for me) is that if there are massive suicides or other disturbances, this may result in governments calling for restrictions on making “end of the world” predictions.  This is especially feasible as in Malawi someone was arrested this year for pushing Harold Camping’s May 21, 2011 rapture date (see Arrest in Malawi and Stroke for Harold Camping).

This type of government action may restrict the ability of the Living Church of God to get its warning message out just prior to the start of the Great Tribulation.  Yet, for a short while it appears that we will get a lot of notice, and do the “short work”.  The late LCG evangelist John Ogwyn wrote:

God states clearly: “He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness” (Romans 9:28). Who will He use to do it? According to Daniel 11:32 it is “the people who know their God [that] shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”
… Today, the Living Church of God continues to do the Work of God, proclaiming the true Gospel to a world spiraling toward destruction.  (Ogwyn J. God’s Church Through the Ages.  LCG booklet, p. 58)

We in the Church of God have tended to believe that something would stop our organized ability to proclaim biblical truths including prophetic ones:

I have personally believed that when people like I explain who the final King of the North is and that he (who many will believe is an ally of the USA and UK) will actually invade and destroy the USA and UK, that I and others in the Living Church of God may be accused of treason, hate speech, or some technical violation of some rule in order to prevent our right to proclaim the truth.

With US FCC “net neutrality” rules (which they were approved to start to use in late 2010), Malawi’s arrest, and the French government’s public concerns, we are getting close to that time when governments will be too offended by the truth and some will take steps to stop it from being proclaimed.

The organized work may be stopped by government officials (like on the internet, television, etc.) and persecutions began because people of the holy covenant are warning the world of the results of their sins (which they will not want pointed out) and teaching that the King of the North is fulfilling these prophecies in Daniel 11. The faithful may be saying things that are not “politically correct” to the point that one or more governments will take action.

And if there are problems caused by the failed 2012 prophecies, governments (including the USA one) will feel more justified to taking steps to prevent small groups (like the Living Church of God) preaching the truth about the gospel of the kingdom and the end of the world as we know it.  The French statements may be a step that will lead to that.

Does all this mean I will miss the Olympics?  :-)