UCG: Victor Kubik "I can declare with authority that we condemn racism."

With the tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of corrupt policemen, UCG has jumped on the bandwagon with their own take on the situation.

Nothing works better for a Church of God splinter group than taking advantage of some tragedy or world event in order to push their version of the Bible that they claim is right.

For my wife Bev and me, the news of the tragic murder of an African American in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by police officers really hit home. As many know, we both lived and served in Minnesota for many years. Minnesota was home to us. Just before going to Ambassador College in California, I first started attending church services near Lake Street and 1st Avenue South—less than two miles from the Powderhorn Park area where George Floyd was murdered. I saw many personally familiar landmarks in the television coverage, except this time they were marred by rioting people burning and destroying businesses and property.

The rage ignited in Minneapolis has since spread all over the United States and has set the country on fire. This is in the wake of a country exhausted by thousands of deaths, record unemployment, and economic catastrophe all fueled by COVID-19.

What should we be doing? What is our response?

Scott Ashley, the managing editor of Beyond Today, saw the importance of speaking out as quickly as possible on this searing issue. He rearranged the July-August lineup of articles accordingly to create space at the last minute before sending the magazine to the printer. I was given the task of providing an article. My column here contains excerpts from some of those thoughts, which were written for a more general audience—one that needs to hear our voice in these increasingly tumultuous times (Isaiah 58:1).

Kubik starts off by letting us all know he knows all about African American discrimination because his family was discriminated against when they fled from the advancing Russians in defeated Nazi Germany. Also, living a life of exceptional privilege since entering the COG ministry and still wallowing in that privilege, he knows all about discrimination that Blacks deal with in housing, jobs and daily life.

As we live in this world, awaiting the powerful return of our Savior in glory, we must recognize that the wrongful death of George Floyd represents a deadly serious, unresolved issue in America. As one familiar with oppression (many know of my background as an immigrant to the United States as a refugee fleeing advancing Russians in defeated Nazi Germany), I grieve when I hear the accounts of violence and discrimination against people of color.

Kubik's next statement is his "bold" stance that UCG does NOT discriminate and that UCG condemns "white-superiority" and racism.

To God—who is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11)—skin color and cultural background don’t matter. All have full access to Him through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. That is why—as the current president of the United Church of God, an International Association—I can declare with authority that we condemn racism. Make no mistake. As a Church and as a people called out by God, we condemn so-called “white superiority.” Neither has anything to do with God!

If this is true, then Kubik and the entire United Church of God need to IMMEDIATELY discard their belief in British Israelism. They still hold dear Herbert Armstrong's racist propaganda teaching that is the basic foundation of UCG and every single splinter group out there today masquerading as a true church.  UCG makes weak comments occasionally that the church does not follow those teachings, but they do.  Many high ranking evangelists and leaders believe it is 100% accurate.

Kubik then goes on to state that he and UCG know a "better way." He starts off by quoting Colossians 3:11. As long as he still keeps BI as a basic tenant of the UCG he CANNOT believe the following, because the scripture below totally invalidates BI and the teaching that in Herbert's world tomorrow races would be segregated in their own nations

As members of the body of Christ, we know firsthand what Paul meant when he stated in the first century: “It doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile [Greek], circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us” (Colossians 3:11, New Living Translation, emphasis added throughout).

Ironically, in ancient times a “barbarian” or “being barbaric” was a cultural slur that referred to anyone who didn’t speak Greek, which essentially meant anyone outside the Mediterranean area—the rest of the world. Together with anti-Semitism, it represented an early form of racism.

What is our response? Simply put, we are called to a higher standard. We are called to live a better way.

Really? 

There is a better way.

So he quotes Rev. Martin Luther King...a man Herbert Armstrong and almost all ministers reject as a trouble maker and an adulterer.  Every time any posts King's words, some COG members whip themselves into a frenzy about King being an adulterer and of course, being a "so-called" Christian.

Let us take a moment to consider the words of Dr. Martin Luther King. In 1966, Dr. King remarked: “I’m concerned about a better world. I’m concerned about justice … and when one is concerned about that, he can never advocate violence. For through violence you may murder a murderer, but you can’t murder murder … Darkness cannot put out darkness; only light can do that.”

The answer, according to Dr. King? “Love is ultimately the only answer to humankind’s problems … I have seen too much hate … If you are seeking the highest good, I think you can find it through love.”

God defines and manifests this incomparable quality, and Paul urges us to “be imitators of God and live a life of love” (Ephesians 5:1-2, NIV). There is no room for racism.

God’s great purpose marvelously focuses on “bringing many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10, ESV). This includes men and women of all walks of life, being brought together in the coming future Kingdom of God.

Jesus gave us our focus: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9, ESV). Note this: first, Jesus didn’t say “blessed are the peace-lovers,” or those who simply wish for peace. Jesus said that God favors—blesses—those who pursue peace and live peace. Secondly, the Greek word translated here “sons” is anthropoi, referring to both men and women—all of humanity!

If we want to be peacemakers, we must understand that peace begins by peace with God. When we have peace with God, we have peace with all men and women, regardless of background.

Note this marvelous statement from the apostle Paul: “Christ himself has brought peace to us … our hostility toward each other was put to death” (Ephesians 2:14, 16 NLT).

If Kubik actually believes this then why does he continue to reject everything Jesus said and accomplished by his clinging to the law and forcing his followers to keep things no longer required of New Covenant Christians.

As we follow the living Leader of our Church, Jesus Christ, we must hold to high standards, being examples of the way He taught (Matthew 5:14). Let us pause and consider what God told the ancient Israelites: “You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong … do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice” (Exodus 23:2, NLT).

Kubik believes that UCG knows the way to peace, and yet this is the very church that actively worked to bring dissension and trouble to the Worldwide Church of God as he and his small group of men sat in the 360 Apartments on the Pasadena campus planning on how to take as many members and as much money with them as they could. Then a few years later they fought again over leadership positions and COGWA ruptured off taking well over half the ministry and members with them.

There is no justice in the path UCG is on and never has been.

This world desperately needs God’s truth. Tragically for many, “the way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths” (Isaiah 59:8, ESV). Tough times are ahead. Given that this is a presidential election year, we can anticipate these issues will be inflamed for some time. We can be sure of what Jesus emphasized: “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light” (Luke 8:17). We must be patient. And we must be faithful.

What are elements of this better way? “What does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

This much I can agree with, if only he would do it and reject Herbert's teachings, including British Israelsim 

Let us live a better way! Reject racism. Make peace with God through Jesus Christ and let us all live a life of God-centered love, striving to be an example in these challenging times! 

Will Victor Kubik do what is right and set the example for all the other Churches of God and publicly denounce the racist myth of British Israelism?  Until he does, UCG will NEVER be the "better way."

Glynn Washington: Thick Blue Line

Glynn Washington is a nationally syndicated storyteller
and a former Worldwide Church of God member

Police shootings, mistaken arrests, and growing up Black / Brown up in America. This week, Snap presents amazing stories from people facing our nation’s original sin.

STORIES

Never Again

Glynn and his family protest in Oakland where thousands gather to scream light at our national darkness.

Produced by Pat Mesiti-Miller 

Thick Blue Line

In 2012, Kari Brandenburg became the longest-serving district attorney in Bernalillo County, where Albuquerque sits. But at the start of her fourth term in office something big started to take hold of the county. Police shootings were at an all-time high and everyone was looking to Kari’s office for answers.

For more on what went down in Albuquerque, check out Jeff Proctor’s reporting for the Albuquerque Journal.

Produced by Nancy Lopez, original score by Renzo Gorrio

Captive Audience 

When Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter was mistakenly arrested at the airport, he learned that his fame could only get him so far.

Performed live by Tariq Trotter at the Brooklyn Academy of Music for Snap Judgment LIVE.

Music by Alex Mandel, performed by the Snap Players Alex Mandel, Tim Frick, and David Brandt.

DRANOA reluctant young Boy Scout comes face to face with DRANO, and earns his merit badge in "reality." 

Shannon Cason is a writer, award-winning storyteller, and the host of the Shannon Cason’s Homemade Stories podcast and the In Good Co. Detroit podcast. Listen and subscribe!  

Produced by Mark Ristich Artwork: Teo Ducot Protest tape: Annie Nguyen + Lauryn Newson 

We stand with the black community. We stand with our black listeners, storytellers, employees, creators, supporters, family, and friends. Please stay strong and stay safe as we write the next chapter of our collective history. 

Lost video of how COG ministers operate

censored version

The uncensored version

WCG the Good, the Bad, the Ugly

A viewer comment:

"Thank you for a little honesty. That church missed out on the wealth and diversity of the common man. People taught me more than I ever got out of sermons or classes in the college. Thanks for the plusses."

Is God just waiting to pounce on sinful nations?

GOD AND THE MORALITY OF A NATION

Many modern Christian leaders are fond of pointing out that God is standing at the ready to punish the United States (and other Western nations) for its (their) sins. Of course, the majority of these prophets of doom have a few very specific sins in mind when they say such things.

Notice this exchange that recently took place on Pat Robertson's The 700 Club:

“How can God heal our land and forgive the sins when abortion and same-sex marriage are laws and many people are anti-Israel. Doesn’t this prevent his healing and forgiveness?” a viewer named John asked on the television program.

In response, Robertson said John was "right."

“The Bible says ... turn from their wicked ways," said Robertson, adding, "We are not turning when we have done terrible things. We have broken the covenant that God made with the mankind. We have violated his covenant.”

“We’ve allowed this terrible plague to spread throughout our society. And it’s a small wonder God would hold us guilty," he said. “But the answer is, you confess your sins and forsake them. Then he heals the land. It’s not before." see Pat Robertson: Same sex marriage caused coronavirus

Likewise, many years ago, Herbert Armstrong wrote in his The United States and Britain in Prophecy:

It will now be made plain — from God's own warning prophecies — that this greatest multiplied intensity of corrective punishment will fall on Britain and America — including British peoples in Commonwealth countries. And it will strike them down first!

But they are not the only nations to suffer corrective disaster. God is Creator of all other nations, too! God is concerned about the people and races we have called "heathen." They, too, are human. They, too, are made in God's own likeness, with the potential of being molded into God's spiritual and character IMAGE! God sent the apostle Paul to Gentile nations!

All mankind has rebelled against, rejected, and turned from God and His ways! There can never be peace on earth until all nations will have been turned to God and His ways, ruled by His supreme government!

All mankind, right now, is caught in the vortex of the swiftly accelerating crisis marking utter destruction of this world's man- built, Satan-inspired civilization...God will use a Nazi-Fascist Europe to punish Britain-America. Then He will use the Communist hordes to wipe out the Roman Europe. We are entering a time of world trouble — utter world chaos! There is war, strife, violence in Asia, Africa, South America — as well as Europe and North America. The population explosion is a worldwide threat to human existence. Crime, violence, sickness, disease, inequality, poverty, filth, squalor, degeneration, suffering — these infest ALL nations! see US & BC In Prophecy

For these (and many other) preachers, the sins of a nation invite Divine punishment. But which sins are societal in nature, and which sins are personal in nature? Is abortion a sin? Who decides? Does individual conscience play any role in determining whether or not it is a sin? And, if it is a sin, is it a personal sin, a societal sin or both? Likewise, is homosexuality a sin? OR Is same-sex behavior the sin? And, if we say that homosexuality is a personal choice, how can it also be a societal sin? Does a Supreme Court decision make everyone guilty? What about the folks who reject abortion and homosexuality? What if there are fifty people in the nation who reject these behaviors? What if there are only ten people in the nation who reject those behaviors?

What about America's other sins? What about the sins of stealing lands from Native Americans and breaking treaties with them (not to mention all of the deaths that those policies generated)? And, since these were government instigated or led sins, aren't these sins clearly collective in nature? What about the sin of slavery? What about the hundreds of thousands of deaths associated with that institution and the war that was fought to end it? What about all of the societal, political, economic and criminal justice inequities that slavery engendered in America? And how many generations did it take to wipe away those sins? Were those sins laundered away by the generations who succeeded the generations who actually committed those sins? Does a painting that was stolen from a Jewish family actually become the legitimate property of the descendants of the Nazi who stole it? And, if previous generations didn't suffer Divine punishment for their sins, why must the current generation pay for theirs? Is that justice? Is that fair? And, if we say that those individuals paid for their sins, what does that do to the entire concept of collective punishment?

Is God just waiting to pounce on sinful nations? OR Has God "bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all"? (Romans 11:32) Are particular nations going to be singled out for Divine punishment because of their sins? OR Have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God? (Romans 3:23) Is God eager to zap wayward nations? OR Does God want "all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth"? (I Timothy 2:4) And, if that's truly what God wants, is that what's going to happen? Hmmmm, maybe this whole subject isn't as straightforward and simplistic as some of these evangelists would have us believe? 

Lonnie Hendrik

LCG: Stop bickering and whining over doctrinal and political issues!

Here we go again.  LCG members cannot do ANYTHING right anymore.  They are castigated each and every week for some minute issue they are always getting wrong.

LCG members need to stop questioning doctrinal issues in the church.  After all, God speaks directly through Gerald Weston and the boys in Charlotte, and when they say something is a doctrine you MUST NEVER question it!

Also, stop being like the rest of the world, worrying about your political leaders who are failing you in every way imaginable (just like the church leaders do).

LCG members must stay focused upon the bigger picture.  They are in training to be priests and kings when they arrive in Petra where they will be taught by Bob Thiel. Thiel will have arrived there before LCG does. Remember, while Bob knows the proper time to flee, LCG leaders do not.  He will be there first and will have the classrooms caves all set up so he and his merry band of Africans can train all the white folk of LCG. Such fun times to put your focus upon!

Where Is Your Focus? The cares and worries of this life tend to keep our focus on the here and now and what is happening to us as individuals. This is especially true in the midst of a global pandemic with all of its uncertainties. However, Jesus admonished His disciples to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthews 6:33). Jesus also warned that “the cares of this world” can choke the truth and cause us to become unfruitful (Matthew 13:22). Are your thoughts and efforts really focused on the Big Picture—of doing God’s Work and building the character necessary to function as kings and priests (leaders and teachers) in the soon-coming Kingdom of God? The Apostle Paul urged Christians to “walk circumspectly” (live purposefully) and make the most of our time “because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15–16). Paul also instructed Christians to treat each other with love and respect and to avoid bickering and divisive arguments over doctrinal and political issues that can shift our focus away from the Big Picture (Romans 12:9–12; 14:20; 1 Corinthians 1:10). In good times and in times of turmoil, we need to periodically evaluate what dominates our lives and our thinking, how we use our time, and what we are really trying to accomplish. Are we following the biblical admonition to focus our minds and efforts on what is true, noble, just, and pure (Philippians 4:8) so we rise above the concerns of this world and become productive members of God’s family?  Let’s all strive to stay focused on the Big Picture.

Have a profitable Sabbath,

Douglas S. Winnail

NASA Launch Commentator Former Ambassador University Student

If you watched the amazing launch of the SpaceX Crew Dragon rocket this past Saturday and watched it on the NASA channel you may have seen Derrol Nail giving interviews.

He was a 1993 AU student in Big Sandy.

Read more about this amazing guy here: 

Derrol Nail, Merritt Island, FL, Resident and Local Reporter Covering the Space Coast...and Beyond

Being born and raised in Cocoa Beach, how did you end up all the way in Merritt Island?

Ha! Well, it’s been a pretty circuitous route. I attended colleges in California and Texas before finishing all the way back here at the University of Florida. When I began my career, I started off in Panama City, Florida, but then went back out to California for a while before once again returning to Florida. When I signed on with Fox 35 in Orlando, they wanted to start a bureau on the Space Coast, so I moved back to Brevard. I settled on North Merritt Island because I bought the house my aunt once lived in. It ended up being a special move for me because I have a lot of family and friends here. My parents, two sisters, aunt and uncle, and cousin and niece all live nearby here in Brevard County. Ironically, my grandparents, Arthur and Thelma Ogle, are buried at St. Luke’s Episcopal Cemetary, which is less than a mile from my home.

What do you do for a living?

I’m a broadcast TV reporter for Fox 35 out of Orlando. I’m assigned to report on everything newsworthy along the Space Coast, but on occasion I’m assigned to areas around Central Florida and beyond.

What has been the biggest story that you have covered?

It’s really hard to pick just one. Recently, I covered then-presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaigns in Florida, and I rode out Hurricane Matthew on the coast after it was evacuated. But covering the Pulse Night club massacre has been the biggest story I’ve done recently. I convinced my bosses that day to send me down to St. Lucie County where the shooter and his family were living. As it turned out, I was the first and only reporter to interview the father of the shooter on live TV that night. I felt like that was important because the family and loved ones of the 49 people who were killed, as well as the injured, wanted to know why this horrible mass murder happened. And though answers were few that day, I convinced the shooter’s father he needed to tell the Central Florida audience what he knew about his son and his evil plan.