LCG Friday Night Smackdown: Are LCG Members Clamoring To Be Ordained?

 

In the previous post about Gerald Weston's weekly comments to the faithful, he mentions that the laborers in the ministry are few and the church needs more men...sorry ladies.

Let us make sure that we stay close to our Creator and pray to the Lord of the harvest for more laborers, especially in the ministry.

Then, in the weekly Friday Night SmackDown, Doug Winnail cautions those in LCG to not be clamoring for positions in the church.  

It has to take a person who is desirous of being in leadership positions to be able to function in those positions. COG leaders know this to be a fact but try and pull one over on members by claiming this is an organic process by God to reveal the leaders in the church. 

God apparently made quite a few mistakes over the decades considering some of the men in LCG/GCG leadership positions, including in their mother church, the Worldwide Church of God. Far too many men in LCG have the intense need to be noticed and they make sure you know that.

What Motivates You? 

 

In today’s world, many are motivated by a desire for a position, power, prestige, pleasure—and a bigger paycheck. Even in the Church, these desires can motivate individuals to seek positions and be noticed. While Jesus saw these attitudes in religious leaders of His day (Matthew 23:1–11), He admonished His disciples, “whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant” (Matthew 20:20–28). Jesus set us an example in that He “did not come to be served, but to serve.” The Apostles Paul and Peter urged Christians to avoid selfish motivations and be examples to others by serving with genuine humility (1 Timothy 6:3–5; 1 Peter 5:1–6). As we strive to come out of this world and its ways, let’s look for ways that we can serve others—so God can use us more effectively as instruments in His hands (Philippians 2:3–12).
Have a profitable Sabbath,

Douglas S. Winnail

Isn't it refreshing to know that the servant leaders of the LCG have genuine humility! Now, if only you dumb sheep could be as magnificent as we are then we could ordain you and put you to work too! 

Gerald Weston: Did he really just say that????

 

I am shocked that the boys in Charlotte thought this was a good thing to publicly post. Completely out of touch, as usual.

Greetings from Charlotte,
COVID-19 has been an inconvenience for almost everyone, a significant trial for some, a tragedy for others, but a huge boost to the Work of God. As we come to the close of the second year of the virus, we see literature requests around the world up substantially—especially the Bible Study Course. Our Social Media advertisements have produced large increases in subscribers to the magazine along with booklet requests. For the first time in the history of the Living Church of God, with the January issue we will be crossing the 540,000 mark in Tomorrow’s World magazine subscriptions. At the same time, we face significant challenges when it comes to manpower, especially in some of the international areas. These are exciting times. Let us make sure that we stay close to our Creator and pray to the Lord of the harvest for more laborers, especially in the ministry. Thank you for your dedication and love for one another.—Gerald Weston

 

Living Church of God: How Truthfully Charitable Are They?

A reader sent this to me today asking me to post this. This is the financial statement that the Living Church of God has to present annually to the Australian Government.

The reader asks:

"When has the Living Church of God EVER taken care of financially disadvantaged people in their communities? When has the Living Church of God ever assisted homeless people in their areas?

The Living Church of God has never taken care of the world around them let alone care for many of their actual members. Even though 3rd tithe is one of their commands, many LCG members never receive help from the church.

When I was a student at Ambassador College, Rod Meredith had been found to have used 3rd tithe to remodel his home on Waverly Drive when the Pasadena church area had lots of widows and unemployed members who needed assistance.

When has the Living Church of God ever done charitiable work, particuarly in Charlottee?"

Their Summary of Activities states: 

The Living Church of God Ltd continues to promote the Charity's principal purpose as a Christian Church which includes organising local congregations, promoting spiritual teachings, religious festivals, Bible education and pastoral care. The Church's broadcasting activities include weekly messages aired nationwide on Channel 7Two offering to the general public free magazines, DVD's, booklets, Bible-study courses and other literature to assist improve their personal and spiritual lives. The Bible Education Centre continues to provide students with an education founded on Biblical principles and is based on the Living Education (USA) curriculum and the Bible Study Correspondence Course. 

 

The Church assists, were possible, in emergency relief and humanitarian efforts throughout Australasia, the South Pacific and South East Asia, including during the current COVID-19 Pandemic.

You can see LCG's profile here: Living Church of God Ltd 

FANTASY

 

Were there humanoids before Adam and Eve?

"As modern humans are concerned, the Bible plainly states that Adam was “the first man” (1 Corinthians 15:45), and he named his wife “Eve because she was the mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20). Adam and Eve were therefore the first humans."

"While there are fossil records of apes and other creatures that predate Adam, these creatures were not the same as modern humans as far as God is concerned."

"God gave animals instinct, but not the type of understanding that He gave humans. Many scientists will not admit that there is a spirit in man that God gave."

"Pre-Adamic primates, were, at best, like advanced chimpanzees. There were no humans before Adam."

FACT

Totally modern human Cro-magnon 35,000 years ago, based on  skull facial reconstruction

• Homo sapiens, the first modern humans, evolved from their early hominid predecessors between 200,000 and 300,000 years ago. They developed a capacity for language about 50,000 years ago.
• The first modern humans began moving outside of Africa starting about 70,000-100,000 years ago.
• Humans are the only known species to have successfully populated, adapted to, and significantly altered a wide variety of land regions across the world, resulting in profound historical and environmental impacts.

Forensic Facial Reconstruction Based on the Human Fossil Record

Commercial Break: “I imagine hell like this: Italian punctuality, German humour and English wine.” ― Peter Ustinov

 

“The whole image is that eternal suffering awaits anyone who questions God's infinite love. That's the message we're brought up with, isn't it? Believe or die! Thank you, forgiving Lord, for all those options.”
― Bill Hicks

“I would prefer an intelligent hell to a stupid paradise.”
― Blaise Pascal

“When I was little, I bragged about my firefighting father: my father would go to heaven, because if he went to Hell, he would put out all the fires”
― Jodi Picoult, My Sister's Keeper

When Family Members Are Part Of A Cult

 

PCG: "Do you fellows look upon the woman you want to marry as a sister?" And Other Convoluted Beliefs For Singles

 

The Philadelphia Church of God has an article up by Joel Hilliker about being single in the church.

Here are some of the convoluted beliefs of the PCG:

• What is your big goal in life? Like it or not, for true Christians, the answer is family. 

• We are destined to be born into the God Family as Gods! Our entire lives today are meant to prepare us for that future—to teach us to become more and more like God! 

• Righteous character is God’s greatest, most magnificent creation—His masterpiece! And He is working on that masterpiece within you. However, this requires your acquiescence, your full cooperation, your total submission. That is what makes it so challenging for Him. 

• Your part in allowing God to create His character is your greatest, noblest challenge! 

• Physical human families are the first thing God uses. Physical family is one of His most powerful tools for destroying human nature and helping us grow in godly character. 

• The Church family is a fantastic way to crush your human nature and get you ready for the God Family! Those in the Church are people with whom God wants you regularly practicing His love!

• Confront the shallow notion that “single” is opposite of “family.” God is preparing you for eternal family life—and He wants to use your experience as a single in His Church to help in that process!  

• Your spiritual family provides you unique opportunities to confront your carnality and to build righteous thinking and godly character.

• The women in the Church—the women you date—are sisters first! “First of all, she’s a sister—a member of the Family of God! The Family of God comes first! 

• Mr. Flurry continues, “Do you fellows look upon the woman you want to marry as a sister? Is she really like a sister to you, spiritually? Or do you just skip over that part?” 

• Dating is a service—an act of giving to the family. It is a way of providing companionship to brothers and sisters in Christ. When you serve in this way, you are drawing those you date closer into the spiritual family and enriching their experience within God’s Church. And on top of that, you are also taking a hammer to your own selfishness! You are becoming more like God! ‘Single’ Is Not the Opposite of ‘Family’

As with all things in Armstrongism, the goal is to look inward to the closed system instead of outward to the world, bringing the kingdom into a reality one person at a time.