Crackpot Prophet, Memorial Day and Evil, Vile, Satanic, and Disgusting Football (and Boxing)

As this nation honors the brave men and women who have died in military conflicts our resident self-absorbed self-appointed prophet of the Church of God is back ranting today about Memorial Day and what else, but football.

Never in the entirety of Christianity has the church been blessed with such a wise and enlightened prophet in its midst. What more should we expect though, since he was foreordained as the world was coming into existence to lead a mighty end-time work of God because there would be no other competent human alive at that time to lead a church. Besides, a few nightmares and dreams by a few equally nutty people proves his position as our prophet and revelator of all things truly unimportant in one's Christian walk of faith.

After traveling to Ireland and adding his two cents to Irish history, our doubly blessed prophet returned home to sunny California to dream up another foolish rant about football, with some boxing thrown into the ring.

But first, he  attempts to honor those who have died fighting for the freedom he has to write irrelevant stupidity:

Today, while many are in mourning over various mass shootings, many in the USA observe ‘Memorial Day.’ It was originally known as ‘Decoration Day.’ It started after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century, Memorial Day was extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service.

He goes on to include information one of his "readers" sent to him about "just wars'.

Memorial Day a time to question war…

It is proper to pay respect to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us. Memorial Day should also be a time of reflection on when it is moral for the United States to wage war and, if allowed, how this country should conduct war. 

 

War is awful. In these days of shallow, sanitized news coverage, the real horror of war rarely confronts us with the terrible death it levies against fellow humans, soldiers and civilians alike, and the maiming injuries, physical and psychological, it leaves behind in its wake… 

 

Over the centuries, religious leaders and moral philosophers have clarified moral principles for commencing a “just war.” Choices about war and peace involve not only military and political options, but also moral questions.

Then, our greatest theologian in COG history weighs in with this: 

The ‘just war’ concept, to a major degree, is based upon the writings of the Roman Catholic theologian Thomas Aquinas, and was a term used by early followers of Martin Luther. In the 16th century, Martin Luther’s followers condemned those who did not believe that Christians were to be soldiers.

Elijah Bwana Bob has a huge hang-up with Maritn Luther and believes that if Luther were alive today he would be killing and torturing those in the improperly named "continuing" Church of "god".

It should be noted that some of those called Anabaptists were in the Church of God (please see the article The Sardis Church Era). Martin Luther would have also condemned groups like the Continuing Church of God which hold to beliefs that he condemned on these matters.

Then, rather quickly, our apostate prophet turns the tables and drags in Romans, gladiators, and fighting that cause bodily harm, which automatically sends his homeopathic brain into a pill-popping frenzy to compare war with American football and boxing. Who knew????? 

Even today, many Christians realize that watching brutal events intent on causing physical harm, such as real boxing and American football, is inappropriate.

Apparently, in the eyes of our Great Bwana, those who watch football or boxing are grievous sinners in the sight of his god. Have they committed the unpardonable sin???? Is the Spirit grieved because they are watching football?

So, true Christians did not believe that they were to fight nor even watch the violent sports that were popular in the second century.

God's most true Christian to ever walk this earth then goes on to mock an article in Christianity Today, apparently written go "so-called" Christians about military service.

Christianity Today has recognized that early Christians were against military service:

The ancient church understood that war has been around as long as human beings and sin have coexisted. It is a consistent tenet throughout the Christian tradition that war is the result of sin. The responses to war, however, have followed two basic trains of thought: pacifism, and the idea that certain wars can be just.

Pacifism is characteristic of the early centuries of Christianity in someone like the North African apologist Tertullian (160-220 A.D.), who regularly warned Christians to distance themselves from pagan culture. He wrote:

“How will he serve in the army even during peacetime without the sword that Jesus Christ has taken away? Even if soldiers came to John and got advice on how they ought to act, even if the centurion became a believer, the Lord by taking away Peter’s sword, disarmed every soldier thereafter. We are not allowed to wear any uniform that symbolizes a sinful act” (On Idolatry 19.3).

The third-century Roman Presbyter Hippolytus wrote The Apostolic Tradition, Canon 16, (ca. 215 A.D.) which opposed serving in the military as a matter of church discipline:

“A soldier in the lower ranks shall kill no one. If ordered to do so, he shall not obey, and he shall not take an oath. If he does not want to comply with this directive, let him be dismissed [from the church].” 

(Elowsky, Joel. Ancient Christian Commentary on Current Events: What Is War Good For? Christianity Today, posted October 28, 2003).

Now, I should add that it is doubtful that most of those quoted in the article were true Christians themselves. Yet, it is clear that they understood that John the Baptist and the Apostles were against war.

No one wants war, or even wants to fight in a war or some regional conflict, but this is the price we pay for being able to live in a moderately free world. Just or unjust, the wars and conflicts people fought in have given Bwana Bob the freedom to sit comfortably in his home on the CA coast and write stupidity. We are glad Bwana Bob takes advantage of that freedom because it allows us to mock his pathetic ministry that has nothing to do with being a follower of Jesus.

So, as many remember the soldiers who died in warfare today, Christians can look forward to the time that there will be no more war nor pain of war.

Amen 

 

Dave Pack: Wicked People May Soon Attack Us - It Is Time To Sell All!!!!!

 

Here's another noteworthy quote that is far more pointed earlier in Part 371: 

 

1:29:43 “Seven days remain to ‘fear not.’ There may be plenty that goes on in the next number of days to fear. DON'T FEAR TO SELL ALL. Now, everybody knows exactly what they’re going in to. TO SELL ALL IF YOU HAVEN'T. To gird up your loins. And that sounds like maybe we’re gonna go through some things. I still wonder uh whether whether maybe there’ll be some final attack on us, I promise you this sermon will get out and there’ll be mockers. There are wicked people who are who are excited about what they can do to us. They can’t stop us.”

Marc Cebrian 

RCG’s David C. Pack: Don’t Ask For A Refund

 

RCG’s David C. Pack: Don’t Ask For A Refund

 

On Saturday, May 28^th, Dave Pack delivered 3-hours of totally understandable “clarity” with Parts 370 and 371. He used Pentecost as a sober reminder regarding Common.

 

Part 371 at 01:08:34:

            

On Pentecost, the young church began having “all things common.” Chapter two closes with that. [Acts 2:43-44] When might this happen again for all saints who give up  everything they have in this life before “the world to come”? And they’re out pursuing billions of people, new mothers and fathers, they gave up their mothers and fathers and wives and children. But they get persecutions. Every one who does that will get eternal life. And they’re just gonna “live by faith,” give it all up the way it starting on Pentecost. Everybody there gave it all up, everything they had. That’s I’m telling you the importance of  Common to the little flock who’s waiting at the end. The little flock with one week to go. Anybody with ears to hear, you better hear this. 

 

Members have about one more week to figure out how much their offering and Common is going to be. Take this deadly cereal when you see Dave Pack selling his memorabilia and walking to work. Or when you see the ministers selling off their artwork and nice furniture.

 

I urge you to follow suit if you see any minister moving even one inch on this warning.

 

But as a precaution, maybe just postdate your check for Monday. Maybe Tuesday.

Marc Cebrian

 

Crackpot Prophet Bob Goes to Ireland to Preach Next to A Pagan Phallus

Prophet Bob thrusting his big fat Bible in the air getting a little excited about a pagan phallus in Ireland

The most highly doubly-blessed prophet in the history of Christianity went to Ireland recently to gather information and possibly preempt Gerald Flurry in discovering the Ark of the Covenant. Nothing frustrates our perpetually butt-hurt prophet than having another COG preempt him. Gerald Flurry has been dreaming for years of digging up Hill of Tara in Ireland where he foolishly believes Jeremiah and his daughters brought the Ark of the Covenant and buried it in Hill of Tara. 

When he went to Hill of Tara he was double excited by what he found. Never one to miss an opportunity, he rose to the occasion by thrusting his giant fat bible in the air as he stood next to the pagan phallus preaching about something that has no meaning whatsoever to any Christian, particularly his African followers who could care less.

Like so many in Armstrongism, he has to search far and wide to find things that support the inherently racist doctrine of British Israelism that so many cling to. Without this myth to prop up their belief system that they are special and set apart from this world as a specially chosen people, Armstrongism would die. As usual, absolutely nothing that he preaches about has any worth to a follower of Jesus.

Dr. Thiel went to the Hill of Tara in Ireland to see the claimed Lia Fail as well as a location some looked for the Ark of the Covenant. He also went to Blarney and viewed the Blarney Stone. Were any of these really the stone of destiny that some believe the prophet Jeremiah took with him along with one or more daughters of King Zedekiah? What might any of this have to do with the British family? Have any of them believed in British-Israelism? Has the British coronation ceremony been consistent with biblical coronations of the kings of Judah? What about Prince Charles--could he have descended from the throne of David? Dr. Thiel provides insights on these matters and more.

Dave Pack sinks to new prophetic low…Claims Uvalde parents will see their kids again in 3 days

Just when you think Dave Pack cannot get any more disgusting he comes along and opens his unholy mouth and says one of the most disgusting things imaginable about the Uvalde School murders. Because the creature he calls "christ" is apparently coming back in 3 days the parents of the children killed will be able to see their kids again. How low can Dave go? How much sicker can Armstrongism get?

Even after all that, he cannot keep his mouth shut and continues to sprout more absurdities:

From an RCG source:

Dave Pack is at again,

Part 369 he stated he regretted putting dates and that the series is over and he will never make that mistake again of putting dates.

Part 370 he ask the congregation for a show of hands who would like to tell the parents of the children who dies at the mass shooting that they would see their kids again in 3 days.

Part 371 Guess what Dave Pack is doing setting dates again. he said Christ will return by Feast of Pentecost. If that date goes by it will be another 7 years before the dates line up right for his return.

LCG: Members Not Seeking God's Guidance...Again...

 

If an LCG member were to announce to a minister that they had a vision from God that is guiding their decisions, the ministry would immediately look at them with suspicion and start imagining demon possession or rebellion. 

As for "living by every word of God" not a single COG leader, evangelist, minister, elder, deacon or member has ever done so. 

Seeking God’s Guidance: In the world today, it is common to want to “do your own thing.” Yet, the Bible records numerous and tragic results of this approach (Judges 21:25; Jeremiah 9:12–16). In the Scriptures we are admonished, “Seek the LORD while He may be found” (Isaiah 55:6). We are also told that God looks to those who are humble and teachable and “tremble at My word” (Isaiah 66:2). King David reflected this attitude when he wrote, “Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes.... Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:33, 105). Jesus emphasized this same theme when He instructed His disciples to “live by... every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). One of the important lessons of life is that if we desire to succeed, we must learn to seek God’s guidance in the decisions that we make—and be alert to what He shows us.

Have a profitable Sabbath, Douglas S. Winnail

CGI: All Eyes Are Upon Me, So Let Divert Attention Away From Me

 

All eyes are upon me, so......

 

Judging from the Summer Edition of CGI’s The International News, that organization has apparently decided to solve its Bill Watson problem by putting his political messaging into the mouth of one of his congregants! In the latest edition of the paper, Bill returns to theological concerns with a frontpage article on the Holy Days. This, however, is followed by an article by Jeff Flanick – a member of Bill’s Medina, Ohio congregation. And, if you thought that CGI was finished with partisan political treatises, you will be sadly disappointed by Jeff’s article.

The article, “Living in an Orwellian ‘Twilight Zone,’” opens with: “Picture if you will a world in which the moral compass, the social compact, and the definitions of ‘right and wrong’ are skewed, or more accurately put: obliterated.” Mr. Flanick continues: “What we are experiencing is more befuddling than simply a clash of cultures and of individual philosophies. There is an unprecedented distortion of facts and observable reality. Current events depict a ‘topsy-turvy’ world where confusion and disorder rule the day on a scale not seen in living memory.” He then proceeds to give several examples of this “convoluted reality.” From Jeff’s perspective, things like gender identity, mRNA vaccines, charges of police racial bias, pronoun usage, historical revisionism, sexual education in schools, abortion, and discrimination against Christians are some of the key problem areas afflicting our society.

In other words, Mr. Flanick’s article is just another tired recitation of Right-wing talking points! In fact, one would think that he/she was reading the script for one of the talking heads at Fox News Network! For instance, he launches into a diatribe about Critical Race Theory. While he generously allows that there may be a “kernel of truth” in the assertion that minority contributions to the United States have been overlooked or ignored, he deplores “the degradation of the work, effort, and sacrifice of the founding fathers of our nation” as “disingenuous at best and falsely malicious at worst.” Apparently, Mr. Flanick doesn’t want to hear about the founding fathers owning slaves, setting up the fledgling nation for a Civil War, or their deplorable treatment of Native Americans.

Along the same lines, Mr. Flanick went on to underscore the Disney Corporation’s role in opposing Florida’s ban on the discussion of sexual topics in elementary school (How dare those educators teach tolerance for sexual perverts!). He then went on to decry the former Virginia Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe’s inarticulate assertion that parents shouldn’t be setting school curriculum (I would have framed it in terms of parents not being allowed to censor what is taught in our schools – I have always welcomed parental input into what is taught in our nation’s classrooms). Our educational institutions should always be places where folks are exposed to different views and perspectives.

From there, Mr. Flanick proceeds to bemoan the fact that anyone would have the audacity to call people out for promulgating false information, lies, and political propaganda. Although he doesn’t directly mention Trump or his followers in this context, Jeff makes clear that he feels that our government is actively trying to silence their voices. He writes: “Those in power are now attempting to resort to censorship and propaganda in order to assert their agendas. Recently it has been announced that the Department of Homeland Security is forming a working group to deal with ‘disinformation.’ This proposed group is reminiscent of both George Orwell’s ‘Ministry of Truth,’ as well as Stalin’s Department of Desinformatsiya (disinformation) in 1923. The aim clearly is to prevent alternate views from being discussed and presented. We have all heard of the ‘fact checkers’ on Facebook and Twitter. Even data taken directly from official government sources were banned on media platforms with respect to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the controversial 2020 election. Who decides what is ‘information’ versus what is ‘disinformation’?” In other words, Trump and his supporters should be allowed to say whatever they want irrespective of its relationship to the truth or potential to inflict harm! How dare anyone challenge anything the Right has to say!

Mr. Flanick went on to cite the “current publicity over abortion” as being illustrative of our government’s limitations regarding discussions of the issue. From his perspective: “There is a lack of clarity and objective discussion on the abortion procedures themselves. This is especially true of late-term abortions.” For Jeff, there is only one correct way of looking at this issue, and the pro-choice position is NOT it! He decries the fact that “Many pro-choice advocates refuse to address this reality.” In other words, ”what takes place during an abortion.” For Jeff, the only viable “Christian” position on this issue is pro-life. It’s black and white! Never mind the fact that there are Christians who believe that human life begins when we draw our first breath (a position that can be defended in Scripture). Personally, I would characterize my own position as pro-life, but I am also a believer in the dictates of personal conscience. In other words, it is very presumptuous of anyone to assume that the dictates of his/her own conscience on this issue should rule everyone’s conscience!

Predictably, Mr. Flanick concludes this particular train of thought with a few quotes from none other than Tucker Carlson! In fact, Jeff devoted several paragraphs to Tucker’s pearls of wisdom. He wrote:

“Tucker Carlson, in response to the current hysterias over the abortion issue as well as the supposed problem of extreme ‘racism’ in our country, has said the following: ‘This isn’t just about intimidating Supreme Court Justices, five of them, into changing their views on Roe v. Wade. It’s about attacking Christianity, because Christianity stands in their way.’

He also has said, ‘Modern liberals hate Christianity not because it is repressive, but because they are. Any religion that puts God before government is by definition a threat to their power,’ he said. ‘Christianity specifically rejects their most cherished dogma—which is a racial hierarchy. The Christian message is the opposite of the equity agenda.

‘The totalitarians always do hate Christians. The Soviets killed the priests first, so did Mao. During the Spanish Civil War, the Communists subjected a statue of Jesus to a symbolic execution in front of <a> firing squad.’

‘Undermining Christianity is the central project of the left.’ Tucker is taking a wide-lens view of our current predicaments.”

Really? Is that what Tucker is doing? Some of us would characterize that as a very narrow view of our current predicaments!

Then, as if to underscore the righteousness of his own political views on these issues, Mr. Flanick trots out a few of the Armstrong Church of God standard prooftexts to justify his position. For instance, he quotes Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” He also had the audacity to quote that famous passage from Isaiah. I bet you’ve already guessed the one: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.” (Isaiah 5:20-21, NIV) I too love those quotes – May I suggest a little self-reflection in using them to defend a partisan political position!

For Mr. Flanick, it all boils down to this: “The answer to why we are living in times such as these is the abandonment of God and the willful ignorance of His Word and His Way of Living.” With all due respect, I believe that it’s a little more complicated than that, Jeff! Even so, we do agree on one thing – I too believe that God’s Kingdom is the solution to our problems. However, I do NOT believe that supporting Republican or right-wing policies and candidates will make this world a better place in the meantime!

 

Lonnie Hendrix/Miller Jones