There are priorities when one arrives after a long journey, and what better place to stop off first than at
the Giant Eagle!
Exposing the underbelly of Armstrongism in all of its wacky glory! Nothing you read here is made up. What you read here is the up to date face of Herbert W Armstrong's legacy. It's the gritty and dirty behind the scenes look at Armstrongism as you have never seen it before! With all the new crazy self-appointed Chief Overseers, Apostles, Prophets, Pharisees, legalists, and outright liars leading various Churches of God today, it is important to hold these agents of deception accountable.
DO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN A PLACE THAT YOU ARE AS TEMPTED TO SIN
There are also practical, physical, considerations that can help you overcome sin.
When you pray, “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13, KJV), the implication is that you do not intentionally place yourself in areas to be tempted.
For example, if one is inclined to overly gamble, one should avoid going to casinos or visiting cities such as Las Vegas.
One who is inclined to smoke should not hang out with others who smoke. Nor should they ever buy cigarettes. However, since smoking is a very difficult habit to break, sometimes one may find replacement behaviors or some other physical item helpful to break the habit. But if someone wants to stop smoking, they really need to stop buying cigarettes. They should also repent and ask forgiveness of their sins each time they smoke (or commit any other sin).
As far one’s diet goes, God tells His people to “eat what is good” (Isaiah 55:2), thus Christians should be careful about their diets and not eat that which is not good for them.
When it comes to alcohol, one should not hang out with those that overly drink.
Christians are not to run with the crowd and go along with the world. Sin grows (James 1:15) and spreads (Romans 5:12
).
One flees sexual immorality by not getting oneself in a situation that could be somewhat expected to possibly lead to it, or immediately leaving a situation if it appears possible.The paternalistic brilliance never ceases to amaze. It remains crystal clear that Bob Thiel—along with the rest of the COG leadership pantheon—views their loyal followers as little more than dim-witted sheep who couldn’t possibly tie their own spiritual shoelaces without detailed instructions from on high. Why bother developing critical thinking skills when your benevolent overseers have already decided what’s best for your diet, your wardrobe, your entertainment choices, your bank account, and—most importantly—your eternal destiny?
As Christians, it is not just enough not to sin, we are to do the work of God. Furthermore, consider that when you pray God is not limited to what He can give you–in other words do not neglect to pray for major change, not to just not sin, but to do and support His work.Oh, please, enlighten me: show me the verse—any verse—where it says that failing to cut a check to a COG leader’s latest “final witness” vanity project is somehow a soul-damning sin. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Flip through your Bible. Old Testament, New Testament, Apocrypha if you’re feeling extra spicy. Crickets, right? Because it’s nowhere. Not a single syllable. Not even a vague implication tucked away in some obscure prophetic footnote.
The old Worldwide Church of God taught:
The PASSOVER pictures the DEATH OF CHRIST for the remission of sins that are past. The accepting of His BLOOD does not forgive sins we SHALL commit — it does not give LICENSE to continue in sin — therefore WHEN we accept it, our sins are forgiven only up to that time — PAST SINS.’ (Armstrong HW. What You Should Know About the Passover and Festival of Unleavened Bread. Good News, March 1979)
Note that the above does not mean that future sins cannot be forgiven, but one does not have license to sin–and we must confess sins we later make so we may be forgiven. Passover pictures the payment for sins committed by humankind – all sins, past present and future, with the exception of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Although the application of Passover in God’s plan of salvation mainly is pointing to those called in this age–with the sacrifice of the Atonement goat mainly pointing to those who will be called in the age to come.”
But shall we stop there? Past sins forgiven. But we are still flesh beings. We still shall suffer temptations. Sin has held us in its clutch — we have been SLAVES to sin, in its power. And we are powerless to deliver ourselves from it! We have been in BONDAGE to sin. Let us understand the picture — the meaning. Quitting sin utterly To what extent shall we put away sin? Not partially, but COMPLETELY! And, as leaven is also a type of sin — leaven puffs up, and so does sin — and, as SEVEN is God’s number symbolizing COMPLETENESS, we are to follow the Passover with the seven Days of Unleavened Bread! The picture — the meaning — the symbolism, is not complete with Passover alone. Passover pictures the acceptance of Christ’s blood for the REMISSION of past sins. It pictures the CRUCIFIED — the DEAD — Christ.” (Armstrong HW. What You Should Know About the Passover and Festival of Unleavened Bread. Good News, March 1979)
Shall we leave Christ hanging on the cross? The seven Days of UNLEAVENED BREAD, following Passover, picture to us the COMPLETE putting away of sin, the KEEPING of the Commandments — after past sins are forgiven. They picture the life and work of the RISEN CHRIST — who ascended to the throne of God where He is actively at work in our behalf as our HIGH PRIEST, cleansing us of sin — delivering us completely from its POWER! To observe Passover alone, and then fail to observe the seven Days of Unleavened Bread, means, in the symbolism, to accept Christ’s blood, and to continue on in sin — to say with the Sunday churches the LAW is done away, we are under grace, meaning license, to continue in sin! The seven Days of Unleavened Bread picture the keeping of the Commandments, which is another way of saying the putting away of sin.”
God is now creating RIGHTEOUS, HOLY CHARACTER in those whom He is calling. Man, now only a clay model, is to be created in the CHARACTER-IMAGE of God Almighty. Obedience is a test of that character. God will not grant eternal life to anyone He cannot rule.
Jesus Christ is not only the author, or beginner, He is also the FINISHER of our salvation (Heb. 12:2). That is what the professing Christian world has forgotten! They have lost the knowledge of the SECOND STEP in God’s plan — that we must PUT SIN OUT OF OUR LIVES!
To help us in the knowledge of the second step, God gave His Church a special festival — the Days of Unleavened Bread. They are to impress upon us the fact that we must NEVER AGAIN RETURN to the sins Christ paid for with His shed blood.
Let’s begin to understand the true significance, the deep meaning in this SECOND ANNUAL FESTIVAL commemorating another step in God’s plan. Let’s learn why keeping the Days of Unleavened Bread is so important to your salvation, and just what your part is in God’s Master Plan.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread begins on the 15th of Abib. It continues until the 21st of Abib. Both the 15th and the 21st were especially happy “high” Sabbaths — ANNUAL HOLY CONVOCATIONS — DAYS OF REST. Seven is God’s special number signifying COMPLETION or PERFECTION. God wants His people to come completely out of sin.” (Lesson 34 – Days of Unleavened Bread – Your Part In God’s Master Plan, 1965)