For many decades, we have had it ground in our psyche that the Church of God had/has a better way of believing and doing things. We had the answer to everything and knew that there was a world coming that would bring peace and harmony for at least 800-900 years, and then it was all going to fall apart again. Evil and damnation would be unleashed again. What a cruel god!
Yet, despite having a grand vision of millennial peace as our goal, the Church of God has always found the bad in the world and emphasized it in everything they preached and wrote about. Everything is evil and they can't wait for their god to come and smite all the evildoers and make the world into what they think it should look like.
This is how Gerald Weston starts every weekly update to his members. Something bad is always happening. Evil is lurking in the air ready to devour the loyal church members. This was his update on the 18th. He can't even find joy in Passover!
Passover and Unleavened Bread are now upon us. How many more Passovers will we have before Christ returns? The events of the last four years are sobering—a pandemic with all the disruption it brought, inflation, violent crime and demonstrations in our streets, weather upsets of historical and “of biblical proportions” in various places around the world, illegal immigration, wars in Europe and the Middle East. However, there is a positive to all that we see happening. “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28). Some among us are going through severe trials and we cannot minimize how difficult that is for those individuals affected, including family members, but we must never take our eyes off the big picture. God called us and gave His Son on our behalf, and Jesus willingly suffered for us that we might be healed and that through His indwelling Spirit we might have eternal life. May we never forget Paul’s inspired words: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). I wish all of you a profitable and joyous Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread!—Gerald Weston
Compare Gerald Weston's negativity to an article below from Ralph Woodrow. You remember Woodrow, don't you? He wrote the fourth supplemental "sacred scriptures" that most COG members believed fervently in, until the horror of horrors, he refuted it all.
In the Church of God hierarchy of official doctrine setting works, we had the Bible, US and BC In Prophecy, Mystery of the Ages, Hislop's The Two Babylons, and finally Woodrow's Babylon Mystery Religion. Woodrow's works were so popular in Armstrongism that he even started quoting some of our teachings to back up his works.
There are some who tell us in all seriousness that “everything in the world is getting worse and worse!” It seems popular, even in some pulpits, to talk about how bad everything is getting—“and getting worse all the time!” But the evidence is overwhelming that MANY things are better than they have ever been, especially in countries that enjoy the blessings of civilization.
This is not to say there is not a lot of evil in the world. Many things are not as they should be. Nevertheless, progress has been made in the right direction. In harmony with Philippians 4:8, “... think on things of good report”—let’s consider some of the GOOD things God has blessed us with and for which we should be thankful.
Woodrow goes on to discuss advances in travel and technology and how there is progress in the right direction.
He then states:
Was the world or this country better in the days of child labor? Was it better in the days of slavery? Was it better when travel was in covered wagons? Was it better when women could not vote or own property? Was it better when lights burned coal oil? Conditions may not be as they should, but on the whole, many have better food, better clothing, better housing, better health care, better education, better working conditions, better pay and better transportation than in the past.
Today there are organizations to encourage clean, wholesome activities for boys and girls; organizations to aid the blind, the handicapped, the underprivileged, the elderly; organizations to prevent cruelty to animals and provide shelter. Progress is being made in Alzheimer’s research. Such things speak of kindness and progress in the right direction.
Despite all the “good things” the Lord has allowed us to enjoy in this day, there are those who suppose things are getting worse all the time. While the Bible does say that “evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13), this may simply refer to the fact that one sin leads to another sin; one lie leads to another lie; those who head in the wrong direction get further and further away from Jesus and the gospel.
“But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18). Where sin abounds, grace shall much more abound (Romans 5:20). Let people of faith everywhere look on the bright side, thankful for the progress that has been made! Is there evil in the world? Yes! No doubt about it. But while “everything” is not as it should be, we are BLESSED in many ways!
Woodrow certainly has a better outlook on life than do so many of the miserable professional complainers making up the leadership of the Church of God today. It is no wonder so many in the Church of God today are depressed. Their very own leaders are the cause of this!
When will the church be people of faith? Having a grounded faith so joyful they revel in the joy that grace brings and are thankful for all the beautiful and good things in this world?
We have known for decades that Church of God members easily fall for most conspiracy theories and off-the-wall teachings by lunatic self-appointed ministers and other false teachers.
One thing that has always surprised me is how many COG folk believe the earth is flat. The Obedient Church of God is one of those crazy groups.
Re: Why there are no photos of the edge of the earth.
BTW God says there are 4 angels AT the 4 “CORNERS” of the earth. Then I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth,... Revelations 7:1
You cannot have “CORNERS” on a ball!
Therefore the earth is flat.
Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2017 11:30 PM
To: INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS <admin@invive.com>
Subject:
space photos ?
*** All the space photos of the earth that you see are fake. They will not even let the Hubble Telecsope ever to point toward the earth. They won’t even try, and make the phony excuse that the earth is spinning too fast. But they say that they can make phony pictures of the 1000 mile per hour spinning earth from a space ship right beside the Hubble.
And they never point the Hubble Telescope to point back to the earth, because they hide the flat earth from the public every way they can. They could simply turn down the magnification of the Hubble digitally to photograph the earth, and still take microsecond shots of the earth because they claim it is spinning, but they refuse to, so they can hide the FACT that the earth is flat.
how come we never got to see the earth on edge?
You are FORBIDDEN to go to the edge.
They forbid you to go to the edge.
And because the balloon is near the Northern center of the earth, "NOT" outside of the flat earth. You are NOT allowed to fly in a plane or a balloon to the edge of the earth, or you will be shot down and put in prison if you are still alive.
And even if you wanted to go to Antarctica and cross over to the edge of the earth, they do not allow anyone to travel throughout across Antarctica.
You will be locked up if you try to travel to the edge past the little settlements on the Coasts of Antarctica.
AND
They NEVER allow you to fly past the beginning Coasts of Antarctica.
They NEVER allow you to fly to the OUTSIDE EDGE, PAST THE COASTS of Antarctica.
There is NO Flight allowed to fly over Antarctic.
You can only fly along the Coasts of Antarctica and never into or past the interior. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaskijW7x9I
They do not let you to fly over Antarctica just like they do not allow the Hubble telescope to ever point at the moon to see the US flag that was NEVER placed on the moon because they never went to the moon. Stanley Kubrick made all the PHONY moon landing films.
All pictures of a round earth are fake.
Basics To “Do”:
Christianity 101
If “YOU” want to Be a Christian
you “MUST”
walk in the footsteps of Jesus/Yeshua
To do this you “MUST” LIVE
“THE WAY”
= Live as Jesus and all the Disciples, and Paul did,
that Jesus/Yeshua set the Example of
How To Live
The following check list is of Christianity Basics of
what Jesus did
= Christian Checklist “Simplified” for you Do and Do not
1.) Do use Crescent Moons to get God’s “TIME” of Worship right, as the starting point.
2.) Then set/start the New Year Abib 1 on the CORRECT day which is at the 1st Crescent .
3.) Count to the 15th to celebrate Passover, (not the same as The Last Supper).
4.) Have 1 minute of silence “after” you take the Bread, and after you take the Wine.
5.) Eat the Passover main meal “in Haste”= not a leisurely dinner.
6.) Eat the Passover main meal standing, with a walking stick/staff, and traveling clothes on.
7.) Do not leave the Passover Seder until daybreak. Stay up, “Watch and Pray”.
8.) Burn any leftover food from the Passover elements, and Passover Supper.
9.) Start the Pentecost count from the 1st Holy Day inside the 7 days of Unleavened Bread. 10.) Count the 49 days +1 .
11.) Use the visible Crescent Moon to start each month.
12.) Only sight the Crescent Moon with the naked eye.
13.) Only sight the Crescent Moon from Jerusalem.
14.) Set “ALL” your Holy Day counts using only the Crescent Moon.
15.) Celebrate “ALL” the 7 Feasts of The Lord.
16.) Dwell temporarily outside your home for 7 days during The Feast of Tabernacles/Huts.
17.) Recognize that there are 3 Pilgrimage Feasts per year. Go to Headquarters (if able) on Passover/Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, & Tabernacles.
18.) Know the approximate time of Christ return is 5777/2017-2018.
19.) Stand up when you sing Hymns to God.
20.) Face the North Heavens, or to Jerusalem (if possible) when singing praises to God. 21.) Wear your best clothes, shoes shined, bathed and clean undergarments before God.
The Gate/Road is Straight and Narrow, and there be “few” that find it . Mat 7:14
One of the sad legacies of Armstrongism was the oftentimes violent methods of corporal punishment used upon church children and teens. The Mt Pocono Feast site in its early years almost was shut down because of the beating of children. Members of the public who came to check out the weird church heard and witnessed parents beating their kids in the official Spanking Tent.
The minister we had in Cincinnati, Ohio (Carn Catherwood) said that a child must get 20 hard swats with a thick paddle and that he expected to hear them crying afterward. He also instructed the local Spokesman Club to sell 1-inch thick paddles with holes drilled in it to cut down wind resistance. They did this as a fundraiser. Imagine raising money off beating children!
Samuel Martin. some of the late Earnest Martin has been on a decades-long crusade to end corporal punishment of children.
This is his latest book:
STRATEGIES TO EMPOWER CHRISTIAN FAMILIES CONCERNING ENDING THE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN:
DEALING WITH OPPOSITION FROM SPOUSES AND EXTENDED FAMILIES CONCERNING THE SUBJECT OF SPANKING CHILDREN
The subject of corporal punishment (spanking/smacking) is one which causes serious challenges in families especially when one spouse is in favor of spanking/smacking, while the other is not.
This issue creates serious tension between husbands and wives and in extended families and communities who pressure parents to spank/smack their children.
Christian families who choose not to spank may face loneliness, isolation and serious opposition to their decision to pursue peaceful parenting.
In some families, where spanking/smacking has been taking place for generations, the choice not to spank/smack by one of the parents may create situations in a marriage where major tension exists surrounding the subject of spanking/smacking.
This research study seeks to empower Christian spouses who have taken the often difficult decision not to spank/smack to provide them with simple Bible based tools to engage their spouses, extended families and communities thoughtfully concerning this most difficult subject.
This research study delves into God's Word in a deep but practical way to provide those in favor of peaceful parenting with Bible based teachings to help them engage with those around them who still believe in spanking/smacking.
This research study is based on almost 20 years of feedback that the author has received from scores of Christian families who have decided on a new path for their parenting journey that seeks to leave the experience of spanking/smacking behind.
The research study provides practical specific Bible based information to help Christian families engage the subject of spanking/smacking in a mature and thoughtful way with the goal of growing peace and love in our homes.
Martin's previous books:
