Dennis Asks: "Is Romans 13 Good Teaching and Advice?"

Romans 13:1 Those in positions of authority have been placed there by God

Is Romans 13 Good Teaching and Advice?

The readers of this blog are probably some of the most Biblically literate layman on the planet.  One of the things I got from both my Calvinistic and WCG experience was knowing WHAT the Bible said.  It is why I credit most ministers with at least being good Bible readers, which of course is not to be mistaken for Bible literacy. 

Rather than take the "splatter pattern" approach to why teachings of Jesus or Paul might be considered suspect and ill advised, I would rather take them one at a time and expand each of those that , to me, are susceptible to criticism and rejection. 

First of all let me say that many of the teachings of both Jesus and Paul are excellent and make a real life more meaningful when applied.  We also need to realize that these teachings are not unique to Jesus or Paul.  The Sermon on the Mount is full of common sense teachings that anyone in just about any religion could and did already teach.  They are not unique or especially amazing teachings.  Many teachings of Jesus parallel Buddhism and those of Paul are just nice things to keep in mind.  

Another thing to keep in mind when we come across those difficult things to do or give up scriptures are given in the context of the FIRM belief by Jesus and Paul and the early Church that time really was short. Really short.  Turning the other cheek or giving up ones cloak was in the context of time is really short so don't worry about it.  You will be avenged and clothed very soon.  Practices such as sharing all things in common were based on the short plan that Jesus was about to return so let's stick together.  It was NEVER meant to be a prolonged way of being.  In time, when Jesus did not materialize, the system broke down and it was abandoned.  Not exactly eternal truth.

Paul's advice about marriage was based on "time is short."  It is not really a long term good thing for anyone's mental health to be alone , without someone to love and be loved by.  Paul, having never met Jesus and never quoting him did not know that Jesus taught the opposite of himself.  It is not better to be like Paul according to Jesus, or any psychologist.

Also and evidently, Jesus own mom and brothers, the ones who in Mark had never heard of his miraculous Matthew and Luke birth story, came to get Jesus when they heard what he was teaching to take him home, because he was "beside himself."  This is code for "nuts" or "insane."  

Mark 3:20-21

New International Version (NIV)

 ²⁰ Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. ²¹ When his family^[a] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

There is no Mary, "who pondered these things in her heart," in Mark's account of Jesus.  There is no Mary that knows from his birth, that Jesus is the Son of God to become God himself eventually through the process of theological evolution. 


Evidently the family, in Mark's view, did not find Jesus teachings all that amusing and if it kept up, they might get blamed for not reigning him in.  So they tried.  

At any rate, let's take a look at Paul's teaching on obedience to government, i.e. the Romans at this time in history.  

We need to ask ourselves how, if this advice was obeyed through history, if we'd have had an American Revolution or been able to bring about real change in the governments of insane leaders gone nuts.  In this chapter, Paul is telling the Church members to obey the Romans.  My sense is that Paul knew you could rant, curse and rave against the Jews but it was really stupid to do so against the Romans.  The Jews might get pissed off, but they are branches cut from God's tree.  The Romans, on the other hand, can kill you/us.   

Romans 13  New International Version (NIV)

Submission to Governing Authorities

 

 

 ¹ Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Really? Caligula?  Hitler? Stalin?  Mao?  Sadaam? Ghadaffi? Netanyahu? Clinton? Bush? Obama?  Really?  What of the millions who have died under their God given authority?  Is this not the advice from Paul, the "all things to all men, " kiss up to the Romans, so that he might save his own hide at times?  

Paul pulled his 'I am a Roman Citizen" card out from time to time to save himself.  How does a Pharisee of the Pharisees , who hate the Romans become a Roman Citizen exactly?  Is this good advice for the long haul?  I don't think so?  We'd all be in gulags and internment camps before long with this attitude.  Would not any corrupt government LOVE to have this taught religiously to the masses?  Was Paul being realistic here?  Why would the Book of Revelation be relevant if this advice was followed?  Obey the Beast and False Prophet and all will be well.  After all, they have their authority from God.   

 ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves

Really? God is the author and originator of these worldly regimes?  I thought Satan was the God of this World? Another great piece of advice to benefit any corrupt regime that needed to be ousted.  I wonder if ministers preached this in the pulpits of England and America in the 1760's??  If God is really behind human governments, is this some kind of cosmic joke on the faithful?  Seems terrible advice to me. .

 ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. 

Har har!!  Oh Really!!!  May I suggest there be no drinking the next time someone thinks to give this kind of advice or evaluate the fruits of human government!   There are lots of dead Palestinian Children in and around Gaza who might disagree with this erudite observation on the motives of rulers.  One may as well say, "For rulers hold no terror for those who do not get in their way or oppose their plans...but those who do...watch out."  I think it means "For rulers hold no terror to those who do what they are told..."   The rightness or wrongness is not really up for discussion. 

 Am I on Candid Camera?  Sounds like advice right out of the WCG Handbook on How to Intimidate the Brethren!  The Flurry's, Pack's, Weinland's and Meredith's of this Wild World Church of God experience would love that one!  Most politicians would kill to see this be your attitude.  And don't expect to get commended for anything.  No one is going to give you a medal in this life for doing "the right thing."

 ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

Yikes, If you make it to the top, you are automatically there because God voted for you and you won.  And government as humans have experienced it is here for nothing but our own good.   Who writes this stuff...the Government?  So anything the Government does to wield the sword, mace, tazers, microwavers, crowd control, tear gas, outright shooting and gassing is really God giving it to us all good, via his trusted servants and agents?  Goodbye American Revolution. Our bad!!! 

⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

Right, if I disobey an illegal, immoral or tyrannical government, it will hurt my conscience.  I don't think so.  

 ⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.

"...he said as he took his 20th vacation at the seaside and played 200 rounds of whatever game was popular in their time.  I pay taxes to finance war and killing.  I pay taxes so others can pay off their friends on Wall Street and cover their asses for stealing my other taxes, homes and properties.  In my world, these jerks are not God's servants but rather work for the other guy in the Bible who is more the roaring lion type.  Shoot...if Satan is a leader of his own gang, God must have put him there for their good!  Obey him boys!!  

"...who give their full time to governing...."  Uh huh, sure , right , fine...

⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Notice we are not talking to the receivers here, but rather the givers.  I always wanted to scream when HWA chanted, "God's way of life is the way of giiiiiivvve."  Uh huh, so we gave and they took.  The receivers of our giving only think they are givers but it is easy to give away someone else's money.  HWA built "God's College," "God's House,"  "God's work,"  with our money not his.  That was easy and painless for the receivers.  My parents and thousands of others bought Steuben Crystal for world leaders and rented auditoriums for the snakes in government to fill with the unwilling citizens to make these meetings look successful.  My parents and others paid for "The Church" to preach to world leaders...God's chosen leaders evidently who were mostly jerks and bastards.  

How about we turn this one around and say,  "Give to everyone what you took from them.  You who have taken, how about you give it back?  I digress.

So, Is Romans 13 here good advice for realistic living on this planet at anytime in human history.  Or is this the idea of one man who bragged about being "all things to all men,"  not that he might save them, but in fact, did not get his head taken off quite yet by them because they had the power anyway and we need not stir them up.  

Why would Paul give this advice about gentile leaders in government and yet scorn Peter, James and John's leadership in the Jewish Church. If anything was of God it was that?  Why did Paul curse those who didn't agree with him or his Gospel?  He was not much of a team player himself it seems when it comes to following the lead of others that God seems to have put in high places.  Paul totally disregarded the commands of James in Acts 15, in reality,  but  I guess he was special and that was different.   

Personally, I think the author of Romans was writing for the Roman Government to see he and his teachings were harmless and no threat to them. To do otherwise would have been suicide and, while you can make fun of the weak who cannot harm you, you had better be on good terms with those that can kill you. 

Dennis C. Diehl

DenniscDiehl@aol.com

COGWA Has A New Top Dog

No real shocker here.  Same old, same old.  How long witll it take before he is conspiring behind the backs of the rest of the leadership in this splinter cult?  He did a great job of backstabbing while in WCG and UCG as he helped form two separate COG's.

 President: Jim Franks

Secretary: David Johnson

Treasurer: Jason Lovelady

"Guardians of the Calendar Committee" Job Opening In Petra

Apostle Malm  may have a job opening for you worthy saints. Those lucky enough to be counted worthy to travel to Petra with the Apostle can start applying for a new job opening.

Because there is such a controversy on who gets to see the "new moon" and as to what time it actually appears - if it even does, the Apostle will be setting up a moon gazing committee.  Imagine the amazement you will feel standing in the middle or Petra gazing at the dark sky and you see that first glimmer of the new moon!

Of course, while you are parked INSIDE the great expanse of Petra, the Apostle will be outside in the Marriott in a cozy bed with an ample supply of liquor in the refrigerator.

Drop the Apostle a line and let him you know you want to be on his committee: Email Address

I would expect that God’s two prophets may be trusted to deal with the matter in the rest of the world while those in the wilderness would be united in location and some kind of system of observation would be set up there. I thinkl that a kind of Guardians of the Caendar Committee should be set up of people with some understanding of astronomy and the Calendar issues and a reglular method of observing each month should be doen. I am sure that something will be worked out. The main heavenly disturbances are not so much of the sun and moon but of a comet and or meteor falling to the earth and that only late into the 42 months. The moon turning red has to do with atmospheric smoke and dust due to the cataclysms on the earth rather than anything in the heavens. James

Psychopaths in the Church of God

How equipped are you to deal with psychopaths in the church and in society around you?  The answer is that most of us were  not  able to see the psychopaths in our midst. Most people blissfully go through the day ignoring the psychopaths that are around us.  They can be neighbors, bosses, politicians and religious leaders.  Many of these people are prominent in society and lead by all visible appearances, normal productive purpose driven lives.

So just what is a psychopath?  Wikipedia has this to say about psychopaths:

Psychopathy (/saɪˈkɒpəθi/^[1][2]) is a mental disorder characterized primarily by a lack of empathy and remorse, egocentricity, and deceptiveness. Psychopaths are highly prone to antisocial behavior and abusive treatment of others, but often manage to pass themselves off as normal people.

How many ministers in Armstrongism do you know that were empathetic?  We have seen a few examples in the last day were COG ministers were NOT empathetic.  How many COG ministers, evangelists and Apostles do you know that were abusive to others?  How many ministers, evangelists, prophets and Apostles do you know that said one thing in public and did the exact opposite in their private lives?  How many were deceptive? Look at the stalkers, the rapists, the child abusers that have been part of the COG through the decades. The list could go on and on!

Wikipedia also has this to say:

According to Hare, the consensus among researchers in this area is that psychopathy stems from a specific neurological disorder which is present from birth,

Look at the life of Herbert Armstrong and the stories he told in his autobiography.  There was something not quit right about the guy and we were too blind to see it.

Look at Spanky and his sick obsession with sex, his extreme vengeance that he used to destroy ministers and members lives during the time he was over Church Administration.  Look at the  LCG members that were murdered in Spanky's church and his complete lack of remorse for what  he said and how it contributed to the mental break down of one of his members.

Look at Six Pack building his "mini-me" college and Auditorium in the middle of Oklahoma.  Look at the lives he has destroyed in his cult.  His extreme form of being non-empathetic has lead to his extreme decree on making members reject family members.  He does not care if grandmothers are forbidden to see grandchildren, or if parents reject their children.

Look at the leadership of UCG and COGWA and the  men who constantly battle each other in their power trips.  Look at the egos of these men.  Look at the total lack of empathy they have towards the brethren.  Their concern was first and foremost maintaining a power structure where they all have their jobs, cars, and the prestige of their ministerial positions.

I would now like to direct you to our own Douglas Becker and information he has about these people in our midst.  Douglas has done some great work on this topic.  This is not something new to him that he has been spurred to do in the last month or so.  This has been something he has been working on and studying for many years now.  Check out his link here on Depraved Indifference. 

Douglas has tied together an extreme belief/doctrine in the Churches of God and how it creates despotic behavior in its leaders.

British Israelism confers upon the leadership of a cult group a pattern of governance which limits culpability for abuse.

 Leaders of British Israelism are usually despots who have no accountability for their actions: While they rule as if they were absolute monarchs of the past glory of the British Empire with no regard for the rights of others, cult leaders of British Israelism establish laws and rules which are imposed on those below them in an hierarchical structure -- laws and rules which do not necessarily apply to the leader themselves. For example, some forms of British Israelism organizations have strict Sabbath keeping as a tenet of their cult culture, but the leader may find it convenient to go out dancing and other pleasures on the Sabbath because they are special in their own minds. The same could be said where the British Israelism has taken faith healing as an absolute unassailable tenet of doctrine and prohibit members using medical doctors for treatment of life threatening diseases, while the "Apostle" or other designation of the leader makes him immune to following his own doctrines based on his opinions because he is the absolute monarch of his British Israelism Empire. He will then go and get the best medical treatment for his own diseases and debilities because he deserves the best and it is God's Will for him to do so, to preserve the Empire at all costs.

As a result, members of British Israelism may die or live terrible lives, while the leaders live a posh existence of luxury.

Watch this great video and see how many characteristics you can pick out in the Churches of God.  You will be shocked at what you see.  The video is about 38 minutes long and is well worth viewing.

Hat's off to Douglas!  Keep up the good work!

The Prophet Who Is Ticked He Is Being Ignored!!!!!

No, I am not talking about Prophet Thiel, Armstrongism's greatest prophetic visionary. I am not even talking about a drunken prophet in Oklahoma or Weinerdude Weinland.  I am referring to God's most important messenger to the remnant COG in this quickening end times.  I am referring to Apostle Malm.

He whines:

I have worked night and day for over four years to warn of the impending events that will set the stage for the advent of the abomination and the tribulation. At the same time I have warned of the apostasy and trends in the COGs and presented much doctrine and much new truth solidly based on the scriptures. I have been most zealous for the Sabbath and ALL the commandments of my Father and your Father. Yet during that time I have been called everything from a false prophet to a liar and a  fool.

Brethren I live in poverty and have not done this for reward, but out of love for my God and my brethren.
It is long past time to wake up and prepare ourselves;  for the Bridegroom cometh!  Yes, the correction of the lax and lukewarm is at our very door.  Very soon now you will see these things beginning; the Bridegroom is knocking, and saying “open to me, turn to me my people”!