LCG: Where's Jesus?, OOPS! SORRY! Where's Christ?

Richard Bardo, an LCG minister in Arizona had a "Sabbath Greetings" letter up to his flock last night.  He was not happy to have received an email from a local restaurant saying: “Join Us For Breakfast With The Easter Bunny!”

He then goes on to say the LCG members know this time of year to be for something different:

Many of us in God’s Church can recite why this custom is not found in the Bible and why Christians should not be involved in it. Yet, what should we be “into” this time of the year?

Namely, one of self-examination, as it clearly says in I Corinthians 11.

One would assume that he is referring specifically to examining ones self because of the upcoming Passover.  While he may be implying that, he cannot mention it.  Examining ones self in light of the work that Jesus Christ did is not brought up here either.

Instead, it is back to Hebrew scriptures about David.

Notice David:

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:1-2 ASV)

He asked God to wash him thoroughly, after he accepted full accountability for his sins, which were against God. He pleaded for complete cleansing from sin and finally he cast himself totally upon God, who is the only one who can save!

Now that is, a man after God’s own heart. As we see from verse 2, sin goes completely through us. The Hebrew word “wash” ?????? kabac {kaw-bas’} means to: “to wash (by treading), be washed, perform the work of a fuller, to be washed out.” “A fuller” is a workman who “fulls” (cleans and thickens) freshly woven cloth for a living. You may remember the famous “Fuller Brush” company; and so is the reason for that name. So have we asked God to take a cleaning brush to us?

God in this case is that cleaner of cloth. He wants us to have white garments as He is pure and white. We must also be!  “…and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.” (Daniel 7:9 KJV)

Indeed, there are moments in our lives that we need to especially seek God; and before Passover we must be “fully” cleansed from our sins. We must also recommit to God and place His ways, deep into the inner parts of our hearts and minds.

So where is Jesus when this is supposed to be his "season?"  Apparently you cannot know Jesus Christ unless you are afflicting yourself with fasting:

Christ said that when He would not be present in person, then His disciples would fast to draw ourselves closer to Him. Have we fasted recently?

“And they said to Him, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers; the disciples of the Pharisees also do 1the same; but Yours eat and drink.” 34 And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? 35 “But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” (Luke 5:33-35 NAS)

The only way to put sin out and reflect this God of true love is to draw ourselves closer to Him in prayer and fasting. This can’t happen unless we fast and pray often. Let’s seek God while He may be found and draw ourselves near to Him especially in these latter days!

These are all works that were done BEFORE Jesus Christ died.  Why is there no mention of what was accomplished AFTER Jesus died?  If they claim to be followers of Jesus Christ as they claim, why can't they never seem to discuss anything  about him, what he accomplish and what was COMPLETED by his death and resurrection.

"It is finished." apparently has no meaning to to these folk.

Apostle Malm: Are You Close to Committing Crock Pot Sin?

That crazy Apostle Malm is just full of it today!  Apparently if you make something in a crock pot for Sabbath lunch or diner it needs to be cooked before sundown on Friday and then just warmed up.  However, it seems that turning the pot on again for reheating and/or using a microwave to reheat food is crossing the line into committing sabbath sin.  It all just gets so confusing!  Pretty soon it will be a can of sardines and some crackers.  Then the question will be is it "work" to open the can or the cracker bag?


A Malmite comments:

The definition of cooking is to prepare food by applying heat. I know you commented on this last week, but wouldn’t a zealous man for God’s law not walk the fine line between cooking and heating. A crock pot is applying heat to warm the food including the microwave oven. I agree we need to have wisdom in these areas but shall we tread on the fine lines of God’s law?

The apostate Apostle responds:

I respect and appreciate your zeal, as I am sure God does also. James

Apostle Malm: Rebellious Herbert Armstrong Spoke the Mark of the Beast!

One of apostate Apostle Malm's acolytes asks:

Many people have the perception that HWA had the authority to “loose” eating out on the Sabbath and since he was God’s apostle what he said would be like going against God’s government. LCG totally teaches that not following the Government of God on this earth is tantamount to rejecting God’s authority. Several times I have had people say to me something to the affect of…who are YOU to go against what HWA said because that’s rejecting God’s government!
Another totally ridiculous argument I have heard over the years is…that we would have to stop getting mail and using electricity. That is so juvenile, obviously we can only do what’s under our control! For example, I love getting the newspaper but since I don’t want a Sabbath delivery…I don’t get it every day of the week.
It’s really quite simple like you said James, where there’s a will there’s a way!! (Saturday delivery of newspapers is a sin???? What will the Armstrongites dream up next?????)

The angry apostate Apostle writes:

I would ask those people; who in the world is HWA that he would dare to exalt himself above Almighty God, to dare to “loose” what the Eternal Almighty God has bound? That is the mark of the beast! Rebellion against God and his commandments! By exalting a man above God and obeying that man instead of God, the najor COG Groups today have the mark of the beast and they do not know it! I have gone on and on about exalting men and corporations and traditions of men above God; and people deny it, as they do it! James

Apostle Malm: It Is A Sin To Pay Unecessary Tolls When Travelling on the Sabbath

One of Apostate Apostle Malm's acolytes asked:

What about those who must take a bus to get to church on the Sabbath or pay tolls to drive to church? 

The Apostle responds:
 

As for tolls, one can often buy a ticket in advance or even a monthly ticket in advance; or one can establish another place of meeting, or take another route; or pay ONLY as an absolute last resort after exhaustng all other possibilities, as an ox in the ditch, and then work to resolve the problem. These are non issues if we use a little applied thought according to each unique situation.

And that still does not justify going beyond the absolute essential ox in the ditch. Lifting an ox out of a ditch does not justify then buying something or cooking, because we are too neglegent to properly prepare on the preparation day.

Such an ox in the ditch should also NOT be made into a weekly habit. If your ox is always falling in ditches; it is time to fix the fence! That means to fix the problem and properly prepare to avoid the problem the next time around.

We are obligated to prepare as much as we can, and not to use some excues to avoid any proper preparation at all. The rare exception does not change the overall rule.

Apostate Malm is not too keen on having members take buses to chruch.  They should be carpooling with other church members.  Or, you can go down to the local car dealer and con them out of a car/van/bus as a donation to your chruch.

In fact some car dealers would be happy to provide at cost or even donate used vehicles for a charitable tax deduction. I remember that my Father’s pentecostal church had a whole bus donated.

We have been using excuses and “ox’s in the ditch” to try and justify an “almost anything goes” attitude.