RCG: When you keep the ACOG Passover you improve your credit score

Who would have ever thought the Armstrong version of Passover would ever be equated with credit scoring?  Oh but wait, this is a Armstrong Church of God after all which is totally focused upon money.

Restored Church of God's, Edward L. Winkfield, has done what no other ACOG has accomplished...at least yet.

Raise Your Spiritual Credit Score!
by Edward L. Winkfield

Imagine your deeds, decisions, habits and potential—your whole way of life—being reduced to a three-digit number. 

Fair or unfair, this is how creditors judge those seeking approval. In the world of finance, your three-digit credit score could be the difference between being entrusted with huge or meager sums of money. 

God’s Word uses a similar principle to motivate and inspire Christians. In the Matthew 25 parable of the talents, Christ’s faithful servants stand before Him to be judged. For the servants met with approval, the Lord explains the reason for their success: “you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things” (vs. 21). 

Their attention to the little things paid off in a big way. 

The connection between being approved for a car loan and entering “into the joy of your lord” (vs. 23) is not perfect. The same can be said of most parables. God uses these “similitudes” to explain spiritual matters. He uses physical things to which human beings can relate. However, all parables break down eventually. In Matthew 13:45-46, is the Kingdom of Heaven a literal pearl? Is the Word of God in Luke 8:11 actual seed? The point is clear. 

Yet taking a moment to analyze something as customary as how lenders view a borrower’s credit worthiness does provide a fresh look at self-examination, something we are required to do every year prior to the Passover: “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup” (I Cor. 11:28). 

Thorough examination of our conduct over the previous year demonstrates proper reverence of the symbols—the bread representing Christ’s body and the wine representing His blood. A careless approach to this self-scrutiny brings grave consequences: “For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation [judgment] to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body” (vs. 29). This is most serious. 

Who would have thought that before you went into Passover service your "credit" score was in the low 300's and BAM, the second you drank that wine and ate the bread your score immediately popped up to 850!   The only trouble is that the second you got in the car and was heading home rejoicing at your new 850 score, some jerk cuts you off on the freeway and you swear under your breath...down shoots the credit score!  Or, even worse, you reach in your pocket on the first day of Unleavened Bread and find a little chocolate chip cookie you have been feeding to your child a few days earlier.  Down the score shoots even further.  Then mid week you walk into the office and your coworker has bought the biggest box of Krispy Kreme Donuts and you grab one and scarf it down.  Down the credit score shoots.  By the end of the week you credit score is down in the 300's and you have 51 more weeks to go!  Such is the life in Armstrongism.

Clearly, “damnation” is not God’s will for us. By obediently following His command to examine ourselves each spring, we can raise our spiritual “credit score” as we seek God’s divine approval. 

This analogy is not farfetched when you consider that God openly says we must seek to be “approved” of Him (II Tim. 2:15). The Greek word for “approved” is dokimos. It means “to put to the test by trial in order to produce truth and genuineness.” The word is closely related to “examine” used in I Corinthians 11:28. 

People usually need credit for the things they cannot afford to buy outright. What God has in store for His people seems even more unreachable. The apostle Paul said, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him” (I Cor. 2:9). Our Creator stands at the ready to grant us such things. 

It is through “the righteous judgment of God, that [we] may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God” (II Thes. 1:5). This reveals that the only way into the Kingdom is through a judgment. Yet God is not the judge exclusively. He gives us ample opportunity to judge ourselves (I Cor. 11:31). 

This is not as easy as it may sound especially in the face of Proverbs 16:2: “All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes.” 

Nevertheless, the stewardship required to achieve and maintain a high financial credit score brings with it solid, spiritual lessons.

Restored Church of God members should never forget that good credit scores lets them have better opportunities to sending more money and borrow against innumerable credit cards when Dave makes the final announcement for hte final "push."  Plus the banks will be more willing to let you borrow against your home or business with a high credit score.  Dave will soon need that money too.

Appreciate the Correlation 

To get the most out of this financial analogy, we must understand the nuances of the credit system. Allow yourself to see the spiritual parallels as you read. 

When people use credit, they borrow money that they promise to pay back within a specific time period. They typically must borrow funds because they cannot afford upfront to buy an expensive item such as an automobile or a home. This need presents a business opportunity for creditors willing to lend the funds to debtors with a promise of repayment plus interest. 

God similarly seeks a return on His investment in us, which He considers our “reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). 

With actual credit, lending money represents a risk to lenders. They know they may not be paid back. To help determine this risk, the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) developed a statistical method known as a credit score. This tally helps lenders determine the likelihood of borrowers repaying their debts as agreed. This single number greatly simplifies evaluating a person’s dependability. Developing simple ways to gauge our spiritual readiness is also helpful. 

The three-digit credit score represents a borrower’s credit risk. The number typically falls somewhere between 300 points (very high risk) and 850 points (very low risk), with the most responsible borrowers getting the highest scores. This is yet another similarity between this world’s credit system and principles of Christian living. 

People with higher credit scores get more favorable lending terms such as lower interest rates and higher credit limits. They are considered more trustworthy due to their demonstrated ability to handle their finances. Being trustworthy means being worthy of additional trust (I Thes. 4:12). 

The exact formula calculating a credit score differs with each company, but overall it is based on five primary factors. These are credit payment history, current debts, the length of credit history, the types of credit in a borrower’s portfolio, and how often a person applies for new credit. Similarly, Christians may not know the exact “formula” by which God perfectly judges His people (Psa. 98:9), yet He does give us the major criteria to look after. 

A consumer’s credit status can change frequently, which means a credit score provides a snapshot of their creditworthiness. Springtime self-examination also gives a snapshot of where a Christian is at that point in his or her conversion.

Because RCG members do not follow Jesus, they are unable to understand where they are in the conversion process.  They are cosntaly beating themselves for being dirty worms ( or maggots as they were recently called) in the eyes of their god.  It is hard never being able to measure up and get that credit score elevated.

Analyzing Spiritual Factors

Credit scores are freely available to consumers and have been for some time. Despite this, consumers can find themselves reluctant to request their scores and know where they stand financially. Perhaps the finality of it is too much to bear. According to credit.com, more than a quarter of Americans choose to never check their credit scores, saying it is unimportant to them.

For Christians, such ambivalence about where they stand is not ideal, nor is it allowed. They MUST periodically self-examine.

Any good financial advisor will tell you that raising your credit score starts with a good understanding of the five factors used to calculate it. A minister tying this to increasing one’s spiritual credit rating would do the same.

Payment history, current debts, how long the person has had established credit, the kinds of credit one has, and how often one applies for new credit all help identify major areas of exploration for a Christian. Each factor is rich with meaning related to self-examination and judging ourselves. 

(1) Payment History: A key question for lenders is, “If I lend this person money or credit, will he pay it back on time?” The way these businesses determine this is based on past practice. In other words, lenders look at how applicants paid other obligations such as credit cards, retail department store accounts, installment loans, car loans, student loans, mortgage loans and home equity loans—all with different terms and payments. If they have 10 credit accounts, are they late on five of them? Have they recently filed for bankruptcy, or gone through a foreclosure? 

Payment history is weighed the heaviest of the five factors and bears a strong correlation to self-examination for a Christian. In judging yourself, ask, “Have I done the things I committed to do at baptism? How have I handled my various responsibilities as a Christian?” 

When you were baptized into the Body of Christ, you determined to pray regularly and to study the Bible (I Thes. 5:17; II Tim. 2:15). Depending on circumstances, this may have been hard to do over the past 12 months. Nevertheless, we committed to never let either of them slip. 

As you review your spiritual payment history over the last year, honestly ask yourself how you are doing. 

Are you dutifully obeying the tithe command (including second tithe) and giving offerings (Mal. 3:8-10)? Are you occasionally fasting to draw close to God (Isa. 58:3-9)? Are you fully keeping the Sabbath day as instructed by God (Ex. 20:8-11; Heb. 4:9-11)? Are you holding fast, fully committed to serving God to the very end, no matter what? 

(2) Current Debts/Available Credit: Lenders look at the total amount of debt people carry before approving applications. If all their available accounts are “maxed out,” they are less trustworthy. However, if a person is using credit responsibly—paying it off regularly—it looks positive. 

The Passover represents Christ paying our debts in full (Eph. 1:7). Upon repentance, baptism and receiving God’s Spirit, our slates were wiped clean. When we inevitably sin following this, we can go to God with a repentant attitude and ask for forgiveness (II Cor. 7:10; II Pet. 3:9Psa. 86:5)?

How well have you treated others? Are you quick to forgive the way God is or have you “maxed out” your credit with Him (Matt. 6:14-15) by holding grudges against those who may have offended or wronged you?

Hello!!!!!!!  Seriusly? What about the Dear Leaders endless grudges he holds agaisnt emolyees, meinisrers and members? It is quit obvious Dave has never had his slate wiped clean by his god.

(3) Length of Credit History: The length of time a person has had active credit accounts, known as credit history, is another important factor. Creditors like to see a long history of responsibly paying off debts. 

Upon your calling, God sees you for the person you currently are and the person you ultimately can become with His guidance. We usually have trouble seeing both, especially early on. 

The longer we are in the Church, God gradually allows us to see more of our flaws. This causes us to abhor ourselves (Job 42:6) and prompts us to change. If God showed us ourselves too early and all at once, we would become discouraged and likely give up.
Every Passover presents us with the opportunity to see a little more of our human nature. Those who have been in God’s Way longer should be able to handle more than those who are newly baptized.

Pure nonsense!

Ask yourself, “Am I showing the proper level of fruits based on my time in God’s Church?” If you have been in the truth for decades, you should be much more equipped to handle the trials typical of a babe in Christ (Heb. 5:11-14). If you are new to God’s Church, He does not expect you to perform as a seasoned veteran. He knows it takes time to grow.

In other words, if you "time" in the church has been a long time, your fruits "giving" should have risen exponentially.  Your performance should be better than newcomers into the church...as if there are any.

Thus, when assessing your spiritual “credit history,” have a balanced view instead of being too hard on yourself or letting yourself off the hook. 

(4) Credit Mix: The fourth factor creditors look at is the different types of credit accounts an applicant has. It could be revolving debts such as credit cards or fixed debts such as a mortgage or auto loans. Managing each requires related but different approaches. Seeing how a borrower handles multiple accounts with different terms and payments is helpful. 

Honestly assess how you have managed your life over the last year. How have you handled the various responsibilities put before you? Is your conduct during the week a proper reflection of your commitment as a Christian (Matt. 5:16)? Are you doing the things required as a spouse or parent? Are you drinking too much alcohol, viewing pornography or engaging in filthy communication (Col. 3:8)? Do you easily lose your temper? Are you praying for the success of the Work? Are you consistently serving others or do you sit back and watch others take the brunt of the responsibility?

Once again it is the members fault that the church may be having issues. You are not praying enough or working enough to support the great "work."

(5) New Credit: The final factor is how often a person applies for credit. Constantly trying to open accounts or opening a bunch of new accounts simultaneously has a detrimental impact. Also, a score can be lowered if many lenders make “hard” inquiries on a report, meaning they are checking scores. 

Over the last year, have you put yourself in situations that exploit your weaknesses? If you have a problem with gossiping, have you been engaging in the kinds of conversations that make it difficult to avoid it? If you struggle with being argumentative, are you provoking others to debate? If you were big into celebrating worldly holidays prior to your conversion, are you hinting around your old practices with family and friends?

Does lying in sermons count?  Apparently not.

Paul said, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Cor. 5:17). We must fight to put away the old man. 

By engaging in old habits, you open yourself up to be accused by Satan. He stands ready to put a “hit” on your spiritual credit report. To avoid this, follow Romans 12:21: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” 

Note the places where you repeatedly battle the same problems. These are weak spots you must focus on and overcome. Yes, you will face trials and tests. When you do, however, remember that Christ told us to be happy. Why? Because He overcame the world (John 16:33). 

Also take note: Checking your own credit history and credit score is known as a “soft” inquiry and does not affect your credit score. What better parallel to encourage you to self-examine on a regular basis? It only gives you the chance to improve. 

Never fear though...faithful RCG members can have their credit score elevated by the more they give and sacrifice.

Raising Your Stewardship Score
Christians must strive to be good stewards over both their physical goods as well as their spiritual goods. A steward is a house distributor, overseer or a fiscal agent. While the focus has primarily been the spiritual components, do not allow the physical lessons presented to fall by the wayside. Some brethren needlessly suffer financially due to poor fiscal habits. Use what you have read to oversee your physical house as well. 

The parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16 is instructive. The steward was given much responsibility over certain riches but began to slack off over time (vs. 1). After his master called him out on his error, he did not hang his head. Instead, he scrambled to fix his situation. He knew his abilities and came up with a creative plan based on the amount of time he had left (vs. 3-4). From there, he went out and executed the plan, and was ultimately commended by the same master who previously accused him (vs. 8). 

We too can fix the places we fell short over the last year. We can come to grips with our strengths and weaknesses and come up with a creative plan to do better. From there, we can go out and execute our plan within the time we have left. If successful, we can eventually be commended. 

The parables of the talents and the pounds strike a similar tone (Matt. 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-27). They both illustrate servants being given something of value and the opportunity to increase it. Some take full advantage while others squander their chance. Allow these accounts to crystalize in your minds and drive you to action. 

After reviewing the past year, if you feel that you have fallen into “bad credit” territory, do not give in to defeat. This does not mean you have to live with poor spiritual credit your entire life. Upon repentance, God frees us completely from the sins that bring the burdens of spiritual debt (I Pet. 5:7). This is vastly superior to trying to dig out of debt on your own. And, as God does His part to fix any “credit” problem you may have, you must do your part to help build and keep it up. 

To raise your spiritual credit score, take a similar approach to a person trying to raise his financial one. Just as you would pay your bills on time to raise your real credit score, be sure to be a person of your word. If you commit to do something, whether to God or man, be sure to do it (Jms. 5:12). 

In order to raise your actual credit score, never skip payments and reach out to the lender if you need help. Similarly, if you need help from God or the ministry, do not ignore the problem. Seek out the help you need. 

Keep your credit card balance low and be sure to pay off your debts quickly to help your score recover. On the spiritual side, be sure to repent quickly when you err and ask for forgiveness. Also, be quick to forgive others. 

Finally, checking your actual credit report regularly can help you stay on top of things. The same with checking your spiritual score. 

Credit is not built (or rebuilt) overnight. It takes good habits and discipline to get and stay on track. It will almost certainly never be a perfect 850. Truth be told, your spiritual credit score is the same. We will never reach “850” until we become perfect as our Father in heaven (Matt. 5:48). 

The steps required to raise your financial credit score all have practical application. As the Passover approaches, be sure to take the steps to be ready. Develop a plan to address all the areas listed here and many more. Listen even closer to sermons, and go the extra mile with Bible study. With both, actively ask yourself about areas in which you can improve. 

Being a good steward over present physical matters is important, but our most important stewardship involves the things that affect our eternal future.
Be sure to review our article “Self-Examination: Receiving God’s Approval”. It sheds additional light on how to take a close look at your spiritual condition and is recommended reading ahead of the Passover. 

ACOG Zealot wants to force ACOG members into attending 7-day Unleavened Bread sites

Never one to stop frothing at the mouth at all of the perceived backslidings of the Armstrong Churches of God, the Chief Pharisee is on his kitchen throne handing out new decrees that ACOG members should be attending physical sites for the Days of Unleavened Bread.  He claims this because his idol Herbert Armstrong did it decades ago during the early years of the church.  However, HWA realized it was not feasible for church members to take off 2 separate time periods in the year without income dropping because of job-related issues.  He quickly learned his lesson as income dropped dramatically during this time period. Plus, children missed out on another 9 days of school in addition to the 10 days or more off at the start of a new school year each fall.  It never was about the fact it is not required of New Covenant Christians but was due to the fact that income would drop.  After all, the ACOG has always been money based instead of New Covenant based.

Pharisee Malm writes:

Herbert Armstrong had begun and was learning and growing until in late 1967 Loma Armstrong died of bowel cancer, after that time Herbert came under the full persuasive spell of Stanley Rader [a 32 degree mason] and Robert Kuhn, who convinced him to adopt the Roman Catholic Nicolatiane church government system Primacy of Peter heresy and to abandon the true Gospel for a business model outreach approach.  Later Rader was to brag that he had “Entered”  Armstrong into the lodge, which then arranged the Armstrong international contacts.  

These crazy conspiracy theorists love to pretend a Jewish and Armenian cabal totally deceived Herb, which then led him to start letting church members cook on Saturdays  and go out to restaurants.  One has to be truly an idiot to believe that Rader and Kuhn were behind this.  They certainly had their faults, but Malm is reaching up his ass for this one.

At that time Herbert also abandoned observing the Jerusalem new moons with bible studies, the observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread for the full seven days as the pilgrim feast God had commanded, and began to allow people to trample all over the Sabbath even cooking and going out to restaurants.

How many COG people today know that the Radio Church of God celebrated this festival for the full 7 days – just like the Feast of Tabernacles? Then in 1968 (when the church was renamed Worldwide) all of the Passover/Unleavened Bread Festival sites were cancelled?
“The May, 1962, issue of The Good News magazine reported on God’s Passover Observed World-wide. This article was written by Evangelist Roderick C. Meredith. Over 10,000 brethren of the Radio Church of God in seven major Festival locations in America, plus others in England, Australia, and around the world, observed a glorious Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread.

My mother joined the church in 1959 and at no time did we travel anywhere for a 7 day UB festival site.  For the first and last day yes, not 7 days.

Unlike the common practice today of having Passover and Night to Be Remembered locally in homes, and perhaps Holy Day services on the first and last days of unleavened bread, the practice then was to observe an eight-day festival with the whole church in central places, with multiple sermons and Bible Studies every day, just like the Feast of Tabernacles.” (Days of Zeal Gone By, Richard Nickels)

The Chief Pharisee continues with more erroneous history:

The Radio Church of God continued observing both festivals at many regional feast sites for the full 7 days until 1967. In 1968 (when the church was renamed the Worldwide CoG) observance of the full 7–day observance was discontinued. Herbert Armstrong’s wife Loma died in 1967 and, lacking her counsel, he was quickly persuaded that maximizing income for “the Work” must in future be the priority. 

The overzealous Pharisee continues to place heavy millstones around the necks of his devotees as he lays one burden after another on their already weary shoulders.  It really doesn't matter to him though as he has no job to take time off from, other than banging away on his keyboard.

Dave Pack: Wadsworth's Most Electrifying Man

Never has the Armstrong Church of God ever had such an electrifying man in a leadership position as it has in Dave Pack. Even Herbert Armstrong, James Malm and Bob Thiel cannot even come close to this electrifying human god.  Dave's fellow ministers and his members are so turned on by his message and the IMMANENT return of the creature they call "christ" that they are in a permanent state of electrifying ecstasy. 

It will be interesting to find out what "electrifying" things he says in his sermon he is going to preach this week!

Adult Sabbath School: “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” ― Carl Gustav Jung

“Don't let the expectations and opinions of other people affect your decisions. It's your life, not theirs. Do what matters most to you; do what makes you feel alive and happy. Don't let the expectations and ideas of others limit who you are. If you let others tell you who you are, you are living their reality — not yours. There is more to life than pleasing people. There is much more to life than following others' prescribed path. There is so much more to life than what you experience right now. You need to decide who you are for yourself. Become a whole being. Adventure.”
― Roy T. Bennett 

(Original Article: March 28, 2006)

Every human being on the planet wears a mask. Most wear many masks. Some call it the dark side, but in fact it is just another side. Humans are more complicated and needful in their spirit than some would allow them to be and Churches go to great lengths to control this other side. As a result, people wear masks, including all members of all churches, their prophets, priests and pastors. 

Recently, in Tennessee, we have seen the sad story of a charismatic pastor type, shot dead by "the pastors wife" as she would be known by the membership. I don't know what went wrong, but I would bet it has to do with wearing masks and living with or not living well with the other side. It will have to do with what was expected as opposed to what was real. I do know that churches and the scripture place a totally unrealistic burden on men and women who feel called to serve as a pastor and example of what a "Bible family," or marriage, or behaviors should be like. 

"Should" and "Must" are words that drive a lot of people over the edge as the impractical expectations of religion takes its toll. This pastor, like all humans probably was wearing a mask and since it was some form of unacceptable, in this case, it cost him his life. I also suspect his wife, wearing her own masks and endeavoring to live up to the unrealistic expectations of others in that particular religious mindset simply had come to the tipping point. 

Most churches don't have a way for the minister and family to address real human issues and stay as pastor and wife. To speak up or ask for help is to demote yourself and forever be viewed as flawed and "weak." Its the higher up flawed and weak leaders that place these labels on you. Ministers don't seek help often because they become blemished lambs just for asking, so they don't ask . 

When masks come off, people are so surprised. They knew them as "so nice," or "so quiet and kind." That was the mask. They never got to know them as a genuine human being. I wish her well in this most difficult journey now that has affected so many people. I hope that someone will look to see what fundamentalist religion can do the  spirit that has to wear masks to cope with the differences between how we wish to think and do and what is expected. 

All ministers wear masks. It goes with the turf. As a pastor, I certainly did and I did because there was no room for being one's self and a pastor. The pastor, male or female, is that religious leader that people want to live whatever they feel the Biblical life is, while going about their own business and doing what they themselves darn well please. 

Ministers and priests are the sacrificial human who is to be what others simply don't wish to be, but are glad to see it's possible, at least if the mask stays on properly. I would think that the admonition in the Gospels to "become ye therefore perfect, even as your Heavenly Father is Perfect," might be a bit unrealistic for real humans, but the minister or priest is paid to go for it and show us how it's done. Of course, it's not done, but the appropriate mask is in place in the appropriate circumstance, always. One can end up a fake human being when organized by religion, minister or member. 

They are always "such a nice and quiet young man," or "happy family," before they blow. Masks tend to come off at the most inappropriate time and manner. I was riding to work one Saturday morning when I heard the news of a man who went ballistic in a church in Milwaukee, killing eight, including the Pastor and his son and then himself. I knew. It was a Saturday meeting. It was a hotel meeting room. I knew it was one of the splinter groups of my past affiliations. An hour later, it was confirmed and what I felt was going to happen someday in that group, because it so forces people to wear masks, did happen. I thought it would happen somewhere else, but this was no surprise to me. I had "prophecied" it to myself years ago. Very sad, and of course the young man who did the killing was labeled as "demon possessed," and the whole thing sank into history. Simply put, the Church, this one and all churches, had forced a mask to be worn and rather than be able to talk about it, it stays firmly affixed...until it doesn't. 

In my years of pastoring, I saw how "me thinks thou dost protest too much," works in the world of masks. Ministers who were known for raging against sexual sins, gays and "lustful practices," were wrestling with it themselves and projecting their own confusion and guilt onto the audience. I am confident that they themselves had no clue that was what they were doing. 

Few get trained in how to spot a mask. It is therapeutic, and yet when the pastors mask comes off in some misadventure, he is roasted, eaten, and the bones thrown in the trash. He certainly was not perfect as his Heavenly Father is perfect. Of course, the membership wore all the same masks but that doesn't count. He was to be in fact what they would only be in masked compliance when convenient. 

At least they leave a pastor, who did a lot of genuine human counseling with people, alone when he is thrown out, because he knows so darn much about the masks worn by others. They are afraid he'll spill their beans. You'll find the most supportive of the defrocked pastor are those that wore masks too but at least know it and may have shared this fact with the pastor. Maybe the pastor was kind and compassionate to them and now it's payback time when he was found out. It's an interesting dynamic. It's human stuff. 

I have seen ministers rail on drinking who needed help with their own overdrinking born out of despair, living the perfect life and wondering why it feels so sucky. I can't tell you how many members I have worked with who drank too much too often and held all sorts of positions in the Church, but he better not be the minister.  We have to have our sacrificial lamb to be what we refuse to be. He is genuine so we don't have to be, it seems the average person reasoned. His job is to keep telling us not to be and do what we still intend to be and do no matter what he says, or rather really "what the Bible says."  He just better not be and do like we be and do! We pay him to be and do perfect as his Heavenly Father is PERFECT. 

Seems if you want to make a problem rampant, just make it illegal. I pastored in "dry counties" where the alcoholism rate was out the roof. Churches are good at demanding, upon pain of some eternal fate, that one never does lots of things. This causes people to wear masks as much of what the church demands one never do, is some kind of sin, rather than a mere choice that sometimes we overdo. Life is not all or nothing in reality, but it is so often in fundamentalist religious perspectives. Thus we all wear masks to stay safely tucked in at least two worlds. 

Anytime you join a group, you are going to have to get used to wearing masks on various topics and at various times to stay in the good graces of the group. That is just how it works. Individualism is frowned upon. Churches want dogs that can at least be trained, both as ministers and members. They certainly don't want cats that are impossible to herd, as they say. Even a pit bull can be trained to do, momentarily what one wishes it to do, with training, but inside, it might still want to rip your leg off. A cat is a cat. No masks on any cat I ever met. "Here Kitty Kitty," I call out as it walks away and doesn't even look back. "Sit," as it stands there and scorns me, and don't even think the crazy thing will roll over or beg! It's a cat. It knows nothing of masks. Long live Cats! 

You're church might more or less demand a tithe of your income as being reasonable for your support of the church. Of course, this is not really as biblically binding as you might be told and you really aren't robbing God. God doesn't really need money... but the Building Fund does or the payroll people do. Maybe the narcissistic pastor who is going to change the world for Jesus does, but God does not. You might do it in a form of fearful compliance, but it's not what you really want to do or can afford to do even if you wanted to. But still you do it. You are wearing a mask. You will smile on the outside and be angry on the inside for which your body and spirit will pay. 

You're church might make demands about what you must be a part of to show proof of your "loyalty and service to the Church" attitude. You conform and show up or do what you are asked, but you don't really want to or don't have the time. You are wearing another mask. Someone might wish to make you a "leader" because you have worn your other masks so well and want you take on this even bigger one. You comply and bingo, your face is really starting to feel heavy! 

The church might show you what the Bible says about many topics. They may inform you on how "God" wants you to date, or find a partner, or even if you should at this time. They might think you can't pick 'em so they will do it for you. 

They will have the truth about prophecy and how near you're particular denomination thinks Jesus return is. They will say things in sermons that you won't really see or agree with but feel bad for not. They inform you of the Bible and God's view of sex and you comply even though it just doesn't work for you or seem anyone's business but yours. And so you mask up when needed and do what you want anyway. This is not wrong. What is wrong is having to feel one is duplistic when in fact one is just making personal choices and expressing personal preferences on this topic that really is no one else's business. To the degree you don't disagree publicly, you will wear a mask when these topics or others come up. Ministers are forced just as much as members to do this to keep their jobs which is why so many are sitting down on the outside when certain topics come up, but in fact standing on the inside and angry. 

Wearing masks can kill you. If one is not careful, one's biography can become one's biology. Repressed anger and the duplicity of wearing masks can cause dis-ease, and in particular, cancer. What is eating you, eats you. Peeling off a mask can be very very painful. They tend to grow on you and stick to your flesh. Sometimes flesh comes off with the mask and you have to heal for a time. Your face might not look so good, but it will heal but I can't say it won't leave scars.

So what's a minister or member to do? 

First of all, know that it's just fine to disagree with your church or minister and he with you or even his own denomination. It is good mental health. Find something to disagree with and voice it! Ok, be careful if you want to stay part of the true tribe. It should not cost everyone their friendships, jobs and basic human respect. It does, but it shouldn't. To the degree one thinks it is not okay to disagree with the group or Church, is the degree that masks will be firmly affixed when needed, and your dis-ease can begin. If you minister in, or a member of a church where you know your inclusion depends on compliance, leave now. If not, then someday you might not be able to get the mask off, and will be forced to have it removed surgically and probably without anesthetic. 

Secondly, human trumps being perfect as "your Heavenly Father is Perfect," EVERY time. To the degree you send the message that perfect is what we look for here, is the degree that those you expect it  will wear masks. Count on it. 

There are no perfect ministers, pastor families, children, ways to raise one, ideas, elders, deacons, youth guys, music ministers or organ grinders. The man who shot his pastor dead and then himself gave up on being single "God's way," and being perfect as others expected him to be. He gave up on only finding a partner that thought like his church or his pastor thought he should think. He gave up on not being "unequally yoked with unbelievers."  He gave up on feeling marginalized and lonely. He gave up and took others with him.

A man who says "I become all things to all people that by any means I might save some," is duplistic and wearing masks beyond measure. You will never discover the genuine man under that perverse view. They tend to have thorns in the flesh they won't share with you and won't seek any other help, save from God himself, to work it out for him. It won't get worked out and they will explode or implode or maybe just become more weird and project their own shortcomings and fears upon the unsuspecting church. Usually the "rules" the minister places on the congregation reflect this duplicity. 

Finally, realize that many ministers don't believe their own sermons and many members don't either, no matter how many times they note what a "good sermon" that was. Ministers and Priests get in the habit, due to masks that stick very well, of saying what even they no longer or perhaps ever did believe. It's tough to buck your organizational perspectives even when they are outdated, wrong or even dangerous to the human spirit.  The recognition that one does not believe the organizational line evolves over time and experience in the organization. It is not intentional or hypocritical. It usually comes as a surprise to the Pastor that his views change over time, study and experience himself. It is the formula for the classic Dark Night of the Soul and out you go. 

 There were any number of topics I never spoke on that the denominational church thought it believed and would have wished me to pass on to the faithful.. Some were harmless ideas and some were plain stupid and harmful. It was nice when a position had to be rethought and I had not bothered to teach that anyway and did not have go back and look like the eternal, never changing God and truth had just changed.  For me, the topics were Places of Safety, British Israelism,  Divine Healing, Divorce and Remarriage and being overly ridiculous about Sabbath keeping and losing your job over it among other things.

All humans wear masks. Who people's do because systems are in place to even kill them if they wander from the true path of others making. Women wear masks as well as men and so do your kids and all their friends. We do it because it is not safe or profitable not to. That is unless being authentically you in this one lifetime is important to you. I won't say it won't cost you to take off the mask. You will lose friends and perhaps even family support. You might be asked to leave your church or be labeled as "of the devil" or at least, backslidden and "never converted anyway." You might end up "the black sheep." If you are a minister, you WILL lose your career or have to move on to a more open minded group of believers. They do exist as groups tend to sort out by personality anyway. But tearing off your particular mask may open new doors of opportunity to you as well. 

We'll never get rid of them all, but maybe part of our time on the planet is to work on that and get down to the baby pink flesh on our chubby sweet genuine authentic faces that has been so covered up for so long with the masks we think we have to wear to get along with others and meet their expectations. Long live Cats!

5 Minutes Before Sunset, OH NOES!!!!!!

This is not unique to SDA's, but happens in COG too.  Of course, keeping the letter of the law was never a strong point in the COG. If you were in Pasadena, various department heads had you work on Saturdays or before sunset was over, particularly if they had scheduled a Saturday night concert in the Auditorium.  The biggest abuse was having students and members dress up in Sabbath wear and work the WATS lines on Saturday as "volunteers" taking phone calls.