Adult Sabbath School: The Highway to YHVH?

HOLY SMOKE! 

This explains a LOT!  

The discovery was made using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry testing on an Iron Age Judahite shrine at Tel Arad, in Israel’s Negev desert. The cannabis altar was in the inner sanctum of the temple, known as the cella, or holy of holies.

“We know from all around the Ancient Near East and around the world that many cultures used hallucinogenic materials and ingredients in order to get into some kind of religious ecstasy,” Eran Arie, curator of Iron Age and Persian Periods archaeology in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem told CNN. “We never thought about Judah taking part in these cultic practices. The fact that we found cannabis in an official cult place of Judah says something new.”

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/archaeologists-discover-cannabis-biblical-site-1874790

According to a new paper published in the journal  Tel Aviv , ancient esoteric worshippers at a Judahite temple at the fortress mound in Tel Arad in Israel “likely smoked cannabis during cultic ceremonies.” This statement comes after a team of Israeli scientists performed chemical analysis on residues found on two Iron Age altars dating back more than 2,700 years at the entrance to the shrine; both were found to contain cannabis and frankincense.

The frankincense had come from the resin of the Boswellia sacra , a small tree found in Oman, Yemen, and Somalia, and according to a Daily Mail report, the presence of cannabis resin suggests “a deliberate psychoactive substance” was made and burned to “stimulate ecstasy as part of esoteric ceremonies.”

https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/how-use-frankincense-0010843

Did you know you CAN predict the tribulation?

For decades COG wannabe leaders have made every imaginable interpretation of Scripture that there can be made, and yet that never stops them from continuing on dreaming up new things.

Our OTHER favorite COG prophet has now dreamed up a new take on end-time predictions. In order to prove he is legitimate he has to be able to twist things so that he appears to know what is really going on.

James Malm claims that people who quote Matthew 24:36 are using this scripture because they are spiritually lazy. And here we go again with another self-appointed know-it-all that thinks he and he alone knows what is correct.

Many people will quote Matthew 24:36 and use it to claim that we cannot know when the great tribulation will begin, this is then used as an excuse for spiritual laziness and a reason not to bother studying the prophets.  Lets analyze this quote from our Lord. 

Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

Notice how he craftily rewords the scripture to present himself as the harbinger of truth. Deluded though, as it is.

The very first thing to notice is that this quote has absolutely nothing to do with the tribulation and refers specifically to the coming of Christ.  Jesus does not say that no one can know when the tribulation will begin; he does say that no one at that time knew the day that he would return to rule the earth. 

Then his subtle deception below as he carries on trying to legitimize his right to make predictions.

The second point is that he did not say that no one will ever know, he said that no one knew at that specific time.  Remember that he was still in the flesh, he had not yet died and been resurrected.  We are told in Revelation five that after his resurrection Jesus Christ the Lamb of God was found worthy and was allowed to unseal and open the books.  

The Chief Pharisee is wanting you to believe that since Jesus unsealed how things will be happening that this opens the door for Malm to say what he does, because his creature "jesus" speaks to and through him.

Malm now wants you to believe that his end times are here and that his god has now channeled through him all that we need to know about the end times.

The third point is that the prophets were sealed from the understanding of men by God until the very end time (Dan 12:9) and then they would be unsealed and revealed when there was a need to know at the very latter day just before the tribulation is to begin (Dan 12:10).  Therefore no man could understand the latter day prophets until God revealed them to to Jesus Christ who would then reveal them to God’s true servants when there was a real need to know.  Part of the purpose of this concealing and revealing of the meanings of the prophets was to clearly reveal just who God’s true servants are in this critical period when the tribulation is about to begin. 

Malm believes he is that one true servant at this critical time in church history. Oh hell no!  We know that is not true and that he is NOT a prophet or even a messenger of God's word.

These things of God were sealed and kept hidden until the Appointed Time of their revealing at the very last days; which is why there has been almost no understanding of the Biblical Festivals, Biblical Calendar and the end time prophecies until now.  

What is so very sad is that most of today’s Spiritual Ekklesia rejects the expansion of knowledge and understanding that God has promised to reveal in this end time.

No one knows more about the Bible and prophecy that the Chief Pharisee and bastardizer of the law.

Malm doesn't stop there, but carries on with this:

Then the Lamb of God who overcame all sin and was resurrected at the end of the third day to rise up as the Wave Offering to be accepted for us, was found worthy to unseal the book. 

He was accepted as the Redeemer of the sincerely repentant and the restored spirit High Priest [Melchizedek] of God the Father who’s job was and is, to reconcile people to God.  He was found worthy to unseal and open up an understanding of the books: Because his sacrifice made the prophecies of the Word of God SURE!  

If Jesus Christ had not been successful, there would have been no need to understand the prophecies because they would all have failed!

His creature Jesus could have apparently screwed up and been unsuccessful and we would never have to need Malm to become a martyr for the world and our one true teacher.

Daniel 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 

Brethren, that time has come!

The Fourth Answer is that Daniel was told by the angel Gabriel in the 2300 Day prophecy of Daniel 8 that Messiah would come to cleanse the temple mount and build the Ezekiel temple 2,300 years after the empire of Alexander was divided into four parts.  If the starting date to the count is accurate this clearly sets the coming of Christ in 2024 A.D. which means that the tribulation would begin in the winter of 2020-2021.  

Of course the date would depend on an accurate starting date and God has now provided a way to confirm that date with the double prophecy of Ezekiel 4.

Then the Chief Pharisee lets us know that what his god has revealed to him how the crap will hit the fan within the next year. 2021 is sure going to be a hell hole! Not that 2020 hasn't been.

Israel: Britain [Ephraim] and America [Manasseh]- The first English settlement on the American seaboard was at Jamestown when 104 men with no women landed and tried to make a go of it.  This was not part of any major English immigration but a small group seeking a place of refuge for themselves.

The second “colony” was started at Plymouth by less than 120 Pilgrims and that was  by a very small group and not a genuine English effort to colonize America.  Other efforts were primarily initial operations to determine the viability of establishing more substantial colonies.

It was on April 8, 1630 that the haphazard sporadic attempts to form communities in America was replaced by a serious effort at colonizing America beginning with the Winthrop Fleet. Eleven ships set sail carrying over 800 English colonists led by John Winthrop, to settle as the Massachusetts Bay Colony; beginning the first great wave of immigration from England and the widespread settlement of America.  

By the autumn of 1630 they had founded the settlements of Boston, Cambridge, Roxbury, Dorchester, Watertown, Medford, and Charlestown.  Over the next ten years to 1640 there was a flood of tens of thousands of Puritan immigrants to the new colonies. General immigration to America and the rise of Britain and America to dominance began in 1630. 

The Jewish State- A peace treaty between Egypt and the Jewish state was signed on ‎26 March 1979, and became effective ‎January 1980.  Then the Jewish state came under US guarantee’s a few months later meaning that the  forty years ended in late 2020 completing the 40 years protection of Judea, and the tribulation would have to begin sometime between late 2020 and before another Biblical year is completed in spring 2021.

 Where would we be without these official know-it-alls of the church?

Israel: Britain [Ephraim] and America [Manasseh]- In 1630 the Atlantic seaboard of America was opened up to general immigration beginning a massive wave of immigration and the rise of America and Britain over the next 390 years up until late 2020, when God will withdraw his blessings and allow us to fall because of our wickedness.

The Jewish State- A peace treaty between Egypt and the Jewish state was signed on ‎26 March 1979, and became effective ‎January 1980. Then the Jewish state came under US guarantee’s a few months later meaning that the forty years ended in late 2020 completing the 40 years protection of Judea, and the tribulation would have to begin sometime between late 2020 and before another Biblical year is completed in spring 2021.

Malm then goes on  to make more predictions and as usual covers his royal zealot butt by :

Please note that while the Daniel’s 2,300 Day Prophecy and the two Ezekiel 4 prophecies provide a very strong indication that the final 42 month tribulation will begin this coming winter, which is between November 2020 and March 2021 nevertheless I intend to exercise caution and I will not declare anything firm until I see the miracle worker set up in the Vatican; Still they do not provide the exact day and hour of Christ’s personal coming.  

It is true that the Kingdom of God will start with the outpouring of God’s Spirit on all flesh on a Feast of Pentecost, but Christ could come with God’s resurrected faithful, days before that to put down all evil and then wait until Pentecost to pour out God’s Spirit. Therefore the precise day and hour of Christ’s coming will not be known until it happens.

Great will be the day when these false prophets and certified liars of the Church of God cease to exist and brethren can no longer be conned by their devilish words.

Elijah Says Prayer, PROPER Fasting and Zinc May Save You From COVID-19

Our favorite self-appointed savior to Africa and the world has weighed in today by correcting Living Church of God's latest blurb on its TW News & Prophecy E-Zine.

LCG wrote:

The new coronavirus has rapidly infected millions around the globe. Most efforts to control the spread of the virus have focused on handwashing, disinfecting surfaces, wearing masks, social distancing, and providing medical care. In the minds of many, the only hope for halting the virus is finding an effective medicine until a vaccine is developed. However, many simple, effective, and inexpensive protective steps one can take are seldom mentioned.

A recent study demonstrated that ultraviolet rays of sunlight “rapidly inactivated” the coronavirus on multiple test surfaces (Newsweek, May 22, 2020). Another study suggested a strong correlation between COVID-19 mortality rates and severe vitamin D deficiency (Medical Xpress, May 8, 2020)—a condition associated with lack of sufficient time outdoors and exposure to sunlight (ScienceDaily, March 9, 2020). Dietary sources of vitamin D include eggs, milk, cheese, and fish. Vitamin C is also a vital nutrient that aids in protecting against infections, especially in physically active individuals (“Vitamin C and Infections,” Nutrients, April 2017). It can be obtained naturally from citrus, cantaloupe, berries, mangoes, papaya, broccoli, and potatoes. And moderate physical exercise, especially outdoors, can strengthen the immune system and aid the body in fighting infections.

While it is important to prevent transmission of the coronavirus, let’s not forget that vital nutrients like vitamins C and D, exposure to sunlight and fresh air, and regular physical exercise also play key roles in strengthening one’s immune system and reducing the risk of infection.

The Chief Overseer wishes that LCG had given more homeopathic remedies for its members to take and felt the need to correct them by telling them what else they should be doing.

LCG is correct about this (though it would have been good to also have mentioned zinc). I been have making nutrient-related posts at the COGwriter website for months

While it would have been better if LCG did this earlier, it is good that finally they are telling people that there are proper steps to be taken, as opposed to only focusing on avoidance. 

Prayer and proper fasting should also be considered...

What the hell is "proper fasting"? The Thielite version? Herbert Armstrong's? Rod Meredith's? James Malm's?

In the mythical deluded world of Bob Thiel everyone is wrong except for him.  No COG knows the Bible, world history, the Catholic church, and prophecy better than he. No one in the church is more informed about nutritional health than he is.

Fake COG Prophet Claims Tkach Was Wrong About Everything Except For This...

You have to love the hypocrisy of our self-appointed Church of God prophets as they spin one tall tale after another.

Joseph Tkach Sr. has been vilified with one extremist accusation after another; from being the man of sin to being satan's agent. Nothing the man ever did was right and they hate him for the things he changed.  Well, that is for one special self-appointed prophet who regularly trots out one of Tkach Sr. more absurd beliefs.

Tkach Sr was WRONG about everything but this:

screenshot of the ridiculousness...

As always, our self-appointed guru makes this all about himself above all else:

Numerous times, my wife Joyce and I have been able to see and visit what could be called ‘Satan’s throne,’ if the devil does, in fact, have a physical throne on the earth.

The first time we saw it was back in 1987 on a tour of Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

Those of us on that tour (all WCG members back then) were told by a Worldwide Church of God minister who was conducting the tour that Joseph Tkach, Sr. (who was then the Pastor General of WCG–he died in 1995) stated that he felt that the Cathedra Petri was “Satan’s throne.”

The WCG tour guide minister also said that that there was a tradition/legend (which possibly can be tied to one interpretation of a 12th century prophecy by the Bishop Malachy) that the final pope would sit on this throne. This particular throne is black and the bottom of its legs are about 5 feet off of the ground. Despite odd claims, no one allegedly has ever sat on this final version of it.

Bob Thiel, the self-appointed Elijah of the improperly named "continuing" Church of God, and lapsed Catholic, is constantly using various Catholic myths and legends as "fact" in order to bolster his many absurd devilish claims his mind dreams up.

Anyway, some believe that the final pope on the Catholic Bishop Malachy’s list, Peter the Roman, will sit on the Cathedra Petri (some consider that he will be an antipope, and thus a henchman for Satan) in St. Peter’s Basilica. And for those unfamiliar with Malachy’s list, in the 12^th century he predicted, with what some believe is complete accuracy, every pope since 1143. When Malachy’s list became public in the 16th century, it was considered to have been so accurate in predicting the 12^th – 16^th century pontiffs, that some thought that it had not been written until the 16^th century. Here is what The Catholic Encyclopedia reported about it:

In 1139…St. Malachy gave his manuscript to Innocent II to console him in the midst of his tribulations, and that the document remained unknown in the Roman Archives until its discovery in 1590…These short prophetical announcements, in number 112, indicate some noticeable trait of all future popes from Celestine II, who was elected in the year 1143, until the end of the world. They are enunciated under mystical titles. Those who have undertaken to interpret and explain these symbolical prophecies have succeeded in discovering some trait, allusion, point, or similitude in their application to the individual popes, either as to their country, their name, their coat of arms or insignia, their birth-place, their talent or learning, the title of their cardinalate, the dignities which they held etc.

He concludes his long-winded post with this:

So the foundation, holding up the so-called Cathedra Petri is based upon Greco-Roman leaders who often took strong intellectual positions against the Church of God. This is another reason that, spiritually at least, it seems to represent Satan’s throne.

Biblical, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox prophecy suggests that the Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholics will unify. They will strongly support (for a time) leaders that Satan inspires (cf. Revelation 16:13-14). False leaders likely to have complete access to Saint Peter’s Basilica and the so-called Cathedra Petri, and who for a while, will advocate the positions of the foundational doctors of the throne.

The Bible tells of a time when the King of the North will set up the abomination of desolation in Jerusalem and the ‘man of sin’ will sit in the “temple of God” in the end times:

31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. (Daniel 11:31)

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

If this Cathedra Petri (or the one in the Basilica of St. John Lateran) is moved to an area of the Church of God in Jerusalem’s Western Wall(commonly called the Cenacle), it is possible that it could fulfill some of the above prophecies. We will see.

In the end times, it is possible that Satan or one of his demonically-inspired representatives (cf. Revelation 16:12-13) may literally sit upon the black throne shown above. And while it may or may not literally be the throne of Satan, the basis of the so-called Cathedra Petri and its anti-Church of God foundation suggests reasons why it spiritually seems to at least partially represent Satan’s throne.

The biggest threat to the Church of God right now is not the Catholic church or any protestant church, it is its own self-appointed lying false prophets that make a mockery of Jesus. Their continuing denial of anything the guy accomplished makes them far more dangerous that some myth or legend that's being used as fact by certified COG liars.

Restored Church of God: Church socials are NOT optional and are part of your calling!

There is one common trait of subversive groups and that is their control of members' lives.  Scheduling all kinds of activities from bible studies, bake sales, fruit drives, dances, winter family weekends, and more, keeps people so busy they don't have time to question the leadership.

Dave Pack is well known for his absolute control over employees and member's lives. There are NO excuses as to why they cannot attend or do anything Dave asks of them.  Family members learned that the hard way over the years.

Here is a prime example of that control:

Why You Should Want to Be at Every Church Social 

God commands us to attend weekly Sabbath and annual Holy Day services. The benefits are obvious. What about Church socials?

By Kenneth M. Orel 

As a minister, my job description includes meeting with those interested in joining the Church, visiting members and prospective members, counseling, anointing the sick, fundraising, speaking and writing. And one more thing—organizing socials.

Here is your first signal that trouble is coming.  As God's appointed minister it is his job to plan your activities for you. The planning and work of the minister in planning socials is on par with preaching the word of God. Members must never forget how important the minister is.

Anyone who has been to a Church social, or has been a part of planning one, will tell you it entails a lot of work and attention to details. The ministry has been trained to understand the inner dynamics of what makes a successful social and work hard at providing a variety of fun and interesting activities in their areas. Planning meetings can begin months in advance.

Finally the day comes. There is great anticipation. As a minister, I am excited by the opportunity for everyone to spend valuable time together. The start time passes and then…“Where is everyone!?”

Orel admits he keeps track of who attends and who is not at his events.  Dave is so proud!

After weeks of announcements and work in coordinating the event, it can be disheartening to see who did not show up!

Was there a flu epidemic or debilitating disease that swept through the congregation? Or was it something else? Sometimes the excuses are as simple as, “That is something that does not interest me,” “I do not have the time,” “The location is just too far to travel if it is not a Sabbath service,” or the most common, “I need time to myself.” These reasons may have some truth to them, but are they good reasons to not spend more time with brethren?

For those who do not attend socials (and there are some who consistently do not attend as they should), it is likely a misunderstanding as to why they should attend, or worse. There is also the possibility that some have the wrong viewpoint about socials and their many benefits.

Church socials are just as important as sabbath services!  God says so...somewhere.

Think of it this way: Would you ever skip a Sabbath service, Passover, or the Feast of Tabernacles as long as you were physically able to attend?

Then why would you voluntarily choose to miss a Church social? You could be thinking, “Well, that is different. The Sabbath and Holy Days are required by God.”

Not so fast. Feast days are not the only requirements by our Father God, who wants us to develop as sons and daughters.

We all know fellow Christians are family. It goes without saying that families should have strong bonds—especially the Family of God. Socials, by design, provide the chance to be included in that bonding.

Make no mistake. Socials provide heaps of fun and fellowship, but there is so much more for Christians to profit and glean from them. For one, these events are a cornerstone of vibrant, healthy congregations contributing to the overall strength and unity of the Church. In addition, they play an enormous role in our training as future facilitators and restorers of families in God’s coming Kingdom!

History

Going back to the Church of the 20th century, under the leadership of Mr. Herbert Armstrong, socials were special events anxiously anticipated by everyone. They filled an important role in reinforcing the spiritual family—a crucial tradition that brought a cohesion to the Body of Christ.

Church socials, as important traditions in the church, are equivalent to doctrinal stances. Bet you never knew that!

Traditions help form the backbone of how things are done in God’s Church. In some cases, they can carry as much weight as doctrine. Members are commanded to “hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” (II Thes. 2:15). The tradition of local socials continues today in the Church.

Ah yes, the golden years of the church. the glory days of the past when all was perfect and unified in the

Here is a look back to the golden years from last century’s Philadelphian era (Rev. 3:7). Mr. David Pack described how important socials were to local congregations in his book The Government of God: “Every congregation held periodic socials across a broad range of types. Each of these required planning, organization, communication and structure—and details were usually not left to accident. There were picnics, formal dances, snow parties, trips to interesting places, singles and seniors activities. There were also all kinds of sports teams and sporting events—softball, basketball, volleyball, golf, hockey and track meets—and some of the larger pastorates were able to sponsor tournaments that were always wonderful occasions in the calendar year…”

The vast majority of brethren were always excited to be around each other more. They looked for ways to fellowship outside of the Sabbath or Holy Days and thrived on the verse, “How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psa. 133:1).

Unity was (and still is) a real driving force for more fellowship. This is not a new concept. Back when the Church first began, brethren desired to be together all the time: “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart…” (Acts 2:46).

This desire had everything to do with the Spirit God gave His children. It led to “singleness of heart.”

One of the themes of the letters to the Corinthians was unity. “I beseech [beg] you brethren…that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (I Cor. 1:10). Chapter 12 adds to this, stating that “there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another” (vs. 25).

That damn Jesus!  Always getting shoved to the back burner. Imagine him finding out that church socials are more important than the things he taught and the example he set.  Church socials are the fabric that holds the family together!  Wut????? Who knew!

God’s Spirit is the catalyst that draws brethren together and socials are the mortar that keeps the family core strong. As vital as unity is, it is not the only benefit from attending socials.

Benefits

Since we live in the devil’s world devoid of the love of God, life can get hard and even disheartening at times. Having fun is an indispensable aspect of God’s way of life. People will gravitate toward others who are happy, joyful and like to have fun.

Christians who truly follow Christ are almost always more cheerful than many around them. They know what grace and mercy are all about and share that freely with others. Their lives are built upon the example and words of Jesus.  Not so in the RCG.  Church socials provide the material for members on how to be happy and not to be old fuddy-duds!

When others see Christians, they should ask: “Who are these people? Why are they so happy? They do not seem to be gloomy, depressed, fuddy-duds!” Socials provide us a place to build this characteristic.

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit and fun is a byproduct of joy. God is not devoid of fun—quite the contrary!

This is true. The problem is that there is so much evil in the RCG and many of the Churches of God that true joy us NOT found and most members never experience it.  As soon as they get a taste of it the church swoops in and rips it violently out.

Understand that fellowshipping is of vital importance for anyone who has God’s Spirit. Do not forget our fellowship includes the Father and Christ: “…that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (I John 1:3).

We get to see exciting personality traits of the Father and Christ through others when we fellowship at socials. These gatherings give us the chance to reveal the richness of our personalities—which stem from God. You really do not ever want to miss a social for that reason alone!

Of course, there always needs to be proper balance. Back in the Worldwide Church of God, because of the sleepiness of the end of the Philadelphia era, people began to focus too much on socials and not enough on learning and holding onto the truth, hence the apostasy and transition to the Laodicean era. Too much fun and not enough focus on why we were called can actually destroy brotherhood.

Too much fun?  Seriously?  More like people were sick and tired of being treated like crap by top leaders and evangelists. The heavy-handed autocratic directives and rules of various church leaders drove more people out of the church than doctrinal differences ever did. That is one of the reason fewer people went with Rod Meredith than UCG. Meredith has such a horrible reputation that people were disgusted by him. No one wants to relive those memories!

For those who lived through those times, do not allow bad memories of “socials gone bad” to drive you away from attending Church gatherings today.

When properly understood, socials are the necessary glue that holds together our spiritual family.

Orel gets to the gist of the matter now.  Church socials are the vital training ground for RCG members to be kings so they can rule the world!

Personal Development

There are additional hidden benefits that are even more important than just enjoying a good hamburger, conversation and a volleyball game.

Considering we are training to work with countless numbers of people, the most logical place to start is being around others and learning how to be people persons. Socials open the doors to more focused training in this area.

Much of what he says next I can agree with.  It does help the socially awkward at times, but not when it is forced upon people. 

Personality: Many who grew up in a dysfunctional world with its many distractions have tended to lose the age-old art of interacting with other human beings.

This 21st-century plague has fostered debilitating shyness and reclusiveness. This can be difficult to overcome, but attending socials is the best way to do so! This is because Church gatherings allow you to practice outgoing concern for others.

Socials also allow you to learn more about others because you can display personality traits you might not normally show during the more formal setting at Sabbath services.

Service: Socials offer opportunities to serve that you do not always get on the Sabbath. (I have personally never seen more smiles than when people are serving at a social—and it is contagious!) Even if it is serving a sandwich to your brethren, teaching someone to swing a baseball (or cricket) bat, or working with your team to win a game of charades, helping others is an integral part of these events.

Church socials also provide leadership opportunities for future ministers. If they can order people around effectively at a church social then they can be a minister!

Leadership:

 If you desire to lead, you must practice leading. Socials tend to have a lot of moving parts and can offer more opportunities to lead than other Church events. (The Feast is a larger event, however, it contains multiple socials within itself!)

A crucial lesson for all leaders is to expect the unexpected. Nothing ever goes perfectly, so dealing with issues and problems that arise are opportunities to make appropriate judgment calls. Leaders must think on the fly and anticipate anything. Having that mindset really sharpens leadership aptitude.

Orel then goes on to shame those that still don't want to attend social functions. It will hamper their growth in the church and in their lives! Besides, attending church socials is PART OF YOUR CALLING!  Wut?

Danger of Opting Out

Even after knowing the advantages of attending Church socials, there are some who just do not come. But habitually passing up attendance will hamper your growth and development.

Since local socials were implemented long ago as part of our calling (yes, our calling!), they should not be viewed as optional!

We are part of a larger team and socials are part of our training. Sometimes we fall into a one-dimensional mindset that our training only involves “spiritual” activities, and that fellowshipping with brethren is simply “extra credit.” Worse yet, some could think activities like praying or studying would be a better investment of their time than attending a social. They may question what tossing water balloons on a hot summer day or sledding down a hill in the winter have to do with Christianity.

For those members who do not attend RCG socials, it was a way of letting Dave know that they are imbalanced in their personal lives and are self-righteous!  

Remember that this is a sign of imbalance or self-righteousness. Such a mindset cripples the ability to grow as God intended. We need to be well-rounded, balanced and to thrive on variety. The tools of Christian growth are imperative, but they are not the goal of Christians in and of themselves. Instead, the tools should propel you to serve other human beings (especially fellow Christians)—and socials are the place for this to occur!

Some tend to spend more time with their own physical family rather than their spiritual family. This is absolutely against what God has in mind for us. He expects us to prioritize spending time with our spiritual family (see Matthew 12:48-50).

Make Socials a Priority

There is a time for “every purpose under the heaven…” (Ecc. 3:1). Did you realize that many of these listed include social activities? There is a time to “laugh,” “dance,” “embrace,” “speak” and “love.” In most cases, these require being with other human beings!

We must take this personally and make every attempt to attend whenever possible.

I have found brethren are always willing to assist others in getting to a social if the reason they cannot attend is related to finances or transportation. Do not allow pride make you refuse someone else’s help if they are willing to provide.

The pattern of history has painted a wonderful portrait of the importance of local socials. These gatherings are what carry us through the year as we anticipate our annual family reunion at the Feast of Tabernacles.

It really does not matter how big or small the social is, or even what kind it is. The opportunity to do something together is what matters.

Make it your goal to take full advantage of these exceptional times to have fun while continuing your “people training program” in serving others and practicing godly leadership.

Lastly, realize that something very inspiring is unfolding in congregations across the world. Local socials are growing larger in attendance. Also, brethren are traveling to participate in socials in different pastorates. There appears to be a movement—set in motion and inspired by the Father—for all of us to interact more with our spiritual family.

Do not be the person who misses out on this wonderful trend! Do not let another social go by without your important presence.

Your training as a leader will be incomplete otherwise.

So there you have it!  You cannot be a leader in the world tomorrow unless you attend Dave's church socials and marvel at his magnificence. Never has the church seen such a superfantabulous man or church!