Why do COG members still feel the need that they still have to go to the ministers for answers?

We are heading down the slope into 2021 and after decades of upheaval in the church and with so many splinters filled with self-appointed lying men, why do some members still think they must go to the ministry to get answers to their questions?

After all that they have witnessed over the decades in the break up of the Worldwide Church of God into hundreds and hundreds of little splinter groups, all led by men whom Herbert Armstrong would have slapped silly for their self-important arrogance, to the latest blasphemous baloney from Flurry, Pack, Weinland, and Thiel, one would think that members and ex-members would have the mental capacity to make a decision on their own about the current state of affairs in the church.

Sadly, that is still not the case. There are still floundering people out there wandering around STILL looking for that right church to belong to. Still looking for a man to tell them what to do. Still incapable of making a decision on their own, so they run to any false teacher they can find to validate their indecision.

Several hours ago, I received an email from a former Worldwide Church of God member that included the following:

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SOME ISSUES OF MR. …. BELIEF AND APPARENTLY YOU DON’T AGREE WITH.  I DON’T THINK THAT ANY OF THESE CHURCHES AGREE WITH OTHER SO WHO DO YOU GO WITH? …
SOME OF GERALD FLURRY’S TEACHINGS ARE COMPLETELY WRONG AND HE’S GONE FAR OUT ON SOME THINGS SUCH AS ARMSTRONG’S STONE REPLACING JACOB’S.  MANY, MANY PLACES IN THE BIBLE STATES THAT CHRIST IS THAT ROCK AND IT’S SPIRITUAL.  CHRIST DOESN’T NEED A ROCK.  FLURRY BASED HIS THEORY ON THE IDEA THAT COME KIDS STOLE JACOB’S ROCK FROM ENGLAND.  THAT’S AMAZING SINCE IT WEIGHS OVER 350 LBS.  I’VE READ OTHER LITERATURE THAT THE STONE IS STORED IN SCOTLAND.FALSE PREACHER #1
I SAW A DAVID PACK SERMON ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE 2 WITNESSES .  HE SAID THAT THEY ARE IN HIS CHURCH RIGHT NOW.  I BELIEVE HE’S NOW PULLED THAT SERMON BECAUSE I COULDKN’T FIND IT NOW. FALSE PREACHER #2
I SAW A SERMON BY THE LIVING CHURCH OF GOD ABOUT THE MARK OF THE BEAST AND THE PRESENTER SAID WITHOUT HESITATION THAT THE MARK OF THE BEAST IS SUNDAY WORSHIP.  PERIOD.. HE MADE NO MENTION OF ANY MARKS ON YOUR BODY OR 666.  SABBATH MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT, BUT THERE WILL BE OTHER FACTORS.  YOU LEFT BECAUSE OF DOCTRINE. I’LL  ????????? ….
NOW I COME TO …  A FALSE TEACHER …
YOU SEE HOW A PERSON COULD BE DECEIVED?
PLEASE ADVISE

This still questioning person had the ability to at least slightly perceive that Flurry, Pack, and LCG are wrong, and yet they run to one of the biggest liars the church currently has in it for an answer, Bob Thiel.

Here is what the great Dr. told the person:

Anyway, here is what I responded to the former WCG member with:

Dear …:
As I have repeatedly written at COGwriter, I doubt that David Pack or Gerald Flurry are converted.
I consider that the only COG that is Philadelphian is the CCOG–though not all in CCOG are Philadelphian and there are Philadelphians not in CCOG–but no other COG represents the continuation of Philadelphia.
You should use God’s criteria, and none other to decide.
Here are two links you should read and pray about if you are truly serious:<

1. How does the Continuing Church of God differ from other Sabbatarian COG groups?
2. Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?

But most refuse to believe and use their own standards.
Best regards,
Bob Thiel

Of course, he is going to say Flurry and Pack are wrong.  How could he say anything less? To do so would take the spotlight off his amazing wisdom. After all, no human in the history of the world has ever been more set apart for the job of leading the church than the reincarnated Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Habbakuk, doubly-blessed, and self-appointed prophet Bob has dreamed into being. Remember that Dr. Eljah Bob's theological understanding is so far advanced that he felt the need to correct Rod Meredith and the Living Church of God.  When Meredith publicly rebuked Thiel from the pulpit and kicked him out of the church, the Great Elijah rose up in self-righteous anger due to the utter humiliation he felt. That's what started this whole shit show of absurdity.

As usual, the Great Bwana identifies his little group as the one and ONLY true church. The true heir of the so-called Philadelphia era of the church.

I consider that the only COG that is Philadelphian is the CCOG–though not all in CCOG are Philadelphian

Dr. Elijah Bob is right about one thing though, COG members and ex-members should use God's criteria and throw Bob's perverse theology and self-aggrandizing ministry back into the stinking pig trough where it came from.

All the pearls in the world cannot dress up an unclean pig especially when it wallows in some of the worst theological pig slop imaginable.

We must never forget that there is no COG leader on the face of the entire earth who is more converted than Dr. Elijah Bob, the Great Bwana, and savior of Africa. 

LCG on the widow's mite and clergy abuse. WUT?

Living Church of God's Ken Frank has an entry up on LCG's "Living Education", that sad stepchild of the now-defunct Living Univerity. 

You remember Living University, don't you? It was that super amazing, mind-boggling institution of higher learning that was the best thing God had ever imagined on earth. They even brought back Michael Germano, the Chancellor of two previously failed universities to run it. Three's the charm, Bro!

Anyway, Frank's article is about "clergy abuse."  Seriously! 

LCG talking about clergy abuse, who would have ever imagined!  

Don't hold you breathe boys and girls, it's not about abusive LCG clergy, but those bad boy Pharisees. 

We all know that LCG clergy has NEVER been like those bad Pharisees! Have they?

David Guzik in his Enduring Word Commentary explained the widows’ poverty: “In that day, a Jewish teacher could not be paid for teaching – but he could receive gifts. Apparently, many scribes used flattery and manipulation to get big gifts from those who could least afford to give them – such as widows.” The scribes were highly respected in their society whether they deserved it or not. Jesus explained that at least some were less than honorable in their teachings that encouraged people to financially support them generously. Guzik continues: “The Jews of Jesus’ day taught that teachers were to be respected almost as God; they said that they deserved more honor and respect than any other people in life did. They taught that the greatest act someone could do is give money to a teacher. Of course, it was the teachers themselves who taught this!” 

Jesus commended this widow for giving more in proportion to the treasury than all the wealthier donors who gave of their abundance (literally, “superabundance”). According to the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, “These rich men do not seem to have been observing the injunctions both sacred and Talmudic to give secretly, Mat. 6:4; Mat. 6:18.” By contrast, Jesus warned in His Sermon on the Mount against a loud, public display of one’s generosity: “Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward (Matthew 6:2).” Jesus’ words “do not sound a trumpet before thee” are explained by The Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary: “The expression is to be taken figuratively for blazoning it, Hence, our expression to ‘trumpet.'” These religious hypocrites did all they could to create an ostentatious display when they contributed to the treasury. 

No wonder Jesus denounced such hypocrites. Albert Barnes in his Notes on the Bible declared, “If there is any sin of special enormity, it is that of taking advantage of the circumstances of the poor, the needy, and the helpless, to wrong them out of the pittance on which they depend for the support of their families; and as God is the friend of the widow and the fatherless, it may be expected that such will be visited with heavy condemnation.” These sobering words warn every religious leader against uncaring fund-raising from impoverished donors, especially if the leader’s income depends on it.  We all will be wise to remember these words of the Psalms, “Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation (Psalm 68:4-5).” 

No sirree! LCG would NEVER try and milk members down till they had nothing to give and still expect them to give. That would NEVER happen, would it? Three tithes, tithe of the tithe, building fund, special offerings, co-worker/member appeal letters, fast offerings, and "the final push". They would never abuse their own members into continually giving money, would they?

Which Church of God Would Jesus Choose?

When Jesus Christ returns to this earth many leaders in the Church of God seem to think he will be returning to their specific church.

Gerald Flurry has the new throne Jesus Christ will return to and sit upon in Oklahoma.  Dave Pack has the most superfantabulous church headquarters ever built in the entire history of civilization, THE place where Jesus Christ is coming to walk with Dave as they plan His 3rd coming.

What is a church member to do?  How will they know which church Jesus Christ approves of? Or, rather it should be asked, does he approve of any of them?

With the death of James Malm recently, the winnowing down on which is the true church keeps getting smaller and smaller.

Never fear though, we have a new animated video up to tell us WHICH Church of God Jesus Christ is most favorably impressed with.

I hate to post this so that he gains viewer clicks, but this is so incredibly STUPID and historically bad that it is beyond belief.  Bob Thiel plays himself in the animation.  Woah nellie, just take a listen!

Remember this is a man who claims to have a real Ph.D. from a real university where he had to defend his dissertation before a board of highly qualified men and women in the subject he supposedly has his doctorate in.  I have a feeling that when he thought he heard he would have to defend his dissertation he actually heard, "go to the dessert station." 

After listening to the above animation this man makes it quite clear he is NOT a speaker. This is the worst thing he has done.

It is no wonder Jesus has not returned if this is what he has to come back to!