LCG Wallace Smith: If Your Husband Tells You to Lie It Is Ok Because You Are Following Government

 

The gist of Smith's argument as I understood it when I listened to it was that Sarah was right to go along with Abram's lie to Pharaoh about their relationship because God's will in the home is for the wife to be submissive to her husband and that if she doesn't support him even if he is wrong, it won't work well because she is not submitting to how God designed His government to work in the home. In The case of Sarah it was argued that God worked it out anyway, and that it is up to God to make the husband realize it if he is wrong. He then launched into the argument for binding and loosing, and equated Weston and the LCG "Council of Elders" with the "Council of Elders" that met in the book of Acts, implying that the LCG council is the one God is working through in the twenty first century.  

I have numerous issues with this approach. First of all Smith is cherry picking examples that he thinks fit his argument and ignoring others. As I mentioned in the other comment I made, Abigail did not go along with Nabal and did exactly what Smith says a wife should not do. In fact she went out without his knowledge and took provisions to David and his men, while Nabal got drunk and partied at home. She didn't inform him of what she had done until the next morning. As a result Abigail and her household were spared from being slaughtered in David's wrath, Nabal fell over dead within ten days, and Abigail then became one of David's wives. So my question is, was Abigail correct in this instance to circumvent her husband's wishes, or should she have just meekly submitted to him even when the servants came and warned her that there was going to be trouble as a result of Nabal's arrogance and foolishness? 

Another issue is the idea that LCG's leadership and council are equivalent to the "council" who met in Acts, and they have a right to bind and loose decisions on how to apply God's law for the rest of the church. If the "church" consists of the entire assembly of believers, and these believers are scattered among numerous groups with different councils and different shepherds, what makes Smith think the decisions of his council carry the same gravity as the group of people who met in Acts? The Apostle Paul didn't even give the meeting in Acts as much weight as Smith gives his council. A reading of Galatians 2:1-10 demonstrates this point. I could also add that reading the rest of the chapter would demonstrate that Paul did not view Cephas or Peter as some pope figure who was above criticism or reproach with the power to bind and loose, even if he was wrong. Galatians 2:11-14 demonstrate this point. 

If we cherry pick scriptures that only fit the scenario we want to promote, this is not gleaning the whole truth of God's word, and can be misleading, because we have left out part of the story. It also isn't honest, which goes to Smith's argument about Sarah. Is it okay to go along with a lie if your husband tells you to, and if so, will God always work things out in your favor, or will you suffer the consequences along with your husband? The story of Ananias and Sapphira might be instructive here. Acts 5:1-11 

Concerned Sister

Dave Pack: I am so desperate for your money that you can donate you BBQ grill and I'll get the cash...after all, everything you own is mine

From the money whores at Restored Church of God. Never has the church seen a more money-obsessed COG than with Dave Pack.

Your Offerings and Donations Are Making a Difference!

The Restored Church of God is reaching millions of people every year with the gospel of the kingdom of God. This Work is made possible by the voluntary, freely given tithes and offerings of the members of the Church and by offerings and donations of co-workers and donors around the world. This Work could not be accomplished without your support.

Over the years, we have been asked if automobiles, boats, stocks, even homes could be donated. The Church has not been in a position to accept such non-cash or “in-kind” gifts before, but that is no longer the case. In a giant step forward for the Work of God, The Restored Church of God can now facilitate all types of non-cash donations through the services of iDonate.com, which provides more options to give to the Work of God.

For an idea of what iDonate can do, here are some examples of non-cash gifts accepted by the service for other non-profits:

• Grain: A farmer decided to donate a portion of his business inventory, which was grain ($306,000).
• Designer Handbag: A girl used her Louis Vuitton handbag once, but decided to donate it ($950).
• 2005 Honda Shadow: After losing her husband, a widow donated his motorcycle for which she had no use ($4,166).
• Chaparral Ski Boat: Another woman wanted to sell her ski boat, but dreaded the selling process and instead donated it ($14,000).
• Lynx 54” Portable Grill: One man donated his gently used grill when it came time to sell his home ($4,500).

Donating Non-Cash Items Is Simple!

To make non-cash donations go to the Member Services section of rcg.org and click the iDonate tab under “Member Options.” (Our co-workers can contact The Restored Church of God Headquarters by phone at 330-334-2266.) You will see icons under “Ways to Give.” Then click on the icon that best matches the donation you would like to make.

You will be prompted to enter some general information about your item(s) and iDonate takes it from there.*

If your item is accepted (not all are), you will receive further instructions by email.

Upon completion of the sale, proceeds are transferred to the Church and you will receive a receipt. (Note: Due to the nature of IRS guidelines regarding charitable contributions, you may or may not receive an actual dollar amount on your receipt.)

Your cash or non-cash donation can have a powerful impact on a world searching for answers. We thank you for your support.

*The Restored Church of God is not involved during any part of the non-cash donation process. The iDonate company performs a service for the Church—turning non-cash donations into funds, which allows the Church to continue preaching the gospel to the world. If you have any questions about how to donate your non-cash items to The Restored Church of God, contact the Fundraising Department at 330-334-2266.

LCG Member Readership Here Jumps Due To Weston Kicking Monson and Fritts Out Of LCG

 

Every once in awhile a loyal LCG member will pop on here and make the accusation that no one in LCG reads this site. We know that is not true.  

The day Rod Meredith said from the pulpit for members not to read this blog, the viewership shot up.  

Articles on Living Church of God and Restored Church of God draw the most views.  

The recent article about Weston firing and disfellowshipping  Monson and Fritts is now at, 2,590 views. 

LCG members know they never get the full story when news comes out of Charlotte. COG leaders have never been transparent with things that go on in their groups. It is actually pretty pathetic that LCG members have to come here to find things out their own church.

LCG: Trust Us For Wise Council - NEVER Trust Your Own Judgement! It Is A DANGEROUS Human Tendency!

 

The Value of Counsel: One of the common pitfalls in life is trusting in our own judgment when we only see part of the picture. When we make decisions or take actions based on how we see a situation, the results can be costly to ourselves and to others. This is why Solomon wrote in Proverbs 3:5, “lean not on your own understanding,” and in Proverbs 3:7, “Do not be wise in your own eyes,” and again, in Proverbs 28:26, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool.” Solomon also warned in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” These multiple warnings in Proverbs were recorded to alert us to a dangerous human tendency. To help us avoid making serious mistakes in life, Solomon advised in Proverbs 11:14, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety,” and again in Proverbs 15:22, “Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.” This is one of the reasons we have a Council of Elders in the Church of God. As individuals, we can obtain wise and valuable advice by prayerfully studying the book of Proverbs and by seeking counsel from parents, the ministry, and from more experienced friends and associates who can be objective and help us see a bigger picture that we perceive on our own.     

Have a profitable Sabbath,

Douglas S. Winnail

Melvin Rhodes: The Age of Ignorance?

 

The Age of Ignorance?

Mel Rhodes has posted a piece that appears to be a rebuttal to my post "Faith of Our Fathers: A Racist Legacy." His post, "The Age of Ignorance," opens with a tribute to Handel's The Messiah (with which I have no problem). He wrote: "Today, we live in what can best be described as the age of ignorance.

Whatever the issues of the day, Black Lives Matter, slavery, and abortion, to name but three, a great deal of ignorance abounds. Gone is the grounding people once had in the Christian scriptures. Now, people spout their opinions, whatever they may be, exposing their ignorance on all topics.

The secularists may still appreciate the Hallelujah Chorus, for the inspiring music, but gone is the faith of their ancestors. It has been replaced solely by ignorance."

My first date with the mother of my children was on the occasion of a performance of The Messiah at the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Then, as now, I felt inspired and appreciated the allusion to the fulfillment of God's plan for humankind as outlined in the Judeo-Christian Bible. Hence, my admiration for this composition could never be described as being secular in nature.

And, although the first two Hanoverian kings of Britain recognized Handel's talent, neither of them could fairly be characterized as "Christian" kings - unless we are using that term in the generic sense - as in, Donald Trump is a "Christian" president. George I was an adulterer who imprisoned his wife for seeking solace in the arms of another and had several children with his mistress.

Likewise, George II had several mistresses and was estranged from his father and heir (the Prince of Wales) for many years. Both George's were crude, vindictive men who spoke little English and used the British throne to further the interests of their principality in Germany (NCK objected to my characterization of it as a minor principality in the previous version of this post). Moreover, as far as the "Divine Right of Kings" is concerned, the only reason the Hanoverians ascended the British throne was that Parliament had barred the legitimate heir to the throne from the succession because he was a Roman Catholic!

In fact, the quotation from Dr. Roy Atwood is a perfect example of the kind of sentimental/nostalgic/fairytale history that I referenced in my post. For those who are interested in correcting the errors of their forefathers, the solution is relatively simple. It only requires a little intellectual curiosity, an open mind, a desire to be a better person and faith in God's ability to transform and forgive.

See Mr. Rhodes' post here

Lonnie Hendrix