UCG Randy Stiver Weighs In On Certain American Holidays

 Randy Stiver has weighed in on certain American holidays and whether or not they are kosher for REAL Church of God members celebrating. Why any ministers feels his opinions on these days are important has always been a question many members asked themselves. Most sat there in church and listen to this drivel and then went out and celebrated those days and even spent time with family at Christmas. Most of these are federal holidays and in this day and age are nothing more than bank holidays.

WHAT IS AMERICA’S BEST HOLIDAY…and WHY?

A commentary by Randy Stiver (11-18-2022)

The U.S.A. has an official listing of its federal holidays (10 in all). But from the perspective of God’s Word and way, which of the 10 is America’s BEST holiday? Let’s review and weigh each one while striving to see it as Jesus Christ sees it.

Official U.S. Federal Holidays (according to days given off work):

New Year’s Day – January 1. 

New Year’s Day was a commonly celebrated holiday in ancient Rome—but it was very distinctly not a true Christian day of celebration. The Roman celebrations were typically drunken, adulterous festivals celebrating Roman, pagan deities. Drunken immorality is profoundly not the conduct of true and faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

PAGAN DEBAUCHERY!!!!!!!!! When UCG had a big presence in the Pasadena area they took full advantage of New Year's activities with the Rose Parade and earned money for their local churches by ushering, parking cars, and selling programs and concessions.

Stiver fails to mention how the Feast of Tabernacles has always been a time of drunkenness, gluttony, and immortality of the true and faithful followers of Jesus Christ (Armstrongite era). Around Feast time certain exCOG groups on Facebook are filled with stories of people about their Feast flings. For many years I worked in the Ministerial dining room at Pasadena's Feast site. The alcohol flowed there like I have never seen in a restaurant or bar. It was amazing to watch certain high-ranking ministers (most of whom went with UCG) get so plastered in one hour that they needed help to walk out the door.

Martin Luther King’s Birthday – the 3rd Monday in January.   

Dr. King was a courageous man of his time. He helped forge an increased level of freedom under the law for vastly more Americans directly and in principle. Recognizing and valuing great leaders of the nation is worthwhile and important but valuing the Word of God is of even greater importance.

Meh! OK to do if you want 

Washington’s Birthday – the 3rd Monday in February

Speaking of courageous men of their times, George Washington became the legendary “father of our country”! The historic, American system of law and governmental function ensuring “freedom for all” was begun during his service as the nation’s first president. He was a great leader, but the day of his birth is still not remotely of the magnitude to be the nations’ greatest holiday.

Meh! OK to do if you want  

Memorial Day – the last Monday in May

Memorial Day began in 1868 on May 30th in the aftermath of the Civil War Between States which claimed more American lives than any conflict in its history. Originally called “Decoration Day,” the observance was later moved to the last Monday in May. Remembering one’s national history and ancestors who forged the path for us today is typically a good thing. On the other hand, if a people ignore the troubled times in their history and the right principles and values they and their ancestors have stood for, then they will also soon forget who they are. Identity is forged in remembering. But God has even greater things for us to remember!

Meh! OK to do if you want. 

Juneteenth National Independence Day – June 19

Rooted in the end of slavery in America at the close of the Civil War between the States, this recently added national holiday is a day of celebrating the freedoms proclaimed in the Emancipation Proclamation. Freedom is a wonderful thing to be treasured by all. And yet, we must always remember the source of true freedom comes through Jesus Christ of the Bible—the true Savior of all mankind.

Meh! OK to do if you want  

Independence Day – July 4

Of all the holidays on this list, Independence Day in America is perhaps the most quintessential. It heralds the nation’s freedom and independence from national oppression.

Of course, this is the PERFECT time to drag out the myth of British Israelism.  

In the Bible Joseph’s two sons Ephraim and Manasseh were prophesied to inherit phenomenal world greatness. Firstborn son Manasseh’s descendants in the end time of this world’s history would become the greatest single nation in world history. The United States of America has fulfilled that prophecy. Joseph’s second born son Ephraim was to become the world’s greatest “company of nations.” The British with its now past but great empire fulfilled that prophecy (see Genesis 48).

American Independence Day marks the separation to the two phenomenal destinies of America and Great Britain.

Maybe Meh! but ok to enjoy and the fireworks are pretty. 

Labor Day – 1st Monday in September

The proverb says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). Jesus backed that prophecy up with His own words, “…My Father has been working until now, and I have been working” (John 5:17). A holiday that celebrates good, hard work—especially the direct and specific work of God is worth valuing very highly!

Laborers in the Church are always worthy of being praised, how else would the church get its money? 

Columbus Day – 2nd Monday in October

When Christopher Columbus sought sail across the sea, he may well have realized that he sailed in the wakes of Jean Cabot under an English flag, Eric the Red and other Vikings, a fair number of adventurous Irish, not to mention King Solomon’s navy of about 1000 B.C. However, in modern times Columbus received the largess of the credit for discovering America.

Meh! OK to do if you want. but reeks of colonialism for many. 

Veterans’ Day – November 11

Likely every nation has such a day of remembrance for their young citizens who gave their lives defending their homeland. The irony of God’s children in one place striving to destroy God’s children in another place is profoundly sad commentary on the history of mankind from the Garden of Eden forward. But such has always been ever since the tragedy of Cain murdering his brother Able (see Genesis 4:1-15).

However, the sadness of war more significantly devolves from the pre-Adamic rebellion of the arch-angel Lucifer against God’s plan and divine rule. Satan and his followers (the one-third of the angels who rebelled and became demons) attacked God’s faithful angels led by the member of the Godhead we know now as Jesus Christ. On God’s own sacred calendar the spiritual holyday Day of Atonement marks that ancient tragedy (see Isaiah 14:12-21; Ezekiel 28:11-19).

Meh! OK to do if you want. Even though we are pacifists we do enjoy watching evil countries get their asses kicked. 

Thanksgiving Day – 4th Thursday in November

Credited to the Pilgrims of Massachusetts in the days of the Plymouth Colony (1660s) when they dined with the native American tribesmen. For the Pilgrims it was a day of thanksgiving for a safe journey to the New World. For the tribesmen it was a peaceful greeting to the newcomers. The modern world’s greatest nation the United States grew from that event. Thanksgiving Day’s true fame comes from the expressions of profound thanks to God for the pilgrims’ safe journey across the sea and for the peaceful reception by the local tribesmen already in North America. O that America and all the nations could just keep that peace! Under Christ and the resurrected saints’ Millennial rule they finally will!

SUPERFANTABULOSO!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO! Use this as a day to celebrate your soon-coming power to rule nations! WOO HOO! Jesus can't rule in the Millenium without your help!

Christmas Day – December 25

This is the supposed day of Jesus Christ’s human birth. However, it’s not only the wrong date—it’s also in the wrong season of the year in ancient Judaea. Winter in both ancient and modern Israel (or Palestine as the Romans called it) was and is a cold season. Shepherds have their sheep in barns at night and they themselves at home in warm beds during the winter. Therefore, the shepherds of the time of Christ would have been out with their flocks during the warmer nights of autumn—but not in mid-winter!

That places the human birth of Christ in the September—October time frame and not in December. The Bible is divinely silent on the exact date, but the season would have had to have been autumn. Jesus Christ knew His mission and His great love for all God’s children. His first coming was to live a perfect life (without sin) and ultimately die for the sins of all humankind—thus providing them the calling to know of and to accept that sacrifice and ultimately be resurrected to live forever in the eternal Kingdom of God.

PAGAN! SATURNALIA!!!!! EVIL!! SATANIC!!! NIMROD!!!! Besides, EVERYONE who is a REAL Christian knows that Jesus was born in the fall time. But we don't really care and that's why we always book Family Winter Weekend in resorts bedecked with holiday cheer with gloriously decorated Christmas trees, Santas, holiday foods, and wonderful music blasting in our ears as we sit around clicking our tongues at all of the paganism and how deceived the poor fools are that are enjoying those sights.

And now America’s Best Holiday selection…

True freedom comes through the spiritual leadership of Jesus Christ. In the inspired words of the Apostle Paul, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). So, which is America’s (or any nation’s) best holiday?

The answer is that none of America’s holidays equate to God’s holy days which are specifically listed in Scripture. However, one holiday more closely harmonizes with the principles of God’s truth in true Christianity—and that would be Thanksgiving Day. “Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, / And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name” (Psalm 30:4).

Remember its true, spiritual roots, and have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving 2022!

Dave Pack: Stand aside Taco Tuesday because No-Salvation November is all the rage.

 

No-Salvation November

 

After a 10-day hiatus, David C. Pack of The Restored Church of God assembled enough Post-it notes of Bible passages to compile the next two parts of “The Greatest Unending Story!”

 

The longer Dave and his two minions are silent, the more desperate they are to scour the Scriptures to find a way to keep their Leaning Tower of Babel from toppling. One wonders how many uncrumpled balls of paper under the table had to be reconsidered to fill three hours of “clarity” this week.

 

Part 404 was delivered via Livestream on Tuesday. Part 405 on Wednesday. After watching both, two consistent themes are reinforced:

 

1) The louder you are, the more true you are.

2) The longer you talk, the more true you are.

 

This is a tried-and-true methodology that has been emulated since before the days of Mr. Behrer’s tapes. 

 

The speculative vanity marathons by Gerald Waterhouse are legendary among Worldwide Church of God alums. He spawned an entire generation of stress-bladder survivors.

 

While Dave has been restraining himself to bite-sized 90-minute chunks, he is still proven to be the master of over-explaining thin narratives. Repeating big lies long enough to cause people to believe it is the RCG Way.

 

Some of the lies of The Restored Church of God include:

 

David C. Pack is being led by God to end The Mystery of God.

David C. Pack is the prophetic “David” of the Old Testament.

David C. Pack is Elijah of Malachi 4:5 and Matthew 17:11.

David C. Pack is the “rushing to make plain” one of Habakkuk 2:2

 

There are other mainstay whoppers, but for examining Part 404, that is a decent primer.

 

 

Part 404 – November 15, 2022

@ 00:45 I wondered ten days ago, when I last spoke…whether, in fact, there would come more messages. Or would we still just wait because I don't see any possible way that you could have Christ here before the first of Kislev, or what would be Thanksgiving…

 

@ 01:11 And I wondered again if there would be more things that would arise. Would some twists and turns occur where we would understand events before that time and, potentially, some things after the month arrived?

 

If you rode the RCG Roller Coaster last week, you understand the instability of RCG thinking. Based on history, if Dave had a message prepared but blew it off at the last minute, it was because he had some big ideas that have since been crossed off the chalkboard.

 

Of course there were going to be more messages. As a non-prophet/non-psychic, I am willing to bet my Magic 8 Ball and Ouija Board that Dave will deliver more in the future. The David C. Pack Road to Nowhere will keep truckin’ into the vanishing point.

 

The wording of “would come more messages” is interesting. Dave still holds to the idea God is placing these thoughts into his head, and he is not the origin of his gobbledygook. Man, when reality finally bitch-slaps some sense back into him, that will be a bitter day on the third floor.

 

@ 01:27 So, I’m gonna conclude with what I know to be correct.

 

The eggnog in your fridge will last longer than a David C. Pack teaching. He always knows how correct he is until time passes and the mold grows on those inarguable ideas. Mr. Correct is incorrect within a few weeks. Sometimes, within a few days. Even other times, before the elevator doors close.

 

 

In Part 403, Dave had to pop the balloon regarding the 1335 not starting, and then it does not even apply to those in RCG.

 

Part 403 – November 5, 2022

@ 1:17:18 We have not hit the 1335. It does not apply to us.

 

After having declared in Part 402 that it did.

 

Part 402 – October 25, 2022

@ 1:27:01 God’s will has been done. You made it to the 1335. The pledge is made on the, dare I say? The correct 1335.

 

Now in Part 404, Dave lets folks know how he knew he was incorrect even before it happened.

 

Part 404 – November 15, 2022

@ 08:32 There was no way we were blessed earlier this month when I first mentioned this before the 15^th of this month. I knew it before we would get to Cheshvan 16 with 15 days to go, I knew that.

 

Woe unto us! The man is a prophet! He figured out his own failure before it came to pass! We are undone!

 

@ 08:47 But I didn’t have time to really clarify that it couldn’t be this month. Well, now you know it can’t because we’re what? About seven days beyond the middle of Cheshvan.

 

Dave has an oral fixation with the word “clarify.” He really means “fix, change, unbreak, walk back, throw out, dismiss, redo, undo, moonwalk, and wish-it-had-never-been-spoken.” RCG members are well-versed in understanding what “clarify” really means.

 

He is also astounded by the facts of physical reality. The truth is made manifest by the passage of time, and he admits it. Welcome to the party, Richter.

 

 

@ 08:59 So, now you know that what I said, and maybe you hoped it was still true, impossible.

 

Meaning, “You dopes believed me. You hoped I was correct. Ha. Fooled ya!”

 

The only consistency with David C. Pack is that his prophetic teachings are false and that he is not a man of his word.

 

@ 09:05 There’s no way we were blessed a week ago. That’s impossible. So, then, what is the 1335?

 

@ 09:16 It has to be the middle of Kislev. But people are described then as being blessed. Well, there no salvation coming in the middle of Kislev.

 

@ 09:31 …what turns out to be a Sabbath in the dead middle of the month of Kislev. They’re blessed because they get there. Not because they get salvation. But because they know that they will.

 

So, the 1335 starting does not mean salvation for the member of The Restored Church of God. It also does not happen in Cheshvan. They are blessed "because they know." So, if they have this incredible knowledge today, why are they not blessed now? Do not hurt your brain with that logical question.

 

Throughout the message, Dave informs the audience without clearly spitting it out salvation is even further away from when they once believed.

 

Stand aside Taco Tuesday because No-Salvation November is all the rage. Remember when he said this so long ago?

Part 403 – November 5, 2022

@ 01:51 Now, more than ever, I can tell you this: Salvation will come in November 2022.

 

The continuous data dump the minds of RCG members have to endure is exhausting to fathom. Even from the last time Dave spoke. All his assurances mean diddly-squat. That is an upgrade from just squat.

 

It is no wonder some at Headquarters no longer bother taking notes. What is the point? Writing down a Dave teaching is a waste of ink.

 

Dave said it. You have to believe it. Dave unsaid it. You have to unbelieve it. Rinse and repeat. Have compassion for those who choose to stay captive inside The Restored Church of God.

 

@ 09:51 …that's exactly what I thought, per us. But then I came to realize for various reasons, the timing didn't fit us, and it turned out I was right, but it has to be for people who are going to get salvation, just as I thought we would. But now we know it has to be in the month upcoming…

 

@ 14:02 Now, it just so happens…In Kislev, another proof we have the right month. The day they touch, boom. Fifteen days into the month. They just touch the edge of the day. It just so happens they’re touching the start of a Sabbath.

 

Dave is talking about Kislev 15, which is Friday, December 9. I never graduated from college, but my limited education tells me December is not in November. See how he squeezed in how "right" he was about something wrong?

 

As best I can interpret, resurrected Christians will receive salvation, not the living members of The Restored Church of God, on Friday as sunset occurs, which "touches" the Sabbath of Saturday, December 10. Again, another "proof" that salvation does NOT happen in November as was previously declared.

 

Kislev is now the “right month.” Not Cheshvan or Tishrei or Elul or Av or Tammuz or Sivan. That’s old news. The Present Truth is all about Kislev. As God always intended. But continues to trick test His people.

 

Dave does not realize that each point he makes to show how he NOW understands God’s plan only reemphasizes how utterly wrong he has been this whole time. He does not like to put as fine a point on that fact. But I will.

 

 

Jumping out of order in the context of Part 404, this later point runs parallel to RCG folks not getting salvation in November.

 

@ 1:09:56 I'm just telling all of you until Christ comes, we are not settled.

 

Dave ran around the Main Hall with a pin popping all the zealot's balloons. So, if there was any doubt after his pronouncement on the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles a month ago, now you know attending did not have the significance he once declared. But as long as you stuffed your green envelope, the trip was worthwhile.

It was very annoying when Dave would un-declare something he previously declared without telling the audience it was an un-declaration. He tells you you made it or the 1335 began, and then, he explains, Nah. Not so much.

 

There is no hint of regret, humility, or shame that he ever did. That is the type of man he is.

 

During Part 398, he seemed pretty convinced of the validity of his teachings.

 

Jesus Christ did not return on the second day of the Feast. The 1335 of Daniel 12 had not really begun. The assurance of salvation evaporated. Everyone had to go home the following week. So, how exactly was that "the best Feast ever," Jaco?

 

 

Some other random big deal for Dave is that the Great Tribulation is back to being ten days, not three and a half. That is another biblical accordion he plays with. It expands and contracts based on need. Biblical math is highly flexible.

 

Even though the 1335 start date is as fickle as ever, Dave is holding firm to the Kingdom of God, arriving on the evening of Thanksgiving. All these other dates into Kislev and some mystery period before Turkey Day have been moving around.

 

***********

To Ryan Denee,

 

When Dave asks you to pass the gravy next Thursday night, tell him this:

 

No. If you believe your own teachings, you will not celebrate a holiday of men you said God would destroy. Sitting at the Thanksgiving supper table is a faithless act on your part.

 

Each scoop of mashed potatoes is another vote of no confidence in your own understanding of God’s plan for mankind. You should be diligently studying your Bible right now in preparation for being elevated as Elijah to address billions of people tomorrow.

 

You clearly do not believe your own words. No gravy for you.

 

***********

 

I hope Ryan gets a chuckle out of that. I know he is not a fighter and would never utter such a thing even though he would be thinking it. As a “minister,” he wants to keep his head down to continue planting flowers as yellow as the spines at Headquarters.

 

No reason to rock the boat. Right, Ryan?

 

Dave may skip attending Services, but the man NEVER skips a meal. He will enjoy the sin of football next Thursday, knowing full well his wife will have to deal with the dishes, rather than taking Jesus Christ’s coat when He knocks on the front door after sunset.

 

David C. Pack is not a man of his word. His words mean nothing. His promises mean nothing.

 

 

@ 28:49 And we’re gonna learn…why this Series was so long and so very hard to sort some things out.

 

It was long and very hard because you are a false prophet, Dave. You are a biblical fraud. God is not opening the Bible up to your understanding so that you can teach His people correctly.

 

The tedious, agonizing circle is marred by your own footprints. Nothing you say matters because nothing you say has any value. Your words are empty poison. The Series shall continue. Watch it happen. 

 

Everyone who has left RCG knows this. It does not take an oracle from God to see it coming. The man who earlier admitted God blinded him still wanders in the darkness. The fakers around him see it, but he does not.

 

You are still blind, David C. Pack. God’s purpose will be revealed in time.

 

 

Dave loves to cover Psalm 89 and how the “David” mentioned is him. It is impossible for it to be anyone else. Therefore, the duty falls upon his shoulders. Take it up with God if you have a problem with it.

 

@ 34:39 “I have found David, My servant, with My holy oil, have I anointed him.”

 

This is God talking to Dave Pack, remember.

 

@ 34:46 Now, if you exalt someone, then he gets salvation. That's what you're waiting for. “I've chosen him.” Many are called, but few are chosen. They get salvation. Chosen is a term for salvation. And, of course, if this is happening to him, it's happening to you.

 

That is a classic Dave Pack Presumptive Assumption Supposition. One word now means something different. Because.

 

He changes the application before your eyes and moves on as if the fact is so self-evident it would be insulting for him to waste his time proving it.

 

He slathers the audience with butter, making it easier to swallow. When something important happens to him, it also applies to the brethren.

 

“It is not just Mr. Pack who gets all these cool big things. We do, too.”

 

That is like when a thief breaks into the ATM machine and gives you a $100 bill to look the other way. This is a greasy salesman approach to perverting doctrine without prompting more walk-outs.

 

@ 35:10 “And I've anointed him.” Now, that's a term for being a high priest.

 

See how narrow the interpretation of anointing has become? It only means "as a High Priest" because he needs it to right now. Do not think beyond the moment to consider the implications of that logic throughout the Bible. No. Stay focused on the here and now and what is only in front of your nose.

 

Here is Dave’s favorite part of Psalm 89.

 

@ 35:16 “With whom My hand shall be established. My arm also shall strengthen him.” So he's mighty. He's strong. He's exalted, and he's chosen, and he's anointed like a high priest…

 

David C. Pack teaches God is saying:

 

Dave is mighty.

Dave is strong.

Dave is exalted.

Dave is chosen.

Dave is a high priest.

Dave doodies in the toilet, not in his pants.

 

Please tell me you saw that last one coming, Steve.

 

No wonder Dave loves Psalm 89. Well, at least until verse 38, when things go sour for that guy, and then it applies to someone else. Wrap your head around that one.

 

@ 35:38 Now, we cannot be describing a regular prophet. There's no way. I know there's “Elijah the prophet before the great and dreadful day of the Lord." But since we know this man is a prophet, there's no way we described a regular prophet. Impossible.

 

You can read Psalm 89 a hundred times and never see the word “prophet” mentioned. That word only appears thrice in the entire book.

 

The way David C. Pack interprets the scriptures is even an insult to 14^th-century Catholic priests. The verses mean what he needs them to at the time he needs them regardless of the words contained within the text.

 

 

How much more “private” can that interpretation be? He makes it all up to fit his narrative. Fantasy becomes fact right in your face like the great magicians of old.

 

Behold! The Great David Magus Pack astounds his audiences with flights of fancy and pitter-patter.

 

 

@ 48:11 As I try to tell the men I work with, there are no new events and no new verses. There are no new ideas and thoughts, just new configurations.

 

The Bible provides an endless playground of Legos to be reshaped each week, making the prospect of “The Greatest Unending Story! (Part 500)” an inevitable occurrence. The Restored Church of God will continue to exist as long as the Common money keeps trickling in. If you stop that water supply, you stop “the work” of David C. Pack.

 

@ 48:20 We’ve studied too long. I know the whole Bible in my sleep…I’m not trying to brag. You’d be the same. But I can study the Bible for all day long and never pick it up. I can do that. So, there’re not any verses or events I don’t know about.

 

Jack Van Impe memorized the entire Bible but could never see the Sabbath. Dave can know the Bible in his sleep and never see what God is actually doing. Both men equate memory with understanding.

 

David C. Pack has become more like Harold Camping than Herbert W. Armstrong.

 

 

Here is one of the reasons people choose to stick with RCG even though they know Dave is full of malarkey:

 

@ 39:26 But, regarding high priests, I mean, Christ said if somebody sits in Moses’ seat, this man is like Moses, you do what he says no matter what he acts like. He might be a viper, but you do what he says.

 

The very thing Jesus Christ warned about has come to pass inside The Restored Church of God. It is what kept some members of The Worldwide Church of God sticking around when that organization turned into Grace Communion International.

 

WCG threw out the true God by changing foundational doctrines.

 

RCG threw out the true God by changing prophetic doctrines.

 

Jesus Christ is not the head of The Restored Church of God today. David C. Pack is. He does not sit in Moses’ seat because they are now The Restored Church of Another god. He does not have God’s authority.

 

The people of RCG follow a man, not God. They believe Dave, not their Bible.

 

David C. Pack has become a human idol for those attending RCG. They got the “mighty man” they always wanted. The King Saul of our time. History has shown it does not go well when you throw in with the wrong side.

 

If you believe David C. Pack, you are on the very wrong side.

 

 

 

The rest of Part 404 contains bits about Joshua, the High Priest of Zechariah 3. There is a resurrection of about 100 billion people coming. The Synagogue of Satan will be unleashed upon the world. Dogs and cats start living together. You know…mass hysteria.

 

That message was undoubtedly worth the 10-day wait. At least, that is what the RCG zealots will post about it.

 

Dave made assertions about a “maybe” event that “could” happen this week before Thanksgiving, but we can let that one go.

 

Keep your eyes on Nothing November, as an analysis of Part 405 is coming soon.

Marc Cebrian

See: No-Salvation November

How It's Done TV interviews Jessica Brown on her exit from Restored Church of God

 

Dawn Blue interviews Jessica Brown and Marc Cebrian on exiting the Restored Church of God,

Politics In Church: The Bad, The Ugly, The Good

 

Of the many divisive issues that regularly hit the church and Christianity the one about politics in the church is a major one, particularly in the last 10 years or so. It's not only an issue in the Church of God movement but across the board in most Christian churches. It also has had a huge impact on Jewish synagogues, Mosques, and other religious bodies around the world. It's not something unique to Americans but we have pushed it to the extreme and made politics into a religious movement all by itself with politicians standing in as God's representative and political stances as representative of true faith and virtue.

Two different viewpoints in the Church of God movement hit my mail today. One from Seth Forrestier and the other from Lonnie Hendrix. What makes this unique and controversial in the Churches of God/Armstrongism is that the church claims to be apolitical with many of the churches telling members not to vote and to refrain from all political ideologies. Yet, in certain groups, like Church of God International, certain speakers cannot shut up about politics and have turned Sabbath services into a political shitshow at times.

This blog and others regularly push their buttons in regard to theology and beliefs, but when you dare to criticize their political stances, Holy Hanna you had better be prepared to be pummeled! Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is a minor sin compared to criticizing their political stances.

Hendrix had this to say about the ongoing Church of God International sabbath campaign rallies:

CGI Pastor Adrian Davis continues to find new ways to insist that he and his allies have a Divine commission to discourse on political and cultural topics. Most recently, he has presented a three-part series of sermons titled "The Joy of the Lord." Now, the title of the series sounds innocent enough - it even gives the impression that Adrian may be returning to a religious theme in his messaging, but nothing could be further from the truth! 

 

In the third installment in the series, Pastor Davis offered an elaborate apologetics for the church's messaging about political and cultural issues. As usual. his message was wide-ranging and long-winded (80 minutes plus). Unfortunately, not only do Adrian and his allies see themselves in the Bible, but they also equate their political messaging with Christ's commission to carry the Gospel to the world. Hence, for him and his allies, any criticism of their messaging is adversarial and constitutes genuine persecution of them and their organization. 

 

In this connection, Davis even had the audacity to compare the pushback that their messaging has received to the stoning of Stephen! He said that just as God had given Stephen a message which enraged folks outside the Church, the message which God had committed to them has enraged the outside world and invited them to isolate and persecute them. Now, for most of us, there is NO equivalency between someone being crucified or stoned and someone being criticized or ridiculed for their messaging. Davis, however, seems to see no distinction between the two!

Sadly, it took the pandemic to bring out the real nastiness in the church with brethren on both sides of the issue. I have tried to stay away from the pandemic and political posts here, but have let a few in over the last couple of years. We have all seen the shitshows they produced, at least from the comments I let through. Some of the vilest and filthy things have not been posted here, and it is shocking to see the kind of things that come out of "converted" true believers' mouths who claim to be followers of the faith once delivered.

Hendrix continues:

In a not-so-subtle allusion to the recent pandemic, he went on to criticize his brethren that "have done everything they could to hold on to this life," and he urged all TRUE believers to remain calm and carry on. For Davis, his anti-vaccination and political messaging is the equivalent of the word of God and testimony that Christ and his disciples were preaching. He said that "God wants those who will not back down." The good pastor then went on to note several "red flags" that real Christians should avoid - like anything related to the "Globalist agenda (WHO, United Nations, WTO), climate change, global, vaccine mandates, and social justice! Funny, I don't remember anything about Christ or his apostles devoting any part of their messaging to those topics! 

 

For Davis and his allies, however, the notion that these things have absolutely no connection to Christ's moral teachings, example, or message about the Kingdom makes absolutely no difference to them! The pastor went on to discuss the destruction of the United States by this administration (Biden) and declared that they are evil! And, just in case anyone doubted that that was an appropriate designation, he invited his audience to have a look at Biden's policies (which he went on to enumerate as abortion, vaccine development, forcing vaccination on children, opening the border, trafficking children, and pedophilia. Davis finished by lamenting the fact that Americans are ignoring all of those horrors and were instead focused on inflation (keeping gas prices lower by draining their reserves). Of course, one continues to wonder why the Canadian pastor of an ACOG is so concerned about what's happening on the political and cultural front in the United States! 

 

Davis declared, "The truth is the truth, and we stand by it." Indeed, he implied that anyone who has any problems with his messaging is in danger of receiving the Mark of the Beast! In other words, Davis and his allies are determined to stick with their political/cultural messaging, and no amount of criticism from within or without CGI is going to detour them from proclaiming it. Unfortunately, CGI continues to provide a platform for Adrian Davis and his allies. Hence, we are forced to conclude that they share the conviction of Davis and his allies that all of this political and cultural stuff is an integral part of preaching the Gospel to the world! Sad - so SAD! CGI's Political and Cultural Gospel (or Bad News)

This viewpoint that politics do not deserve to be part of the culture of the church is one taken by many churches of the world. they too see how divisive and sickening it is at times to their members. Yet, there are others who believe that as politics invades our lives it also affects the church and how the church reacts to certain things.

Seth Forrestier says this:

We had some friends over a few weeks ago, and we were playing a Reverse-Q-and-A game. In response to one particular statement, nearly all of my friends stood on the Strongly-Disagree side and all of their reasons really struck me. 

 

The statement was ‘Political Issues should be talked about at church’. 

 

I, as a skeptic and part-time contrarian was on the Strongly Agree side, all alone. 

 

As you can imagine by my mentioning the story at all, I’m still of the same opinion, but I also COMPLETELY agree with all of my friend’s reasons for taking the opposite position. 

 

While playing this game, I was the only person on that side, so I had the first round of explanation. I said that I believe political issues should be talked about even more at church because ALL things that pertain to life have a way of becoming political. 

 

In response my friends said a few variations of, ‘if you want to define political things that broadly, you’re muddying the idea’. 

 

When they gave their reasons, for their position it was because in most cases preachers are not qualified nor competent to speak authoritatively on political subjects.

I do have to agree with this point. Not only are many COG pastors not fit to be discussing theology, but politics is way beyond their understanding. That's why you will see many COG members in these congregations tune out during services when these rants start and also will NOT read official church materials that contain these same rants.

Forrestier continues:

I cannot disagree with that sentiment, quite frankly most preachers are NOT experts in politics and probably shouldn’t bill themselves as experts in political issues based upon their real or supposed prowess in matters of religion.

Yet, even though I agree with my friends’ position I STILL believe there SHOULD be more talk of political issues in church.

Today I want to take this unusual opportunity to monologue to a captive audience and explore the topic of competence.

I want start with an assumption that I believe most of you share, that is that in some form or fashion, though varied; We (the people of God) are Called (separated, destined) to be a Kingdom of Priests, or Kings and Priests. (Some sort of authoritative group of servant leaders). I kind of want to see a show of hands on that, because I can adjust the starting point if need be.

Do we all roughly, accept (translations and specific meanings aside) that proposition?

When I was young, I was one of those kids that listened in church, I remember a good deal of the messages I heard as a 6 year old onward. One thing that has always stuck in my head, not as a red-flag per-se but as a major curiosity was the doctrine that at the resurrection God will give His people the abilities to do the jobs He prepared them for. This was a universal doctrine in all the churches I was raised in. This was taught in most cases as, ‘worldly education can never give you what you need to be Godly’, and ‘no amount of worldly education can prepare you for what God has in mind for you to do’. 

 

This doctrine was always malleable though, and quite often used in cross purposes to bring about obedience to a myriad of ideas.

I was taught there’s no reason to learn politics because God’s government is different. I was taught there’s no reason to politically fight against abortion because, I quote, “God doesn’t care about the abortion problem in the world, He cares about fixing the sanctity of life in the Kingdom’. I was taught there’s no value in a university education about psychology because it’s all just gobledy-gook and man’s feeble attempts to understand man. I was told there was no need to pursue an education in things that pertain to The Kingdom of God because everything I would need would be given to me when I got there.

As I said, this wasn’t a red flag to me as a 6 or 7 year old, but it always sat on a shelf in my mind glowing and unable to be ignored.

The church has always taken the road that the knowledge of the church is far superior to that of the world and that our focus is not upon the day-to-day concerns of the world but upon a glorious kingdom to come when all of the problems of the world will be fixed. That is why so many COG's have historically never helped in their communities or with their neighbors. Thankfully, a small percentage of COG members bucked that idea and have put their faith into action for decades in the world around them. 

Forrestier continues:

Later in my 20s it began to bother me. In my 20s I started my own business and began hiring people and it occurred to me in several different ways, that what people bring to the table is VERY important. 

 

I got to see the difference between experience, and the willingness to learn. I got to see the difference between “I’ve hung gutter for 3 years” and “I’m a fast learner”.
They are not the same.

It was taught to me, and probably to some of you that we are not and cannot be good enough for God, and there’s an idea that’s extremely pervasive in Christianity, as a whole, that man cannot please God. No doubt there is a scriptural basis for the concept, but the application gets so far outside of context that Christianity believes some very strange things about what man can and cannot do.

One thing the COG has been really good at is making church members feel they are never good enough. God is always just inches away from casting them in the lake of fire. Anytime the church faced an issue or trial it was the member's fault.

There is most certainly a distinction made between the physical and the spiritual in the biblical texts, but does that mean that nothing man can do is good enough? Does the fact that Flesh and Blood cannot enter the Kingdom mean that nothing man can do is good enough to please God, more importantly does that mean that our physical and worldly education, talents, experiences, strengths and weaknesses are immaterial to God’s plan?

The talents of church members have never really been appreciated. If you had a worthy talent coming to Ambassador College you were sent to work in an area that was the opposite of what you were good at. It was all meant to humble you instead of celebrating your worthiness. Anyone who has ever put their faith into action and done good in the world around them knows that their actions have a direct impact upon God bringing forth the Kingdom, one person at a time.

Forrestier goes on to quote Hebrews 11, the faith chapter. He states:

How many Actions were associated with, as the definition of Faith there?

How passive does Faith look in that account? Now, was God just using people as tools in all those cases?

I might be fraying the topic a little bit right here, but we’ll get it all back together soon.

Unless we ignore the words in Hebrews 11, Man’s actions CAN be ‘good-enough’ for God, and the things that are ‘Commendable’ by God are Actions by man.

After some family antidotes, Forrestier continues with the stories of certain Biblical personalities:

Back to Moses, he was just a normal passive guy, right? No! He was a prince... He grew up in a palace that reigned over 6 to 8 million people. He was trained in how to manage large groups. He knew what that looked like. 

 

You could say to this example, ‘that was God preparing him’… fair enough, I accept that and as I will intend to show, it even proves my point. There was worldly education in political and physical things that were necessary for God to use and be pleased by Moses.

What about Samuel? Samuel was quite the character in the old days. I have a tongue-in-cheek favorite scripture in which Samuel ‘hacks’ Agag, a king, to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal and delivers the Clint Eastwood worthy line ‘as your sword made women childless, so will your mother be’. This man was a Kingmaker, he was even an accepted authority ABOVE the king of Israel. He alone was the man-in-charge of ‘foreign policy’! What was his background? 

 

Well, from his childhood he was trained by Eli. There wasn’t a man in all of Israel at the time who knew the writings of God as much as Samuel. He was educated by MAN, Eli and carried out POLITICAL exploits that pleased God.

What about Esther? This is a very not-G-rated story, the account we have is rather muted in its expressions, but the content should not be overlooked. Here is an entirely political situation in which a woman, by being TRAINED by a group of… professionals… used her newly acquired, and apparently exceptional, Human and Physical skills to save an entire race of people… Let that sink in for a moment… as an aside, could a man have done that Job? Also, could that have been done without training, I don’t mean to be crass, but really??

What about Paul? The scene is this: There’s a paradigm shift in the world, Judaism’s time as a torchbearer is over and a new and better covenant is made. Now there’s a need to spread the ‘gospel’, this new covenant needs to be proclaimed throughout the world good enough so that people from now on will know about it... who is most able to do that? Some passive guy who just ‘believes’? NO! The guy who gets so much of the credit is Paul, pray tell, where did he come from?
He was trained… not just trained but educated personally by the most prestigious institution of religious teaching of the time. Not only that, but He was also a practicing member of the Jewish ruling community he was quite literally a religious politician, and the equivalent of a religious lawyer. It is specifically BY this education that he was able to reach the audience he did. If Paul had not been educated in, well versed and experienced in the political system he would have not made it out of Antioch. It was his education that afforded him his audience. It was because he was credentialed that his message was even considered. It was his Experience in his trade that supported him Economically and it was his training and prowess in Jewish and Roman law that opened the doors. It was his ability to speak about the depths of Greek philosophy and make connections to God. It was his Education that gave him and audience.

What I see all of these heroes in the bible have in common is that they were competent. They had or sought the training, they had the experience, training and education necessary to deal with the issues of their time.

Forrestier continues a little later with this:

Here’s where this comes back to the present. We see all these old stories and we read them, and we see that God was present, guiding the situations and we then view the characters as something other than human like us. We see them as heroes who did God’s work. When we do that, we do a major injustice to these men and women and to God. We also exempt ourselves from all responsibility to be competent by say, ‘yeah, well that was God doing all the work’. That perspective was never afforded to any man! All the heroes of the bible were men and women who woke up every morning with the same ignorance about the present and the future that we do, they didn’t know! What they DID do was act, and act in the best way they knew how and in the long run, it’s recorded that GOD COMMENDED THEM for it.

So, what are you going to do? It’s so common to say and to hear “if God wanted me to pursue this or that He’d make it happen” … Is that true? I say no, that’s not how it works, at least at ground level. Do you have an opportunity to become competent in a field? Are you turning it down because it’s not religious? Are you not interested because it’s not perfect and maybe there’s some problems with the curriculum?

One of the things that grinds my gears the most is listening to religious people in scientific or political debates. One of the most nails-on-a-chalkboard debates was Ken Ham, the young-earth-creationist against Bill Nye, the Plays-a-scientist-on-tv-guy. Two ideological blockheads who each dogmatically believe in their own rainbow-colored unicorns. Each arguing nonsense and ignorance in the name of their respective religions. Each of them entirely incompetent in the others’ professed field.

Go back sometime and read about William Jennings Bryan and the Scopes Monkey Trial. This was about evolution being taught in school. As you might have guessed, he lost, and Christians still sound this absurd and convoluted today. Jennings Bryan skewered himself as a complete fool and he took Christianity down with him. His arguments among many other faults, made Freedom of Speech only apply to those who shared his view of Right and Wrong. Which by the way, is the same argument that folks like Matt Walsh make which is why they sound so good on their own platforms but fail miserably in actual public discourse.

So often religious speakers are like this! I hear it all the time, a minister giving a sermon talking about how the Greeks worshiped their gods for instance, and they are COMPLETELY wrong. The minister absorbs or makes up some entirely false idea and preaches as if the Greek people worshiped Zeus like the Muslims worship Allah or the Christians worship God. They speak incompetently in many cases because they were taught that to learn about pagan religion is dilute yourself with error. When the reality is that Paul was only able to speak convincingly to Greeks BECAUSE he know enough Greek Philosophy and Poetry to argue competently with educated Greeks and Romans!

This is precisely why my friends in the Q-and-A did not want to hear ministers talk about politics from the lectern, because in large part people who consider themselves religious authorities are incompetent in political understanding!

The same goes for Child-rearing, Economic planning, which car manufacturers make the most reliable cars, or whether or not to buy bitcoin. Not everyone is competent to teach about such things from a position of authority, and a ‘biblical understanding’ is not a super-piece credential.

To these points, I agree with my friends’ sentiment on that point, what I disagree with my friends’ position is what to do about it.

I started by asking if we all subscribe to the basic notion that we are called to eventually be in some sort of authoritative office. If we believe that as we say we do, we will never be among the class of heroes in the bible by being still and passive and waiting for go to move mountains for us… because that’s not how those people received their commendation either.

The notion that worldly education, even in completely human subjects is not important is not consistent with the stories in the bible.

Each one of here is on a unique path, our lives consist of complex and diverse experiences, and perhaps that IS God moving you and positioning you but if that is the case, it’s not God using you like a yellow pencil… I don’t suggest this analogy won’t break down if taken too far, but it’s something more like chess. I say chess because the player doesn’t control WHAT the pieces do, the pieces control what the pieces do, and the player simply moves the pieces accordingly.
In chess, much like in these biblical stories, not all pieces can make the same moves… and in order to play the game, the player NEEDS certain pieces and the moves they can make. Think, Pharoah, Noah, Moses, Judas, Paul, Esther, Jonah, etc.

It looks to me, like history of God’s people has been like God playing chess with billions of people who just want to be pawns. They only want to move one space and only straight ahead. Maybe, these heroes in the bible stories stand out because the castles, like Abraham took 8 spaces to the left like they were intended to, and the bishops moved, like Paul, all the way across to the opposite corner when no other piece was qualified to be in that position, and maybe the Queens, like Esther, yielded to what would be illegal moves for other pieces in order to overthrow the opposing kings.

Take a look at the world around you, there is endless trouble. Things are wrong, things are broken, people are broken, things are upside down… Who is going to fix that?? Do we not have story after story in the bible of men and women we now call heroes and great that did not sit around and wait for God’s kingdom to come… they VERB-ed like the men and women in Hebrews 11. They got up and left their comfortable positions and did the best they could with the tools they had, and WE EXIST BECAUSE OF THEM. Go back some time and look at the characters in Jesus’ lineage explain to me how they were something other than normal, fallible humans. 

Tell me how a Prostitute ended up a necessary ancestor of Jesus because she broke what WE would consider a sacred law about lying. Explain to me how Phineas stopped a plague from killing thousands MORE Israelites and garnered God’s own praise for spearing two people who were causing the problem?! These stories aren’t anomalies, like we are often prone to argue, these are among the stories of the people of God for a reason.

I’m of the opinion that the stories in the bible are in large part a collection of stories that contrast people who are passive, still and willfully ignorant to those who do the best with and act with what they have.

I want to end with a couple of political issues of our day and propose an alternative way in which we might address them.

Abortion. Abortion is among other things, a political issue, and none of us here are politicians. There ARE, however, some of us here who are midwives. There are also, some of us here who are citizens with the legal right to participate in politics. (which Paul did) There are some of us here have ways of helping people affected by the existence of our current abortion policies. Perhaps, we can drop our unbased and often obnoxious claim to authority on the subject and instead speak about it in terms of ‘what can we do with what we have to make the most impact?’ WHILE we’re doing that, maybe we can learn about politics enough to understand what’s going on behind the scenes.

LGBT issues. I don’t believe any of us in this room are actively a part of that group, but some of us here have connections by way of friends and family. I don’t believe that any of us in this room are biologists by trade, or phycologists for that matter, so maybe we shouldn’t teach about the subject as if our personal understanding of the Old Testament gives us credentials that trump all others. Still, it’s an issue that affect us all, so maybe we should instead talk about the subject in terms of, ‘what can we do with what we have and what we know to help the most people in the best way?’ Perhaps we could read books, and listen to folks who study the issue, not with the intent of believing everything we’re told, but with the intent of understanding just what it is we’re battling. So, So, so often Christians talk about Satan, and how we should know his devices and yet, how many of us know any specifics of what’s happening in this discussion? We blame everything on Satan so blindly that we throw our friends and family into the fire with him, meanwhile, here in reality, there are actual physical things we can do to help those in need of relief from the torture, whether internal or external they live in if we would only learn about it.

How about Technology Like Bitcoin and 5G or the effects of Social Media, or Prognosticating the future political climate... You get where I’m going...

Maybe in these issues, like so many other pressing issues is LEARN ABOUT THE PROBLEM! Perhaps we should devote some time to becoming competent in the subject material. That DOES NOT mean, and I AM NOT suggesting you go out and adopt another lifestyle and see how it fits. What I mean is, maybe talk to those friends and family members who are affected by subjects like these, and actually have a real series of conversations about WHY and HOW they are affected. Then, after learning WHAT the problem is maybe we’ll be a little more qualified when we attempt to spit-ball solutions.

At the same time, if you find yourself as I several times lately, in an inexplicable scenario, don’t turn away from the opportunity to become competent in a new subject matter. If you find yourself in any strange or inexplicable circumstance, don’t pass on the opportunity to learn.

So many of my peers turned down opportunities to go to college or university, or to get married, or to take a job path because they were constantly being taught that the end was near, that worldly education was futile and that God would magically give them all the skill they needed when Christ returned. Don’t let that be us; and let us not be the ones who train our children to be yellow pencils and devoid of a broad education.

The Heroes of the Bible NO DOUBT had God participating in the events of their lives, but that WAS NOT known to them at the time! They were just normal human people like you and me who had some skill set, or experience or talent, or conviction and USED it the best way they could muster. 

 

If we actually believe that the same God is with us, we should ACT by our faith the same way they did before us.

Esther 4:14, Think about this in terms of chess pieces if you will. Also think about the weight of this statement, this is a young woman he raised as his own daughter, this is not a flippant statement to a stranger. 

 

14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Now, Let’s go to Matthew 22 

 

The Parable of the Wedding Feast 

 

22 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants[a] to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ 5 But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ 10 And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

If there is any symbolism in the chronology of this parable (feel free to disagree), we today would certainly not among the first invites, and if you're curious about wedding garments, in Revelation the white garments are explained as 'the righteous acts of the saints'... isn't that exactly what the authors of Hebrews credited God's commendation of the saints on?

There is a great big world out there, there is a LOT of work to be done, and God WILL HAVE IT DONE, if not by us, then someone else. Could it be, would you consider, is it possible that perhaps we were prepared with what we have for such a time as this?

Seth Forrestier – 11-16-2022   Sermon Notes: Such a Time as This

One thing is for certain after reading Forrestier's sermon, the church needs more men like this instead of men like Adrian Davis, Bob Thiel, Dave Pack, and Gerald Flurry. It's time the divisive men are pushed to the wayside and men like Forrestier take over.

If the Kingdom of God is so important as the church claims it should be eager to share that vision and bring that vision into reality in small steps to those around us. That is what will draw people to the church and to God, not endless drivel about Mayans, which political party is right, Germans, prayer rocks, and endless failed prophecies. All the COG seems to do anymore is turn people off. Maybe it is time for new adventurers to take over and head in a new direction because what we have done in the past and presently are doing is NOT working. 

UCG Believes Their Articles Are So Earth Shattering That You Will Give Them Money After You Have Read It

 

Those who have had even the slightest impact being involved in the church know that ultimately NOTHING is free in the church.

UCG apparently now believes that their articles are so mind-bogglingly relevant that you will give them money just for reading. Trying to cash in on the success of Substack they think they can do this with their articles.

After a Mario Sieglie article