Open
Dialog presented 3 June 2011
Subject: “I’m stuck in the ICG.”
I receive a number of messages during the week from all kinds of sources,
including members and those in the world. I receive them from members mature in
the Salvation Process and those not so mature in every subject or element of the
Salvation Process.
I received a message this week in which the individual said, among other things,
“I’m stuck in the ICG.” I was immediately offended by this statement as it is
an affront to Almighty God who established Godly Calling and brought said
member to an organization He clearly made and maintains.
The statement, “I’m stuck in the ICG” sounds to me like an attack on the
church. It shows disdain, which means to regard with haughty contempt or scorn.
Are we “stuck” in the ICG? Let us look at the scriptures once again on Godly
Calling:
Romans 8:28-30
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover
whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also
justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
2 Timothy 1:9
Who hath
saved us, and called us with an holy [pure] calling, not according
to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in
Christ Jesus before the world began. [emphasis mine]
Ephesians 1:11
In whom also
we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of
him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own [pure] will:
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no
flesh should glory in his presence.
Godly Calling is all inclusive and every aspect of it is pure and holy. God
established the Body of Christ and the several true church organizations. His
work in this was pure and holy. Granted, He is carrying out the Work of the
church through fallible human beings but the Work He is carrying out through the
firstfruits and the church is pure. We are not stuck anywhere. We are by grace
and the precious blood of Jesus Christ in a specific place, in a specific and
unique process in a specific church organization. We are being trained to be
just like God the Father and Jesus Christ and to have a Kingdom perspective.
The person went on to declare they had a right to know certain and specific
things and/or that somehow the church was withholding information, facts,
booklets and DVDs from them.
Does such a statement pass Good Theology? That is, would the church ever be
justified in knowingly withholding facts, information, booklets or DVDs from a
firstfruit of Almighty God? The answer is plain: No it would not.
The church organization also has a Godly Calling and that is to spread the
gospel and feed the flock. Therefore, the church is a servant to the
firstfruits called to that organization. God is judging the administration of
His church by these humans He has placed within that administration. They gain
nothing physically or spiritually by entering into a conspiracy to withhold
information or DVDs from its members.
Long before a firstfruit is willing to bring these kinds of statements before
the church, they should make simple inquiry to ascertain what might be going
on. For example, if they were receiving DVDs and now are not, they should
contact Headquarters and make sure the DVDs are being shipped. As to specific
information, there are sources for that information. Begin by contacting your
local minister, your Area Coordinator, or specific individuals at Headquarters
which might include office staff, Mark Armstrong, Stan Roberts or members of
either the EA or ICG Boards.
Reference the letter we did on the Church and the Ministry and those who bring
accusation against them from within the church.
http://www.icgchurches.org/Portland_OR/Bible_Studies/Bible_Study_5_Notes/Letter_Answering/Letter_Answering--Church-attacks_from_within.shtml