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Quirky Ideas Exposed
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Hardly a week goes by that I do not receive an e-mail from someone,
[almost always outside the ICG[,
that has what I call a quirky idea of some kind. These ideas
relate to prophecy, the Salvation
Process and/or the Plan of God. I will be discussing these here.
A quirky idea is one that is bizarre, erratic, peculiar, unnatural or
just plain screwball. More to the point, it is an idea not founded
in nor supported by the Word of God. Many do not survive
Spiritual
logic.
This Notebook piece may never be complete, as I will continue to post
these type of ideas here as I receive them. Let us begin.
| Getting
Literature from other church organizations |
Any firstfruit is free to read anything he
or she desires. They may watch any sermon or visit any
church web site they desire. They may fellowship with
anyone they wish. Same goes for any book, radio or TV
program, newscast, movie or seminar. These decisions are
the private business of the firstfruit standing before the
throne of God. Having uttered this disclaimer, I want to
discuss the single issue of requesting, receiving and reading
documents from other churches claiming to be true churches of
God.
When you take possession of that document, you set in
motion a biblical mandate and admonition to which you must adhere.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is
good. –1 Thessalonians 5:21
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing,
but inwardly they are ravening wolves.Ye shall know them by
their fruits. –Matthew 7:15-16a
It is not going to be enough to prove the contents of the
booklet you ordered. You are going to have to prove the
church and the ministry that provided it. Just how are you
going to do that? What kind of time will it take? Do
you have this kind of time? About the only way you are
going to be able to do this is to prove their doctrines,
teachings, missions, and message. To do this, you will
have to survey a number of their booklets, documents, sermons
and most of the content of their web site [s]. Is this your
calling? What if one is requesting literature from half a
dozen organizations?
The next question one might ask is, "Why did you order the item
you did?" Does the church you are attending already have a
booklet on the same subject? Why would you prefer one from
an outside source to the one of the organization to which you
were called? If the church you attend is a true church of
God, the literature must reflect the truth of the Word of God
and you must have already proven this. There is only one
truth. What is the best you could expect from a booklet
from an outside source?
What generally happens is we see the firstfruit getting
confused, full of question and doubt and unknowingly embracing
false doctrines. Once this happens they often become a tool of
Satan for spreading discord among the brethren.
We have no biblical mandate to seek literature from the
outside. This practice is full of pitfalls. It is
clearly outside the calling God gave to each of us.
See:
It's All About
Godly Calling
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| "We
are carrying on the Work of Herbert W. Armstrong." |
I marvel at the number of church
organizations, who
say they are the only authorized church on the planet to
carry on the Work of Herbert W. Armstrong. What
work is that? If they are carrying on the Work of
Herbert W. Armstrong, what Work was Herbert W. Armstrong
carrying on? Wasn't he doing the Work of God? I
know that he was. Therefore if there is a true church
of God on the planet today, they are doing the Work
of God and not that of Herbert W. Armstrong.
This Work is not and never has been about Herbert W.
Armstrong. He never created or established any truth
and he did not invent the gospel message. He was a
servant of God and a slave of Jesus Christ fulfilling the
calling God gave to him. With his death, the true
church of God continued. The leaders of those churches
are doing the Work of God and not some servant of God.
For we are his workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them. –Ephesians 2:10
I won't speak for these other churches, but the ICG is
carrying on the Work of Almighty God.
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| "In
the Place of Safety, we receive the 'final grooming or
training' before Christ returns." |
The ICG does not teach the idea of a
specific place of safety, knowing that God can protect us
anywhere at anytime. Further, we do not believe any
firstfruit should be contemplating saving his or her own
skin. However, there are people in the Body of Christ
who are taught this idea. As a justification, they are
taught that it is a place of final grooming or teaching.
My question is simple: What final teaching? Does
anyone have a class schedule or a document describing the
content and scope of this training? In what form would
it come? Who would be the teachers? Why do these
final few need this special training? If one is in a
place of safety, what is the next great event in his or her
life? Well, let's see, it's the return of Christ and
the First Resurrection. This being the case, why do I
need special training in a cave in the hot desert just prior
to becoming a perfect spirit being?
My wife died in the faith back in 2002. Thousands of
saints lie in the grave, as I write, waiting for the First
Resurrection. What are they missing by not getting in
on this final training? Do those so blessed to get
this training receive greater reward or position in the
Kingdom of God. If so, why?
Where is the biblical description of this training?
Where is the principle, prophecy or indication that this is
to happen in the end time? I cannot find it anywhere.
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| Preparing
for the Great Tribulation |
I often receive e-mail asking for
procedures and recommendations for preparing for the Great
Tribulation. Most of the questions focus on laying in
a supply of food and water. I have contemplated this
issue for some time. My conclusion is there is
absolutely no physical thing one can do to prepare for the
Great Tribulation. I have many reasons for this
belief. I will offer these reasons in the form of
questions:
1] How does one procure and store and protect 3.5 years of
food for a family of four [the
national average]?
2] If you are compelled to flee, how could you take the food
with you?
3] How does one prepare for war and our country being
invaded?
4] How does one prepare for massive nuclear attack?
5] How does one prepare for types of pestilence such as the
world has never seen?
6] How does one prepare for massive earthquakes?
7] How does one prepare for the seven last plagues?
I have no opposition to someone storing food and water as a
normal exercise in stewardship and being prepared for
natural disasters and other unforeseen circumstances.
The Great Tribulation, however, is not a natural disaster or
unforeseen event. It is three-and-one-half-years of
war, famine, pestilence, earthquakes and destruction such as
has never been seen in the history of mankind.
For then shall be great tribulation,
such as was not since the beginning of the world to this
time, no, nor ever shall be. –Matthew 24:21
How does one prepare for an event such as this? How
does one prepare for pestilence, famine, earthquakes and
atomic bombs all at the same time? The Great
Tribulation will be a time of absolute faith in God for each
and every day that passes. He will provide the food,
the water and the protection we need according to His will.
At the same time, certain of us will be selected for special
service, that of being a martyr for Jesus Christ. God
will provide for them too. Notice what God says to
these martyrs:
But when they deliver you up, take no
thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given
you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is
not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which
speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the
brother to death, and the father the child: and the children
shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be
put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my
name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
–Matthew 10:19-22
If there is no preparation needed for the martyr, why should
there be some for the one that endures the
three-and-one-half years of tribulation?
But when they persecute you in this
city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye
shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son
of man be come. The disciple is not above his master, nor
the servant above his lord. –Matthew 10:23-24
Therefore take no thought, saying,
What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal
shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do
the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye
have need of all these things. But seek ye first the
kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you. –Matthew 6:31-33
We have one biblical mandate for the Great Tribulation and
that is to endure in the Salvation Process and to keep our
eyes and heart on the Kingdom of God. We do this and
God will take care of the physical.
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| Gnostics
alive and well in the Body of Christ |
Running throughout the Body of Christ
are what I call neo-Gnostics. A Gnostic is one who
values the revealed knowledge of God. The problem is
only the Gnostic receives it. What they receive is,
therefore, secret knowledge. Secret knowledge sets the
Gnostic separate from the normal believer in God and
somewhat higher. Since they have the secret knowledge,
they see themselves as most righteous. The problem
with Gnostics is they are compelled to indoctrinate and
convert you to this revealed knowledge. In doing so,
it is their aim to demonstrate their righteousness and
establish control over you. They are generally full of
passion for this inside knowledge and are incensed when you
will not accept what they have to say. These people
cannot and will not be deterred nor discouraged from their
beliefs. They will keep repeating, "Can't you see
it?" "This is the absolute truth of God that no one is
teaching but that is essential to eternal life."
Gnostic beliefs generally attract individuals who lack true
conversion, those who have fallen from the Salvation Process
or one in a severe backslide within the faith.
Having secret, inside or newly revealed knowledge makes one
feel spiritually special and righteous. They often see
themselves as a special agent sent by God to correct the
church and/or to convert the brethren. Neo-Gnostics do
not keep the secret information secret.
In recent decades, the revealed knowledge usually has
something to do with New Moons, Sacred Names and/or the
Godly Calendar. I have also seen it involve Polygamy,
Animal Sacrifices, Three days and Three Nights, the Sixth
Hour and how one should be observing the Passover [or Lord's
Supper]. We have papers posted or available on each of
these subjects.
There is no room for Gnostic beliefs in the Church of God.
MP3
See
Newly Revealed Knowledge
See How Does God Correct the Church?
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