Church of God News

In its latest commentary, titled What’s Ahead for America?, UCG’s John Ross Schroeder writes:

Sensing a weakness of will, adversarial nations appear to be ganging up on the United States. Is America on its way to becoming a second-rate power?…

Alan M. Webber is founding editor of business magazine, Fast Company. On a recent business trip to Europe he heard some disturbing thoughts about the United States. At one gathering in Austria the observations came in the form of laments. “You used to be such a great country…What happened to the great idea that once defined America?”

Now consider Mr. Webber’s comment on America, viewing the country from afar: “You realize how far the United States has drifted from its promise, how large the gap is between what we profess and what we do…how diminished our economic superiority has become; and how worn our once impeccable image has become.”

The dollar is currently viewed as a second-rate currency in Europe. The euro is looked at as towering over the once vaunted American dollar. Alan Webber asks: “Is there a point where diminished prestige actually becomes diminished economic leadership?”

Summing up he concluded: “In America, it’s business as usual. We’ve simply learned to accept our way of life, rather than confronting the reality of our decline. Maybe that’s what happens to once-rich, once-powerful superpowers as they gradually decline. They lose track of their own standards” (USA Today, October 19).

Most disturbing today is the stubborn persistence of our moral problems: abortion, pornography, adultery, male and female homosexuality and out-of-control national and personal debt—to name just a few. In response to the recent tragedy at Virginia Tech, one correspondent wrote to a major American newsweekly: “Why does it perplex us when these violent eruptions take place? One needs only to channel surf the television any night of the week to see show after show dealing with murder, rape, stalkers, violence toward police, gangs, war and domestic violence.”

We don’t seem to want the Ten Commandments in our schools or in our public buildings. We break all ten of them in ways we don’t even realize anymore. Yet they provide the crucial key to a much needed moral awakening. Summing up God’s spiritual laws as revealed in the Bible, they reflect proper love and respect for both God and neighbour.

While you and I cannot change the world, Jesus Christ does tell us that being a light to the world is important (Matthew 5:14-16). To be a proper example each of us needs to apply the moral values embodied in the Ten Commandments. We also need an understanding of what biblical prophecy reveals about the moral decline of the United States and other Western nations and the results we can expect from it.

Comments by COGwriter:

While I do not agree with a one or two points above, it is true that the United States is past its peak and has entered an up and down period which is expected to result mainly in decline.

The Europeans, however, are still not the world power that some think they are as they simply do not have the military power that the major superpower needs to have (though they have more military power than many seem to realize).

However, once the Europeans have further developed their military abilities (which I have tended to figure will be close to when their Galileo satellite positioning program is functional), they will be a real force to be reckoned with.

Both biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies state that a great military leader will rise up in Europe and conquer the English (and while Catholics tend to think that only includes England, we in the COGs believe that this will mainly include the English-speaking Anglo-Saxon-Celtic peoples, such as those in the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand also). 

While  Roman Catholics  seem to be looking forward to this “Great Monarch”, we in the Churches of God believe that this military leader will be what the Bible refers to as the King of the North and is the ten-horned Beast of Revelation who is ridden by a non-chaste woman (Europa).

Interestingly, as shown before, the Europeans still have a coin showing the woman riding the Beast:

In needs to be understood that the Euro will have some tough times, especially if Catholic prophecies that show future civil unrest in Europe are correct.  But inspite of the fact that Europe is also having its own problems and is not yet truly united, Bible prophecy indicates that it will rise while the USA will fall. 

As for the United States, short of full repentance which does not seem likely, it is destined to be destroyed by this European Beast power.

Repentance involves changing from doing things contrary to God’s ways and accepting them.  That includes the ten commandments which even most Protestants do not actually believe that they need to keep.

Two articles of possibly related interest may include Hope of Salvation: How the COGs differ from most Protestants and Modern Nations and God’s Ancient Plan.

TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH 

In the latest issue of WCG’s Together (News of the Worldwide Church of God) had the following as part of two articles:

• GenMin seminars have equipped hundreds of children’s and teen ministry leaders and workers. Many new congregational ministries have been birthed.

• GenMin Servants Passage is training and coaching over 500 congregational leaders and workers as they participate in an extended journey of growth in ministry by means of church-based “mentoring communities.” ……….

GenMin Connection seminar

Ted Johnston, Generations Ministries director, held a Connection seminar in Harrisburg, PA, on August 18. Twenty-five pastors, youth ministry workers, parents and grandparents spent the day exploring the ministry environments and strategies that celebrate and develop the connection that young people have with the triune God in Jesus.   

Connection discusses WCG Trinitarian theology and its application to ministries with and through children, teens and young adults.  

Comments by COGwriter:

My questions is, when WCG teaches the trinity, does it explain where it came from and that it was not taught by faithful Christians in Antioch, and Asia Minor?   Does it teach that essentially it appeared to be specifically taught against by even by the less faithful like Irenaeus in Lyon? Does it explain that before and even after the Council of Nicea in AD 325 that the majority in Asia Minor were binitarian? Does it explain that neither Jesus, nor anywhere in the Bible, is there a discussion of any “triune God”?

No, I do not think so.

The plain truth is that WCG only teaches and accepts the trinity because they want to fit in with the world’s churches.  The Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox adopted the trinity as now understood towards the end of the fourth century and the Protestants simply accepted that doctrine.

 But instead of protesting this unscriptural and historically not accepted doctrine (historically, because there is no evidence of it being accepted by any other than two heretics–people who the Roman Catholics consider to be heretics–prior to the third century–though not a majority doctrine even among the Roman and Greek Catholics until the end of the fourth century)–the so-called Protestants (which is supposed to mean protesters) accepted this false doctrine.

This is another instance where I believe that WCG has allowed itself to be transformed from the truth.  The trinity is a tradition of men that Christians in the apostolic and post-apostolic periods did not hold.

Several updated articles on the Godhead include:

Binitarian View: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning Is binitarianism the correct position? What about unitarianism or trinitarianism?
Is The Father God? What is the view of the Bible? What was the view of the early church?
Jesus is God, But Was Made Man Was Jesus fully human and fully God or what?
Virgin Birth: Does the Bible Teach It? What does the Bible teach? What is claimed in The Da Vinci Code?
Did Early Christians Think the Holy Spirit Was A Separate Person in a Trinity? Or did they have a different view?
Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity? Most act like this is so, but is it?
Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church? Many, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, claim it was, but was it?
Binitarianism: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning This is a shorter article than the Binitarian View article, but has a little more information on binitarianism.

In his latest home office update, UCG’s President Clyde Kilough announced:

New Web Site and Church News ProgramI am happy to announce that we are launching two new tools that will improve our ability to communicate to the entire Church.First, we are launching a new Web site specifically for members of the United Church of God – members.ucg.org. This will help us make our Web site, UCG.org, a better “first contact” tool for the general public and give us a new location to post items that are truly more appropriate and applicable to the Church membership. This new Web site will provide a central location for Church news/announcements and an event calendar, provide biblical resources and make it easier for members to find important information. The members’ Web site will continue to be developed and enhanced with new material over the next few months, and we know you will want to visit it often in order to stay connected with what is happening in the Church.Second, the main feature on this members’ site will be a regular, online news-of-the-work video entitled, About Our Father’s Business. We announced before the Feast that we would be revising our Compass Check presentation, which had simply been a video of the home office staff meeting. About Our Father’s Business, which will be produced weekly in the media center studio beginning Thursday, Nov. 1, will be aimed specifically at all Church members around the world. It will consist of home office and general Church news, announcements, interviews, brief biblically based messages and anything else of a timely nature. Since it is directed to the Church, and not the general public, it will be aired on the new member Web site mentioned above.

All you need to do to stay connected with the news and work of the United Church of God and to watch the weekly video About Our Father’s Business, is type in this Web address:  members.ucg.org

Source: http://www.ucgcincinnati.org/info/HomeOfficeUpdate.rtf

COGwriter

October 2007 was by some counts (page views and hits) the best month so far this year.  This is somewhat surprising as nearly all COG members were gone at the Feast of Tabernacles for probably the first week or so of the month.  But the website is now reaching more without a Church of God background.

The top ten most popular non-news, non-quiz, etc. articles for October 2007 were:

1. Concerns About Ronald Weinland’s Church of God-Preparing for the Kingdom of God Ronald Weinland claims to be one of the two witnesses. He has at least one other view that suggests that he is not part of the COG.
2. Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays? Did biblical era Jews celebrate birthdays? Who originally celebrated birthdays? When did many that profess Christ begin birthday celebrations?
3. The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church?
4. Sola Scriptura or Prima Luther? What Did Martin Luther Really Believe About the Bible? Though he is known for his public sola Scriptura teaching, Martin Luther’s writings about the Bible suggest he felt that prima Luther was his ultimate authority.
5. Why Not the Restored Church of God? This group, led by David Pack, claims to be the most faithful. The information in this article suggests otherwise.
6. Is Halloween Holy Time for Christians? This article provides some historical and biblical insight on this question.
7. Church of God, Seventh Day: History and Teachings Nearly all COG’s I am aware of trace their history through this group. Whaid Rose is the president of the largest CG7 group (Denver). Do you know much about them?
8. The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians?
9. LCG 2007 Feast of Tabernacles’ Information Here is information on many of the Living Church of God’s Feast of Tabernacles locations for this year.
10. Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”?

More people are starting to become better acquainted with the COG message.

And basically what is that?

That God is truly a God of love.  That God loves people so much that He does not want them to hurt themselves or others, which is why He gave the law.  That if humans would have listened to God and obeyed His word (which is the proper way to live), the world would have been a much better place.  Since most humans have not listened to God’s word (the Bible), many deceivers are (and have come) in the world that people need to be warned about.  And because of that, perilous times will come upon the world and those who are deceived by the false religious leaders.

Jesus is coming again.  He will stand for truth and love and put down false religious leaders.  And in His millennial reign it will be made clear that humankind truly does do much better under the kingdom of God as opposed to doing things their own way.

But people do not have to wait for that kingdom to learn God’s ways. Humans that God is now calling attempt to live by every word of God (Matthew 4:4) and thus, for example, observe biblical Holy Days and not pagan holidays.

Since God is a God of love, He actually has a plan of salvation that will result in nearly every one who ever lived will be saved.  Which is what, for example, the Holy Days picture.

That, what we call the Gospel of the Kingdom, in a few words is the basic message of the Church of God.

To learn more about true Christianity and what happened in its first few centuries, please go to The History of Early Christianity page.