Church of God News

TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH

COGwriter

As I expected, the anti-COG Ambassador Watch website finally announced that it will be shutting down:

AW comes to an end

This is the last posting to appear on AW. After more than eleven years – beginning with a very small website on Geocities, then moving into a fairly massive site under its own domain before finally being downsized into this blog – AW is bowing out.

The webmaster, Gavin Rumney, was once part of WCG and like many that fell away during the apostasy of the late 20th century, he became transformed away from the biblical truths of the COG.

Years ago, he once posted that he actually started the Ambassador Watch site essentially because he wanted to oppose me and the COGwriter site.

He spent a lot of time on matters he often brought up related to me in 2009, more so than in the few years prior.

One of the more unusual posts at the Ambassador Watch site about me happened on January 1, 2010 when Gavin Rumney posted the following:

Finally, AW’s Person of the Year.

[Drum roll]

An individual who in 2009 has dueled with talk-show hosts and created video clips to promote his new book, suffered silently the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune when his eminent qualifications were churlishly questioned, tirelessly defended the reputation of ad-man turned Apostle Herb Armstrong, and loyally promoted LCG through thick and thin despite ingratitude… [insert fanfare!] the most remarkable “Th.D” the Churches of God have ever produced, ladies and gentlemen… Dr. Bob Thiel.

I did not bother to report it here as Gavin was being quite sarcastic in the preceding statements and basically has allowed his commentators to post so many untrue statements about me, my writings, and my education, that dealing with them would likely only have driven his non-COG followers to make even more untrue statements about me.

I was disheartened throughout the years when he allowed people to post things about me that he knew were not true.  On the other hand, there were occasional times that Gavin and I did work on some matters behind the scenes and I did appreciate his willingness to sometimes remove certain offensive materials (probably 4-5 times in his eleven years of having the site) when I made some requests.

Now although Ambassador Watch is shutting down, since there are many anti-COG sites out there, it is likely that one will attempt to take Gavin Rumney’s place.  But irrespective of what the “accuser of the brethren” gets published on websites and other media, the true work of God, getting the gospel message out to fulfill Matthew 24:14 and other prophecies, will come to pass.

Good bye Gavin.  Stopping your site may end up helping you spiritually.  And I sincerely pray that it will.

Some articles of potentially related interest may include:

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Are You Saved? Do You Love Jesus? What is a True Christian? What is the Gospel? Evangelist Richard Ames answers those important questions.
Getting the Gospel Out is More than a Local Job Discusses Biblical rationale for doing an international, and not just a local, work.
How Much Did You Cost? Some have complained that the total costs spent to proclaim the gospel as a witness is too high since it does not (in their opinion) result in enough conversions. Is that how God sees it?
The Temple and the Work This article discusses the two temples of the Old Testament and gives insight as to their possible relevance to the situation which has impacted the Church during this past decade or so.
Parable of the Mustard Seed Jesus told many parables. Why? What might this one mean?
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Will God call everyone? Will everyone have an opportunity for salvation? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account?
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG/GCI members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.

Although it is no longer owned by any COG, those who were once affiliated with the old WCG were familiar with the old Ambassador campus. My wife and I were married in one of the buildings shown above.

COGwriter

The former Ambassador College campus is to change ownership again:

The Ambassador Campus has been bought by City Ventures, with escrow closing on January 31, 2010. They are the

fourth developer in 10 years to take on the development of one of the city’s largest open areas which has been a major

concern to neighboring residents. Construction is to begin early next year.

Pasadena Star News – Jan 8, 2010 http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/opinions/ci_14152079

The physical assets of the old WCG helped the church reach world leaders with the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom.  It seems to have become a burden to those who have tried to develop the property since.

But the Gospel message will be proclaimed to the world  as it is not dependent upon physical assets.

Two articles of related interest may include:

The Temple and the Work This article discusses the two temples of the Old Testament and gives insight as to their possible relevance to the situation which has impacted the Church during this past decade or so.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.

COGwriter

The following news item should not be a considered as a surprise:

Canadian Christianity – Dec 22, 2009

No longer worldwide

Worldwide Church of God–Canada is in the process of changing its name to Grace Communion International-Canada. In a recent survey, Canadian congregations voted 60 percent to 20 percent in favour of the change. The US branch of the church made a similar change in 2009. The denomination was founded by radio preacher Herbert W. Armstrong in 1934 and was widely considered a cult at one time but has since become accepted as a mainstream evangelical denomination.

http://www.canadianchristianity.com/nationalupdates/091222briefs.html

The fact that the WCG of the USA earlier switched to GCI suggested that foreign affiliates would likely change their names as well.

Despite the fact that mainstream groups applaud WCG’s changes since the death of Herbert W. Armstrong, the reality is that the new GCI is no longer a real “Church of God” and the group that was led by the late HWA was.

COGwriter

GIC (formerly WCG) sent out an email yesterday announcing an article by its J. Tkach which stated:

Early in my Christian walk, I found the Christmas season annoying and irritating rather than inspiring and enjoyable. That’s because I believed Christmas was really a pagan holiday masquerading as Christian, and as such, God must hate it. I thought people who call themselves Christian but participate in such pagan revelry must disgust God.

But something the apostle Paul wrote gave me pause to reflect on my assumptions about Christmas, as well as Easter, another holiday I took for pagan debauchery. It’s in Philippians 1:15-18…So what does that have to do with Christmas? It showed me that when Christ is preached, that’s a good thing, regardless of the reasons or setting for it..The Christmas tree, which is an evergreen, symbolizes the everlasting life…

We don’t even avoid most of the things pagans did in worshipping their false gods, nor does God expect us to. Pagans don’t own December 25. That day belongs to God like every other day.

While pagans do not “own” any particular day, this does not mean that Christians should follow pagan worship practices.  J. Tkach seems to have overlooked certain biblical passages such as Jeremiah 10. Here are two translations of it:

Listen to the Message that God is sending your way, House of Israel. Listen most carefully:    “Don’t take the godless nations as your models.  Don’t be impressed by their glamour and glitz, no matter how much they’re impressed. The religion of these peoples is nothing but smoke. An idol is nothing but a tree chopped down, then shaped by a woodsman’s ax. They trim it with tinsel and balls, use hammer and nails to keep it upright.  It’s like a scarecrow in a cabbage patch—can’t talk!  Dead wood that has to be carried—can’t walk!  Don’t be impressed by such stuff. It’s useless for either good or evil… (Jeremiah 10:1-5, 11, The Message).

¹Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:  ²Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. ³For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. ⁴They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. ⁵They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good…¹¹Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens…Tell them this, ‘The stick gods who made nothing, neither sky nor earth, Will come to nothing on the earth and under the sky (Jeremiah 10:1-5, 11, KJV).

Note that God does NOT endose adding trees to worship of Him as the pagan do.  Nowhere in the Bible do we see anything that suggests that God’s people should decorate trees in honor of Jesus.  I should add that the in the passage in Philippians 1:15-18 that J. Tkach cited, Paul was saying that getting the MESSAGE out was good, even if the motivation was not.  But Paul did not say that it was fine to preach an inaccurate message about Jesus.  Notice that Paul actually Paul condemned those who preached a false, changed gospel:

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8-9, NKJV)

Christmas observance actually changes the focus of the gospel and it is NOT a day that the Bible suggests should be observed as the heathen once did.

This morning, in his latest commentary, LCG’s Wyatt Cieselka stated:

The Catholic Encyclopedia reveals: “Christmas was not among the earliest festivals of the Church. Irenaeus and Tertullian omit it from their lists of feasts…” (vol. 3, pp. 724, 728).  Christmas was even briefly outlawed in Massachusetts in 1659 and in England in the mid 1600s as being unbiblical.

Understand.  Before Christmas was the Roman Saturnalia, upon which Christmas is founded.  Tertullian; considered an early Catholic church father, wrote that during the Saturnalia, presents were exchanged and “every pomp of the devil is frequented” (On Idolatry, circa 200 – 206 A.D.).

But, the Saturnalia was simply an adaptation of something earlier – Persian Mithraism.  As the Catholic Encyclopedia records: “In Mithraism, the highest god was Aion, Kronos, or Saturnus.  Saturnus; the name popularized by the Roman world, was no other than the ancient Iranian [Persian] god; Zervan (“Mithraism”).

The Romans eagerly adopted Mithraism in the form of the Saturnalia.  Emperor Diocletian built a temple to Mithra in Carnuntum, and “The 25 December was observed as his birthday, the natalis invicti, the rebirth of the winter-sun” (ibid).

In Mithraism, the mid-winter festivals began with worship of Zervan, whose celebrations ended on December 24.  The celebrations then transitioned to worship the reborn Zervan as the newborn Mithras, the new Saturn, born on December 25 who brought back the sun after the winter-solstice (Mithras, the Secret God, M.J. Vermaseren).

The pagan god Zervan was depicted as a winged, part-human, part-lion figure.  Thus, we see that Zervan depicts angelic cherubim characteristics (2 Chronicles 3:13; Ezekiel 10:14).  Further, Zervan was typically accompanied by snakes wrapped around his legs, arms or body (The Mysteries of Mithra, by Franz Cumont, 1903, page 93).  Scripture reveals that Satan (formerly Lucifer) is a fallen cherub (Ezekiel 28:14-16), and is associated with the snake (Genesis 3:1-14; Revelation 20:2).

A righteous angel will not permit himself to be worshipped (Revelation 19:10; 22:9).  And Revelation 9:20 warns that idolaters are actually worshipping demons.  Clearly, the cherub who demands his worship at the winter-solstice is no righteous angel.  Whether calling himself Zervan, Saturn or another eponym, this deity is a proxy for no other than Satan, the fallen cherub!

But even the Roman Saturnalia and Persian Mithraism was an adaption of an even earlier mystery religion – the Babylonian mystery cult.  The ancient Babylonians celebrated the reborn Nimrod as the newborn Tammuz by worshipping an evergreen tree (now the common Christmas tree).  The Babylonians also celebrated this rebirth during the winter solstice.  Jeremiah condemns ancient Israel for copying this terrible paganism, and even specifically mentions the evergreen tree in Jeremiah 3:13.

Regardless of fond memories or whether “everyone does it,” a true Christian will reject Christmas, not only because of the commercialism, the pagan influence, and the impossibility of Jesus being born mid-winter, but more fundamentally because Christ refuses to have any part with idolatry (2 Corinthians 6:15-16).  Christ was never part of Christmas and He will not be “put back” in Christmas.

God commands us to “learn not the way of the heathen” (Jeremiah 10:2, KJV), reveals that pagan celebrations are abominations to Him (Jeremiah 10:3-4; Ezekiel 8:13-14), and tells us to not change what was taught through Christ and the Apostles (2 Thessalonians 2:15).  Once this truth is understood, a true Christian will shudder at the idea of celebrating Christmas, realizing that these winter solstice celebrations are indeed Satan’s celebrations.

To learn more, watch the powerful Tomorrow’s World telecasts, Origins of Christmas and Insight into Christmas, or read the insightful article “What is Hidden by the Holidays.”

I realize that most people who celebrate Christmas believe that this a good and biblically proper thing to do.  However, if they looked more into this, I believe that most would realize that Christmas observance actually detracts from the message of the Bible and encourages compromise with traditions of men.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

What Does the Catholic Church Teach About Christmas and the Holy Days? Do you know what the Catholic Church says were the original Christian holy days? Was Christmas among them?
Did Early Christians Celebrate Birthdays? Did biblical era Jews celebrate birthdays? Who originally celebrated birthdays? When did many that profess Christ begin birthday celebrations?
Early Church History: Who Were the Two Major Groups Professed Christ in the Second and Third Centuries? Did you know that many in the second and third centuries felt that there were two major, and separate, professing Christian groups in the second century, but that those in the majority churches tend to now blend the groups together and claim “saints” from both? “Saints” that condemn some of their current beliefs. Who are the two groups?
Do You Practice Mithraism? Many practices and doctrines that mainstream so-called Christian groups have are the same or similar to those of the sun-god Mithras. Do you follow Mithraism combined with the Bible or original Christianity?
Tradition and Scripture: From the Bible and Church Writings Are traditions on equal par with scripture? Many believe that is what Peter, John, and Paul taught. But did they?

COGwriter

In his weekly update, WCG/GCI’s J. Tkach wrote:

Jesus once asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered boldly, “You are the Christ.” But then Peter immediately showed that he had no idea what being the Christ was all about. Mark 8:31 tells us,

“Jesus then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.”

So Jesus had to rebuke Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Jesus came to take human sin and its consequences upon himself, to free humanity from the bondage of sin and restore us to a right relationship with God and one another, and doing that involved condemnation and death, followed by resurrection and ascension to the Father.

To follow him is not a path to national glory and power, nor to ease and prosperity, but a life of self-sacrificial love. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me,” Jesus told Peter.

All of us must face the question, “Who is Jesus?”

And that part of the update is correct: Jesus was the Christ.

J. Tkach’s article was fairly short, and here are some scriptures that I believe help explain a bit more about who Jesus was:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made (John 1:1-3, NKJV).

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14, NKJV).

Christ Jesus, who subsisting in (the) form of God thought (it) not robbery to be equal to God, but emptied Himself, taking (the) form of a slave, becoming in (the) likeness of men” (Literal translation. Green J.P. ed. Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, 3rd ed. Baker Books, Grand Rapids (MI), 1996, p. 607). Note that “emptied Himself” is the literal translation in the Greek (the Roman Catholic Church also teaches that Jesus “emptied Himself”–see Catechism of the Catholic Church, #461. Imprimatur Potest +Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. Doubleday, NY 1995, p. 129).

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved…(John 3:16-17, NKJV)

14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world (1 John 4:14, NKJV).

Jesus had been God, but emptied Himself of His divinity to live as a human.  The Father sent Him as savior to die for the sins of all humanity.  This is something that He did not have to do, but chose to do because of love for humanity.

That’s who Jesus was.

Jesus is now at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 10:12), and Jesus is love as the Father is love (1 John 4:7). He now intercedes for humanity as the “one mediator” (1 Timothy 2:5).  That is who Jesus is.

Jesus will come again, but in glory, and will judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42) and of His Kingdom there will be no end.  And it will be a Kingdom of love with no more pain or sorrow (Revelation 21:4). That is what He will do in the future.

More on Jesus can be found in the articles:

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?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Are You Saved? Do You Love Jesus? What is a True Christian? What is the Gospel? Evangelist Richard Ames answers those important questions.
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Will God call everyone? Will everyone have an opportunity for salvation? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account?
What is the Meaning of Life? Who does God say is happy? What is your ultimate destiny? Do you really know? Does God actually have a plan for YOU personally?

COGwriter

GIC (formerly WCG) sent out an email to an article by its J. Tkach which stated:

Perfect Atonement

In ancient Israel, as well as in Judaism today, the greatest of the holy days was Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

It was the day that gathered up the worship of every other day. The high priest would stand before the people as their divinely appointed representative, bearing the names of all of the twelve tribes engraved on his breastplate and shoulders.

He would perform the rituals of animal sacrifice using the blood of a bull and a goat, and as the representative of every Israelite, confess the sins of the whole nation.

Only on this one day each year the high priest, and only the high priest, after performing special rituals for his own cleansing and self-consecration, would enter the most holy and sacred chamber of the Temple, the Holy of Holies, on behalf of all Israel, praying for the people and sprinkling the sacrificial blood for all their sins.

The New Testament writers saw this sacred ceremony as the foreshadowing of the atoning work of Jesus Christ, who came from God as the true High Priest, our perfect representative and substitute, in solidarity with all humanity, bearing the names of all people throughout all times.

And I would tend to agree with him on these points.

Perhaps I should add that J. Tkach (and the church he leads), while retaining some knowledge of the Day of Atonement, no longer observes it like those in the New Testament did.

To learn more about the meaning and observation of the Day of Atonement, please read the article The Day of Atonement–Its Christian Significance.

Brasilia, Brazil

COGwriter

While many are looking to the USA to lead the world out of its economic slump, it may be that Brazil will help do that instead:

Brazil’s Economy Is Making ‘Sound’ Recovery, Meirelles Says

By Laura Price and Marta Marino

Sept. 5 (Bloomberg) — Brazil’s economy is making a “sound” recovery from the global financial slump as domestic demand for goods rises and access to credit returns, central bank President Henrique Meirelles said.

“The Brazilian economy is already on the recovery path, led by domestic demand,” Meirelles said in a Bloomberg Television interview today. “All the leading indicators show a sound recovery, and that is led by employment, income and domestic demand.”

Meirelles, who was in London to meet with other Group of 20 finance heads, said Brazil’s economy is recovering faster than most other countries as economic stimulus measures take effect.

“The recovery is gradual but faster than most of the other countries,” Meirelles said. “Since the measures were taken to address questions such as contraction of credit lines, the recovery tends to happen faster.”

Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega yesterday said the country’s gross domestic product grew 1.8 percent to 2 percent in the second quarter compared with the first. Official GDP numbers will be released Sept. 11.   http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=a2ME_xcoOxEc

The Economist Decides to Teach Brazil and Lula a Few Lessons

Written by Pedro de Oliveira

Saturday, 05 September 2009…In the editorial, the magazine conveys the idea that Brazilians, and particularly Lula – are living a key moment in their history – when the “giant asleep” is mentioned as one of the five or six world countries with protagonist roles into the 21st century. The Economists states that no summit meeting happening in the world today would do without the presence of Brazil and of Lula. After all, says the magazine, “he’s the man”, said Barack Obama at a G-20 meeting, while Fidel Castro referred to the Brazilian President as “my brother Lula.”This privileged status is debited by the magazine to the economic “stabilization” period put in practice by Lula and – amazing – by his predecessor, Fernando Henrique Cardoso. The editors forget that FHC left the country in 2002 at the brink of an economic abyss.”Brazil was, among the ten main economies in the planet, the last one to enter the recession and rises now as one of the first to come out of it“… says the editorial, which goes on to remind us that it was Goldman Sachs who characterized the group formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China as the BRIC which, according to them, will dominate the world around 2050. At the time, reminds the magazine, there were those who doubted that Brazil would have the muscle to join such a group.   http://www.brazzil.com/component/content/article/208-september-2009/10252-the-economist-decides-to-teach-brazil-and-lula-a-few-lessons.html

Most people in North America simply do not realize that Brazil has natural resources (and now also oil), agriculture, and manufacturing might.  And relatively little debt.  It also could in a few short years not need ANY oil (though now that it has found a lot of its own, it will likely use some of it, and sell the rest).

While Brazil will have economic ups and downs (and its current president is term limited out so a new one will come fairly soon), the reality is that a new economic order is starting to arise on the world scene and Brazil will likely align with the player that will seem to be the strongest one economically.  And I believe that Bible prophecy indicates that it will most likely align with the emerging European power.

Two articles of possibly related interest may include:

Mexico, Central America, South America, and Brazil in Prophecy [Español: México, America Central, Suramérica, y el Brasil en profecíal] [Português: México, América Central, Ámérica do Sul, e Brasil na profecia] What will happen to those of Latin America? Will they have prosperity? Will they cooperate with Europe? Will they suffer in the future? What rule might the various Caribbean nations/territories play?
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”? What is ahead for Europe?

COGwriter

Today,  GIC (formerly WCG) sent out an email to an article by its J. Tkach which began with:

Trinitarian theology

“Garbage in – garbage out” is a truism in many areas, and the most important area is in our personal theology.  Wrong concepts about God result in lives that miss the fullness of life God wants us to have.

Now, the whole idea of theology might sound a little intimidating, but really it’s just another way of saying “God knowledge.” Our personal theology consists of whatever we believe to be true about God.  So in one way or another, we all have a theology. And certainly every church and denomination has a theology. It’s the framework that undergirds and informs their doctrines and practices.

“Trinitarian theology” is a particular approach to theology that sees the Trinity—Father, Son and Holy Spirit – as the core and foundation for understanding the Bible and all aspects of Christian faith. Trinitarian theology, seeking to know God as God is, correctly begins with “Who?” It asks, “Who is the God made known in Jesus Christ, and who are we in relation to him?”

The Bible, of course, gives us the answers.

J. Tkach is correct that the Bible has the answers.  So does early church history.  And neither teaches the type of  “Trinitarian theology” that GIC now advocates.

For proof from the Bible, as well as early church writings, please carefully study the following articles:

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?

COGwriter

The July-August 2009 edition of GCI’s (formerly WCG) Together just came out.  WCG used to observe the biblical Feast of Tabernacles in the Fall, but now offers a variety of humanly devised substitutes instead.  Here is what is expected in 2009 thus far:

“From Exclusion to Inclusion” –
Wisconsin Dells, Sept. 17-20

Everyone is invited to the annual Dells Celebration at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, WI, from September 17-20, 2009…

Fall Conference – Myrtle Beach, SC, Oct. 8-11

The Harvest Church is again sponsoring a conference in Myrtle Beach…

Women’s retreat in Alabama – Oct. 16-18

Last year’s retreat was so much fun that we’re having another one! Grace Covenant Fellowship is hosting a fall women’s retreat at the St. Bernard Abbey Retreat & Conference Center in Cullman, AL, about one hour north of Birmingham.

WCG used to meet for the FOT in Wisconsin Dells (the Living Church of God still does, see LCG 2009 Feast of Tabernacles’ Information).  One of the differences between early Christianity and paganism was the the pagans were more inclined toward inclusivism, while the true Christians were considered to be more exclusive.  Hence, in certain respects, GCI’s theme is consistent with what pagans did in the past.

I believe that GCI hopes that having substitutes will work for them, like they did for Jeroboam:

26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom may return to the house of David: 27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah.” 28 Therefore the king asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!” 29 And he set up one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. 30 Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan. 31 He made shrines on the high places, and made priests from every class of people, who were not of the sons of Levi. 32 Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast that was in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did at Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made. And at Bethel he installed the priests of the high places which he had made. 33 So he made offerings on the altar which he had made at Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month which he had devised in his own heart. And he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and offered sacrifices on the altar and burned incense (1 Kings 12:26-33).

Notice that Jeroboam wanted a Feast like the one in Judah.  The one in Judah was the biblical Feast of Tabernacles.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The 18 Restored Truths: Do You Know What the First Changes the Tkach Administration Made? Some have said healing, others other subjects, but probably the first change had to do with eliminating being part of the Philadelphia era. This article documents what those changes were and compares the Tkach list of restored truths to Herbert W. Armstrong’s list of restored truths. It contains many quotes from Herbert W. Armstrong.
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG/GCI which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
The Feast of Tabernacles: A Time for Christians? Is this pilgrimage holy day still valid? Does it teach anything relevant for today’s Christians? What is the Last Great Day? What do these days teach?
LCG 2009 Feast of Tabernacles’ Information Here is information on many Feast of Tabernacles locations for this year.
Holy Day Calendar This is a listing of the biblical holy days through 2012, with their Roman calendar dates. They are really hard to observe if you do not know when they occur 🙂

COGwriter

In an email link today, GCI’s J. Tkach stated:

You might have noticed that the name of the denomination that sponsors this program has also changed – from Worldwide Church of God to Grace Communion International – and I’d like to take a moment to explain why.

Our church is a changed church, and our new name, Grace Communion International, was chosen for the same reason that Saul’s, Jacob’s, Abram’s and Sarai’s names were changed: to reflect a new identity after a profound transformation.

Grace lies at the heart of our values and mission as a transformed church. The gospel is the message of God’s grace to humanity revealed in Jesus Christ.

Communion is a word that refers to the spiritual unity and positive relationships in the love of God, the grace and peace of Jesus Christ and the life of the Holy Spirit.

International refers to the worldwide, multicultural character of our denomination. We value and respect one another, and we exist not as a single, national church in any given country, but as a unified body of believers who span the globe, sharing a common history and journey of faith…

I praise God, as I know you do, for all he has done for us, in us and through us. Our new name, Grace Communion International is simply an acknowledgement and reflection of the great love, mercy and power our loving God has displayed in our fellowship.

I’m Joseph Tkach, speaking of LIFE.

The MAIN reason that GCI made the change is that it does not want the world’s churches to consider it a cult, and the name change clearly does distance GCI from “Church of God” in the minds of almost everyone.

Of course, I did report on the name change the day it was announced (see WCG Changes Name to GCI!), it is just that J. Tkach wanted to give further clarification as to why it changed, I thought that those interest in the real reason (being accepted by the world, cf. 1 John 2:15) may wish to see it.

Some articles of possible interest may include:

Attending the Church of Choice This article discusses whose choice is important to worship God; should you attend the church of your choice or the church of God’s choice?
Unity: Which COG for You? Why so many groups? Why is there lack of unity in the Churches of God? Has it always been this way? What can/should be done about it?
The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3 from 31 A.D. to present: information on all of the seven churches of Revelation 2 & 3.   This is a brief history of the true Church throughout the ages.
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG/GCI members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.