I recently listened to a sermon given by Mr. Richard Ames of the Living Church of God a few months ago entitled "Are You Growing Spiritually?" In that sermon he pointed out what Herbert W. Armstrong said about those who grow spiritually being those who have their heart in God's work.
I think it is absolutely true that those whose heart is in God's work tend to grow spiritually. As Mr. Ames reminded me in his sermon, it was Jesus's food to finish God's work (John 4:34). Mr. Ames said that he thought that the reason that some ministers who seemed very solid later went into heresy is that they did not have their heart in God's work.
I agree, but why is that true?
There is a principle involved that we reap what we sow. This is an active principle that can apply to many aspects of God's way of life. For example, in this same sermon, Mr. Ames quoted Proverbs 19:17, "He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given," showing that when we sow mercy by giving to the poor, God will pay us back by giving a blessing to us. It is a particular application of the general principle of "whatever a man sows, that he will also reap" (Galatians 6:7-10, Romans 2:6, Job 34:11, Psalm 62:12, Proverbs 24:11-12, Jeremiah 17:10, 2 Corinthians 9:6).
We can see the application of this principle in the examples written in the Bible for our learning (1 Corinthians 10:11). For example, if you study the life of Jacob, you will notice that he had a problem with lying. He deceived his father by lying to him to obtain a blessing (Genesis 27:1-35). Did God cause him to reap what he sowed? After this, Jacob several times became the victim of the deceptions of others. He was deceived by Laban concerning his wife (Genesis 29:15-30). He was also deceived by Laban several times concerning his wages (Genesis 31:7). He suffered for years mourning for his son Joseph, thinking he was dead, because his sons deceived him (Genesis 37:12-36). So it seems God caused Jacob to reap what he sowed. He sowed deception when he deceived his father to obtain a blessing, and he reaped deception when he was later deceived by Laban numerous times and by his sons when they deceived him about Joseph. No doubt God did this to teach Jacob a lesson about the consequences of lying.
How does this apply to having our hearts in the work of God of preaching the gospel to the world?
Our relationship with God is based on the knowledge of the truth that God has given us. We have that knowledge because others have sacrificed to give us that knowledge. We have been able to learn the truth because Mr. Armstrong and many members in the Church of God and co-workers were zealous and sacrificed to produce the Plain Truth magazine and to broadcast the truth on radio and TV. Either we learned of the truth through the broadcasts and literature, or we learned from others, perhaps our parents, who learned from the broadcasts and literature. Those broadcasts, magazines, and books and booklets were possible only because those who were before us had their heart in the work to the point that they were willing to give up some of the nicer things in this life - restaurant meals, nicer homes, nicer clothes, vacations, etc. - in order to give the truth freely to others as they received freely. There is a principle of reciprocity involved. As we have freely received, we should freely give (Matthew 10:7-8, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, John 4:35-36).
We know the truth because others have had their heart in the work before us, and we have an obligation to pass that blessing along, to have our hearts in the work and to sacrifice so others can receive the truth as we have received it.
And if we don't?
If we selfishly hold on to the truth for ourselves but do not sacrifice to help give it to others, what then?
I think in that case, God's principle of causing us to reap what we sow goes into effect. What we sow is the decision to not be zealous and sacrifice to pass the truth on to others. What we reap is the result of that decision according to God's judgement. We may receive the fruit of our decision.
What would have been the fruit or the consequence of the decision of others before us if they had decided not to sacrifice to preach the gospel to others? We would never have learned the truth. We would have continued in the world, deceived by Satan. That is the fruit of not having one's heart in the work of preaching the gospel to the world.
And if that is our decision, if we decide not to support the preaching of the gospel to the world, God can take from us the knowledge we have. God could put us in the state we would be in if those before us did not sacrifice to give us the truth. We can fall away from the truth. And I think that may have been what happened to ministers who had a solid foundation in the truth, yet lacked zeal for the work of God, and then fell away.
There is also the scripture in Revelation 12:10-11: "Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, 'Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.' " Notice that one of the ways Christians overcome Satan is by the word of their testimony. This can apply to giving testimony under threat of martyrdom, as the context seems to indicate, but I think the principle can also apply to giving testimony by sacrificing to support the preaching of the gospel to the world. That is one of the ways of overcoming Satan.
We need to sacrifice to support the preaching of the gospel to the world to pass the blessing of God's truth to others as those before us have sacrificied so we could learn the truth. That is a direct application of God's command to love our neighbor as ourself (Matthew 22:37-40) and to do to others as we want them to do to us (Matthew 7:12).
Here are links to related sections in Preaching the Gospel:
The Church, Chapter 4
How Could Trained and Experienced Ministers Be Deceived?, Chapter 5
Will Focusing Exclusively on Feeding the Flock Heal the Church?, Chapter 5
Is the Church Commissioned to Preach the Gospel to the World?, Chapter 5
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
"Such a nation as this..."
Does God punish nations for their sins? I mean generally, not just Israel, but any nation that sins against God.
There are many passages in the Old Testament that describe God's punishment of ancient Israel for breaking God's laws and breaking God's covenant with them.
After God brought Israel out of Egypt, He proposed a covenant with them and promised them blessings if they would keep His covenant. Israel agreed to the the covenant, and it was ratified and became binding (Exodus 19:3-8, 24:1-11). God promised blessings for obedience if Israel kept His covenant with them, but curses if they broke His covenant and disobeyed Him (Deuteronomy 4:1-31, 5:32-33, 7:12-15, 8:18-20, 11:26-28, 28:1-68).
The history of Israel after that showed a re-occurring pattern of disobedience and punishment - see Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, and 2 Chronicles. Finally, God sent the house of Israel and the house of Judah into captivity for their persistant unfaithfulness in breaking God's covenant (2 Kings 17:5-23, 2 Chronicles 36:15-21).
God specifically mentions covenant breaking as a cause for his punishment of Israel (Jeremiah 11:9-13, Hosea 8:1-14).
But God did not just pronounce judgment against Israel. He also pronounced judgment and punishment against many of the known nations of that time, nations that never had a covenant with God, never agreed to keep God's commandments, and never knew God and God's laws (Amos 3:1-2, Jeremiah 25:12-33, Jeremiah chapters 46 through 51, Amos chapters 1 and 2). He said He would punish them for their sins even though they are not Israel.
The examples and teaching of the Old Testament are given for our learning (1 Corinthians 10:11). Those examples show how God thinks. And the examples given in the Bible show that God punishes nations for their sins with war and other disasters. Not just Israel.
Now look at God's rebuke of Judah and Jerusalem in Jeremiah 5:9 and Jeremiah 9:9: Mentioning idolotry and sexual sins, God says, " 'How shall I pardon you for this? Your children have forsaken Me And sworn by those that are not gods. When I had fed them to the full, Then they committed adultery And assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses. They were like well-fed lusty stallions; Every one neighed after his neighbor’s wife. Shall I not punish them for these things?' says the Lord. 'And shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?' " (Jeremiah 5:7-9). Then mentioning the sins of lying and deceit, God says, " 'And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me,' says the Lord....Everyone will deceive his neighbor, And will not speak the truth; They have taught their tongue to speak lies; They weary themselves to commit iniquity. Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit; Through deceit they refuse to know Me', says the Lord....Their tongue is an arrow shot out; It speaks deceit; One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, But in his heart he lies in wait. Shall I not punish them for these things?' says the Lord. 'Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?' " (Jeremiah 9:3-9).
After rebuking Judah and Jerusalem for the lying and sexual sins, God says, "And shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?" (Jeremiah 5:9, 9:9). Notice, not just Israel because Israel broke God's covenant. But "such a nation as this." What kind of nation? A nation that practices lying and sexual immorality.
Is the United States such a nation? Do we have sexual sins? Do we lie to each other, in the workplace, in business, in the home, even to our children? You be the judge. But if we are such a nation, God asks the question, "Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?" Not only because we are Israel and have broken God's covenant. But because we are a sinful nation and God punishes nations for their sins as the examples Jeremiah and Amos show.
The United States is in a state of moral, spiritual, and material decline. We are spending our way into a debt we cannot get out of without bankrupting ourselves, and this in world that is becoming more dangerous by the year. Those who have spiritual discernment and are willing to face hard realities can see that we are heading for disaster. We are digging a hole for ourselves that we will not be able to climb out of by our own power. Our only hope is help, protection, and rescue from God. But will God rescue us without our repentance? Will He rescue us in our sins so we can continue sinning? Or rather will He punish us for our sins as He punished ancient Israel for her sins and as He punished Gentile nations for their sins? I think the examples in the Bible indicate the latter.
The Church of God should have the discernment to see where this country is headed, if our people do not repent. And God's word teaches us to warn those heading towards disaster (Proverbs 24:11-12). The knowledge and spiritual discernment that God has given the Church, along with the command in Proverbs 24:11-12, in effect, makes us a watchman for the United States. That is the effect of what we know. Our knowledge puts the watchman responsibility on our shoulders, and this is God's doing (Ezekiel 3:16-21, 33:1-20).
The Church of God has a responsibility to warn the United States to turn from its sins before it is too late, and to give a warning of the disaster that will come upon us if we do not repent. We need to be zealous to give that warning, motivated by love (Matthew 22:37-40, Matthew 7:12, Leviticus 19:18). The leadership and ministry of the Churches of God should do their part to take advantage of every opportunity to take the true gospel and the Ezekiel warning to the public through television, radio, print media, and the Internet, and to teach the membership of their responsibility to support that effort through their prayers, financial sacrifices, and service.
Here are links to related sections in Preaching the Gospel:
The Ezekiel Warning, Chapter 3
Will Focusing Exclusively on Feeding the Flock Heal the Church?, Chapter 5
Is the Church Commissioned to Preach the Gospel to the World?, Chapter 5
There are many passages in the Old Testament that describe God's punishment of ancient Israel for breaking God's laws and breaking God's covenant with them.
After God brought Israel out of Egypt, He proposed a covenant with them and promised them blessings if they would keep His covenant. Israel agreed to the the covenant, and it was ratified and became binding (Exodus 19:3-8, 24:1-11). God promised blessings for obedience if Israel kept His covenant with them, but curses if they broke His covenant and disobeyed Him (Deuteronomy 4:1-31, 5:32-33, 7:12-15, 8:18-20, 11:26-28, 28:1-68).
The history of Israel after that showed a re-occurring pattern of disobedience and punishment - see Judges, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, and 2 Chronicles. Finally, God sent the house of Israel and the house of Judah into captivity for their persistant unfaithfulness in breaking God's covenant (2 Kings 17:5-23, 2 Chronicles 36:15-21).
God specifically mentions covenant breaking as a cause for his punishment of Israel (Jeremiah 11:9-13, Hosea 8:1-14).
But God did not just pronounce judgment against Israel. He also pronounced judgment and punishment against many of the known nations of that time, nations that never had a covenant with God, never agreed to keep God's commandments, and never knew God and God's laws (Amos 3:1-2, Jeremiah 25:12-33, Jeremiah chapters 46 through 51, Amos chapters 1 and 2). He said He would punish them for their sins even though they are not Israel.
The examples and teaching of the Old Testament are given for our learning (1 Corinthians 10:11). Those examples show how God thinks. And the examples given in the Bible show that God punishes nations for their sins with war and other disasters. Not just Israel.
Now look at God's rebuke of Judah and Jerusalem in Jeremiah 5:9 and Jeremiah 9:9: Mentioning idolotry and sexual sins, God says, " 'How shall I pardon you for this? Your children have forsaken Me And sworn by those that are not gods. When I had fed them to the full, Then they committed adultery And assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses. They were like well-fed lusty stallions; Every one neighed after his neighbor’s wife. Shall I not punish them for these things?' says the Lord. 'And shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?' " (Jeremiah 5:7-9). Then mentioning the sins of lying and deceit, God says, " 'And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, And they do not know Me,' says the Lord....Everyone will deceive his neighbor, And will not speak the truth; They have taught their tongue to speak lies; They weary themselves to commit iniquity. Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit; Through deceit they refuse to know Me', says the Lord....Their tongue is an arrow shot out; It speaks deceit; One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, But in his heart he lies in wait. Shall I not punish them for these things?' says the Lord. 'Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?' " (Jeremiah 9:3-9).
After rebuking Judah and Jerusalem for the lying and sexual sins, God says, "And shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?" (Jeremiah 5:9, 9:9). Notice, not just Israel because Israel broke God's covenant. But "such a nation as this." What kind of nation? A nation that practices lying and sexual immorality.
Is the United States such a nation? Do we have sexual sins? Do we lie to each other, in the workplace, in business, in the home, even to our children? You be the judge. But if we are such a nation, God asks the question, "Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?" Not only because we are Israel and have broken God's covenant. But because we are a sinful nation and God punishes nations for their sins as the examples Jeremiah and Amos show.
The United States is in a state of moral, spiritual, and material decline. We are spending our way into a debt we cannot get out of without bankrupting ourselves, and this in world that is becoming more dangerous by the year. Those who have spiritual discernment and are willing to face hard realities can see that we are heading for disaster. We are digging a hole for ourselves that we will not be able to climb out of by our own power. Our only hope is help, protection, and rescue from God. But will God rescue us without our repentance? Will He rescue us in our sins so we can continue sinning? Or rather will He punish us for our sins as He punished ancient Israel for her sins and as He punished Gentile nations for their sins? I think the examples in the Bible indicate the latter.
The Church of God should have the discernment to see where this country is headed, if our people do not repent. And God's word teaches us to warn those heading towards disaster (Proverbs 24:11-12). The knowledge and spiritual discernment that God has given the Church, along with the command in Proverbs 24:11-12, in effect, makes us a watchman for the United States. That is the effect of what we know. Our knowledge puts the watchman responsibility on our shoulders, and this is God's doing (Ezekiel 3:16-21, 33:1-20).
The Church of God has a responsibility to warn the United States to turn from its sins before it is too late, and to give a warning of the disaster that will come upon us if we do not repent. We need to be zealous to give that warning, motivated by love (Matthew 22:37-40, Matthew 7:12, Leviticus 19:18). The leadership and ministry of the Churches of God should do their part to take advantage of every opportunity to take the true gospel and the Ezekiel warning to the public through television, radio, print media, and the Internet, and to teach the membership of their responsibility to support that effort through their prayers, financial sacrifices, and service.
Here are links to related sections in Preaching the Gospel:
The Ezekiel Warning, Chapter 3
Will Focusing Exclusively on Feeding the Flock Heal the Church?, Chapter 5
Is the Church Commissioned to Preach the Gospel to the World?, Chapter 5
Monday, February 1, 2010
A Lesson from Haggai
There are several Church of God groups today which seem to teach that the preaching of the gospel to the world is over, that it was completed by Mr. Armstrong, and that there should not be a high priority placed on public proclamation, rather, the Church of God should place a high priority only on feeding the flock and getting the bride ready.
There is a lesson I think in the book of Haggai that might apply here.
The book of Haggai starts, "In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, 'Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: "This people says, 'The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built' " ' " (Haggai 1:1-2).
The book of Haggai was written after Judah was taken captive by Babylon, and after some Jews had been allowed to return to Judah. There are parallels between that time in the history of Israel and our time in the Church of God today. The Jews had been scattered and reduced in power, just as the Church of God has been scattered and reduced in power in our time in the last two decades.
The Jews were not prospering, just as in many ways the Church of God has not been prospering since the death of Mr. Armstrong. The people were saying that it was not time to build the temple.
God's reply: "Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 'Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?' Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Consider your ways! You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.' Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,' says the Lord. 'You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?' says the Lord of hosts. 'Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands' " (Haggai 1:3-11).
Today, God's temple is the Church (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). As in Haggai's day, many say that this is not the time to build God's temple. But God's reply to the people in Haggai's time is to go to the mountains and bring wood to build the temple. In the Bible, mountains can represent nations or kingdoms (Isaiah 2:2-3, Isaiah 2:12-14, Isaiah 11:9, Isaiah 52:7, Jeremiah 51:25, Ezekiel 6:1-3, Ezekiel 17:22-23, Ezekiel 33:28, Ezekiel 36:1-4, Daniel 2:35, Micah 4:1). If the lesson of Haggai applies to us today, we are to go to the nations, that is, the public, and bring "wood" or material to build God's temple, the Church. In other words, this is still the time to preach the gospel, to bring in new members, and to build the Church of God.
The lessons in the Old Testament are written for our example to learn from (1 Corinthians 10:11).
The door to preaching the gospel is still open. We still have enough freedom and money to publish and broadcast. New members are still being called into the Church of God and baptized. The opportunities are there, and people need our message. We need the spiritual discernment and vision to see the opportunity, the need, and the responsibility. "Jesus said to them, 'My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, "There are still four months and then comes the harvest"? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!' " (John 4:34-35).
The leaders, ministry, and members of the whole Church of God need to have a zeal to finish God's work of preaching the gospel to the world, feeding the flock, and preaching the Ezekiel warning to Israel. We can do much more than we have done so far. We need to imitate the zeal of Jesus Christ who was so zealous to finish God's work that it was like food to Him. We also should have a desire to finish God's work as we have a desire for food. And God's work still includes preaching to the public a message of repentance, of warning, and of the good news of the coming kingdom of God.
Here are links to related sections in Preaching the Gospel:
Will Focusing Exclusively on Feeding the Flock Heal the Church?, Chapter 5
Is the Church Commissioned to Preach the Gospel to the World?, Chapter 5
The Church, Chapter 4
There is a lesson I think in the book of Haggai that might apply here.
The book of Haggai starts, "In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, 'Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: "This people says, 'The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built' " ' " (Haggai 1:1-2).
The book of Haggai was written after Judah was taken captive by Babylon, and after some Jews had been allowed to return to Judah. There are parallels between that time in the history of Israel and our time in the Church of God today. The Jews had been scattered and reduced in power, just as the Church of God has been scattered and reduced in power in our time in the last two decades.
The Jews were not prospering, just as in many ways the Church of God has not been prospering since the death of Mr. Armstrong. The people were saying that it was not time to build the temple.
God's reply: "Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 'Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?' Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Consider your ways! You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.' Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,' says the Lord. 'You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?' says the Lord of hosts. 'Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands' " (Haggai 1:3-11).
Today, God's temple is the Church (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). As in Haggai's day, many say that this is not the time to build God's temple. But God's reply to the people in Haggai's time is to go to the mountains and bring wood to build the temple. In the Bible, mountains can represent nations or kingdoms (Isaiah 2:2-3, Isaiah 2:12-14, Isaiah 11:9, Isaiah 52:7, Jeremiah 51:25, Ezekiel 6:1-3, Ezekiel 17:22-23, Ezekiel 33:28, Ezekiel 36:1-4, Daniel 2:35, Micah 4:1). If the lesson of Haggai applies to us today, we are to go to the nations, that is, the public, and bring "wood" or material to build God's temple, the Church. In other words, this is still the time to preach the gospel, to bring in new members, and to build the Church of God.
The lessons in the Old Testament are written for our example to learn from (1 Corinthians 10:11).
The door to preaching the gospel is still open. We still have enough freedom and money to publish and broadcast. New members are still being called into the Church of God and baptized. The opportunities are there, and people need our message. We need the spiritual discernment and vision to see the opportunity, the need, and the responsibility. "Jesus said to them, 'My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, "There are still four months and then comes the harvest"? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!' " (John 4:34-35).
The leaders, ministry, and members of the whole Church of God need to have a zeal to finish God's work of preaching the gospel to the world, feeding the flock, and preaching the Ezekiel warning to Israel. We can do much more than we have done so far. We need to imitate the zeal of Jesus Christ who was so zealous to finish God's work that it was like food to Him. We also should have a desire to finish God's work as we have a desire for food. And God's work still includes preaching to the public a message of repentance, of warning, and of the good news of the coming kingdom of God.
Here are links to related sections in Preaching the Gospel:
Will Focusing Exclusively on Feeding the Flock Heal the Church?, Chapter 5
Is the Church Commissioned to Preach the Gospel to the World?, Chapter 5
The Church, Chapter 4
Friday, January 1, 2010
UCG Council of Elders letter
The United Church of God Council of Elders sent a letter to the UCG ministry December 28, 2009, according to Ambassador Watch (Gavin Rumney blog, an anti-COG website). The entire text of the letter can be found at his site in his December 31 posting. Note: the posting itself does not include anti-COG opinion, but the comments section does, in case you want to avoid it.
The letter is an appeal for unity and cooperation in the face of a spirit of division and contention growing in UCG at this time.
Many of the UCG ministers seem to be aligned into two camps with different opinions on a variety of matters. There has been a recent change in the leadership of UCG because of the last election.
I won't try to go into details of the matters in which they differ. The move to Texas was one matter, and there may be many others.
The letter addresses the problem of division in a strong way, and much of what is written is good. It is a warning in effect that unless the ministry as a whole builds a spirit of cooperation instead of contention, great spiritual damage will be done to the Church, and though it was not stated explicitly, I think there is an implied warning that if the spirit of division continues to grow, it will fragment United Church of God at some point.
I want to comment on one cause of the division, and some lessons that can be learned.
This letter refers repeatedly to the decision in 1995 to establish governance by the election of a ruling Council of Elders by the general ministry by ballot, which is a different form of governance than the Church had before. And the letter goes on to describe a pattern of divisiveness and contention which has grown to become the dominant spirit in United Church of God.
I believe I can show that there is a connection between the two. One is a contributing cause of the other.
I can understand why United Church of God chose this system of governance. I was attending Worldwide at the time United Church of God formed. I didn't leave Worldwide until after UCG had formed, and then I attended with them for a while. At the time UCG started, there did not seem to be any alternative to governance by ballot. There was no one leader with the standing in the eyes of the ministry to assume leadership without election by the ministry at large. I think the motive for governance by ballot was a desire for unity and cooperation and to keep the ministry together. There may have also been some concern that a system of checks and balances was needed so that no one man had the authority to change doctrine without the consent of the majority of the ministers, as had happened in Worldwide.
But the fruits of that decision have become apparent over time.
It has been instructive. I actually understand certain principles of democracy better than I did before, even as it applies to the United States government, from watching events in UCG. In other words, watching the spirit of division grow in UCG has helped me better understand why the United States is so divided in its politics and government.
There is a biblical principle that those under authority should respect and submit to those over them in authority. That is how government works. Part of that respect and submission includes not openly criticizing those who hold an office of authority in front of those under that office. When you do that, you weaken the authority of the office and make it more difficult for leaders to lead.
But in order for democracy to function, there must be freedom to criticize. Those who vote by ballot must be free to discuss their voting decision with others, even when those discussions include harsh criticism. I understand now why the freedoms of speech and press in the Bill of Rights are vital to the functioning of democracy in the United States. It does no good to give the people the authority to vote their leaders out of office if those in office have the power to squelch dissent and free expression. Without the free flow of information and opinion, government leaders can stiffle information critical of themselves or favorable to their opponents. But the price that is paid is that of division and factionalism. We see that in the political arena in the United States. And we can see it in the United Church of God.
This kind of factionalism will always grow in a democracy.
Why does this happen whenever those under authority elect those over them by ballot?
You have an immediate conflict of interest. Authority is weakened when those under the authority harshly criticize those above them, but such criticism must be allowed in order for the body doing the voting (General Conference of Elders) to exchange information and views to make decisions on how to vote. Then such criticism begets more criticism as those who are criticized retaliate. It is an unstable system of governance that weakens and becomes more divided over time.
The letter contrasts what is occurring now in UCG with what would not have been allowed in Worldwide or in the individual congregations.
"We would never have allowed this in our former association!" - That is because the former association was not ruled from the ballot box.
"We would never allow it in the congregations that we pastor." - That is because the members of a congregation do not elect their pastor by ballot.
"In what some of our members like to call the 'real world' in which they work, such breaches of confidentiality, slander and lack of organizational cohesiveness would be dealt with immediately by appropriate disciplinary action for those responsible." - That is because the typical workplace is not a democracy. The workers do not elect their bosses by ballot.
"Why should we be different and why should the unity once a hallmark of God’s people be different now?" - Because UCG has chosen a form of governance based on voting of those under authority to elect those over them in authority. The natural effect of that is increasing division over time.
All the Churches of God and their members are now seeing the fruits play out of the 1995 decision by UCG ministers to establish a body based on the authority of the ballot box.
God is letting us all learn lessons from this example.
What is the alternative to governance by ballot in the absense of a strong leader with the prestige to hold the church together without voting?
Suppose those pastors leaving Worldwide in the spring of 1995 had not formed a single organized corporation at all. Suppose those pastors had simply pastored their congregations, collecting tithes and offerings from the members of their congregations, trusting God for the finances and guidence they needed. Some ministers might organize independently, and some might attach themselves to another man they respected and trusted. You would have ended up with many small churches, some with one minister, some with three or four ministers with one man in charge, but each leader of a group would look directly to God for supervision and support. That is what Herbert W. Armstrong did when he left the employment of Church of God Seventh Day. There would have been no voting.
Wouldn't this have created greater division? Absolutely not.
It would have become evident which pastors had a true spirit of cooperation, and those pastors would have cooperated and helped each other in many ways, not by legal requirement, but willingly, as brothers help brothers in a family. And over time, God would show by the fruits which man He chose to lead the other pastors, and as the fruits of love, wisdom, courage, truthfulness, and effectiveness of that man became evident, the other pastors and the whole Church could have gathered to that man. In effect, it would be Christ who would chose the man by showing by the fruits which man He blessed. That man would receive authority by the election of God, not by the election of men.
It might take longer that way to sort things out, but if that had been done starting in 1995, by now the man God had chosen might be in charge and we would not have the division in UCG we see today.
You will always have factions and divisions in a democracy as different sides struggle for control. I think this will become increasingly evident over time.
Here are links to related sections in Preaching the Gospel:
Should Each Member Promote His Own Opinion?, Chapter 6
When and How to Judge, Chapter 5
Government in the Church, Chapter 5
Following the Bible -- Pattern of Government, Chapter 6
Church Government, Chapter 7
The letter is an appeal for unity and cooperation in the face of a spirit of division and contention growing in UCG at this time.
Many of the UCG ministers seem to be aligned into two camps with different opinions on a variety of matters. There has been a recent change in the leadership of UCG because of the last election.
I won't try to go into details of the matters in which they differ. The move to Texas was one matter, and there may be many others.
The letter addresses the problem of division in a strong way, and much of what is written is good. It is a warning in effect that unless the ministry as a whole builds a spirit of cooperation instead of contention, great spiritual damage will be done to the Church, and though it was not stated explicitly, I think there is an implied warning that if the spirit of division continues to grow, it will fragment United Church of God at some point.
I want to comment on one cause of the division, and some lessons that can be learned.
This letter refers repeatedly to the decision in 1995 to establish governance by the election of a ruling Council of Elders by the general ministry by ballot, which is a different form of governance than the Church had before. And the letter goes on to describe a pattern of divisiveness and contention which has grown to become the dominant spirit in United Church of God.
I believe I can show that there is a connection between the two. One is a contributing cause of the other.
I can understand why United Church of God chose this system of governance. I was attending Worldwide at the time United Church of God formed. I didn't leave Worldwide until after UCG had formed, and then I attended with them for a while. At the time UCG started, there did not seem to be any alternative to governance by ballot. There was no one leader with the standing in the eyes of the ministry to assume leadership without election by the ministry at large. I think the motive for governance by ballot was a desire for unity and cooperation and to keep the ministry together. There may have also been some concern that a system of checks and balances was needed so that no one man had the authority to change doctrine without the consent of the majority of the ministers, as had happened in Worldwide.
But the fruits of that decision have become apparent over time.
It has been instructive. I actually understand certain principles of democracy better than I did before, even as it applies to the United States government, from watching events in UCG. In other words, watching the spirit of division grow in UCG has helped me better understand why the United States is so divided in its politics and government.
There is a biblical principle that those under authority should respect and submit to those over them in authority. That is how government works. Part of that respect and submission includes not openly criticizing those who hold an office of authority in front of those under that office. When you do that, you weaken the authority of the office and make it more difficult for leaders to lead.
But in order for democracy to function, there must be freedom to criticize. Those who vote by ballot must be free to discuss their voting decision with others, even when those discussions include harsh criticism. I understand now why the freedoms of speech and press in the Bill of Rights are vital to the functioning of democracy in the United States. It does no good to give the people the authority to vote their leaders out of office if those in office have the power to squelch dissent and free expression. Without the free flow of information and opinion, government leaders can stiffle information critical of themselves or favorable to their opponents. But the price that is paid is that of division and factionalism. We see that in the political arena in the United States. And we can see it in the United Church of God.
This kind of factionalism will always grow in a democracy.
Why does this happen whenever those under authority elect those over them by ballot?
You have an immediate conflict of interest. Authority is weakened when those under the authority harshly criticize those above them, but such criticism must be allowed in order for the body doing the voting (General Conference of Elders) to exchange information and views to make decisions on how to vote. Then such criticism begets more criticism as those who are criticized retaliate. It is an unstable system of governance that weakens and becomes more divided over time.
The letter contrasts what is occurring now in UCG with what would not have been allowed in Worldwide or in the individual congregations.
"We would never have allowed this in our former association!" - That is because the former association was not ruled from the ballot box.
"We would never allow it in the congregations that we pastor." - That is because the members of a congregation do not elect their pastor by ballot.
"In what some of our members like to call the 'real world' in which they work, such breaches of confidentiality, slander and lack of organizational cohesiveness would be dealt with immediately by appropriate disciplinary action for those responsible." - That is because the typical workplace is not a democracy. The workers do not elect their bosses by ballot.
"Why should we be different and why should the unity once a hallmark of God’s people be different now?" - Because UCG has chosen a form of governance based on voting of those under authority to elect those over them in authority. The natural effect of that is increasing division over time.
All the Churches of God and their members are now seeing the fruits play out of the 1995 decision by UCG ministers to establish a body based on the authority of the ballot box.
God is letting us all learn lessons from this example.
What is the alternative to governance by ballot in the absense of a strong leader with the prestige to hold the church together without voting?
Suppose those pastors leaving Worldwide in the spring of 1995 had not formed a single organized corporation at all. Suppose those pastors had simply pastored their congregations, collecting tithes and offerings from the members of their congregations, trusting God for the finances and guidence they needed. Some ministers might organize independently, and some might attach themselves to another man they respected and trusted. You would have ended up with many small churches, some with one minister, some with three or four ministers with one man in charge, but each leader of a group would look directly to God for supervision and support. That is what Herbert W. Armstrong did when he left the employment of Church of God Seventh Day. There would have been no voting.
Wouldn't this have created greater division? Absolutely not.
It would have become evident which pastors had a true spirit of cooperation, and those pastors would have cooperated and helped each other in many ways, not by legal requirement, but willingly, as brothers help brothers in a family. And over time, God would show by the fruits which man He chose to lead the other pastors, and as the fruits of love, wisdom, courage, truthfulness, and effectiveness of that man became evident, the other pastors and the whole Church could have gathered to that man. In effect, it would be Christ who would chose the man by showing by the fruits which man He blessed. That man would receive authority by the election of God, not by the election of men.
It might take longer that way to sort things out, but if that had been done starting in 1995, by now the man God had chosen might be in charge and we would not have the division in UCG we see today.
You will always have factions and divisions in a democracy as different sides struggle for control. I think this will become increasingly evident over time.
Here are links to related sections in Preaching the Gospel:
Should Each Member Promote His Own Opinion?, Chapter 6
When and How to Judge, Chapter 5
Government in the Church, Chapter 5
Following the Bible -- Pattern of Government, Chapter 6
Church Government, Chapter 7
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Church of God Governance
Since the death of Herbert W. Armstrong, the Church of God has been scattered and split into many fellowships. The largest of these is United Church of God, but though they are the largest, they are not the most effective in preaching the gospel to the public, and they suffer from internal strife and divisions.
One pastor of that Church asked a friend, "What are we doing wrong? What can we do to revitalize the Work?" That is a good question. But I think the right answer is hard to take.
UCG kept most of the doctrines taught by HWA, but changed the doctrine of hierarchical government and built a system of balloting by the ministry to elect a board to govern the Church. They may have done this because they saw no alternative. But there was an alternative, and there still is, even for UCG pastors today.
Some in UCG may think that the Bible does not teach government from the top down, but it does. Some may have observed the fruits of one-man rule from Mr. Tkach and concluded that a lesson to be learned is the dangers of top-down government, but there is an explanation for that too. But in any case, the fruits of what is happening in UCG show the disadvantages of democracy, and it shows that UCG governance is a democracy, not a "spirit-led consensus." If it were really a spirit-led consensus, it would be hard to explain why God's Spirit would lead most of the voting ministry to approve a move to Texas, then after money was spent for such a move, disapprove it. It should be apparent that the same kinds of divisiveness, factionalism, and politicking that exists in American politics and government exist in UCG governance. You cannot revitalize the work in that kind of environment.
The Bible teaches us not to weaken the office of those in authority over us by openly criticizing them among ourselves, thus tending to show that an alternative elders' forum should not be used to harshly criticize those in power. On the other hand, the Bible teaches us to seek counsel before making a decision, and this means that those who vote must engage in discussions about those in authority to know whether to vote for or against them, and if those discussions are honest there will sometimes be harsh criticism. You cannot follow both of these principles if you have governance by ballot.
Democracy cannot work if criticism is stiffled. Having a system where those under authority select who will be over them in authority virtually guarantees negative criticism of the type that some say exists in the alternative elders' forum.
The contradiction is not between the two biblical principles of respecting authority and seeking counsel before making a decision. The contradiction is between the principles of the Bible and government by voting in the Church.
By placing themselves under the authority of a body of 500 voting ministers, the leadership and ministry have rejected the authority of Christ over the adminstrative work of the Church. That is one of the real sources of the trouble in United Church of God.
What is the solution for UCG ministers today?
When Herbert Armstrong faced disagreement with the ruling powers in Church of God Seventh Day, he has the courage to refuse further salary and trust God for his livelihood, according to his autobiography. Few ministers have that kind of courage or faith today, it seems.
Some pastors in UCG may be afraid to be independent, that is, to pastor their congregations independent of an elected body and trust God to provide them with sufficient member tithes from their congregation, and to report hierarchically to Christ until Christ can make it known by the fruits who He has selected to lead the Church. But if the UCG pastors had done that from the beginning, from the time they left Worldwide, by now it would probably be known who has shown the fruits of wisdom, faith, love, and courage required to lead the Church, and who God has blessed with success in doing His work, and the different pastors could have gathered to that man.
The passage of time is showing, and I think will continue to show, that democracy in the Church of God does not work.
Here are links to related sections in Preaching the Gospel:
Should Each Member Promote His Own Opinion?, Chapter 6
When and How to Judge, Chapter 5
A Brief History of the Scattering of the Church, Chapter 5
Government in the Church, Chapter 5
Following the Bible -- Pattern of Government, Chapter 6
Church Government, Chapter 7
One pastor of that Church asked a friend, "What are we doing wrong? What can we do to revitalize the Work?" That is a good question. But I think the right answer is hard to take.
UCG kept most of the doctrines taught by HWA, but changed the doctrine of hierarchical government and built a system of balloting by the ministry to elect a board to govern the Church. They may have done this because they saw no alternative. But there was an alternative, and there still is, even for UCG pastors today.
Some in UCG may think that the Bible does not teach government from the top down, but it does. Some may have observed the fruits of one-man rule from Mr. Tkach and concluded that a lesson to be learned is the dangers of top-down government, but there is an explanation for that too. But in any case, the fruits of what is happening in UCG show the disadvantages of democracy, and it shows that UCG governance is a democracy, not a "spirit-led consensus." If it were really a spirit-led consensus, it would be hard to explain why God's Spirit would lead most of the voting ministry to approve a move to Texas, then after money was spent for such a move, disapprove it. It should be apparent that the same kinds of divisiveness, factionalism, and politicking that exists in American politics and government exist in UCG governance. You cannot revitalize the work in that kind of environment.
The Bible teaches us not to weaken the office of those in authority over us by openly criticizing them among ourselves, thus tending to show that an alternative elders' forum should not be used to harshly criticize those in power. On the other hand, the Bible teaches us to seek counsel before making a decision, and this means that those who vote must engage in discussions about those in authority to know whether to vote for or against them, and if those discussions are honest there will sometimes be harsh criticism. You cannot follow both of these principles if you have governance by ballot.
Democracy cannot work if criticism is stiffled. Having a system where those under authority select who will be over them in authority virtually guarantees negative criticism of the type that some say exists in the alternative elders' forum.
The contradiction is not between the two biblical principles of respecting authority and seeking counsel before making a decision. The contradiction is between the principles of the Bible and government by voting in the Church.
By placing themselves under the authority of a body of 500 voting ministers, the leadership and ministry have rejected the authority of Christ over the adminstrative work of the Church. That is one of the real sources of the trouble in United Church of God.
What is the solution for UCG ministers today?
When Herbert Armstrong faced disagreement with the ruling powers in Church of God Seventh Day, he has the courage to refuse further salary and trust God for his livelihood, according to his autobiography. Few ministers have that kind of courage or faith today, it seems.
Some pastors in UCG may be afraid to be independent, that is, to pastor their congregations independent of an elected body and trust God to provide them with sufficient member tithes from their congregation, and to report hierarchically to Christ until Christ can make it known by the fruits who He has selected to lead the Church. But if the UCG pastors had done that from the beginning, from the time they left Worldwide, by now it would probably be known who has shown the fruits of wisdom, faith, love, and courage required to lead the Church, and who God has blessed with success in doing His work, and the different pastors could have gathered to that man.
The passage of time is showing, and I think will continue to show, that democracy in the Church of God does not work.
Here are links to related sections in Preaching the Gospel:
Should Each Member Promote His Own Opinion?, Chapter 6
When and How to Judge, Chapter 5
A Brief History of the Scattering of the Church, Chapter 5
Government in the Church, Chapter 5
Following the Bible -- Pattern of Government, Chapter 6
Church Government, Chapter 7
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Does Jesus Christ HATE Christmas?
Does Jesus Christ HATE Christmas?
Does God hate Christmas? Do God the Father and Jesus Christ hate Christmas no matter how it is kept?
Here is a quote from a post someone made in one in a forum: "To put it plainly, based on what God says in the Bible, I think God and Christ HATE Christmas with a passion. Figuratively speaking, I think it makes them want to vomit!"
Is that true?
To millions of people, Christmas represents the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. And the birth of Jesus was a wonderful event, and the angels announced it as tidings of great joy (Luke 2:8-14). To others who are more secular, Christmas may represent a time of eating, drinking, music, and the giving of presents. To children, it may represent the receiving of presents from Santa Claus.
What does Christmas represent to God?
First, a bit of background. Ever wonder what an evergreen tree has to do with the birth of Jesus Christ, or why Christmas falls on December 25, close to the winter solstice (at one time, December 25 was thought to fall exactly on the Winter solstice)? If you look up the origin of the custom of Christmas in the encyclopedia, you will find that both the date and the customs come from paganism. The evergreen tree is a fertility symbol, and the winter solstice figured in sun worship because that is the date when the days would start getting longer. The mainstream Christian church adopted the pagan customs and day and converted them into a celebration of the birth of Christ as a method of trying to make conversion to Christianity easier for the masses who were already accustomed to observing that day as part of their pagan religion. That way, the masses could keep their tradition, but with a different meaning. Instead of worshipping the sun, the pagan day would be used to worship Christ. That was the human reasoning.
But what does God say?
"When the Lord your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it" (Deuteronomy 12:29-32).
Notice that God commands His people NOT to imitate pagan customs in the way they worship God, but only to worship God as He commands we worship Him. "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it."
"Thus says the Lord: 'Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple" (Jeremiah 10:2-4).
God directly commands His people NOT to do what men have done with Christmas - appropriate pagan customs into the worship of God. God has given Israel and the Church seven annual holy days and festivals, days to be kept yearly, but the majority of Americans do not keep those days. Instead, they keep days like Christmas, days invented by men, adapted from false, pagan religions, and kept generation after generation by tradition, a tradition contrary to the will and commands of God. We have become like the ancient Pharisees, whom Jesus condemned for their hypocrisy, breaking the law of God to keep our traditions. "He said to them, 'All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition' " (Mark 7:9). God does not accept that kind of worship. When we worship Christ that way, we worship Him in vain. "...This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (Mark 7:6-7). Jesus called those who do this HYPOCRITES (first part of verse 6).
We are hypocrites if we claim that Christ is our Lord, but do not strive to do what God says. "But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). We can call Christ our brother, ONLY if we do the will of the Father and obey God's word, the Bible. "But He answered and said to them, 'My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it' " (Luke 8:21). "But He answered and said to the one who told Him, 'Who is My mother and who are My brothers?' And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, 'Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother' " (Matthew 12:48-50).
What does Christmas represent to God the Father and Jesus Christ? It represents rebellion against God, because that is exactly what it is.
Do you think God accepts something just because you think your intentions are good? You think God is not concerned about the details of where Christmas originated?
Ancient King Saul thought he was doing the right thing when he offered sacrifices to God from the spoil he took from a mission God sent him on, spoil which God told him to destroy, not offer it as a sacrifice. God did not accept his sacrifice or his supposedly "good intention." God rejected him as king for not obeying exactly what God told him. "So Samuel said: 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king" (1 Samuel 15:22-23).
Christmas also represents hypocrisy, the same kind of hypocrisy the Pharisees were guilty of when they broke God's commandments to keep their traditions. We are hypocrites if we claim to honor Christ by disobeying God's command in Deuteronomy 12:29-32.
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-20).
The quote from the forum post is from myself. I commented in a forum that God hates Christmas, because that is what I find in the Bible.
"But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46).
What is your answer?
Here are links to related sections in Preaching the Gospel:
Traditional Christian Holidays, Chapter 2
Does God hate Christmas? Do God the Father and Jesus Christ hate Christmas no matter how it is kept?
Here is a quote from a post someone made in one in a forum: "To put it plainly, based on what God says in the Bible, I think God and Christ HATE Christmas with a passion. Figuratively speaking, I think it makes them want to vomit!"
Is that true?
To millions of people, Christmas represents the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. And the birth of Jesus was a wonderful event, and the angels announced it as tidings of great joy (Luke 2:8-14). To others who are more secular, Christmas may represent a time of eating, drinking, music, and the giving of presents. To children, it may represent the receiving of presents from Santa Claus.
What does Christmas represent to God?
First, a bit of background. Ever wonder what an evergreen tree has to do with the birth of Jesus Christ, or why Christmas falls on December 25, close to the winter solstice (at one time, December 25 was thought to fall exactly on the Winter solstice)? If you look up the origin of the custom of Christmas in the encyclopedia, you will find that both the date and the customs come from paganism. The evergreen tree is a fertility symbol, and the winter solstice figured in sun worship because that is the date when the days would start getting longer. The mainstream Christian church adopted the pagan customs and day and converted them into a celebration of the birth of Christ as a method of trying to make conversion to Christianity easier for the masses who were already accustomed to observing that day as part of their pagan religion. That way, the masses could keep their tradition, but with a different meaning. Instead of worshipping the sun, the pagan day would be used to worship Christ. That was the human reasoning.
But what does God say?
"When the Lord your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land, take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’ You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it" (Deuteronomy 12:29-32).
Notice that God commands His people NOT to imitate pagan customs in the way they worship God, but only to worship God as He commands we worship Him. "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it."
"Thus says the Lord: 'Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple" (Jeremiah 10:2-4).
God directly commands His people NOT to do what men have done with Christmas - appropriate pagan customs into the worship of God. God has given Israel and the Church seven annual holy days and festivals, days to be kept yearly, but the majority of Americans do not keep those days. Instead, they keep days like Christmas, days invented by men, adapted from false, pagan religions, and kept generation after generation by tradition, a tradition contrary to the will and commands of God. We have become like the ancient Pharisees, whom Jesus condemned for their hypocrisy, breaking the law of God to keep our traditions. "He said to them, 'All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition' " (Mark 7:9). God does not accept that kind of worship. When we worship Christ that way, we worship Him in vain. "...This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (Mark 7:6-7). Jesus called those who do this HYPOCRITES (first part of verse 6).
We are hypocrites if we claim that Christ is our Lord, but do not strive to do what God says. "But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). We can call Christ our brother, ONLY if we do the will of the Father and obey God's word, the Bible. "But He answered and said to them, 'My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it' " (Luke 8:21). "But He answered and said to the one who told Him, 'Who is My mother and who are My brothers?' And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, 'Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother' " (Matthew 12:48-50).
What does Christmas represent to God the Father and Jesus Christ? It represents rebellion against God, because that is exactly what it is.
Do you think God accepts something just because you think your intentions are good? You think God is not concerned about the details of where Christmas originated?
Ancient King Saul thought he was doing the right thing when he offered sacrifices to God from the spoil he took from a mission God sent him on, spoil which God told him to destroy, not offer it as a sacrifice. God did not accept his sacrifice or his supposedly "good intention." God rejected him as king for not obeying exactly what God told him. "So Samuel said: 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king" (1 Samuel 15:22-23).
Christmas also represents hypocrisy, the same kind of hypocrisy the Pharisees were guilty of when they broke God's commandments to keep their traditions. We are hypocrites if we claim to honor Christ by disobeying God's command in Deuteronomy 12:29-32.
"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:17-20).
The quote from the forum post is from myself. I commented in a forum that God hates Christmas, because that is what I find in the Bible.
"But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46).
What is your answer?
Here are links to related sections in Preaching the Gospel:
Traditional Christian Holidays, Chapter 2
Monday, October 26, 2009
New articles and book I have written
I have just completed and published two new articles and a new book. These are in the public domain and can be read online or downloaded free in .pdf format.
The True Gospel and the Ezekiel Warning is a full length book of seven chapters that shows how to prove that God inspired the Bible, what the true gospel really is, and what Bible prophecy predicts for the United States and the English-speaking nations of the world in the near future. It also discusses several matters of Bible doctrine in detail.
Here is a list of what is covered in each of seven chapters:
Chapter 1 - The United States and Britain in prophecy.
This chapter shows how to identify prophecies that pertain particularly to the English speaking people today. This chapter also gives proof that God exists and that He has inspired the Bible.
Chapter 2 - What is the True Gospel?
This chapter explains from the Bible what the true gospel is and how Bible teachings differ from mainstream, traditional Christian doctrines.
Chapter 3 - Is Observance of the Weekly Sabbath and Annual Feast Days Required?
What does the Bible really teach about the weekly Sabbath and annual holy days and feasts given in the Old Testament? Are these days only part of the Old Covenant and obsolete, or should they be kept today? This chapter explains the answer from the Bible.
Chapter 4 - The Name of God
Is God's name "Jehovah"? Is "God" a name or a title only? Is Jesus Christ God and has He existed forever, or was He created? Is God more than one person? Is it correct to use "Lord" as God's name? These are some of the questions that will be answered in this chapter from the Bible.
Chapter 5 - How to Know a Prophet
Seventh Day Adventists regard Helen White as a prophet. Mormons believe Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is inspired by God. Bible prophecy predicts both true and false prophets to appear between now and the return of Christ. It is important to know therefore how to tell if a man is a true prophet of God, or not. This short chapter covers the basics of the signs of a true prophet and what to look for in evaluating if a man or woman is a true prophet of God.
Chapter 6 - The Theory of Evolution and the Creation of Species.
This chapter shows that the physical evidence in fossils and genetics is entirely consistent with a literal understanding of Genesis. It also proves that evolution is a faith and that the scientific method itself prevents science from proving that evolution occurred. It also shows from the Bible how God views our materialistic society, a society that is dominated more and more atheistic evolution.
Chapter 7 - The Ezekiel Warning
The Ezekiel warning is a warning of punishment upon the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and other nations for our sins. This chapter shows where to find that warning in the Bible, what our sins are, and what the punishment will be like.
I have also published a new site on the Creation of Species. This article discusses the evolution vs. creation controversy and suggests a new way the Bible account in Genesis may be reconciled with the physical evidence of fossils and genetics.
The United States and the World in Bible Prophecy is a article dedicated entirely to showing what Bible prophecy predicts for the United States and the world in the years just ahead.
The True Gospel and the Ezekiel Warning is a full length book of seven chapters that shows how to prove that God inspired the Bible, what the true gospel really is, and what Bible prophecy predicts for the United States and the English-speaking nations of the world in the near future. It also discusses several matters of Bible doctrine in detail.
Here is a list of what is covered in each of seven chapters:
Chapter 1 - The United States and Britain in prophecy.
This chapter shows how to identify prophecies that pertain particularly to the English speaking people today. This chapter also gives proof that God exists and that He has inspired the Bible.
Chapter 2 - What is the True Gospel?
This chapter explains from the Bible what the true gospel is and how Bible teachings differ from mainstream, traditional Christian doctrines.
Chapter 3 - Is Observance of the Weekly Sabbath and Annual Feast Days Required?
What does the Bible really teach about the weekly Sabbath and annual holy days and feasts given in the Old Testament? Are these days only part of the Old Covenant and obsolete, or should they be kept today? This chapter explains the answer from the Bible.
Chapter 4 - The Name of God
Is God's name "Jehovah"? Is "God" a name or a title only? Is Jesus Christ God and has He existed forever, or was He created? Is God more than one person? Is it correct to use "Lord" as God's name? These are some of the questions that will be answered in this chapter from the Bible.
Chapter 5 - How to Know a Prophet
Seventh Day Adventists regard Helen White as a prophet. Mormons believe Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is inspired by God. Bible prophecy predicts both true and false prophets to appear between now and the return of Christ. It is important to know therefore how to tell if a man is a true prophet of God, or not. This short chapter covers the basics of the signs of a true prophet and what to look for in evaluating if a man or woman is a true prophet of God.
Chapter 6 - The Theory of Evolution and the Creation of Species.
This chapter shows that the physical evidence in fossils and genetics is entirely consistent with a literal understanding of Genesis. It also proves that evolution is a faith and that the scientific method itself prevents science from proving that evolution occurred. It also shows from the Bible how God views our materialistic society, a society that is dominated more and more atheistic evolution.
Chapter 7 - The Ezekiel Warning
The Ezekiel warning is a warning of punishment upon the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, and other nations for our sins. This chapter shows where to find that warning in the Bible, what our sins are, and what the punishment will be like.
I have also published a new site on the Creation of Species. This article discusses the evolution vs. creation controversy and suggests a new way the Bible account in Genesis may be reconciled with the physical evidence of fossils and genetics.
The United States and the World in Bible Prophecy is a article dedicated entirely to showing what Bible prophecy predicts for the United States and the world in the years just ahead.
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