For those interested in seeing the Restored COG perspective on criticism, they can read the november/december article that appeared in Pillar "Are YOU a Critic?". In that article James Turck talks of criticism as though it was by definition something negative - of the devil.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Anyone that has studied a bit about personal development and good business ethics knows that there is a HUGE difference between negative criticism and CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.
When criticism is constructive it is possible to get ahead of competitors who might not be as focused on their own work methods. In other words: it's not only a question of working harder to get ahead. Sometimes working smarter works much better.
That is worth remembering when ministers try to garner lots of scriptures into trying to say something false. That is, as you regular readers know, one of the main methods used by ministers of Armstrongism.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Positive Beginnings
It is often claimed, by ministers with Armstrongism at the core of their doctrinal expositions, that anti-Armstrongism sites are governed by negative mindsets. Nothing could be further from the truth, and in this article you will learn why this is not so.
When you have left the straight-jacket that Armstrongism IS, you will experience real freedom. God is not condemning people for THINKING for themselves. In fact, the ability to think outside the box was a tradition of the learned. Ask any Jew what the Bible is all about, and he will tell you that the oral law is filled with discussions where various doctrinal positions are freely debated. Noone condemns one another for asking questions. Au contraire, it is actually ENCOURAGED that you DO ask questions.
Thinking you have all the answers IS part of a self-satisfied mindset. Daring to consider even the unthinkable helps us understand what we are reading much better than just digesting things simply because a ministry claims THEY are inspired.
Who is it that CLAIMS inspiration? Is it not the ministers, indeed, who claim that anyone who disagrees is either "confused" or "negative" when in fact focus should have been on actually ANSWERING the subject at hand?
I think you will all agree that thinking for ourselves is the BIGGEST and BEST sign of positive development - especially once you have recovered from a mindset that DIVIDES people as cults always do. The "us" versus "them" mentality is in no way what God intended. He CREATED us. Not for war and disagreements, but for inspiration and mutual helping of one another. This should be the focus of any believer - regardless of whether we always disagree on everything.
When you have left the straight-jacket that Armstrongism IS, you will experience real freedom. God is not condemning people for THINKING for themselves. In fact, the ability to think outside the box was a tradition of the learned. Ask any Jew what the Bible is all about, and he will tell you that the oral law is filled with discussions where various doctrinal positions are freely debated. Noone condemns one another for asking questions. Au contraire, it is actually ENCOURAGED that you DO ask questions.
Thinking you have all the answers IS part of a self-satisfied mindset. Daring to consider even the unthinkable helps us understand what we are reading much better than just digesting things simply because a ministry claims THEY are inspired.
Who is it that CLAIMS inspiration? Is it not the ministers, indeed, who claim that anyone who disagrees is either "confused" or "negative" when in fact focus should have been on actually ANSWERING the subject at hand?
I think you will all agree that thinking for ourselves is the BIGGEST and BEST sign of positive development - especially once you have recovered from a mindset that DIVIDES people as cults always do. The "us" versus "them" mentality is in no way what God intended. He CREATED us. Not for war and disagreements, but for inspiration and mutual helping of one another. This should be the focus of any believer - regardless of whether we always disagree on everything.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Spanky Again Dreams of Petra
Roderick C Meredith, a.k.a. Spanky, is once again running his wild scenario creation about how the Arab world is going into the great "awful" alliance - and how the ultimate outcome is fleeing into the Armstrongite dream utopia of Petra awaiting the return of big papa-idol...
Revelation 12:12-17 is growing quite worn by all the speculation. :-D
In his February 15th letter he even prepares his followers by using the following words - obviously, with an offering envelope included for the "big work":
Gone are the days when christians were supposed to be willing to die rather than compromise. Matthew 16:25 clearly says: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."
Matthew 16:26 continues: "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
But when Spanky, the big Dr. of theology from non-accredited Ambassador College tells you that when he writes, even God is talking... Can you really SEE just how mind-controlling, weird and off-base this man really is?
I hope so, because Spanky really has gone over the bend - and many would say he did so long ago. :-)
Revelation 12:12-17 is growing quite worn by all the speculation. :-D
In his February 15th letter he even prepares his followers by using the following words - obviously, with an offering envelope included for the "big work":
For your sake, for your very survival - I pray that many thousands of you dear co-workers will open your mind to study and prove what God is telling you right now and that some will be willing to act on the Truth of God while you have the opportunity. For the more you sincerely "seek God," the more you pray for and get involved in this very end-time Work which Jesus Christ is now accomplishing, the more you will be able to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:19-21).
Gone are the days when christians were supposed to be willing to die rather than compromise. Matthew 16:25 clearly says: "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."
Matthew 16:26 continues: "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
But when Spanky, the big Dr. of theology from non-accredited Ambassador College tells you that when he writes, even God is talking... Can you really SEE just how mind-controlling, weird and off-base this man really is?
I hope so, because Spanky really has gone over the bend - and many would say he did so long ago. :-)
Sunday, March 6, 2011
HubPage About Armstrongism
Please feel free to pay my hubpage about Armstrongism a visit. I welcome your feedback on this hubpage sinde I believe it is highly important that a lot of people get this type of information.
Feel free to tweet about this hubpage and commenting so others may be helped by this information.
Feel free to tweet about this hubpage and commenting so others may be helped by this information.
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