A situation recently came to my attention that underscores the lack of Christian compassion, kindness, and love that is all too often so apparent within Armstrongism. Some disabled folks who were interested in Armstrong theology and wanted to keep the Feast of Tabernacles were intentionally ignored and denied any assistance from church members in helping them to follow what they now firmly believed to be God's will in the matter. Apparently, church members were discouraged from helping them because of the fact that they were handicapped, and church leaders were afraid that they would have to look after, watch, or keep track of them! Later, when one of the same handicapped individuals had injured his toe and needed a ride to seek medical attention, no offer of help was forthcoming from the "saints" in question.
In this connection, a couple of scriptures came immediately to my mind:
Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. - I John 2:10, ESV
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. - I John 3:16, ESV
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? - I John 3:17, ESV
Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me no food, I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” - Matthew 25:41-46, ESV
The Apostle James defined pure and undefiled religion as being willing "to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction." - James 1:27 Jesus Christ once told his disciples that "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:35) Paul told the saints of Galatia that "the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23) Finally, Paul also wrote the saints of Corinth: "If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing." (I Corinthians 13:2)
These ACOG folks just don't even begin to understand what it means to be a Christian! They are all puffed up about the "TRUTH" which they possess, but they are blind to the heart and soul of the religion they profess to represent! I'm thinking that all of the Sabbath and Holy Day keeping of men who refuse to help a brother/sister in need isn't going to help them very much on Judgement Day - What do you think?
Lonnie, the traditional teaching of the Armstrong cult was sickness was physical sin. Anyone who was sick had to get annointed by the
ReplyDeleteministers. If the ill one didn't get well, he obviously didn't have enough faith. And these poor disabled members must have been looked down upon by the healthy Pharisees in the church. Nope, ya had to be 'perfect'.
ReplyDeleteNo one should be treated differently because are disabled, especially in a church setting.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Patrick ppl should never hurt a disabled person period
DeletePractice inclusive love as Jesus loved. Treat everyone as if they were an angel in disguise. One of the people who refused to do the help towards those disabled people named Charlie Hart said " a president who can speak" putting down Joe Biden on a Facebook post for his speech impediment. It is commonly believed Moses had a speech impediment too would you say he is not a good leader because of how he talked too really? They like Moses but pick on people with speech problems in our time. Moses’ own description of himself is that he had trouble speaking, and God allowed his brother Aaron to act as spokesman for him (Exodus 4:14–16; 7:1–6).
ReplyDeletePeople will know the distinctiveness of Christians by the nature of their sacrificial love for one another. Loving one another invites a test of the validity of genuine Christian living. Love is the badge of a Christian.
The church called UCG and others that do not actually show love should not be recognized as belonging to Jesus because of its evident lack of love they don't act like him very much.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree pat
ReplyDelete