Taking the Place of Honor

When I think of Herbert Armstrong and the folks who have claimed to be his successors (e.g. Roderick Meredith, Gerald Flurry, David Pack, Bob Thiel, etc.), I am reminded of something that Jesus said to his disciples, and that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans. To coin a phrase, the PLAIN TRUTH of the matter is that these guys have such an exalted notion of their importance and place in both the present (the ekklesia) and future (God's Kingdom) that they have little or NO compunction about claiming the best seat at the banquet!

In the Gospel of Luke, we read: "Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 'When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." - Luke 14:7-11, ESV

In similar fashion, the Apostle Paul once wrote to Christ's disciples at Rome: "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight." - Romans 12:3-16, ESV

Now, when we compare the exploits of these men with these passages, we are forced to conclude that they all seized the places of honor for themselves. They all thought much too highly of themselves! Instead of seeking to serve their brothers and sisters in Christ, they chose to gather the reins of power and prestige to themselves and lord it over their brethren (Matthew 20:25-28). Hmmm, that reminds me of something else Christ once said: "many who are (present tense) first will be last, and the last first." (Matthew 19:30) In other words, by their own actions, these men have assured that their place in God's Kingdom will be small (if they make it there at all)!