The Feast of Temporary Dwellings or Ingathering

For the next week, the Armstrong Churches of God will "celebrate" the Feast of Tabernacles at sites all over the United States and the world beyond. There will be lots of sermons about the Millenium and the Wonderful World Tomorrow/Kingdom of God. There will also be a lot of fine dining, consumption of alcoholic beverages, and various entertainments. Unfortunately, NONE of these elements has anything to do with the biblical festival or what it pictures!

According to Chabad.org, in their article What Is Sukkot?, we read: "Of all the Jewish holidays, Sukkot is the only one whose date does not seem to commemorate a historic event. The Torah refers to it by two names: Chag HaAsif ('the Festival of Ingathering,' or 'Harvest Festival') and Chag HaSukkot ('Festival of Booths'), each expressing a reason for the holiday...The name Chag HaSukkot commemorates the temporary dwellings G‑d made to shelter our ancestors on their way out of Egypt (some say this refers to the miraculous clouds of glory that shielded us from the desert sun, while others say it refers to the tents in which they dwelled for their 40-year trek through the Sinai desert)." In the following section of the same article, we also read: "For seven days and nights, we eat all our meals in the sukkah and otherwise regard it as our home. Located under the open sky, the sukkah is made up of at least three walls and a roof of unprocessed natural vegetation—typically bamboo, pine boughs or palm branches."

So, according to the people to whom this festival was originally given, this festival celebrates the dwelling of their people in booths (temporary dwellings) and the fall harvest. Moreover, this is consistent with what we read of those original instructions in the Hebrew Torah. In the twenty-third chapter of Leviticus, we read: "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the Lord. On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. For seven days you shall present food offerings to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the Lord. It is a solemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work.'" (Verses 33-36, ESV) Continuing, we read: "And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. You shall celebrate it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." (Verses 40-43, ESV)

Likewise, in the book of Deuteronomy, we read: "You shall keep the Feast of Booths seven days, when you have gathered in the produce from your threshing floor and your winepress." (16:13, ESV) Notice, here, we see this festival associated with celebrating the fall harvest. Then, a few verses later, we read: "Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God at the place that he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed." (16:16, ESV) Now, in the ACOGs, the Feast of Booths/Tabernacles has traditionally required the membership to travel to a central site for their celebrations. However, we see here that there were clearly three pilgrimage festivals designated by God for the ancient Israelites, and they were required to attend at the central sanctuary (later designated by God as Jerusalem). Moreover, these THREE festivals are also associated with each other in the book of Exodus, and the Feast of Booths is referred to there as the "feast of ingathering." (Exodus 23:16 and 34:22) Hence, we can see that the scriptural accounts clearly emphasize dwelling in booths and the fall harvest - just as was suggested in the Chabad.org article referenced earlier in this post.

Now, in terms of the meaning of these festivals from a Christian perspective, we know that Jesus of Nazareth claimed that he fulfilled ALL of the Torah and Prophets - that those writings pointed to HIM and his work! Thus, in terms of the meaning of the Feast of Booths, the only relevant questions for Christ's followers are: How did this festival point to HIM? and How did HE fulfill it? For that we need much more than speculation, we need to return to Scripture for the answers!

In the Gospel of John, we read: "And the Word was made 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, KJV) According to Blue Letter Bible, the Greek word translated here into English as "dwelt" literally means "to fix one's tabernacle, have one's tabernacle, abide (or live) in a tabernacle (or tent), tabernacle"! Notice how this same passage appears in some of the other English translations of the Bible: "So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son." (NLT) "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (NIV) "And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only begotten of a father, full of grace and truth." (YLT, Young's Literal Translation) So, like the Jews of old, this Jew from Nazareth temporarily pitched his tent/booth among his people!

Likewise, in the epistle to the Hebrews, we read that Jesus was "for a little while" made lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:9, ESV). Continuing, in that same passage, we read: "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." (Hebrews 2:14-18, ESV) Just like us, Jesus Christ tabernacled in the same flesh and blood, temporary dwelling, that each of us as humans currently inhabit!

Interestingly, the temporary nature of our current dwellings is a recurring theme in Scripture. Paul wrote to the saints at Corinth about the salvation that they had through Jesus Christ though it was currently contained in "jars of clay" (II Corinthians 4:7, ESV). A little later, in the same letter, he wrote: "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands." (II Corinthians 5:1, NIV) In similar fashion, Peter wrote this about salvation through Jesus Christ: "Wherefore, I will not be careless always to remind you concerning these things, though, having known them, and having been established in the present truth, and I think right, so long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up in reminding [you], having known that soon is the laying aside of my tabernacle, even as also our Lord Jesus Christ did shew to me, and I will be diligent that also at every time ye have, after my outgoing, power to make to yourselves the remembrance of these things." (II Peter 1:12-15, YLT) Even so, these references to the temporary nature of human life are not confined to the writings of Paul and Peter.

Notice, that there are many passages which support this theme:

"What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." (James 4:14, NIV)

"Behold, You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before You. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! " (Psalm 39:5, ESV)

"The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away." (Psalm 90:10, NIV)

"Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble. They spring up like flowers and wither away; like fleeting shadows, they do not endure." (Job 14:1-2, NIV)

Alright, we've addressed the symbolism of the temporary dwelling, but what about the harvest aspect of this festival? Jesus equated his work in some of his parables to the harvest (see the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Weeds). In the Gospel of Matthew, we read: "And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" (Matthew 9:35-38, ESV)

In the Gospel of John, we read that Christ told his disciples: "Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." (4:35-38, ESV)

Interestingly, a little later in this same gospel account, we find Christ observing the Feast of Booths (John 7) at Jerusalem, and he gave this message on the last day of the festival: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:37-39, ESV) A little earlier in this same gospel account, Christ had told Nicodemus: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:16-17, ESV) Clearly, Christ envisioned his work as resulting in a great harvest of souls, and it is clearly significant that he invited everyone to come to him on that last day of the festival.

Thus, for Christians, we have demonstrated that the Feast of Booths points to Jesus Christ and his work on our behalf. The festival pictures him tabernacling in the flesh, so that we can one day also shed these tabernacles of flesh which we currently inhabit! Also, the festival pictures the great harvest of souls in the fall of humankind's history on this planet. A harvest made possible by Jesus of Nazareth! This is the meaning of the Feast of Booths/Tabernacles! 

What You and I Believe About Heaven, Hell, Torment, Punishment, Universalism, and Annihilationism

We all must continuously confront the impulse/need to nail everything down - to have everything explained. Instead of focusing on our own salvation through Jesus Christ, we worry about what will happen if we (or other folks) fail. Indeed, Christian preachers have used fear as a motivator for their evangelistic efforts for most of the last two thousand years. I'm talking about the hellfire and brimstone preachers - the "sinners in the hands of an angry God" folks. Hopefully, we can all acknowledge that this is an unfortunate feature of the history of our faith, and that it is inconsistent with the concepts of love, faith, and hope.

Moreover, I'm hopeful that we can all acknowledge that many extra-biblical notions have arisen down through the centuries in connection with these topics, and that they have also generated a number of attempts to counteract/negate some of those notions. Now, to be clear, whatever you and I believe about these various notions/theological concepts, we should all be willing to acknowledge that we are subject to God's reality - even if that is significantly different from what we believe. For example, our notions of a Devil with horns and pitchfork roasting folks over the fires of hell is an extra-biblical fantasy pure and simple. I challenge anyone to find such a depiction anywhere in Scripture! Likewise, the notion that anything that God created has self-sustaining immortality is NOT supported by Scripture. In other words, EVERYTHING exists at God's pleasure and is sustained by "Him" - only God has true immortality.

Now, having said all of that, whatever we believe about our fate must also be consistent with the fact that God is the personification of LOVE! The kind of love that NEVER fails, is always merciful, compassionate, kind, forgiving, and concerned about the welfare of others. Hence, any notions that we harbor about vindictiveness, anger, wrath, or uncompromising harshness are obviously inconsistent with a being who is the personification of that kind of LOVE! What's more, I know that prooftexts are not necessary to support the points just made - anyone who has an even passing familiarity with Scripture can think of multiple passages which supports these assertions.

Finally, the Bible is literally full of God's plan to redeem mankind from their sins and reconcile them to "Himself." Moreover, it would be hard to find a Christian anywhere who is not familiar with this passage from the Gospel of John: "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17, NLT) Now, that being God's will and plan and knowing that God has the ability to accomplish his will, a number of questions come to mind: Can a plan which doesn't redeem the majority of humankind be judged a success? After all, if God is willing to go to such links to ensure "HIS" plan's success (the sacrifice of "his" beloved Son), is it plausible/reasonable to believe that "he" would tolerate failure on such a scale? And, how could the continued existence of anyone in a state of torment or suffering be consistent with the New Heavens and Earth promised in Scripture?

We must, of course, all come to our own conclusions about these matters. This post was not meant to convert anyone to one of the theologies suggested in the title. Personally, I'm familiar with all of these concepts and am not completely comfortable with any of them. My purpose, as always, was to challenge folks to think about what they believe and why. What about you? Are your own views consistent with the broad Scriptural principles outlined in this post?

Bob Thiel: Failing to Fast on the DOA Means You Have NO Atonement!

In his Fasting Tips for the Day of Atonement, CCG Pastor Bob Thiel referenced several prooftexts (Leviticus 23:32, Isaiah 58:5 and quoted Isaiah 22:12-14) and then observed: "Notice that not avoiding food when told to is equated to having no atonement." For Bob, the Day of Atonement is a day for FASTING - a day to refrain from eating and drinking. Bob then proceeded to devote several paragraphs to some old instructions about the observance of THE FAST from donut and coffee DOA, Herbert W Armstrong. Now, to be fair, Bob does talk about Jesus Christ being our Atonement in the very last paragraph of his article!

In other words, typical DOA Armstrong Church of God dribble! Unfortunately, these folks are all about scrupulous observance of physical acts/rituals. For the most part, the actual meaning of what they are doing is completely lost on them. Sure, there will be the usual sermons about Satan getting his due, but there won't be much discussion about Jesus Christ atoning for our sins - the very things that have separated all of us from our God. Unfortunately, the reality is that there won't be much discussion about Jesus Christ carrying the burden of our sins and reconciling us to our Father in Heaven! Likewise, the focus in most congregations will be on their own suffering, and NOT on the suffering of Jesus of Nazareth. Ever heard of straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel? That whooshing sound that your hearing is what the DOA represents sailing right over the heads of most of the folks occupying seats in ACOG congregations around the world!

The Atonement: Being Made at One with God

The Problem: It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore. - Isaiah 59:2, NLT

The Solution Foreshadowed: Aaron must take from the community of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. Aaron will present his own bull as a sin offering to purify himself and his family, making them right with the Lord. Then he must take the two male goats and present them to the Lord at the entrance of the Tabernacle. He is to cast sacred lots to determine which goat will be reserved as an offering to the Lord and which will carry the sins of the people to the wilderness of Azazel. Aaron will then present as a sin offering the goat chosen by lot for the Lord. The other goat, the scapegoat chosen by lot to be sent away, will be kept alive, standing before the Lord. When it is sent away to Azazel in the wilderness, the people will be purified and made right with the Lord...Then Aaron must slaughter the first goat as a sin offering for the people and carry its blood behind the inner curtain. There he will sprinkle the goat’s blood over the atonement cover and in front of it, just as he did with the bull’s blood. Through this process, he will purify the Most Holy Place, and he will do the same for the entire Tabernacle, because of the defiling sin and rebellion of the Israelites. No one else is allowed inside the Tabernacle when Aaron enters it for the purification ceremony in the Most Holy Place. No one may enter until he comes out again after purifying himself, his family, and all the congregation of Israel, making them right with the Lord. Then Aaron will come out to purify the altar that stands before the Lord. He will do this by taking some of the blood from the bull and the goat and putting it on each of the horns of the altar. Then he must sprinkle the blood with his finger seven times over the altar. In this way, he will cleanse it from Israel’s defilement and make it holy. When Aaron has finished purifying the Most Holy Place and the Tabernacle and the altar, he must present the live goat. He will lay both of his hands on the goat’s head and confess over it all the wickedness, rebellion, and sins of the people of Israel. In this way, he will transfer the people’s sins to the head of the goat. Then a man specially chosen for the task will drive the goat into the wilderness. As the goat goes into the wilderness, it will carry all the people’s sins upon itself into a desolate land. - Leviticus 16:5-10 and 15-22, NLT

The Symbolism Explained: That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship here on earth. There were two rooms in that Tabernacle. In the first room were a lampstand, a table, and sacred loaves of bread on the table. This room was called the Holy Place. Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place. In that room were a gold incense altar and a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing manna, Aaron’s staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the Ark were the cherubim of divine glory, whose wings stretched out over the Ark’s cover, the place of atonement. But we cannot explain these things in detail now.

When these things were all in place, the priests regularly entered the first room as they performed their religious duties. But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use.

This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them. For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established. So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.

Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

That is why even the first covenant was put into effect with the blood of an animal. For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. Then he said, “This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.” And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals.

For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. - Hebrews 9:1-28, NLT

The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.

But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’

First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices. - Hebrews 10:1-18, NLT

The Solution Predicted: Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people. He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels. - Isaiah 53:1-12, NLT

He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. - Psalm 103:12, NLT

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!' - John 1:29, NLT

The Solution Carried Out: When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. - Romans 5:6-11, NLT

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. - II Corinthians 5:18-21, NLT

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. - Colossians 1:19-22, NLT

Herbert Armstrong's Fanciful History of the Angelic Realm

Herbert Armstrong, founder of the now defunct Worldwide Church of God and Plain Truth magazine, wrote about the angelic realm:

Mystery of the Ages: The Perfect Creation

In Job 38:4, 7, God is speaking specifically of the creation of this earth. He said all the angels (created “sons of God”) shouted for joy at the creation of the earth. This reveals that angels were created before the creation of the earth-and probably before the material universe. The suns, planets and astral bodies are material substance. Angels are individually created spirit beings, composed solely of spirit. It will come as a surprise to many to learn that angels inhabited this earth BEFORE the creation of man. This passage from Job implies it.  

Mystery of the Ages: Angels on Earth Sinned

It is revealed in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, that God placed the archangel Lucifer, a cherub, on a throne on the earth. He was placed there as a ruler over the entire earth. God intended him to rule the earth by administering the government of God over the earth. And the government of God was administered on earth until the rebellion of the sinning angels. 

How long these angels inhabited the earth before the creation of man is not revealed. It might have been millions-or even billions-of years. More on that later. But these angels sinned. Sin is the transgression of God’s law (I John 3:4). And God’s law is the basis of God’s government. So we know these angels, apparently a third of all the angels (Rev. 12:4), sinned-rebelled against the government of God. And sin carries penalties. The penalty for the sin of the angels is not death, as it is for man. Angels are immortal spirit beings and cannot die. These spirit beings had been given dominion over the PHYSICAL EARTH as a possession and an abode. 

The universal, worldwide sin of the angels resulted in the physical destruction of the face of the earth. 

Mystery of the Ages: A Surprising Truth

Now another surprise for most readers. Here is another bit of the missing dimension in knowledge, actually revealed in the Bible, but unrecognized by religion, by science and by higher education. 

From verse 2 of Genesis 1 on, the remainder of this first chapter of the Bible is not describing the original creation of the earth. But it is describing a renewing of the face of the earth, after it had become waste and empty as a result of the sin of the angels. 

What is described from verse 2 on, in the supposed creation chapter of the Bible, did occur, according to the Bible, approximately 6,000 years ago. But that could have been millions or trillions of years after the actual creation of the earth described in verse 1! 

I will comment later on the length of time it might have taken before all earth’s angels turned to rebellion. 

The earth had become waste and empty. God did not create it waste and empty, or in a state of decay. God is not the author of confusion (I Cor. 14:33). This same Hebrew word-tohu-meaning waste and empty, was inspired in Isaiah 4518, where it is translated “in vain.” Using the original Hebrew word, as originally inspired, it reads: “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain [tohu], he formed it to be inhabited.” 

Continue now with the remainder of verse 2 of Genesis 1 (the earth had become chaotic, waste and empty): “And darkness was upon the face of the deep [the ocean or fluid surface of the earth]. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness” (verses 2-4). 

Satan is the author of darkness. The rebellion of the angels had caused the darkness. God is the author of light and truth. Light displays and enhances beauty, and also exposes evil. Darkness hides both. 

The verses that follow in this first chapter of the Bible describe the renewing of the face of the earth, yielding beautiful lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetation-then the creation of fish and fowl, animal life, and finally man.

Mystery of the Ages: God's Purpose for Angels

So the angel potential was to take over the entire universe-to improve and finish the billions of physical planets surrounding the uncountable stars, many of which are SUNS. The sun in our solar system is merely an average-size sun. Some that we see as stars are actually many, many times larger than our sun. Our solar system, vast beyond the imagination of most minds, is only a part of our galaxy, and there are many galaxies! In other words, the physical UNIVERSE that the mighty God created is vast beyond imagination! How GREAT is the GREAT GOD! 

He intended angels to have a vital part in the final creation of the endless universe! 

(But God may not have then fully revealed this awesome potential to the angels, for one third of them set out to take it from him by force, without first qualifying.) 

For this far-reaching purpose, God established his GOVERNMENT on earth over them. The administration of the GOVERNMENT OF GOD over this globe was delegated to the super archangel-the great cherub Lucifer. 

Bear in mind that even the holy angels and archangels-including this super cherub Lucifer-of necessity were endowed with ability to think, to reason, to form attitudes, and to make choices and decisions.

The Incredible Human Potential: What Caused the Angels' Sin?

He had created a beautiful, perfect creation in the earth. He populated it with holy angels - probably millions of them. He put over them, as king, on an earthly throne, the archangel - the cherub Lucifer. Lucifer was the supreme masterpiece of God's creative power as a single separately created Spirit being. He was the most perfect in beauty, power, mind, knowledge, intellect, wisdom, within the almighty power of God to create. God can create nothing higher or more perfect, by instantaneous fiat. 

Yet this great being, knowledgeable, trained and experienced at God's own throne in heaven over the universe and the administration of the government of God, had rejected that government, corrupted his way, rebelled against administering or even obeying it. He had led all his angels astray and into the sin of rebellion and disloyalty. 

Now consider further. Apparently, the entire universe had been created also at the time of the earth's creation. There is no evidence either in God's revealed Word, nor in science, that any of the planets in endless outer space had been inhabited with any form of life. But God does nothing in vain. He always has a purpose.

 

Apparently, all such planets in the entire universe NOW are waste and empty - decayed (tohu and bohu) - Like the earth was, as described in Genesis I :2. But God did not create them in such conditions of decay - like our moon. Decay is not an original created condition - it is a condition resulting from a process of deterioration. Evidently if the now fallen angels had maintained the earth in its original beautiful condition, improved it, carried out God's instructions, and obeyed His government, they would have been offered the awesome potential of populating and carrying out a tremendous creative program throughout the entire universe. When they turned traitor on earth, their sin must have also brought simultaneously physical destruction to the other planets throughout the universe, which were potentially and conditionally put in subjection to them.

 

As God surveyed this cataclysmic tragedy, He must have realized that since the highest, most perfect being within His almighty power to create, had turned to rebellion, it left God Himself as the only being who would not and cannot sin...

 

God saw that no being less than God, in the God Family, could be certainly relied on never to sin - to be like God - who cannot sin. To fulfill His purpose for the entire vast universe, God saw that nothing less than Himself (as the God Family) could be absolutely relied upon to carry out that supreme purpose in the entire universe.

 

God then purposed to reproduce Himself, through humans, made in His image and likeness, but made first from material flesh and blood, subject to death if there is sin unrepented of - yet with the possibility of being born into the Divine Family begotten by God the Father. 

Unfortunately, Mr. Armstrong's logic and writing style were so flawed that it makes it more difficult to get a handle on precisely what he was teaching. As a consequence, I will follow the order of his presentation of this material and summarize the major points he made in this regard (hopefully, making it easier for the reader to follow along and make sure that I have accurately characterized his teachings.

My summary:

1. Mr. Armstrong taught that the book of Job suggested that angels were created prior to the physical universe, and that they inhabited the earth before humankind was created.

2. He also taught that passages in Isaiah and Ezekiel reveal that Lucifer was placed on the throne of earth over the angelic host. Armstrong went on to teach that these angels sinned, and that the penalty for their sins was not death (because they were immortal beings).

3. Instead, according to Mr. Armstrong, the angels' sin caused the destruction of the earth's surface - forcing God to recreate/renew the face of the earth. He then concluded that God had intended for the angels "to improve and finish" the other solar systems of the universe!

4. Mr. Armstrong taught that Lucifer represented the pinnacle of God's creative power, and that he had been trained at God's throne in heaven. Moreover, Armstrong taught that Lucifer had rejected God's governance and had led a great angelic rebellion against Him!

5. As a consequence of Lucifer's failure, Mr. Armstrong taught that God had decided that only a God-being could be relied upon. Hence, according to Herbert, God then decided to reproduce Himself, and that he would accomplish that through the creation of humankind. In other words, humankind represented PLAN B!

Now that we have summarized Armstrong's teachings about the history of the angelic host, we can begin to take a look at his scriptural prooftexts and critically dissect the flawed reasoning that led to his erroneous conclusions and teachings.

First, this is the actual text from the passage in Job which Mr. Armstrong referenced in his book:

"Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 'Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?'" (Job 38:1-7, ESV)

So, we see that the actual context of this passage was God's confrontation of Job's self-righteousness. He was telling Job to put on his big boy pants and answer His questions. "Where were you when I created the earth?" He demanded. In the course of this conversation, we can clearly see that God used flowery and symbolic prose to describe His creation of the earth. As part of this discourse, God revealed to Job that the "morning stars" (angels) sang together, and "all the sons of God" (spirit beings/angels) "shouted for joy."

Now, while it is reasonable to deduce from this passage that angels and spirit beings were created prior to the physical earth and were witnesses to its actual creation, there is NO explicit or implied statement that it was created for them! It is very clearly a stretch to suggest otherwise! Moreover, I defy anyone to point to any place in this passage where it is even remotely suggested that angels lived on this earth before humans! Anyone up for that challenge? If so, please respond in the comments section.

Moreover, before we leave the book of Job, we should note that this is the first mention in the Hebrew Bible of an entity known as "Satan." And, at the beginning of the book, it is made very clear that this Satan still had access to God's throne in heaven at the time that this story took place - ostensibly, many years after the appearance of humans on this planet! (See Job 1:6 and 2:1)

This is especially interesting in terms of this passage from the book of Revelation: 

And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, 'Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!'" (Revelation 12:1-12, ESV)

In this passage from the New Testament, it is clearly suggested that this great angelic war happened sometime after the appearance of the Messiah and the institution of his Church, and that this event finally resulted in the Dragon/Satan and his angels being cast out of heaven and losing their right of access to that place! Moreover, this passage clearly suggests that prior to this event that they had a place in heaven!

This, of course, is more consistent with a host of other scriptural passages than Armstrong's teachings on the subject. In the Gospels, angels are always associated with heaven (Matthew 18:10, 22:30, 24:31, 36, Mark 12:25, 13:32, Luke 2:15, John 1:51). Likewise, in the book of Jude, we read about: "the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority but left their proper dwelling..." (Jude 6) And, finally, there is Christ's own statement that he saw Satan "fall like lightning from heaven." (Luke 10:18). We should also note that all of these passages suggest that the angelic host also had/have access to the earth, acting in their capacity as God's servants/messengers!

For instance, we find the Serpent present in the Garden of Eden! Moreover, when we read through the narrative in the second and third chapters of the book of Genesis, it appears that the Serpent did not have any negative connotation associated with him prior to the events with the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. After all, God didn't curse him until after he had deceived Eve and caused her to disobey God! It was only then that God declared: "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:14-15, ESV) Wait a minute! Did that passage suggest that the days of Satan's life were limited?

Let's take a look at those passages from Isaiah and Ezekiel that Mr. Armstrong referenced in his remarks above. In the fourteenth chapter of the book of Isaiah, we read this passage about the "King of Babylon:"

How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased! The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers, that struck the peoples in wrath with unceasing blows, that ruled the nations in anger with unrelenting persecution. The whole earth is at rest and quiet; they break forth into singing. The cypresses rejoice at you, the cedars of Lebanon, saying, ‘Since you were laid low, no woodcutter comes up against us. Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you when you come; it rouses the shades to greet you, all who were leaders of the earth; it raises from their thrones all who were kings of the nations. All of them will answer and say to you: ‘You too have become as weak as we! You have become like us!’ Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, the sound of your harps; maggots are laid as a bed beneath you, and worms are your covers. 'How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?' All the kings of the nations lie in glory, each in his own tomb; but you are cast out, away from your grave, like a loathed branch, clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit, like a dead body trampled underfoot. You will not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land, you have slain your people. May the offspring of evildoers nevermore be named! (Isaiah 14:4-20, ESV)

Now, to be clear, there are those who see this passage as comparing the actual human king of Babylon to Lucifer/Satan, and there are those who see this passage as comparing Lucifer/Satan to the human king. Although an important distinction, for our purposes, I believe this argument is academic. However, one chooses to interpret this passage, the termination of the subject's life and power is delineated in the starkest terms imaginable. In other words, there isn't any possible interpretation which ends in the immortality of the individual in question!

Likewise, when we take a closer look at the twenty-eighth chapter of the book of Ezekiel, we are forced to reach a similar conclusion about the subject of the text. The chapter begins with a passage reprimanding the prince of Tyre, which clearly pointed to the human ruler of the city. This is followed by a passage addressed to the king of Tyre - a personage who is clearly extraordinary (not human). We read there:

"You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you. All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever." (Ezekiel 28:12-19, ESV)

Are these passages suggesting that Satan and his angels are NOT immortal? Yes, that's exactly what they are saying! Apparently, taking into account the totality of Scripture, angels have the ability to exist indefinitely. They are, however, still CREATED beings! As such, they continue to exist at the pleasure of Almighty God! Notice that, in his first letter to Timothy, Paul wrote that Jesus is "King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion." (I Timothy 6:16, ESV) Apparently, immortality is a God quality/characteristic!

In this connection, we should look again at the book of Revelation and see what John had to say about the ultimate fate of Satan. In the twentieth chapter of that book, we read: "an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while." (Verses 1-3, ESV)

First, notice that this passage is referencing a TEMPORARY imprisonment of Satan - it says absolutely NOTHING about his ultimate fate! Indeed, we find the subject of his ultimate fate addressed later on in the same chapter - after the millennial reign of Christ and his saints. In verse ten, we read that Satan will be thrown into the Lake of Fire, where the Beast and the False Prophet had already been tossed. After this we read of the "Great White Throne Judgment," and that, finally, "Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:14, ESV) In other words, this means permanent/eternal death! There is no resurrection from this one! Everyone thrown into this "fire" ceases to exist forever! This is consistent with Paul's statement to the Romans that the "wages of sin is DEATH," and that eternal life is God's GIFT! Moreover, it is also consistent with John's statement that there wouldn't be any more sorrow, tears, or pain in the New Heavens and the New Earth (Revelation 21:1-4). In other words, the continued existence of ANYONE (including Satan) in a state of torment would contradict this statement!

One more thing before we finish. What was God's purpose for the angels? In the book of Hebrews, we read: "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, 'You are my Son, today I have begotten you?' Or again, 'I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son?' And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, 'Let all God's angels worship him.' Of the angels he says, 'He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.'" (Hebrews 1:1-7, ESV) Clearly, Christ is/was superior to angels, and they NEVER had the potential to become Sons of God!

Likewise, a little later in the same chapter, we read: "And to which of the angels has he ever said, 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet?' Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:13-14, ESV) Once again, this passage makes very clear that angels NEVER had any part in humankind's potential or purpose! Moreover, in the very next chapter, we read: "Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:14-16, ESV) In other words, in the words of one of my past posts, God is NOT working on "Plan B!"

Hence, we can see that Herbert Armstrong's cherry-picking of Scripture and faulty reasoning led him to construct a fanciful history of the angelic realm - one that is certainly NOT rooted in Scripture! The Plain Truth is that angels were created to serve God and humankind, and that those of their number who rebelled against this purpose (including Satan) will eventually face complete annihilation!

  

God's Standard: LOVE

Over the last eleven years, I have posted numerous articles on this blog dealing with the subject of God's expectations of New Covenant Christians. I have talked in great detail about the Two Great Commandments which Christ pulled out of Torah as the foundation of Divine Law - the God standard, if you will. My critics, of course, have charged that I espouse a kind of lawlessness - that my focus on love (an "emotion," they say) amounts to no real standard at all. Indeed, many Armstrongists break out into a big grin and make fun of the mention of love as a standard! Instead, they focus on the written commands of Torah and its rituals as the standard for all "true" Christians.

Love, however, is a real standard. It is NOT an amorphous emotion that cannot be clearly defined. After all, the Apostle Paul defined it in his first letter to the saints at Corinth! He wrote: "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." (I Corinthians 13:4-7, NLT) No real standard? Really? 

In his first epistle, John wrote: "Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us." (I John 4:7-12, NLT) A standard? How about THE STANDARD! What do you think?

The Ability to Distinguish Between Good and Evil

In the Biblical story of the Garden of Eden, we are informed that God planted a tree which he called "the knowledge or awareness of good and evil" (Genesis 2:8-9). In this story, God told the man that he could eat from any tree in the garden EXCEPT that tree (Genesis 2:15-17). Interestingly, this is followed by an account of the creation of a wife for the man (Genesis 2:18-24). Then, we read: "Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame." (Genesis 2:25, NLT) As the story continues, the woman is tempted by a talking serpent to partake of the fruit of the forbidden tree, and that she was able to convince her husband to do the same (Genesis 3:1-6). Next, as a consequence eating the fruit, we are told that "At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So, they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves." (Genesis 3:7, NLT)

Now, obviously, the story is highly symbolic, but the implications for discerning what is/isn't morally acceptable are clear - especially as it relates to human sexuality. This is underscored by the conversation which followed in the narrative between God and the couple. We read: "When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So, they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?' He replied, 'I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.' 'Who told you that you were naked?' the Lord God asked. 'Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?' The man replied, 'It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.' Then the Lord God asked the woman, 'What have you done?' 'The serpent deceived me,' she replied. 'That’s why I ate it.' (Genesis 3:8-13, NLT) Clearly, prior to eating the fruit, the couple were not even aware that they were naked, or that there was anything shameful associated with being in that condition!

From God's perspective, EVERYTHING that he had created (including the man and woman and their ability to reproduce through sexual intercourse) was "very good" (Genesis 1:31). What are we to conclude from this story? That the shame and guilt associated with our bodies and their sexual functions should be regarded as HUMAN notions about what is/isn't morally acceptable - that those notions did NOT originate in the mind of God or should be considered a part of what he has determined to be good or evil. Hence, the clothing of the human couple after they were expelled from the garden must be regarded as a Divine concession to their feelings (Genesis 3:20-24)! Even so, we (as the descendants of that first couple) have retained their sense of shame about our bodies and the sexual act! In other words, like them, we have consistently called that which is good "evil," and that which is evil "good."

In the book of Isaiah, we read that God reprimanded the people of Judah and Jerusalem and said: "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!" (Isaiah 5:20-21, ESV) In other words, God was warning his people NOT to formulate their own moral standards and claim that they were God's standard! It is God who declares what is moral and what is immoral. It is God who separates light from darkness and made some things to be sweet and others to be bitter. And yet, we humans continue to substitute our own judgments about most matter for those designated by God! Indeed, we read in Scripture that "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14:12, ESV)

Moreover, as we have just demonstrated, there is nowhere that this phenomenon is more apparent than in the realm of human sexuality. For instance, God made fidelity to another human to be THE standard for all committed relationships among the Israelites (Exodus 20:14). In other words, God declared it to be a sin to be unfaithful to someone to whom you have made a commitment. The human standard: If you get tired of your partner, you can divorce them and remarry someone else (Deuteronomy 24:1) OR If you like variety, you can marry more than one person (II Samuel 3:2-5, I Chronicles 3:1-3, and I Kings 11:3). Once again, harkening back to the story of the creation of Eve, the story "explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." (Genesis 2:24, NLT) No ceremony, no official license - just two people leaving their parents' home, coming together in sexual intercourse and making a commitment to each other! Likewise, in the Gospel of Mathew, we read that the Pharisees confronted Jesus Christ on the subject of divorce. He replied: "'Haven’t you read the Scriptures?' Jesus replied. 'They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ And he said, 'This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.' 'Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?' they asked. Jesus replied, 'Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.'" (Matthew 19:4-9, NLT)

Longtime readers of this blog know that Jesus condensed the entirety of the Law of Moses (Torah) into Two Great Commandments. He said: "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40, NLT) In other words, if people would apply these two principles to everything that they thought and did (including those things which pertain to human sexuality), they would fulfill the requirements of God's Law! In similar fashion, if humans could apply this standard to themselves, there wouldn't be any need for an elaborate list of dos and don'ts (like the 600+ commandments of Torah)! For instance, we can see how rape, incest, pedophilia, bestiality, adultery, prostitution, promiscuousness, etc. would be inconsistent with treating others the way that you would like to be treated. Likewise, in a primitive society based on paternalistic misogyny, slavery, and idolatry, we can see why a male penetrating another male in sexual intercourse or seeking the services of a male temple prostitute would be regarded as violating these two principles. In modern times, however, with our understanding of sexual orientation, not so much in terms of sexual relationships between members of the same sex. Indeed, with the application of the two commandments to our own times, we can see that some heterosexual behaviors could be regarded as sinful and some homosexual behaviors could also be regarded as sinful, while others could be regarded as perfectly consistent with them both!

Which brings us back to our original question about how to distinguish between good and evil. Do we need a long list of dos and don'ts to determine what is moral and what is immoral? OR Are those Two Great Commandments enough?

In Paul's epistle to the Christians of Rome, we read: "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2) Under the terms of the New Covenant, God's Law is written in our hearts - NOT on tablets of stone, parchment roles, or sheets of paper! (Jeremiah 31:31-33 and Hebrews 8:8-11, 10:16-17) This is what Paul meant when he wrote to the Christians of Galatia: "So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses." (Galatians 5:16-18, NLT) Hence, we see that it is the Holy Spirit that helps us to distinguish between good and evil by applying the Two Great Commandments to everything that we think and do!   

True Freedom of Speech!

The United States has trumpeted the right of its citizens to speak freely for years, but the last twenty years have made a mockery of that claim. Freedom of Speech has been under attack from both the right and the left in this country. The political left has practiced shaming and vilifying those on the right for years and has attempted to regulate speech on social media. More recently, the right has itself embraced censorship, using all of the tools of government at its disposal, and employing congressional redistricting to negate demographic changes in the electorate. In other words, both sides have worked at a feverish pace to exclude the voices of each other's constituencies. Instead of trying to earn the support of voters outside of their traditional constituencies, they have circled the wagons and tried their darndest to exclude the other wagon train!

Unfortunately, within the context of human governance, the rights to freedom of religion, speech, and press are all too often dependent on the whim of those in power or the mood of the populace. Within the context of the Christian Church, those rights must truly be regarded by Christ's disciples as Divinely given/mandated. Indeed, for Christ's disciples, speaking truth to power is NOT just a privilege or freedom - it is an obligation! Even so, that freedom/obligation is too often abused and misinterpreted among Christians. Instead of speaking about salvation through Jesus Christ, they choose to offer commentary on the political systems and policies of this world! Instead of being the voice of the voiceless and downtrodden, they choose to speak on behalf of the political elites of this world! Instead of speaking about the cure for sin and alienation from God, they choose to berate sinners, migrants, and the poor!

For those who are trying to follow the example of Christ and his apostles, Scripture makes very clear that they will be speaking about things like love, salvation, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, patience, peace, service to others, etc. We should also remember that Christ often upbraided the religious leadership of his day, and that his disciples often suffered persecution at the hands of both the political and religious elites of the First Century. In this connection, please consider the following passages:

Acts 4:1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. 5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (ESV)

Proverbs 31:8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. (NIV)

Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. (NIV)

Psalm 82:2 “How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? 3 Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. (NIV)

James 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (ESV)

Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (ESV)

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. (ESV)

I Corinthians 2:2 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. (NLT)

II Corinthians 3:17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (NLT)

Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (NLT)

Now, that is real freedom of speech! Christians have the ability, freedom, and obligation to speak of these things - NOT to offer up political commentary or denigrate sinners! In my humble opinion, Scripture couldn't be any clearer on this point! What do you think?

  

Milo Yiannopoulos: The Poster Boy for Everything Wrong With "Conservative" Christianity

The Christian Today website recently posted an article titled Milo Yiannopoulos pushes back against LGBT ideology by Conor Ryan. Before getting into the article, for those of you who may be unfamiliar with Milo, a little background is probably essential to what follows. Mr. Yiannopoulos is a homosexual Catholic who has embraced extreme right-wing politics and causes and enjoys the same kind of in-your-face confrontational advocacy practiced by the late Charlie Kirk. Like Mr. Kirk (and many other of the voices of modern conservatism), Milo is a college dropout who never completed a formal education. Ten years ago, he participated in the Gamergate harassment campaign against female video gamers. Mr. Yiannopoulos was employed by the notorious right-wing Breitbart News - resigning after he appeared to advocate for male homosexual pedophilia (which also resulted in being disinvited to CPAC).

Now, with that background in hand, we are prepared to explore the Conor Ryan article. The premise of the post is that, after a long hiatus (and in the wake of the Charlie Kirk murder), Yiannopoulos has decided to return to his role as right-wing flame thrower and antagonist of those nasty progressives. Mr. Ryan wrote: "As an intelligent and talented conservative provocateur he could stir up the left like no one else could. This is partly because he had the wit and sharp mind to quickly tear apart weak arguments in a way that is amusing and persuasive but also because he didn't fit the usual stereotype of a conservative activist. Milo was a flamboyant homosexual who lived a hedonistic lifestyle and yet was politically right-wing." Imagine that - advocating for those good old traditional family values while living the life of a Bohemian! Can you say, "hypocrite"? This reminds me of the Pharisees of old who were quite willing to impose burdens on folks which they weren't willing to expend an ounce of their own effort toward fulfilling!

Ryan continued: "Never one to shy away from controversy Milo has now recently started doing news interviews again and announced to the world that he has said goodbye to his previous homosexual lifestyle. He is now practicing a celibate lifestyle and has broken off what he now regards as a fake marriage to a male partner. When I saw Milo speak in Adelaide at the end of 2017 I wrote an article then talking about how Milo was a walking contradiction. A man who was simultaneously an outspoken Catholic conservative but also a very open homosexual. But it appears that he has now bridged that gap between his professed beliefs and his way of life, taking his faith much more seriously and embracing a more moral lifestyle." So, Milo has seen the error of his ways and is ready to assume the mantel of moral leadership of conservative Christendom? Excuse me if I'm a little skeptical about his "conversion."

Ryan went on to observe: "One thing that I have always admired about Milo is that he holds his convictions firm, speaks his mind and doesn't care what anyone thinks about it. In an age when the progressive LGBT movement is shoving its ideology down our throats and trying to silence and shame those who disagree, men with a backbone like Milo are needed." Excuse me, who is trying to silence and shame who? LGBTQ folks have been subjected to shaming, violence, and voicelessness for centuries! Moreover, I'm thinking that it is just a little rich that these so-called Christian voices are screaming persecution for being called on the carpet for their overt cruelty, self-righteousness, and blatant hypocrisy! They scream intolerance by those who have the nerve to critique their own intolerance and easy condemnation of LGBTQ folks! Yes, that is just a little too rich for me!

Mr. Ryan continued: "And why can't we just speak plainly about homosexuality like Milo does? It seems that Christians have become so grey on this particular subject. There is nothing grey about what the Bible says about it though. It says that is it an abomination and uses this particular sin as a prominent example of a society that has rejected God and His plainly revealed truth. God created man and woman to come together in a committed union in which healthy children can be raised. This is wholesome, good and beautiful and homosexuality is a perversion of this." So, let me make sure that I have this right. Speaking plainly about homosexuality involves calling it an abomination and the folks who engage in such behavior perverts? Speaking plainly about homosexuality involves an unambiguous damnation of gay folks and perpetuating disproven stereotypes about that community? Ryan went on to say that those nasty progressive Christians aren't really advocating for tolerance, compassion, and empathy. According to him, they are just cowards - too afraid to stand up for good old Christian morals! Apparently, these folks need to hear that they are sinners of the worst kind, and that heterosexuals reflect God's morality. Gag me with a spoon!

Sorry, I'm not going to "Thank God for people like Milo." In a world full of demagogues and haters, we don't need yet another one! As I've said in times past, we already have enough folks who are actively trying to "own (provoke) the libs!" God bless all of those folks who are preoccupied with the logs in their own eyes and are too busy to worry about the sawdust in their neighbor's eye! 

Does God Choose/Designate Our Leaders?

The Armstrong Churches of God (along with some of the other groups who claim to be Christian) have a tendency to portray God as choosing or setting up our human leaders. Indeed, this was an important part of Herbert Armstrong's rationale for teaching his followers that they shouldn't be voting in secular elections (you didn't want to inadvertently vote against God's choice). As with most of Armstrong's teachings, this one was based on a "prooftext" from an Old Testament prophet.

In the book of Daniel, we read: "The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men." (Daniel 4:17, ESV) So, God chooses or designates human leaders - right? As with most such "prooftexts," the problem arises when the context of the remarks is ignored, and other relevant texts are not consulted.

In this particular instance, the context is the overweening pride of the Babylonian ruler, King Nebuchadnezzar. The book of Daniel focuses on this king as an instrument in God's hands used to punish and correct the Jewish kingdom and its leadership. Unfortunately, in the course of God's use of this Gentile king, he became very impressed with his own success, power, and wealth. As often happens, the king began to imagine that his own talents/abilities had placed him in the position he currently occupied - that it was all about him.

As a consequence of his excessive arrogance and pride, God gave the king a dream which was meant to warn him that God was about to teach him an important lesson in humility, and who was/is ultimately in control (Daniel 4:4-18). Daniel, of course, interpreted the king's dream and advised him to repent of his sins and yield to God's guidance (Daniel 4:19-27). Nevertheless, as with most of us, the king had to learn the hard way. He temporarily lost his sanity and his throne (Daniel 4:28-33). Later, after God had restored his mind and crown, the king learned his lesson and acknowledged God's supremacy.

We read: "At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, 'What have you done?' At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble." (Daniel 4:34-37, ESV)

In other words, the lesson of this narrative is that God reigns supreme, and that NOTHING that happens can impede or thwart "His" will! - NOT that God designates or chooses every single person who rules over humankind! It is a lesson underscoring the folly of hubris, and/or the notion of human authority and control.

Indeed, the Hebrew Scriptures inform us that God viewed the Israelites' request for a human king as rebellion against himself (I Samuel 8:4-9)! Moreover, when God reviewed the sins of the children of Israel through the Prophet Hosea, we read: "The people have appointed kings without my consent, and princes without my approval." (Hosea 8:4, NLT) Likewise, in the Greek New Testament, we read that "the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions." (II Timothy 4:3, ESV) Clearly, the Bible teaches that humans seize power and/or choose people to lead them in the direction(s) which they would like to go!

"What about what Paul wrote to the saints at Rome?" my Armstrongist friends will demand. In that epistle we read: "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God [granted by His permission and sanction], and those which exist have been put in place by God. Therefore whoever resists [governmental] authority resists the ordinance of God. And those who have resisted it will bring judgment (civil penalty) on themselves. For [civil] authorities are not a source of fear for [people of] good behavior, but for [those who do] evil. Do you want to be unafraid of authority? Do what is good and you will receive approval and commendation. For he is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, [you should] be afraid; for he does not carry the [executioner’s] sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an avenger who brings punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be subject [to civil authorities], not only to escape the punishment [that comes with wrongdoing], but also as a matter of principle [knowing what is right before God]. For this same reason you pay taxes, for civil authorities are God’s servants, devoting themselves to governance.  Pay to all what is due: tax to whom tax is due, customs to whom customs, respect to whom respect, honor to whom honor." (Romans 13:1-7, Amplified Bible)

Let's take a closer look at what Paul was saying to these people. Clearly, he is talking about civil/secular authority. Paul, recognizing that structure and governance are necessary features of human society which are consistent with God's design, he instructs the Christians at Rome to obey them - to NOT rebel against them or resist their authority. Is he saying that every judge, magistrate, governor, emperor/king was chosen/appointed by God? Is he endorsing all of their activities, decisions, or policies? Obviously NOT! The emphasis of his remarks is on the behavior of the believer towards folks in positions of authority - NOT on their "Divine right to rule!" To be clear, God does NOT endorse bad behaviors. He does NOT endorse cruelty, violence, corruption, or bad decisions. Likewise, God doesn't endorse or appoint people with neuroses or other psychological problems to positions of authority.

Indeed, the entire thrust of Daniel in the Old Testament and the book of Revelation in the New Testament is the ineptitude and wickedness inherent to human governments! Moreover, both books predict that God will someday establish a king and kingdom which will supplant ALL human governments on this earth! Hence, we can see that these so-called "prooftexts" really don't demonstrate what folks have imagined them to suggest - that God has personally chosen/designated all human leaders. Finally, in addition to this Scriptural context, I would think that most of us would have enough good old common sense NOT to make God responsible for folks like Hitler, Stalin, or Pol Pot. Yeah, they might want to rethink this one!

No Brakes Now: The Madness Continues!

Now that he has his own website and programming, CGI's Bill Watson is off and running toward Crazyville! Indeed, this guy makes Dave Pack, Gerald Flurry, and Bob Thiel look sane and reasonable! Considering himself to be free of Tyler's control, Mr. Watson now appears to feel free to say whatever pops into his befuddled mind. In the latest episode of his Wall Watchers: Current Event Updates, the Medina, Ohio pastor's preoccupation with right-wing extremism and circular reasoning are on graphic display.

Gone are the euphemisms for talking about Covid origin and vaccination conspiracy theories. Mr. Watson no longer feels the need to pat his arm to signify the vaccination or "jab" as he refers to it without actually vocalizing the words. During the first thirty-eight (38) minutes of this latest episode, he rails against mandates and characterizing the Covid vaccination shots as vaccinations (Bill insists that the shots be referred to as "gene therapy"). The "good" pastor insists on his rights to control his own body, and what is placed into it and denies that ANY government has the right to impose ANY mandates regarding ANY kind of vaccinations (even the traditional ones). Ironically, the pastor doesn't seem to mind imposing controls on what women do with their own bodies.

The sources which support and vindicate Mr. Watson's perspective? The same ones who generated these conspiracy theories when the virus started! Now that the crazies are in control in Washington (RFK Jr. at Health and Human Services), the Florida Surgeon General's office, and at the CDC, their pronouncements on the subject are presented as gospel truth! For Mr. Watson, big pharma and the CDC were conspiring together to control and kill Americans and to cover-up their nefarious activities by suppressing reports of problems with the "jab."

In the remaining twelve (12) minutes of his presentation, Mr. Watson decried attacks on what he calls "Biblical Christianity." According to Mr. Watson, the only valid interpretation of Scripture relative to human sexuality is the one which supports the traditional narrative (anti-homosexual, anti-"gender dysphoria"). Ironically, Mr. Watson preaches against almost everything else these "Biblical" (Traditional) Christians preach! Apparently, they interpreted Scripture correctly regarding sexual ethics and missed the mark on everything else!

For Pastor Watson, "Biblical Christianity" is engaged in a great "spiritual war" against what he calls "Progressive Christianity" (any Christians who do not support the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy or the "truth" about sexual "normality"). In both politics and religion, Mr. Watson abhors "modern thinking," especially the kind which he characterizes as "liberal" or "progressive." The pastor also appears to believe that "human experience" should NOT be consulted in formulating a coherent theology - just what he says that the Bible says! In yet another twist of irony, Watson insists that "Progressive" Christians are denying the exclusivity of salvation through Jesus Christ (he apparently hasn't been reading any of my posts on the subject). Indeed, he completely misses the irony of his own teaching that Christians are obligated to observe many of the provisions of Torah (in addition to their salvation through Jesus of Nazareth).

Finally, Mr. Watson pointed out that God is doing the calling of people to himself. Hence, he reasons that Christians shouldn't worry about evangelizing or reaching out to those nasty and perverted modern or progressive thinkers. In other words, there shouldn't be any problems in just targeting conservative or traditional-leaning folks as the only worthwhile field for evangelizing and/or preaching his "warning" message (Apparently, Jesus didn't really mean the whole world when he commissioned his followers to teach his message)! Yeah, let's all ignore those pesky problematic passages of Scripture and read The Blaze! After all, isn't that where the REAL "truth" is to be found?

Sow the Wind and Reap the Whirlwind

The political assassination of Charlie Kirk has suggested a bleak future for the nation ironically known as the "United" States of America. Instead of civil dialogue, a significant number of people on both the political right and left now see violence as a useful tool in advancing their agenda(s). Prior to this latest horror, there was the January 6th attack on the capital, two assassination attempts on Trump, the attack on former Speaker Pelosi's husband in their private home, and the attack on Minnesota legislators all offering us compelling evidence that the U.S. has gone off the rails in the last decade. To be clear, this is NOT a morally or politically desirable development.

In this connection, a couple of passages of Scripture come to mind. Speaking of the Israelites of old, the prophet Hosea wrote: "For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind." (Hosea 8:7, ESV) Likewise, the Apostle Paul once wrote to the saints of Galatia: "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." (Galatians 6:7, ESV)

In one of their articles dealing with the current political climate, in the Wikipedia, we read: "'Owning the libs' is a rhetorical device that transgresses political correctness and emphasizes culture war issues to provoke a reaction in others, similar to trolling." Now, although this may be "fun" for political operatives, we need to ask ourselves: Is it really a good idea to intentionally tweak a perceived enemy's nose - to purposefully try to drive someone to distraction - to make them crazy? To be clear, what happened to Charlie Kirk was awful and wrong and cannot be justified. I have prayed for his widow and children to be comforted and helped. Nevertheless, we must all ask ourselves if it is wise to intentionally raise the temperature and provoke the anger of folks who disagree with us.

Along these lines, I especially liked what January 6th Capitol Police Officer Michael Fanone's statement had to say about the Kirk assassination. He said:

Charlie Kirk is dead. Shot in the middle of a speech at Utah Valley University.

I am not going to sugarcoat it: I have nothing but contempt for Charlie Kirk’s politics. He made a career out of poisoning young minds with grievance, conspiracy, and hate. He profited off division. He defended the indefensible. He celebrated cruelty. I don’t grieve for his ideas, and I won’t sanitize what he represented.

But here’s the thing: violence has no place in American politics. None.

I know what it’s like to be on the business end of political violence.

I felt fists, flagpoles, and tasers on January 6th. I heard men scream that they were going to kill me in the name of Donald Trump.

That day taught me something too many of us are still trying to ignore: once political violence becomes acceptable—once you decide that your enemy isn’t just wrong but expendable—you don’t control where it leads.

If you cheered this shooting because you hated Kirk, you’re no better than the mob that chanted for Mike Pence’s hanging. If you shrug it off because it happened to the other side, you’re part of the same sickness that’s rotting this country.

The truth is, we’re running out of safe spaces for disagreement. Universities, statehouses, even the Capitol itself—each one has been marked by the threat of blood.

Democracy doesn’t survive in that environment. Free speech doesn’t survive. We don’t survive.

Charlie Kirk’s death doesn’t make him a martyr. It doesn’t redeem his politics. But it does mark another line we’ve crossed in this country—a line that should never have been crossed in the first place.

I’ll say it again: violence is not politics. And if we don’t reclaim that principle right now, we’re going to lose the very thing that makes this place worth fighting for.

My Statement to the American People on the Death of Charlie Kirk - Michael Fanone

To that, I give a hearty "Amen"

The Stab of Pain and Grief

In the commentary thread associated with a post titled CGI Tyler Leadership and Its Cracker Barrel Blunder, I was reminded of the intense feelings of hurt and loss generated by the collapse of the theological house of cards that was the Worldwide Church of God. Scout observed that "when the theological transformation took place in the WCG under the Joe and Joe, Jr., nobody fell to the wayside and lost salvation because of mishandled marketing. The view that such a disaster could happen is to neglect the overarching influence of God himself on the Ekklesia. God deals with people in their circumstances. I would not have done the transition in the same way as the Tkaches. I would have placed more emphasis on the actual, personal wounding that people experienced rather than the simple dissemination of a new theology and a mass, published apology. I know the absence of this affected me for years. But who am I to say."

In practical terms, I thought that Scout's response was nuanced, empathetic, and compassionate. Even so, an emotional response to his comments reminded me of my own painful experiences as I emerged from the cognitive dissonance of Armstrongism. The anonymous commentator wrote: "Well that's a lie if ever I read one. Who are you fooling? Are you lying to yourself? Personal wounding is the real deal you are so proud to dish out on people. You love to wound others yourself. You follow everything Joe Snr did to people and then more so." From this person's perspective, Scout's "attacks" on Armstrongist theology and organizations are "wounding." Indeed, over the years, many of us who write and post on the "anti-Armstrongism" blogs have had similar comments directed our way. Many of these folks experience the same disorientation and pain which many of us experienced years ago when we realized that there were serious problems with Herbert Armstrong's theology. These folks take it personally. They see our commentary as an attack on THEIR faith - THEIR beliefs.

Nevertheless, the feelings which these folks are experiencing have more to do with their own sense of self, and the two-edged sword, conscience, and the Holy Spirit. They are feeling the stab of confrontation - the realization that something is amiss. In short, it can be very disorienting and unsettling to be confronted with an unpleasant truth - especially the possibility that YOU have made a serious mistake in judgment. Moreover, Scripture reveals that we can either accept the correction, OR we can ignore/dismiss it! And, as we have noted before, the ego is a powerful thing. Very often, our first impulse is to assume a defensive posture - to protect ourselves from the perceived threat. After all, anything that intrudes upon our comfort zone is by definition unwelcome and unpleasant. Even so, having personally experienced all of those feelings in times past, we should be able to understand and have compassion for our brothers and sisters who have been confronted with the truth.