"puddler" (Levithelandseal)
04/09/2014 at 13:10 • Filed to: None
2
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"puddler" (Levithelandseal)
04/09/2014 at 13:10 • Filed to: None | 2
| 34 |
anyone know anything about the international church of god? gonna let him do his thing, but when he pulls his book out, i've got my own books.
pair of woodies for woody wed.
token inappropriate woody:
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puddler
> puddler
04/09/2014 at 13:12 |
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have this since i formatted that wrong.
Rico
> puddler
04/09/2014 at 13:17 |
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Eh, a google search doesn't bring up much. What state is your bro in?
JACU - I've got bonifides.
> puddler
04/09/2014 at 13:17 |
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I know a little about the International House of Pancakes. Sometimes considered a cult.
Party-vi
> puddler
04/09/2014 at 13:19 |
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FUNNY YOU MENTION THAT
This past Sunday I sat down to diner brunch with a bunch of my GF's a cappella friends and one of them just randomly mentions how she joined a cult a while back without knowing it was a cult. We were intrigued and asked what group it was. She stated it was the Church of God, and they will do everything they can to separate members from their families and isolate them to make the more dependent on the group. Seeing doctors is the equivalent of satanic worship, and you pay tithes out the ass.
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puddler
> Rico
04/09/2014 at 13:23 |
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tx. he hasn't run off, but he's sipping the coolaid & it's causing 'issues'
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Rico
> puddler
04/09/2014 at 13:25 |
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Definitely keep an eye out, if you start having trouble getting in contact with him be sure you know where the "place of worship" is if you ever need to call the police.
mr_gofast
> puddler
04/09/2014 at 13:32 |
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http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Cu…
http://www.batteredsheep.com/armstrongism.h…
Jagvar
> puddler
04/09/2014 at 13:36 |
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9:00 AM - Silent prayer
10:30 AM - Daily sermon
Noon - Spaghetti luncheon
2:00 - Bible study
4:00 - Kool-Aid "refreshment hour" (attendance mandatory)
Stef Schrader
> puddler
04/09/2014 at 13:38 |
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These guys? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of…
They seem really, really conservative and definitely not mainstream (...in several "you justify this how? that's not in the Bible" ways), plus I wonder where that "tithe" is going, but I'm not sure I'd call them a cult.
I'd get worried if they're a group that's known for assorted abuses and/or preaches cutting off ties with friends and family (i.e. the Church of Wells). That's definitely not Biblical teaching, no way, no how.
My kook-o-meter's going off, but not all the way. I can see how that particular set of beliefs could be a little taxing, though. :o(
revrseat70
> puddler
04/09/2014 at 13:51 |
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Their doctrine on Old vs New Testament tensions and the identity of Jesus/God/Holy Spirit/Word of God is not really accurate if you believe that the Bible is inherent and must be studied within context. Plus, they don't view Grace the way it's described in the Bible. I'd make sure they don't have their own source of doctrine that's not the Bible, and if they do attempt to be exclusive and cut-off members, then that would be cause for concern. There are genuine people as well as people who seek to destroy in all denominations unfortunately. That's not to say the church is bad, but just making it clear that it's impossible to have a perfect church when it's filled with imperfect people.
davedave1111
> puddler
04/09/2014 at 14:08 |
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There's something of a fine line dividing them, but those folks are more like what I'd call scammers than cultists. They're in it for the 'tithes' and so-on that they can con Christians into handing over.
ddavidn
> puddler
04/09/2014 at 14:15 |
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I'd say it's a Pentecostal cult, yes. Some are in it for the money (the leadership), some are in it because they've been warped by the doctrine. Not sure exactly what's so appealing about it, but they definitely try to cut people off from society as much as possible, which is a good indication of a cult.
Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
> Party-vi
04/09/2014 at 14:31 |
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This is like the latest season of The Following, pretty much.
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Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
> revrseat70
04/09/2014 at 14:34 |
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Yeah, from what I've learned churches are full of broken people (the same way that hospitals are full of sick people) and that's fine, because it is impossible to be perfect. But it is definitely possible to be broken in an extremely alarming way. Leading to very misguided conceptions of what the bible is implying.
With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
> puddler
04/09/2014 at 14:45 |
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That's the beige-est sounding "church" name ever.
A quick glance at the Wikipedia page for what I assume is the correct organization reveals that they are not trinitarian, which puts them squarely outside all historic orthodox Christianity. The encumberance of followers with the "second tithe" is also an indicator that the organization is more about sustaining the organization than it is about faith, worship, salvation, etc.
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revrseat70
> Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
04/09/2014 at 14:53 |
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Your analogy is somewhat true. The Gospel (or good news) is essentially: God demands perfection to associate with Him. However, no man is perfect, so we all earn separation from Him (ie eternal life in hell). Howerver, Jesus (the son of God) lived a human life without sin (imperfection) and then sacrificed himself to earn the separation man deserves for himself, in place of those who believe in that act. Jesus, then rose from death, which represents the victory over sin for those whose faith is in that victory, which "saves" the imperfect from their separation from God, giving them the gift of God's presence (eternity in heaven after life). So, a part of believing in that, one must accept their imperfection, and remain humble, knowing their salvation is not based on their earning it. That's where your analogy comes from. However, while some churches stop there and dwell on the sinfulness of man and forget what the victory means, they are usually bitter, negative, and preachy. But when a church focuses on the victory and salvation, they are usually joyful, warm, accepting, and have a weight off their shoulders. So while man will never get it absolutely right, they can find peace, victory, and assurance worshiping the God of the Bible. I'm not trying to be preachy here, just explaining what a simple Google search will reveal.
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Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
> revrseat70
04/09/2014 at 15:32 |
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Yeah, I went through all that and much more during the two years I had a Christian girlfriend. I wanted to understand what it meant to her. Quite honestly it took at least a year for me to learn enough and to gain enough understanding to understand just what it means to a Christian, to be a Christian. I still don't pretend to know it all, but I am happy that I took the time. It left me with a new-found respect for Christianity. Where before that I just blindly, you might even say ignorantly, dismissed it. Still not a Christian, but perhaps as a field of study, it's something I missed out in college, haha.
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puddler
> Party-vi
04/09/2014 at 23:11 |
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that's what my mom is worried about. gang mentality hiding behind religion.
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puddler
> mr_gofast
04/09/2014 at 23:15 |
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I skimmed through those last night. there might be movie gold in there somewhere. haha
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puddler
> Rico
04/09/2014 at 23:16 |
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yea, i'm gonna harass him into bringing me along sometime.
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puddler
> Jagvar
04/09/2014 at 23:18 |
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in for the spaghetti, stay for the cool-aids. heard it tastes like antifreeze.
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puddler
> Stef Schrader
04/09/2014 at 23:25 |
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I've heard him argue about how much more his church finds evil than other churches, but he hasn't pulled that card with me. he started burning bridges lately, but i had assumed it was girl trouble...might be. definitely gonna start keeping an eye on him.
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Stef Schrader
> puddler
04/09/2014 at 23:33 |
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Man, poking around some of the links the other dudes posted: it's not just a pastoral cash grab, it's a cult.
(And why does NE TX attract so many kooks? First the separatists in Overton, then...SMH.)
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puddler
> ddavidn
04/09/2014 at 23:35 |
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the more i think about it, the more i'm assuming there's some really cute chick that might go there. which overall, makes it twice as bad as just being suckered in...
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puddler
> revrseat70
04/09/2014 at 23:38 |
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growing up my parents took me to a handful of different chuches, and i have never heard the differences of the two directions they preach put so accurately.
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puddler
> revrseat70
04/09/2014 at 23:43 |
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when i was listening to him explain things to my grandpa (it was a full-on bible battle) most of his arguments were very confusing, whereas i can usually see where someone's coming from, to explain a certain passage with regard to whatever circumstance is at hand, his new interpretations sound like they're designed only to combat regular interpretations...without really having a higher meaning
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ddavidn
> puddler
04/09/2014 at 23:50 |
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Ugh, yes. Many a fellow have been sucked into a cult by a cute chick, who is clearly crazy.
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puddler
> Stef Schrader
04/09/2014 at 23:53 |
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NE TX is by far the most ass backwards place I've ever been. i go up to Lufkin a couple times a month, and my moms family is from vidor, so when i deal with those people i tread lightly and keep my distance. everywhere else running my mouth has a chance of getting my ass kicked, but out there it could be the death of me. and it's so tight knit, i doubt anyone would ever bat an eyelash. lol, i wonder what would happen if i told my vidor family my brothers in a cult...might wind up with a burnt cross in my yard.
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puddler
> ddavidn
04/10/2014 at 00:01 |
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don't get me wrong, i dig crazy chicks. but i wouldn't let 'em drag me into a cult for the same moral reasons i won't buy extended warranties.
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ddavidn
> puddler
04/10/2014 at 00:36 |
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Ha. I do not dig crazy chicks, excluding the minimum amount of crazy that is required of a female, that is...
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Stef Schrader
> puddler
04/10/2014 at 01:05 |
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Heh, I have a friend who grew up in Vidor. And I can believe allllll of that.
Lufkin's probably the worst place we lived. Some creepy lady who worked with my dad used to call up my mom and go "I know where your husband is." Yeah, we do, too. At work. Fartknocker.
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revrseat70
> puddler
04/10/2014 at 12:16 |
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I hope it aids you in your journey! I'm very new in my understanding, but trying to learn as much as I can, and found a lot of encouragement that you said that!
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revrseat70
> puddler
04/10/2014 at 12:22 |
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Unfortunately, pride gets in the way even with those who are leaders. The biggest difference I've found in a good pastor and a bad one is a good pastor has the humility and faith to preach using the Bible, relying on its instruction. While bad pastors try to use whatever combination of the words they find in it (completely out of context) to get their own points across. It's a big difference, because the latter puts the responsibility of the health of the church solely in the hands of a bitter, selfish, prideful man, rather than in the Bible's instructions (where the pastor is just the megaphone/explainer*/ one who puts it in action as an example).
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fireari
> ddavidn
04/12/2014 at 18:26 |
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why is it that truth is labeled as misogyny?