I cancelled the article I was going to post today. It just didn’t seem right.
I feel we are at a crossroads. UCG is certainly at a crossroads, but even the United States and the rest of the world.
It makes me think of an interesting verse, one in which I’ve never quite settled what it means.
7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:7, King James Version)
People have argued for centuries about who “he” is. The passage, as you probably know, is about the man who sets himself up as God. People even argue about who that is. But, there is someone or something that “lets”, or, as we would say, “prevents” that from occurring.
Is the Church part of that prevention? And, if so, then what if the Church it taken out of the way?
22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. (Matthew 24:22, King James Version)
If UCG were to split, would that please God? Would that necessarily be a boon for other organizations, or could it actually negatively impact them as well? If it were to split, would that be due to God’s will or man’s stubbornness?
And, if the Church becomes scattered and loses power, what does that portend for the descendants of Israel?
Questions to meditate on, no?
Barring some dramatic turnaround UCG is going to split and scatter pretty severely. I think we have probably past the precipice. The only questions are what form and size do the splits take? Who controls the assets and will any remaining group have the resources and credibility to do any kind of work? and what do the people do who don't believe any of the subsequent groups are viable as the cog?
Unfortunately I've been contemplating that for a while now. I don't believe in being surprised or unprepared.
@Anonymous: Well, a lot of those things, such as assets, are outside of members' control. I think it is best to not be anxious over it and go where Godly leaders and Godly teachers go.
I know people think it's callous, but again there are several organizations to choose from. If none of them fit, then maybe it's time to have a long talk with yourself and with God.
Those are good questions.
I think right now God is correcting, rebuking, and cleaning up the Church (the whole Church, not just UCG), and sometimes He does that through trials, even punishments to teach us lessons for our good. I think there is still time for us to learn. If UCG splits much further, and I think that is likely, God will allow it for long-term good, to teach us lessons. Good will come out of it, one way or another.
But I strongly feel that the end will not come for the nation until the Church of God, some part of it, does a MUCH more powerful work, not only more powerful than all the COG organizations put together are doing today, but a much more powerful work than Mr. Armstrong ever did. In my opinion, we will get a warning out to everyone, every man, every woman, every teenager old enough to make a decision, no one left out. After that happens, it would a challenge to find a person on the street who has not heard the Church's message. THEN, if the nation does not repent, the end will come.
I think that the nation is just being set up right now. We are being weakened. But God will deal with the Church first, then use the Church to give a powerful warning to the English-speaking nations.
I am not at all anti-ministry. I believe God put the ministry there to be helpers of our faith and shepherds. But the real problem seems to be that most of the ministry on all sides are really for only for themselves – their paychecks, power, control (lording it over the brethren). It's like a gentlemen's club. They do not understand what it means to be servants or shepherds and they are out of touch with their fellow brethren who work regular jobs – the "layman". They do not have discernment, but allow wolves to run rampant in their congregations and ignore the flock except to use them for numbers and tithes. If this were not so, they would be more concerned with true unity, love for the brethren (not Protestant "love") and a concern for how their actions really affect each other and their fellow brethren – the members, especially new members. Most of the damage I see in the church does come from the top down unfortunately. Rarely from the bottom up.
-A concerned members