THE DAY THE CHURCH SHOULD HAVE CHANGED
Copyright © Jules Dervaes
February 23, 2008
INSTALLMENT I
This is a declaration that pertains not only to the rebelliously fat WCG which in 1986 took a great fall, but also to all the fractured, little pieces of Humpty-Dumpty which will never, ever, be put together again. All the cash-starved “ministers” and all the fun-starved “members” who in panic hoped to glue a new “church” together out of that spiritual debris will utterly fail. Time will prove that no amount of human effort or wishful thinking can undo the biblical doctrine of one and only one government of God on this earth at any one moment. Those who had been ministers were absolutely and unequivocally forbidden to ever take matters into their own hands by founding alternative churches, even if their superior had rebelled against God. Two wrongs never make a right; so, similarly, two rebellions will never establish the true government of God. As for those ill-conceived, makeshift houses of wood and stone mislabeled churches, all will become unglued soon, since their construction was purely manmade and, thus, only temporary.
After 15 years of steadily declining health and, during that time, becoming comatose and unable to function correctly as a God-based entity, the organization known as the Church is now officially being removed from life-support. Pulling the plug means that this work will move on, while leaving the Church to waste away until that time when it will have one last chance to arrest its certain demise–the Great Tribulation. It is vividly clear today (after the events of September 11) that, even as the world stands at the intersection of history, the Church is incapable of giving it the needed directions. How could it, when the once far-sighted 1930’s group is at least four decades behind the times, having lost its eyes in Herbert W. Armstrong. His death also was, for the Church, the day prophecy died. Were he alive today he could be updating prophecy as events warrant. Instead, the vibrant starlet–now, decrepit in age–remains frozen in time, repeating only the stories of her youth and unwilling to face the real, dynamic world outside. Rerunning her old films keeps her protected from the terrible reality of her lost relevance.
The situation in the world today has, for many years, made a mockery of the pet, prized prophecies of this now backward Church which has no recourse except to play its broken record. This sleepy, childish group is so smugly clueless as to the events staring them in the face that they, afraid of the bogeyman of new truth, hug even more tightly their favorite, worn-out, old teddy bear prophecy. Scriptures are sacred; prophecies expounded from them never are. But, if babbling ministers repeat them often enough, the hapless children go off to sleep believing them to be true. There is a very simple formula–just too, too obvious!–to expose the fairy tale prophecy.
INSTALLMENT II
But, why spoil the children’s fun? Let’s all just be happy! That is what we are here for, right? It is written-somewhere, wouldn’t you think?-that the Church should be the happiest place on earth. Disney World has nothing on us because it is local, not worldwide, and not godly, while we saints are on our way to God World where we will be able to enjoy ourselves all year round, every year, forever. And, best of all, it’s FREE! Wow, what a deal! You just can’t beat endless, costless enjoyment–can you? There are people flocking into any church “on the corner” hoping to keep their place in line so as not to miss this dream deal of a lifetime. These bargain hunters believe–cross their fingers–that, if they cue up under a minister, they will be seen as good little boys and girls who are so special because they have held onto their lucky rabbit minister. Then, it will be just a matter of time before they will be rewarded and receive that Kingdom pass.
Follow the leader–isn’t that the perfect way you get into the Kingdom of God? There is a “slight” problem with that kid’s game, however. Lucifer was a God-appointed leader. From “his pulpit,” did he use the fear of being charged with disloyalty to God’s government to con his subordinates into believing they were being obedient in following him? After years of that ruse, did the angels who were once subservient to God become buddy- buddy with their local minister Lucifer and eventually side with him on Church issues? Finally, did that multitude of angels who were originally deceived fall into the pit of pride and, in so doing, become demons? This is no fairy tale. Your minister’s approval is not what you are to be primarily seeking. Even if you get it, you are never to presume that God just rubber-stamps his human judgment. God will neither be pressured by the numbers nor swayed by the credentials; so, He will not expeditiously wave you on by as you try to stroll with your minister-led congregation into the Kingdom grounds. What a horrific, soul-shattering shock it will be to find–too late!–the gates closed!
Written by Jules Dervaes | Filed Under Commentaries, Seizing the Present
