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COGwriter

Someone sent me information from a post made last night by Gary Leonard, the webmaster at the Banned By HWA site (an anti-Church of God website).

Gary Leonard claiming to be some type of Protestant, and apparently does not care about being truthful about me.

For example, here is something someone forwarded me that he posted:

And today, in 2020, “men” like Bob Thiel, Gerald Flurry, Dave Pack, Ron Weinland, and many other COG leaders continue to squander money in order to fund their lifestyles.  It’s not about any gospel message but the gathering in of money.  How can they preach a gospel message when they all deny the one about who the gospel is about?

Let’s deal with several points above.

Yes, it is true that “Gerald Flurry, Dave Pack, Ron Weinland, and many other COG leaders” use church income “to fund their lifestyles.” The Bible is clear that the ministry are allowed to use church funds to live (1 Corinthians 9:14) and no, I am not convinced that the three (Gerald Flurry, Dave Pack, Ron Weinland) are faithful COG ministers).

But, no, Gary Leonard’s post is absolutely untrue about me. Neither myself nor my wife Joyce “squander money in order to fund their lifestyles.” Actually, because of the needs of the poor in places like Africa, neither of us take any salary from the Continuing Church of God. Although Gary Leonard has been made aware of this, he continues to falsely claim that the church is all about money.

Now, it is true that Gerald Flurry built PCG’s headquarters’ compound with church income. It is also true that David Pacck built RCG’s headquarters’ compound with church income.

But with the Continuing Church of God, not only have I not done that, we have our headquarters in a building that my company leases (that I pay for). And we have never even charged the Continuing Church of God any rent for the seven plus years we have been doing that.

Gary Leonard is totally wrong when he includes me in any list that he claims, “It’s not about any gospel message but the gathering in of money.” His statement is regards to me and the Continuing Church of God is totally false.

He is also wrong when he includes me in a list that claims, “How can they preach a gospel message when they all deny the one about who the gospel is about?”

Actually, the name Jesus came up as the most referred to name at the COGwriter.com site when we did a statistical search. Jesus is quoted and/or discussed in pretty much all my sermons. We in CCOG do not deny Jesus–we strive “to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6)

Furthermore, the longest book I had written up until 2019 was specifically about Jesus (see Proof Jesus is the Messiah).

And as far as proclaiming the gospel goes, I personally have done that in North America, Latin America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the South Pacific. Plus, my book The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is available in about 100 languages–which all can find free of charge at links at www.ccog.org.

I have never met Gary Leonard. One reason that he seems to be fixated on attacking me is that I go against his false paradigm that the Church of God is all about money. Well, the CCOG is all about love (see, for example, The Philadelphia Remnant: It’s All About Love).

Jesus said:

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)

In the Continuing Church of God our income goes to fulfill Matthew 24:14, Matthew 28:19-20, and to support the poor. We most likely give a higher percentage of our income to directly supporting the poor, widows, and orphans than nearly all other COGs or non-COG churches for that matter. Despite being entitled to a salary, because of the needs of the poor, I do not take one.

But Gary Leonard does want to understand that.

Another reason that Gary Leonard seems to be fixated to post lies about me is that he cannot accept how God works. For example, he denies Acts 2:17-18 for the CCOG, despite having evidence which proves we are the real deal. For details, see Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?

He falsely asserts he knows that is not true, despite having many people who can verify the truth about that.

Another lie that Gary Leonard seemingly hopes to perpetuate is about my education.

He has kept on his home page for many weeks, an image of me with a link to an article, The Remarkable Story of The Mysterious ThD and Subtle Deceptions of Bob Thiel, that he knows (as one or more who post at his website told him) is not accurate. Of course, there were no subtle deceptions from me (for more details, check out the article Banned, Ambassador Watch, Living University, and my Ph.D. and Th.D.).

I possess the following regionally accredited degrees from USA based institutions:

Allan Hancock College, A.A.
University of LaVerne. B.S.
University of Southern California, M.S.
Union Institute and University, Ph.D.

I also possess other degrees from non-regionally accredited institutions as I wanted to learn more than mainstream universities taught. Although some have criticized me for being open to additional education, those that do so tend to be short-sighted or limited in their understandings of many matters.

Jesus wrote:

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12)

People like Gary Leonard say all kinds of evil against me falsely–this is one way they persecute.

Sadly, Gary Leonard and many other opponents do not care about the truth and think that they are getting away with their lies and falsehoods.

Yet scripture says, “be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).

The Book of Proverbs teaches:

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes. (Proverbs 26:4-5)

16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason. (Proverbs 26:16, KJV)

Because of Proverbs 26:4, I do not respond to most of the lies and false accusations at the Banned By HWA site, but because of Proverbs 26:5, I sometimes will.

The Apostle Peter wrote:

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:14-17)

Well, the truth is my defense.

Furthermore, notice something else that Jesus said:

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

Jesus’ admonishment is not to be angry or seek revenge against the false ones, but to pray for them. And, we do not know if God will have them change in this life, but because of our prayers, they may respond better in the age to come–yes we are to love, even our enemies, that much. So, yes, I regularly pray for Gary Leonard.

Peter also wrote:

11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:11-12)

Presuming he will come up in the second resurrection (without repentance he will not be coming up in the first), he will realize that as well as the truth that I have been standing for the gospel and have not used the CCOG as a way to fund my lifestyle.

What about you?

Can you accept the truth or do you prefer the lies from sites like Banned By HWA?

Gary Leonard is an accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), and often a bearer of false witness (Exodus 20:16).

15 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.  (Titus 1:15-16)

Gary Leonard and various others at the Banned By HWA site remain in my prayers.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, January 4th, 2020 at 1:10 pm and is filed under COG News.

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