{"id":4058,"date":"2010-07-18T05:53:48","date_gmt":"2010-07-18T13:53:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/?p=4058"},"modified":"2010-07-18T05:53:48","modified_gmt":"2010-07-18T13:53:48","slug":"d-luker-ucg-being-severely-tested","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cogwriter.com\/news\/cog-news\/d-luker-ucg-being-severely-tested\/","title":{"rendered":"D. Luker: UCG Being Severely Tested"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Laodicea\"
\nAncient Laodicea
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

COGwriter<\/a><\/p>\n

UCG just posted the following from its new president, Dennis Luker:<\/p>\n

What must it sound like to God to hear each of us and our perspective on the trials and conflicts we are presently having in the Church? We each have our own understanding and point of view. But what is God most concerned about, and what is He planning to accomplish through this trial?…<\/p>\n

God also hates those who do \u201cviolence\u201d to the brethren by spreading lies and rumors. \u201cThese six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue\u2026a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren\u201d (Proverbs 6:16-17, 19).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So, God makes it clear that He is always testing us, especially those of us in the ministry, to find out what is deep in our hearts…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I believe that all of us as elders, called by God to serve His people and do His work, are being severely tested by God in order to reveal the true depth of our conversion and Christian conduct. Are we setting an example for the brethren in everything<\/em> we say and do? I don\u2019t think so, when you look at the fruits of what is happening.<\/p>\n

What can<\/em> we do? What should<\/em> we do? The answer is given in these scriptures: \u201cIf My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place\u201d (2 Chronicles 7:14-15).<\/p>\n

I hope and pray, as you do, that we will all humble ourselves and seek God\u2019s forgiveness for our sins and mistakes that He might heal our church.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The above hints that Dennis Luker believes that some are spreading lies about what happened.\u00a0 Since he is not providing facts and details himself, he may be spreading some type of rumor himself.<\/p>\n

But I do agree with him that UCG is being tested.\u00a0 And that it has made mistakes.\u00a0 Amongst other things, its form of governance, as well as lack of gospel proclamation evidence, continues to be found wanting.<\/p>\n

In LCG’s update<\/a>, read at services yesterday, Dr. Winnail wrote:<\/p>\n

Humility\u2014Key to Unity: <\/strong>David wrote, \u201cHow good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity\u201d (Psalm 133:1).\u00a0The Apostle Paul urged Christians to \u201cwalk worthy\u201d of their calling \u201cwith all lowliness and gentleness\u2026 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace\u201d (Ephesians 4:1-3).\u00a0He stated that the work of the ministry is to edify (build up) the body (the Church) \u201ctill we all come to the unity of the faith\u201d (Ephesians 4:12-13).\u00a0Paul also told contentious Corinthians that they should be \u201cperfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment\u201d (1 Corinthians 1:10).\u00a0But what causes contentions that disrupt unity?\u00a0The Scriptures reveal that pride <\/strong>is an underlying cause of contentions (Proverbs 13:10) and that pride will contribute to a person\u2019s downfall and destruction (Proverbs 16:18).\u00a0Insisting on doing things our own way also causes dissentions and strife (James 4:1).\u00a0However, humility<\/strong> will eventually bring a person honor (Proverbs 15:33; 29:23) and will promote peace and unity (James 3:17-18).\u00a0Jesus Christ was of \u201cone mind\u201d with His Father (John 10:30), and He was exalted because He humbled Himself and followed His Father\u2019s instructions (Philippians 2:5-9).\u00a0As Christians, we are encouraged to be subject to government (within and without the Church) and not to resist authority (Romans 13:1-2), to treat each other with respect, to be humble and not conceited about your own opinions (Romans 12:10-18).\u00a0As we develop and learn to exercise this kind of humility, we will promote unity.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And pride is one of the main reasons that the COGs are not unified.\u00a0 And this is one reason why adherence to biblical governance is essential.\u00a0 Without it, people think they change priorities, etc.\u00a0 But because of pride, many will not admit that they erred when they went with groups like UCG<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here is something that LCG’s<\/a> Dr. Meredith just wrote in his latest coworker letter about right government, and then Laodicea:<\/p>\n

We will<\/em>\u2014with God\u2019s help\u2014reach this world as \u201ca witness\u201d with the true message of Jesus Christ regarding the \u201cKingdom of God\u201d\u2014the great Government<\/strong> which He is now preparing and which will soon be set up on this earth. <\/span><\/p>\n

Just the other day, I was given the results of my latest television program which was aired this past weekend. We received more than 5,200 responses\u2014even during this normally \u201cslow\u201d summer season. So we are very thankful<\/em> for the results that God is giving us…<\/span><\/p>\n

Around the world and around the country, the Work of God is increasing in power. We also have a great deal of unity<\/em> and loyalty<\/em> because we practice<\/em> the \u201cway of God\u201d\u2014including the correct form of Church Government<\/em> which Jesus Christ and the apostles clearly taught and practiced continually. So we are blessed. God has been good to us in spite of our human faults and errors. So we have much to be thankful for…<\/span><\/p>\n

However, dear friends and brethren, one of the most powerful warnings God gives all of us at the end of this age is the clear warning not<\/strong> to be \u201cLaodicean.\u201d What does God condemn the Laodiceans for, primarily? He does not condemn them for wrong doctrine. He does not condemn them for big personal sins. He states in His inspired Word, \u201cI know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.\u00a0So then, because<\/strong> you are<\/em> lukewarm<\/strong>, and neither\u00a0cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth\u201d (Revelation 3:15-16).<\/p>\n

So the last Church Era of this age is Laodicea. And this age is therefore dominated by the \u201cLaodicean spirit\u201d\u2014a spirit of apathy and lukewarmness. Often, even God\u2019s people reflect the attitude or spirit of those around them. This must be even more so now because of the pervasive influence of television and the Internet. People in most of the world are becoming more and more \u201cworldly\u201d in many ways. They are distracted by their focus on wealth, prosperity and \u201cthings.\u201d God seems \u201cfar off\u201d to them. So they are apathetic. They do not<\/strong> get excited and truly zealous about serving the Creator who gives them life and breath.<\/p>\n

Yet, throughout God\u2019s Word, He tells us over and over that absolute zeal<\/strong> and total commitment<\/em> to serving Him are some of the characteristics He most looks for in His true servants.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

5,200 responses (these are people who basically telephone in as the result of a single telecast) in one week is a number that those not part of LCG should think about.\u00a0 It is about four times as much as all the other COGs (including UCG) combined.<\/p>\n

Laodicea is made up of two Greek words that basically mean \u201cpeople decide\u201d\u2013the implication is that they decide that their own criteria are more important than those in the Bible.\u00a0 Because of this, they reason around placing the proper emphasis on the public proclamation portion of the work of God.\u00a0 What about you?\u00a0 Will you follow the criteria of the Bible or your own?<\/p>\n

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:<\/em><\/p>\n

Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, and Roderick C. Meredith on Church Government<\/a> What form of governance did the early church have? Was it hierarchical? Which form of governance would one expect to have in the Philadelphia remnant? The people decide and\/or committee forms, odd dictatorships, or the same type that the Philadelphia era itself had?
\nUnity: Which COG for You?<\/a> Why so many groups? Why is there lack of unity in the Churches of God? Has it always been this way? What can\/should be done about it?
\nDifferences between the Living Church of God and United Church of God<\/a> This article provides quotes information from the two largest groups which had their origins in WCG as well as commentary.
\nThere are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God?<\/a> This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG\/GCI members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.
\nShould the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work?<\/a> Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul<\/a> and Herbert W. Armstrong<\/a> expect from evangelists?
\nThe Laodicean Church Era <\/a>has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. These are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ancient Laodicea COGwriter UCG just posted the following from its new president, Dennis Luker: What must it sound like to God to hear each of us and our perspective on the trials and conflicts we are presently having in the Church? We each have our own understanding and point of view. But what is God […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cog-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t