PCG: Music is Sending the Western World into Tribulation (2007)

Armstrongism has a long history of trying to control what music their followers listen to. PCG's Ryan Malone continues this Armstrongite tendency in his January 2007 article, "Are You Listening to the Right Music?"

Let us see what Malone has to say.

Exercising our senses to discern good and evil requires a lot of individual judgment. The Church cannot come up with a list of good bands and bad bands, good music and bad music. Not only would that job be overwhelming and impractical, it would deny people the character-building experience of exercising their own senses, coupled with God’s Spirit, to discern good and evil. 

We all need to be able to discern, meaning our senses must be exercised. The purpose of this article, therefore, is not just to lambaste the obviously and overtly satanic heavy metal or hard rock music, or simply to say something like rap isn’t really music. Nor is it just to praise the obviously wholesome types of symphonic music. After all, it shouldn’t take too much discernment or exercise to make those decisions.

Malone warns his readers to beware of popular music. Satan would be most likely to manipulate music that is popular and widely used, he insists here.

We could say that a good majority of fine art would be acceptable in that it generally does not have a negative effect on moods, and it offers intellectual stimulation. It also stands to reason that Satan would get the most mileage out of exploiting the popular tradition of music—the one designed to entertain and appeal to a wide audience. This would be especially so in the age of mass communication, as this enables him to get his moods and messages across more easily. 

Though caution and discernment should be applied to all music, popular music is generally where we need it the most.

Of course telling members to not pay attention to popular music has the effect of isolating such persons from mainstream society and render them more dependent on the group.

Malone warns the young within PCG to beware of popular music so as not to become exploited by big business firms funding music.

Young people: Even though you do not have God’s Holy Spirit yet, you need to exercise your senses as well. And here’s a secret that no one in this society will tell you: Getting wrapped up in this world’s music is just playing into the hands of those media moguls who want to make millions off you. They’re counting on the fact that you’re not discerning; that you’ll just accept what they tell you to like! Don’t let them do that. Don’t let them run your life. Be empowered. Train your senses. Be aware of your musical choices.

And who else makes millions of dollars? PCG. Gerald Flurry boasted in a 2012 booklet that PCG had an annual income of $19.5 million. That money comes from the members of PCG including many of the parents within PCG reading Malone's article.

Malone then casually assumes that the young will simply obey their parents regarding what music they listen to.

Obviously, you young people must trust your parents and obey them. With most of the youth in God’s Church, your parents or guardians have God’s Spirit. They need to be involved in the judgment and discernment of the music you listen to because of these spiritual components.

Malone tells his readers to beware of "bitter and angry" music.

Even setting aside the lyrics, in much of today’s music you hear singers who are bitter and angry—and their music often casts the same emotional fervor onto its listener. 

Would certain rap hits, even with “good” lyrics, still be considered good under this criterion? Lyrics aside, if the artist is shouting or yelling in an angry tone, is the art from God or from the being who wants to do violence to us? Is it still associated with provocative dancing and skin-tight halter-tops?

And knowing that some will interpret these words to mean to only listen to happy music he then confusingly tries to lessen this criticism.

This isn’t saying our music selections always have to be happy. Psalm 49:4 reads, “I will open my dark saying upon the harp.” Some music is sad, but it won’t necessarily depress you. David’s music was educational and helpful.

That is about as clear as mud.

The COGs have had a long history of fixating on peoples' looks. Malone's article continues that intrusive tradition.

As with many things pertaining to the physical senses, context is important. This applies in the area of diet—even foods God created aren’t good past a certain quantity. With dress standards, the amount of skin appropriate to show around the swimming pool is obviously different than the amount we should reveal in any other social situation.

He then talks about judging music based on how loud it is. Strangely in this section he only writes about music being used in a religious setting.

Also related to this is the volume of the music. The context determines the volume appropriateness. Music can be louder at Church dances than at a fine evening meal (but still not so loud that it prohibits decent fellowship).

Malone then mentions one song to suggest that it was unacceptable when it was released but now it is fine. How confusing.

Look also at the social context. The song “Rock Around the Clock” doesn’t make most of us want to revolt against our parents in this era—there is nothing in the spirit and attitude that relays that to most of us. Rather, today, we might just consider it peppy and cheerful. But it once carried those fruits and attitudes, and, at that time, it would have been wrong to entertain that type of selection.

He encourages people to listen to film symphonies to get into classical music.

Buy film soundtracks that emphasize the symphony orchestra. This music is usually more accessible to the untrained ear than certain classical pieces. This genre of music helps to condition the ear to a more symphonic sound and therefore make the transition to “classical” music much smoother.

Malone ends his article with these dire words insinuating that popular music will plunge the United States into nuclear World War III. What vicious nonsense.

Music is one of Satan’s main talents and tools and is one of the sins sending the Western world into tribulation! But music is also a force for great good if used properly. Let’s use good music to invite God’s presence into our lives. Let’s use good music to have His Holy Spirit flow more mightily so that we can keep Satan’s destructive influence out—conquering him once and for all!

In other words it is insinuated that not listening to this article could cause the reader to come under Satan's influence and lose one's salvation.

There are comments.

Here's one comment from a person relieved to have a better idea of how to judge music.

I've been thinking about this subject lately, thanks for making it easier to gather my thoughts of the subject. what a great concept I'm sure God inspired you to write. Thanks so much!!!

Here's one comment from a person who thinks it is important to listen to the kind of music Malone approves of.

Thank you for such a great article. I now understand even more the importance of good music in order to invite God's presence into our lives. Wow!

Here's one comment from a person relieved to know that her friend who likes rock music is wrong to say it is just as good as the kind of music used in church services.

Quite the wonderful article – excellent points made too. This is exactly the kind of talk I'm looking for, as I have a friend who believes rock music is just as good as music meant to glorify God. All credit given to you, thanks!

And so we see how Malone's words are being applied by PCG members.

Imagine that. PCG publishes an article that insists that (PCG's) God will plunge the United States into catastrophe because of bad music. What drivel.

PCG Calls Russia Communist

PCG's leaders seem to live in a different world from the rest of us. This synopsis for a recent Trumpet Daily broadcast by Stephen Flurry (September 30, 2016) contains three colossal errors which indicate that the PCG leadership is divorced from reality.

Vladimir Putin’s Russia is cracking down on the infiltration of Western immorality like pornography and homosexuality. Many Russians are supporting moves to block access to pornographic websites, and one group recently shut down an American exhibit in Moscow that was displaying perverted photographs. What does it say about America’s morals when Communist Russia is cracking down on the nonstop filth flowing out of America? Listen to Stephen Flurry discuss this subject and much more on today’s Trumpet Daily Radio Show. 

Pornography and homosexuality are not infiltrating Russia from the West. They were already there.

Russia has not been Communist since 1991. How did PCG not notice that rather obvious fact in the last twenty-five years? (Or maybe they wish the Cold War was still with us?)

PCG Scare Mongering of Urban Riots by African Americans

PCG has a long and shameful history of promoting their false prophecy of "race war." PCG's 1% insist that in the near future African Americans will launch a mass wave of riots against the white majority. Supposedly this mass wave of riots by African Americans against the white majority will occur everywhere in the United States at the same time. (It has to occur everywhere at once because otherwise this dire prediction just might not scare PCG's audience. If they are told it will happen in one place but not in another then the audience might think nothing like that will happen where they are.)

With the mass protests and riots in Charlotte following the death by shooting of Keith Lamont Scott unsurprisingly PCG's leaders have once again stirred up irrational fears of their racist false prophecy of a "race war" will soon occur at last. This may be seen in the following broadcasts.

• Stephen Flurry, Black Victim, Black Officer, Black Police Chief, Black Rioters—White ‘Devils’, The Trumpet Daily, September 22, 2016.

• Week in Review: Charlotte Unrest, Impending World Financial Crisis, U.S. Terror Attacks, Putin President for Life? and Much More, Trumpet Hour, September 23, 2016.

On the Trumpet Hour the unrest in Charlotte is mentioned in the first six minutes. It is remarked as though it is astonishing that African Americans should complain since an African American police officer fatally shot Scott. It is assumed that African Americans should not complain if one of their own is shot to death by an African American. Don't they see how strange it is for them to imagine that people would not feel anything if a family member or a friend gets shot by a police officer of the same race?

As for Stephen Flurry he chose to bring up previous convictions of the late Scott thus portraying him in a negative way which does not prove anything about what happened the day of the shooting. One could mention a certain incident concerning his father and boss in 1993.

Then he mentions the police officer in a rather adulatory manner and presents him as having a model life as a student and a model career until the day of the shooting. We need more African Americans like him Stephen Flurry proclaims.

He insists that Scott had a gun because the police said so. He talks about Scott's daughter talking about the shooting. Stephen Flurry portrays her as being wrong.

Black Lives Matter protesters are condemned as being wrong and presented as rushing to conclusions. But if waiting for conclusions is a virtue then why does he seem so confident in knowing that the Black Lives Matter protesters are wrong about the shooting? Shouldn't he wait for the investigation to be complete?

He also discusses the death of Justin Garr during the riots. He mentions that the police said it was a civilian on civilian shooting. He then mentions that a group of clergymen stated that he was shot by the police. After the broadcast an arrest was made.

He cites one African Americans talking about "white devils" which has the effect of inspiring fear and loathing among his listeners. Such talk is, of course, unjustifiable, inflammatory and worthy of condemnation. But there is little thought given to how this inflammatory and objectionable statement is merely a fringe view that most African Americans do not share.

Protests about police violence are hysterically denounced as a war on police. Condemning problems within the police is not a "war on police." To call it such is just hysterical hyperbole designed to shut down debate.

The ad in the middle of the broadcast states that there is a war on police. What ridiculous hyperbole.

In the second half of the broadcast he vaguely talks about how bad everything in America now.

He complains about the media complaining about Trump's brief statement about birtherism and complains that President Obama is guilty of worse citing the nuclear deal with Iran which he hysterically denounces as the worst foreign policy disaster (because his daddy said so). Back in 1994 Gerald Flurry proclaimed Iran to be the King of the South. If there is peace between the United States and Iran it would discredit Gerald Flurry therefore PCG's 1% loath the possibility that their dire predictions about Iran will not come to pass.

It is mentioned that the nuclear deal with Iran began to be implemented on January 16, 2016 in order to tie this into PCG's fixation on January 16 as the date of HWA's death and the supposed occurrence of Satan's expulsion to Earth.

Stephen Flurry ends the broadcast with a list of the various news stories, terrorist attacks by people influenced by the ISIL criminal network, that have occurred this year. It just goes to show how being PCG seems to be so intent on making themselves miserable.

PCG is wrong. Their dire false prophecy of "race war" will never come to pass. It is shameful that PCG's leaders should promote such horrid scare mongering to their followers instead of helping to address the problems. Instead those trying to address problems are vilified as wrong and as waging a "war on police," which is emotive hyperbole which has the effect of shutting down debate. The Black Lives Matter movement is a peaceful movement. So far those riots, those most unfortunate events, have only occurred in cities in which a fatal shooting had occurred. PCG's leaders said nothing about that circumstance in their dire false prophecy before it became an issue.

PCG's Deluded Dream of the Ark of the Covenant Being in Ireland

Banned by HWA has a post detailing the ridiculous, British Israelism inspired nonsense being promoted by PCG's 1% that the Ark of the Covenant is possibly buried in Hill Tara in Ireland.

Gerald Flurry is completely wrong to insinuate that the word Tara is etymologically related to Torah. Hebrew is a Semitic language. Irish belongs to the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family. They are not linguistically related. Flurry is wrong on this matter.

It is just awful how an organization should try to distract people with nonsense like this while so many other problems are happening amongst themselves. PCG members seem to dream of finding the Ark of the Covenant in Hill Tara, Ireland while giving less heed to the money they have been ordered to send to the organization.

PCG Minister Talking About British Imperialism and Zulu Warriors

Here is a picture accompanying a recent article by PCG's Gary Rethford discussing the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 and comparing two battles with WCG and PCG.

Imagine that. PCG making an article that contains a picture that portrays Africans as threatening and violent toward white men.

The nonsensical idea of British Israelism was created to prop up the British Empire. That theme is maintained even within an organization that is based in the United States, a nation that gained its independence after fighting a war against British rule.

Rethford talks about the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 and talks about the Battle of Islandhlwana in which British forces were routed and the Battle of Rorke's Drift in which a vastly outnumbered British force defended their position from attacks by Zulu warriors.

While describing the Battle of Rorke's Drift the following passage appears.

The Zulus broke into the field hospital and savagely fought the sick and wounded. The hospital caught fire; the sick were dragged out. The battle raged on. The wounded found that they could function in some lesser capacity, carrying water, passing out ammunition, caring for those more seriously wounded. Only the dead stopped fighting.

To put it too kindly, a rather poor of choice of words.

The battles are portrayed from the perspective of the British soldiers. But one detail that Rethford does not mention about these battles is evidence that wounded Zulu soldiers were massacred by British personnel after the battle.

After the battle 351 Zulu bodies were counted, but it has been estimated that at least 500 wounded and captured Zulus might have been massacred as well. Having witnessed the carnage at Isandlwana, the members of Chelmsford's relief force had no mercy for the captured, wounded Zulus they came across. Nor did the station's defenders. Trooper William James Clarke of the Natal Mounted Police described in his diary that "altogether we buried 375 Zulus and some wounded were thrown into the grave. Seeing the manner in which our wounded had been mutilated after being dragged from the hospital ... we were very bitter and did not spare wounded Zulus". (Battle of Rorke's Drift, Wikipedia.)

But inconvenient facts such as that are ignored since they detract from his story.

And after describing the battles Rethford then seeks to apply lessons from those battles to PCG members.

The comparisons between these two battles and the battles we face today are frighteningly similar. In the last decade, when more than 140,000 WCG members fell, a superior enemy had overcome the larger force. We, the smaller numbers today, are now met by the enemy. Our success or failure depends on the battle plan we adopt.

He makes a call to PCG members to fervently believe what PCG's leaders taught them or else they will be deceived by Satan.

If we forget the true God, we don’t have a fortress. If we give up the truth, we don’t have a shield. Without God and His truth we’re caught out in the open. The massacred British soldiers at Islandhlwana were caught by surprise out in the open and were quickly overwhelmed by the enemy. That’s exactly what has happened to the Laodiceans.

He quotes Gerald Flurry's book, Malachi's Message, and states that Flurry was inspired by God writing that book.

Truly, as Mr. Flurry was inspired to write—without the truth [PCG's teachings], we are deceived. Without the true God and His truth, we are caught out in the open—we have no defense.

Actually it is well known that Malachi's Message was plagiarized from Letter to Laodicea by Jules Dervaes (1986-8) which contained many of the ideas in Malachi's Message and yet preceded it.

He insists that PCG members are estined to become God beings so they must remain loyal to PCG's leaders regardless of evidence that undermine PCG's claim for authority. He also implies that not remaining loyal to PCG will lead to becoming "eternally dead" and that the same could happen to his readers thus threatening their salvation.

Our potential is to be born into the God Family, receiving total power! We are to be given jurisdiction over the entire universe. Think of that. It will be an eternal life of accomplishment, constantly looking forward to new creative projects and looking back on past accomplishments with happiness and joy. We shall never grow tired and weary. Always alive and full of joyous energy, vitality, exuberant life and strength and power! What a potential! 

Don’t let the cares of this life cause you to lose sight of that glorious goal. Losing sight of the Kingdom has resulted in many casualties already, and some are eternally dead. Don’t let this happen to you.

He also insists to PCG members to remain loyal to the organization, refers to Gerald Flurry as "God's prophet" and that (PCG's) God only works through the author's numerically small organization with headquarters in Edmond,

But even in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds, these men at Rorke’s Drift kept faith in the leadership and followed directions. This is how they executed the seemingly impossible battle plan successfully. 

This third point, then, is we must learn to keep our eyes on headquarters. Is Jesus Christ divided? Of course not (I Cor. 1:13). We have many proofs that He is only working through the small remnant of the PCG; but even if we only had one proof, the Work would be enough. ... 

A greater work was done through God’s Elijah, Herbert Armstrong. That great Work continues today through God’s prophet, Gerald Flurry. We must focus our attention on the Work and where it is being done. We must keep our eyes on headquarters—Edmond, Oklahoma. Losing sight of whom God has placed in charge of His Work will cause us to become battle casualties.

People looking after their own interests is equated with being deceived by Satan.

Satan would love to see our thoughts turn again to ourselves and our carnal desires to rule our lives again. Then our part of the baptismal vow would be neglected, maybe even forgotten, so that God’s Spirit would no longer fill us. Satan hates us and is jealous of us because we are heirs to the Kingdom of God. We must never lower our defenses against him.

In other words if a PCG member's own interests should contradict the will of PCG's leaders then the member is expected to give up on his or her own interests.

If a PCG member should wish to keep at least some of the money sent as part of the three tithes to look after themselves and their families talk like this could be used in a way that is against the member's interest.

How terrible it is that the painful events of those days should be exploited to try and prop up this sectarian organization based in Edmond which constantly insists World War III will soon lead to the conquest of the United States. Their dire predictions will never happen. PCG are but false prophets.

Shimon Peres Passes Away: Remembering PCG's Loathing of Shimon Peres

Former Israeli Prime Minister and President Shimon Peres has died aged 90. 

Although PCG often boasts of being friends of the Israeli nation as a matter of fact PCG's leaders such as Gerald Flurry, the late Ron Fraser, Joel Hilliker, have a long history of vituperatively condemning Shimon Peres.

They exploited news of what he did to spread scare mongering speculations that he would somehow cause the State of Israel to make a self defeating agreement with the Palestinians that will lead to the State of Israel being conquered by the future European Empire. They condemned him for trying to make concessions with the Palestinians.

PCG's loathing of Peres was noted in a previous post.

PCG's writers have called Shimon Peres "one foxy old socialist ... set to worm his way back into prime focus" to collude with the European Union and the Vatican thus setting the stage for Israel to be conquered by Europe. He is accused of being a part of "the sellout of Israel". He is accused of often making secret deals. In one article it is even insinuated that he is an enemy of the State of Israel. In another place it is insinuated that he is a traitor and a deserter to Israel.

Let's take a look at what PCG's leaders said about Peres.

***

Sources within both the U.S. and Israeli administrations claim that America is intent on seeing Netanyahu removed from office so that he might be the scapegoat for the failed peace process. Meanwhile, the man whom Arafat has called his friend, Shimon Peres, waits in the wings, biding his time. (Israeli Pullback Continues, May 1998.)

***

Why is it that Shimon Peres has seemingly popped up (either behind the scenes or in many instances leading) in negotiations, sometimes secret, with the other protagonists involved in the tortuous peace process? Simple. Close investigation reveals that Peres is the prime link involved in the negotiations with the Vatican and the EU which are now resulting in the EU seeking to take over as the principle mediator and driving force in the “peace process,” marginalizing U.S. efforts. (Ron Fraser, Muscling into the Mideast, March-April 2001.)

***

But most significantly, it was Shimon Peres who in 1993 brokered the deal with Pope John Paul II to hand over sovereignty of Jerusalem’s Old City to the Vatican. Although we have observed enough snippets of intelligence here and there to build the picture, author Barry Chamish’s research has done much to expose this traitorous act. (Ron Fraser, Muscling into the Mideast, March-April 2001.)

***

Ariel Sharon may be the elected leader of Israel, but watch forone foxy old socialist to slide into the picture as the power behind the throne in a unity government between Likud and Labor. Once again Shimon Peres is set to worm his way back into prime focus as the mediator between Israel, the PLO, the EU and the Vatican. (Ron Fraser, Muscling into the Mideast,March-April 2001.)

***

Remember how the EU clearly has exploited the liberal politics of Israeli Nobel laureate Shimon Peres to its advantage. As we detailed in our March-April issue, Mr. Peres has always placed great faith in the land-for-peace formula, cutting back-alley deals with the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Vatican for Israeli real estate, all with the firm approval of the European Union.

Now carrying the political clout of the foreign ministership within the conservative Israeli government of Ariel Sharon,Peres recently revealed himself as a deserter! July 3, he warned “that he could step down from his post if the Israeli government does not stop trying to undermine Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.… ‘I will not be able to continue in my role if you keep trying to delegitimize Yasser Arafat’ [he told] parliament’s committee on defense and foreign affairs” (Agence France Presse, July 3).

Nothing could have made Europe more proud! Mr. Peres is surely dancing to the EU’s tune as he virtually blackmails his own government into dealing with Arafat, a confirmed terrorist, on his own terms. ...

As for Mr. Peres, he wears his love for Europe on his sleeve. In April, he visited the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, another Middle East enclave that Europe seems intent on incorporating. He praised the Cypriots for taking advantage of EU moves toward “the Europeanization of the island in the heart of the Mediterranean.” He was happy, he said, that Israel and Cyprus shared the goal of “Europeanizing the Middle East,” a trend he believes will secure peace and freedom in the region. “Europeanization will change everything,” he said.

Mr. Peres laid out his dream of the future for Israel—a future in which Israel is, of all things, “Europeanized”! Peres’s deal with the Vatican to give away half of Jerusalem to Rome had been made in secret, during the previous decade, at a time when it was not fashionable to talk of “Europeanizing” Israel. Now it is out in the open and the subject of a public lecture by Peres. (Joel Hilliker, The Counterfeit Peacemaker, August 2001.)

***

Israeli author Barry Chamish has long maintained that the present deputy leader of Israel, Shimon Peres, the Vatican and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat have colluded since the Madrid peace talks to impose a “final solution” on Israel which is to the advantage of the Palestinians, the Catholic Church and the European Union. (Surrounded By Armies?, August 2001.)

***

In order to gain the needed support to avoid both the collapse of his government (which has already been subjected to three failed no-confidence motions) and the forcing of early elections, as well as to gain backing for his Gaza initiative, Sharon is seeking a coalition with the main opposition party, the center-left Labor led by Shimon Peres, along with some small religious factions. Though there is general consensus that Likud-Labor partnership would be limited in duration, any such relationship between Sharon and Peres will likely speed the sellout of Israel, as Peres is a strong proponent of ceding land to Israel’s enemies. (Political Chaos Eroding Will, January 2005.)

***

Military cooperation between Germany and Israel tracks back to the conclusion of secret accords between Franz Josef Strauss, Germany’s defense minister at the time, and his wily contemporary in Israel, Shimon Peres. Negotiations between the two began as far back as 1957. By 1962 they matured into a secret agreement for Germany to supply Israel with armaments and military training for the Israeli Defense Forces.

Foisted off onto the public as Germany’s obligation to “protect Israel” being its due penance for the Holocaust, German Middle East policy is in fact geared to achieving, by diplomacy, trade and military assistance, that which Rommel was denied in battle: the extension of German hegemony into the oil-rich Middle East. (Ron Fraser, On Jerusalem's Doorstep, November-December 2006.)

***

Today, Shimon Peres is the president of Israel, serving under Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Mr. Peres is once again a key player in the “peace” negotiations. He was there at the beginning of the Oslo Accord, and it appears he will be there at the disastrous end. (Gerald Flurry, The Oslo Accord: Israel’s Death Knell, April 2008.)

***

Flurry's false prophecy that Peres would be present at "the disastrous end" has failed. This is yet another false prophecy from PCG. Just one more of many false prophecies.

For more on this topic see: PCG's Demonization of the "Foxy Old Socialist" Shimon Peres.

Mark Armstrong's Vicious Rant Against People Accepting of Muslim Refugees

Every Friday Mark Armstrong, leader of the Intercontinental Church of God, publishes a weekly update which is often quite stridently polemic and condemning of political movements and people he does he align with. Sometimes they can be especially vicious. His June 3, 2016 weekly update was particularly venomous as he scare mongers about illegal  immigrants, Muslims and those who wish to welcome asylum seekers.

He scare mongers that society can easily fall apart. To support this scare mongering he cites protests against Trump.

We're seeing how quickly civilized society can be turned ugly and violent, especially when the police stand back and watch!  Illegal aliens now believe they're impervious to any and all authority, and they can assail citizens, stomp police cars, burn American flags and wave the flag of Mexico.  Oh, but that's just because of the divisive rhetoric of a political candidate.  He made them act out like this!

Incidentally around that time Trump visited his golf course in Scotland and some people there who are not planning to migrate to the United States chose to fly a Mexican flag to signal their displeasure at him. One wonders what Mark Armstrong would have thought of that.

He then shrilly and nonsensically insists that (somehow) America 's "entire economic system" will be destroyed based on current behavior because of immigrants getting social welfare.

Would that it was true.  In fact, they have ensconced themselves throughout American society, taking advantage of what was intended to be a temporary "safety net" for the poor.  But there's nothing temporary about it.  Government "programs" have become a way of life for those who would invade American society.  Whoever is credited with coining the phrase it certainly has merit in this case, and it goes like this, "You can't have open borders and a welfare state at the same time."  The reasons are obvious, and the eventual collapse of our entire economic system are absolutely guaranteed on the current trajectory.  Guilty as we Americans are, we're expected by the current administration and the many in the mainstream media to accept what will inevitably befall us, realizing we had it coming.

What nonsense. The United States is the most powerful nation state in the world by far. It is absurd and ridiculous to insinuate that the United States' "entire economic system" could collapse because of some immigrants.

His rant then takes a disturbing turn. So often Armstrongite leaders exploit certain views about peoples' sexuality to keep the lay members under control.

He then talks about the refugee crisis in Europe. He describes two incidents, one in Norway and another incident concerning a Facebook post in Germany, to condemn those open to letting refugees migrate to the United States, Germany, Norway and other Western nation states.

The line of logic is reminiscent of several true stories reported out of Europe.  There are two cases in particular where "refugee welcome" volunteers helped Muslim refugees by allowing them to stay in their homes.  One volunteer was a woman, the other a man in completely separate incidents.  Both (yes, even the man) were raped by their Muslim guests, and in the case of the male volunteer, the attacker was deported.  The man who was brutalized went public with his sympathy for the deported Muslim, saying it was the unfairness of Europe to the Muslim culture that was to blame.  We've heard of turning the other cheek, but that's beyond bizarre.  The woman also expressed her sympathy for her rapist, and blamed the cultural clash.

This is just awful. To accuse people one disagrees with as somehow being sympathetic with rapists is just awful and terrible. That is not a debate but a vicious demonization of those of a differing view. What a frightening, vindictive and vicious thing to say.

The first link in this paragraph is to an Al Jazeera America article discussing volunteers helping refugees in Europe.

The second link is to a WorldNetDaily article. That article does not describe any of the victims as volunteers supporting refugees.

WorldNetDaily is a far right media outlet. It is about as far right as one can get without becoming an actual extremist. The COGs have a history of tending to cite that far right media outlet. Infamously it played a leading role in spreading the nonsensical rumor that President Obama was not born in the United States.

The third link is to an article from Shoebat.com which quotes the Facebook post but says nothing about her hosting refugees. Also, based on the translation provided in that article, it is not an apology to the rapist in any way.

Shoebat.com was founded by Walid Shoebat, who is an individual connected with what some have called the Islamophobia Network.

Strangely the articles linked to in that paragraph quoted above do not contain the much of the information he describes. Where did he get this information from? Apparently from another article from WorldNetDaily. That WorldNetDaily article mentions people hosting refugees but the woman who made that Facebook post under discussion is not mentioned as hosting refugees, The details appears to be confused in this weekly update. One wonders why he did not link to that article?

Also the information about the male victim is also present in that WorldNetDaily article. On that matter it cites Breitbart, a right wing media outlet described as part of the alt-right. Elsewhere in the weekly update Mark Armstrong links to Breitbart's web site. Its editor was recently hired by the Trump campaign and has recently been the subject of concern.

The details appears to be confused in this weekly update. One wonders why he did not link to this article?

Let us now return to the weekly update.

He then ridicules education at Universities as "anti-American brainwashing".

This is the attitude we're all expected to adopt, under the philosophical logic underlying the current administration, and the anti-American brainwashing that now passes for education at most universities.

He states that he and like minded individuals will not follow the attitude that he condemns. He somewhat amusingly describes himself and like minded individuals as "us bitter clingers".

The weekly update then takes a disturbing turn. He makes a reference to holding on to "the means to protect our property and families." This is possibly a reference to using guns.

He also makes the paranoid claim that the federal government will make people like him a minority insinuating that mass arrests or even mass violence will soon be unleashed by the federal government against people like him.

Some of us bitter clingers aren't letting go.  We're hanging on to our Bibles, our true history and the means to protect our property and families.  But we may well be in the minority.  If not, it won't be long before the taxpayer-sponsored invasion makes sure of it.  We don't know if somehow there'll be another gasp of sanity for the United States, or whether we've strayed so far from God's way of life that it's almost over.

Such talk is frightening. How can one debate with others while making such hysterical claims? This is a toxic attitude that makes it impossible for one to live in peace with people who views things differently.

No good can come from this paranoid and hostile attitude present within this organization.

LCG's Flawed Article on Black Lives Matter Protest Movement

In response to the mass protests and rioting in Charlotte following the shooting to death Keith Lamont Scott LCG, which is headquartered in Charlotte, highlighted an article by Jonathan Bueno discussing protests against police brutality which was released last month. It is entitled "Race Riots Ahead?" (August 16, 2016.)

The main problem in this article is that the author fails to discuss the disadvantages that African Americans experience. He writes as though the racial disparity endured by the African American community does not need to be discussed in this topic.

If only Ferguson, Missouri were the end of a terrible, disheartening story. Sadly, it was not. Recent publicized shootings of black men by police officers has ignited waves of protests in the United States, and has resulted in two confirmed retaliatory shootings of police officers in both Dallas, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

What is going on? Will there be an end to the divisions in this country? Or are there even more troubling things ahead for America, including race riots? Furthermore, how should Christians respond?

Those frightening and dreadful acts of murder in Dallas and Baton Rouge were not acts of protest at all. They were foul acts of murders. The protest movement is an attempt to stop police violence. The vast majority of those involved do not want violence and want less violence afflicting their societies. It is, to say the least, problematic that the author should equate those foul acts of murder with a predominantly peaceful protest movement that arose to stop violence.

This growing rift in our society, regardless of who is to blame, has serious implications.

In other words the cries of African American protesters for the violence to stop and their publicly stated yearning to live without the fear of violence is ignored and de-emphasized.

Jesus Christ predicted racial tensions 2,000 years ago—and unless there is nationwide repentance, tragic incidents like what happened in Baton Rouge and Dallas will continue and increase!

Why does the author choose to highlight those two terrible incidents and not mention the other fatal incidents which sparked the Black Lives Matter movement? Are not the lives of ordinary African Americans as important as any other human life?

The answer is simple, though most will completely dismiss it. There is a real spirit world, filled with fallen angels possessing power to influence mankind and stir up wrong attitudes and emotions—including hatred and murderousness.... The Bible reveals that Satan the devil is the “god of this age,” and will increasingly exert his evil influence with terrible consequences—leading to worldwide destruction....

This de-emphasizes the issue of police brutality. If African Americans were not afraid of experiencing violence at the hands of police officers this protest movement and the unfortunate riot in Charlotte would not have happened. Alas, one protester in Charlotte, namely Justin Carr, has already been killed during the disturbances. By ignoring the issue of police violence the author makes the protests and the comparatively rare riot appear to have arisen from nowhere. That is not a helpful view.

Black lives matter—and so do white lives, and members of all other races. All people, black, white, male and female are made in the image of God.... And in times like these, when negative emotions run high, Christians must stand fast in God’s word.

This statement inaccurately implies that Black Lives Matter protesters think "only black lives matters." This is not true. It is an unfortunate misunderstanding. Rather they are saying "black lives matter as well." They are persuaded that the lives of African Americans are not valued as much as whites. They want to be valued as much as whites in order to reduce police violence and protect themselves, their families and friends. Any other community enduring a similar situation would surely protest such a situation as well.

The Bible instructs what Christians should do. First, violent retaliation is never the answer in the face of injustice, whether real or perceived.

The Black Lives Matter movement for the most part has been peaceful. But there have been comparatively unusual exceptions to this rule in Ferguson, Baltimore and now Charlotte that tend to, among other things, divert attention from the vast majority of protesters who are peaceful. These problems do not happen for no reason. This protest movement is a response to police violence. Address the police violence and the situation will calm down.

Racial tensions are predicted to continue on a global scale, especially the more this world turns away from God. There are dire straits ahead for any country that abandons morality, even as secular historians note. This is especially true for an ethnically diverse United States.

Is the author implying that racial diversity somehow weakens society? This is, to say the least, a terribly inaccurate view.

Will racial tensions continues? Regardless of what happens in the future it deserves to be noted that LCG does not know what will happen in the future. Armstrongism has a long history of making many false prophecies over the years.

Sadly this article fails to hear the cries of the Black Lives Matter protesters and ignores the problem of police violence. With an attitude like that LCG's leaders will never understand what is happening and will be inclined to inaccurately view these problems as inexplicable thus hindering them and their followers from helpfully addressing this issue.

Protests and Riots in LCG's Hometown, Charlotte

In the hometown of LCG HQ an African American, Keith Lamont Scott, was shot to death by a police officer and in response there have been protests and, unfortunately, rioting. Family members say that he was unarmed and was simply reading a book while waiting to pick up his son. Police said he had a gun on him.

Police fatally shot an African-American man named Keith Lamont Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Tuesday evening. According to the Charlotte Observer, officer Brentley Vinson, who is also African American, fired the shot that killed the 43-year-old father in the parking lot of the Village at College Downs apartment complex. Protests erupted at the site of the shooting, during which which “several dozen police officers in riot gear” fired tear gas into the crowd. Witnesses of the shooting and the officers involved give vastly different accounts of what actually transpired. (Kalli Halloway, Charlotte Cops Kill Man Who Was Allegedly Unarmed and Reading in Car Setting Off Protests, Alternet, September 20, 2016.)

Considering that this is happening in LCG's hometown let us note the following tweet they sent to the world.

Protests turn violent after fatal police shooting in Charlotte https://t.co/O1oqIUhyul Race Riots Ahead? https://t.co/xTc5GBijw4

— Tomorrow's World (@tomorrowsworld) September 21, 2016

This tweet ignores the problem of police violence and scare mongers about "race riots", as though this problem is simply because people of different races living together. It inaccurately implies that these problems are unsolvable. What a terribly flawed way to view these unfortunate events.

These protests and the (compared to the protests) rare and quite unfortunate riots do not just happen. If the issue of police violence is handled properly then events such as these protests and this unfortunate riot will stop happening.

Time.com Mentions PCG's Unaccredited "College"

Time magazine recently made a list of the fifty best places to live in the United States. One entry was for Edmond, Oklahoma, the site of PCG's headquarters. It mentioned PCG's unaccredited college. The article does does not mention the $24 million Armstrong Auditorium,

Around town you’ll find almost two dozen recreational parks plus two other universities: Herbert W. Armstrong College and Oklahoma Christian University. (Time, Money, 50 Best Places to Live 2016, 48. Edmond, Oklahoma.)

No mention of the organization behind HWA College. No mention of the problems surrounding PCG. No mention that PCG's college is unaccredited.

Time magazine is overlooking a great story. A magnificent and wonderful story awaits any journalist willing to look just a little closer at the organization sponsoring the unaccredited Herbert W' Armstrong College, namely the organization that is named the Philadelphia Church of God which is led by one Gerald Flurry.