In my Lutheran childhood, a regular element was a little publication produced in far-off St Louis, Missouri: Portals of Prayer. PoP was a much-ignored "devotional" digest for each day of the month. Icky artwork on the cover, on the inside a bit of Bible text, a bit of a prayer, and bit of a homily. Very boring and trite. Most mainline denominations do something similar. But who'd have thought that one day WCG in the UK would launch something equally facile. WCG's age of grunting iconoclasm has of course long gone, and what would once have evoked guffaws from the pulpit now has GcI Joe's seal of approval.
So, bless 'em, that's what they've done. A wee daily Bible verse, a wee prayer, and a twee homily - written turn-about by British elders. It goes without saying that I'm a bit jaundiced by this whole thing, but you may feel differently. If so, you can click across to Day by Day with the Worldwide Church of God.
24 comments:
The name is a rip-off of the American Episcopal Church's Forward Day by Day quarterly devotional.
The lightness, shallowness, and fluffiness of it makes me think of marshmallows.
I wonder if he's been watching religious tv, where, in the USA here, dickheads such as Mike Murdoch(any relation?), Hal Lindsay, Brian Houston(of "Hillsong" - gak!), "Marilyn and Sarah"(double-gak!!!), and total super-dickhead Perry Stone hawk their respective garbage.
Something tells me that Fraser Murdoch wouldn't have the balls to tell his detractors that they are "under the influence of Satan", though, like the aforementioned dickheads do.
By the way, I came across a "Chaser's" bit where they looked at "Christian TV" dickheads. It's here.
Hehehe, buncha nominal xians.
I remember the old Methodist digest, "The Upper Room", which really had nothing to do with the upper room. I don't remember what the Missionary Baptist devotional rag was called, and I should, because I was forced to practically memorize it.
That the WCG/GCI now has one shows how mainstream they are getting. I almost laughed writing that sentence.
Heck, before you know it, they won't even open their Bible in church except to read a couple verses in Sunday school class.
Next thing you know there'll be little GCI churches in every little town all across the great Bible belt just plumb full of people who never read the Bible and don't know what in the world their church even believes.
Hey, wait a minute, that's how I ended up getting involved with cults to start with . . .
Worldwide Church of God? What's that?
Don't ask! You don't want to know.
Trust me.
Mel said...
The lightness, shallowness, and fluffiness of it makes me think of marshmallows.
Its hardly Basil Wolverton's vison of theology is it? In that respect, its refreshing.
I also like those little foggy ocean clouds in the morning, but they tend to evaporate by noon.
Hasn't Fraser got the memo about the Worldwide Church of God's new and improved brand name?
This kind of thing is just church gloss. I recently had an experience with GCI where I dug
below the gloss and made an interesting and surprising discovery. I listened to one of the interviews conducted by Mike Feazell of a noted Trinitarian. They addressed a topic that I have had a long interest in. I felt like the discussion was incomplete so I wrote to the Trinitarian to find out more about what Torrance believed about this topic. I found this Trinitarian to be defensive and dismissive -- much like many Armstrongite ministers that I have spoken with.
His unexpected an discourteous defensiveness made me consider carefully the circumstances. I think that lurking behind all the discussion of coinherence, there are some problems -- maybe borderline heretical problems. The way Trinitarianism is constructed, I believe it leads naturally to the conclusion that there is
universal salvation. Yet Trinitarians deny that they believe in Universalism. I think, then, that there is a disconnect between their theology and their practice -- some open seam that they have never been able to close.
Also, Trinitarians may be Neotheists after the fashion of Clark Pinnock. I find Torrance's turbid prose to be unfathomable or I would try to figure this out myself. But it is more to the point to understand how GCI implements Trinitarism in their fellowship. One might implement Trinitarianism in Calvinist context or a Neotheist context, for example. I am still in the dark about this.
The response I got from this Trinitarian also gave me an uncomfortable feeling of deja vu. My guess, although I hate to think this, is that Trinitarians regard Torrance with the same worshipful and defending attitude that Armstrongites have for HWA.
If any of this turns out to be fact, GCI and its Trinitarianism is not far from UCG and Armstongism
really.
The Bear
I thought they weren't the Worldwide Church of God anymore. Did I miss something?
The Skeptic
One of the problems with good ideas is that the minute they become successful, they also become archetypes. The imitators rarely execute the idea as successfully as the originators, although there have been notable exceptions.
In a sense, devotionals become similar to daily cartoons, TV programs, or any other type of serial activity. They are going to be just as inspired, or inspiring as the person responsible for creating them. The minute the spark or energy is lost, it begins to appear as if someone is just "phoning it in".
Like Mel, I sometimes watch religious TV. If you are doing this for inspiration, you really need to identify the incisive thinkers, and consistently inspired thinkers. Mel listed some names, and I have some which would be in direct contrast to those whom he has listed. I find TD Jakes, Jeff Shreve, James Merritt, Joel Osteen, Walter Pearson, and Dr. Charles Stanley to be very inspiring, and consistent in the quality of their Bible-based messages. However, there are others who appear cartoonish, or appear to be simply paid actors.
Truth is such a precious commodity.
BB
That was great Mel!
I would rather sell my soul than look at that crap!
UCG has been trying to do something like that online, with "This is the Way."
But it doesn't come across as a devotional -- especially when the entires link to articles long enough to be two-hour-plus Bible studies.
"If any of this turns out to be fact, GCI and its Trinitarianism is not far from UCG and Armstongism
really."
And why are you surprised?
I agree with Mr. Scribe. I'm not going to look at it either.
Speaking of Day by Daze, this is a reminder to all of our friendly science buffs that God's own fireworks display (Perseid Meteor Shower) is scheduled to culminate tonight, and tomorrow night (11th and 12th Aug) at a sky near you!
We'll be able to see up to 60 "shooting stars" per hour. It makes for a wonderous and awesome display, so get a nice cool drink, and spend some quality time in your pool or on a lawn chair tonight!
BB
Ach, Gavin lad,ye have missed a golden opportunity to join the ranks.
But ye have a chance to redeem yourself, laddie.
Ye,too can have your comfy little homily with appropriate Bible quotations,a fireside chat as it were.
Twee it might be,but think of the thousands who will hang on your every word.And,if ye are canny, ye can issue quaint little tracts for a wee bawbee or two.
Cheers,
Jorgheinz
Byker Bob said:
"...and I have some which would be in direct contrast to those whom he has listed. I find TD Jakes, Jeff Shreve, James Merritt, Joel Osteen, Walter Pearson, and Dr. Charles Stanley to be very inspiring,..."
Dr. Charles Stanley? You've got to be kidding! If there ever was a doppelganger for Rod Meridith he has got to be it. He even sounds the same. Oh no, two rods of iron, two witnessess. Help!
Anonymous said...
The name is a rip-off of the American Episcopal Church's Forward Day by Day quarterly devotional.
Would the WCG plagiarize another churches writings? I can't think of a precedent for that behavior can you?
I don't know the Pearson guy, BB, but I have to admit a definite gagging reflex to the mere mention of TD Jakes, Joel Osteen, and Charles Stanley.
"And,if ye are canny, ye can issue quaint little tracts for a wee bawbee or two."
I do wish the rest of the world would would use God's True Language, which is, of course, North American English.
"bawbee"?
I had to look that one up.
Here's from Wikipedia:
A bawbee was a Scottish halfpenny. The word means, properly, a debased copper coin, equal in value to a half-penny, issued from the reign of James V of Scotland to the reign of William II of Scotland.
Wha'll hire, wha'll hire, whall hire me?
Three plumps and a wallop for ae bawbee.
The tale is that the people of Kirkmahoe were so poor, they could not afford to put any meat into their broth. A 'cute cobbler invested all his money in buying four sheep-shanks, and when a neighbour wanted to make mutton broth, for the payment of one halfpenny the cobbler would "plump" one of the sheep-shanks into the boiling water, and give it a "wallop" or whisk round. He then wrapped it in a cabbage-leaf and took it home. This was called a gustin bone, and was supposed to give a rich "gust" to the broth. The cobbler found his gustin bone very profitable.
You called him GcI Joe, simply GI Joe with the old commercial, life like hair, kung fu grip.
Wha'll hire, wha'll hire, whall hire Ol' Joe?
Three plumps and a wallop is all he'll ere show.
That's not room service in the hall!
That's Jay-sus!
Dill Weed
Did you know a WCG family used to live next door to Charles Stanley?
He had (don't know if he still does) a nice big parsonage in a quiet wooded Atlanta neighborhood. I met the WCG woman who lived next door to him during my years in Atlanta. (I believe she had gone through a divorce.)
The woman told me she had several religious discussions with Dr. Stanley. Apparently they were brief, and clearly neither mind was changed by them.
Everyone listen up!
I've had extensive discussions with WCG/GCI leaders about their latest theology entitled "We're all Included". They don't know what they are talking about. This is closet Universalism, they just refuse to admit it.
This theology is not just wrong, but demonically wrong for a very simple reason. In their belief system, God's salvation does NOT require faith!! It seems insane that they would adopt this opinion with the Bible so clearly saying the opposite (Eph 2:8). But they have replaced Armstrong with Torrance.
Run, do not walk, from this heresy!
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