Dear Friends,
I have been observing the messages sent in to me regarding the ex-WCG type organisations
and their observance of the Hillel system.
They defend themselves by asking questions that do little to enlighten their
audiences. I saw a post recently from an ex-WCG personality who has a radio
broadcast facility and seems to feed off other organisations without actually
being a formed church or organisation.
He created a discussion around the beginning of the month by stating that the
Bible does not state specifically that the New Moon is the Conjunction. Thus,
we are allegedly left open to follow the Jews in their later explanation of
it.
Whilst it is correct that the Bible does not specify the Conjunction, the argument
does not take into account the great body of history and science that goes to
the Conjunction being the only sound scientific and historical basis of the
New Moon, as contained in the Bible and as practised by the Jews during the
Temple period and the Churches of God after the fall of the Temple.
We know beyond doubt that the Conjunction was the basis of the New Moon in the
Temple period.
The same could be said of the beginning of the year and the fact that the 14th
always falls after the equinox. That is also nowhere stated in the Bible. It
comes from the vast body of history that goes to the establishment of the Bible
calendar. Indeed, it is on this one issue that Judaism and the Churches of God
have never been in disagreement yet it is nowhere stated. The heretical Karaite
sect has played with observations since the 12th century, but they are not and
never have been taken seriously by the body of Judaism and the Churches of God.
It was on this issue that the Samaritans fell into error and placed the beginning
of the Month as being after the equinox, thus placing the Passover in the second
month and the feast in the eighth month in many years as we saw with the error
of Jeroboam.
What we saw with the Churches of God in the end of the twentieth century was
an appalling anti-intellectualism that made no rigorous study of any subject.
What was convenient was said. If it agreed with what was thought at the time,
it was "a well respected authority". If it was inconvenient, the people
were attacked who espoused the point. It mirrors the lowest point of 20th century
religious brainwashing.
The attitude also led to deaths due to rejection of medical assistance and preventative
medicine. It led to church adversarial litigation whilst the members were not
free to do so.
I have found it necessary to deal with a misrepresentation of our, and the Biblical,
position by the UCG (aia) without reference to us but obviously aimed at us
and those studying with us. We have published their paper in the public interest
with the commentary for reference.
The paper Commentary on the UCG Doctrinal Paper: Should Christians Keep the
New Moons (No. 124) will be issued this coming week. It will be at www.ccg.org/english/s/p124.html
We have also published a paper on the Original Doctrines of the Christians Faith
up to the Quartodeciman Schism of 154-192 CE (No. 88). It will be available
at www.ccg.org/english/s/p88.html
All are encouraged to read both those documents in order to get a firmer grasp
of the original faith and its teachings. It is up to us to be able to give an
account of the faith and to explain our beliefs including how and why we believe
what we do and worship the way we do.
In the same way we have dealt with the subject of the Start of the Day due to
the errors that have crept in during the late twentieth century due to the acceptance
in late Judaism of the Roman sunset system as opposed to the original timing
of the commencement of the day. Some of the bizarre views we have had to deal
with have included the day beginning at dawn and the month beginning on the
fifteenth at the full moon. Both of these views are non-biblical views. I noted
that James dealt with a group espousing these views, who at the end of some
months of discussion agreed he was correct but none became convicted of the
truth or acted on it in any substantive way. They simply drifted apart as though
their reason for being together was destroyed and it had nothing to do with
the truth. This is much closer to the reasons behind the structure of some churches
than we care to contemplate. Many are social groups that simply want to be reassured
and are not interested in truth in any compelling way.
The paper "Start of the Day" will also be out in the near future.
You are all encouraged to study and to encourage others to study these important
aspects.
Remember, we have much to do and there are many nations to reach properly yet
with many languages not yet used and still to be translated.
Love one another. Encourage one another in the faith and trust in God to deliver
us from every trial.
Wade Cox
Coordinator General
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