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PASTOR'S REPORT, May 14, 1979
Page 29
There is currently a minister who has brought a complaint against the
Church regarding severance pay and retirement benefits. I've talked to
this person individually. What this person is saying is, "I cannot get
a fair hearing or justice or fair judgment from the Church."
Now, when you've done that, how can you be a minister of the Church?
How can you even be a lay member of the Church?
Now he doesn't see it that way, I don't think--that's my opinion. But
when you divorce yourself from the fact that God is on His throne and
is working through the Church and through Mr. Armstrong and through all
of us individually in the various responsibilities He gives us, then we
have no hope. I mean, we've lost the foundation, we've lost the stability.
There is none because we've forgotten where Church authority is, what
Church government is, who God is.
Our image of God must be such that we know that God is all-powerful,
that God is on His throne that God is the Creator, the Law-giver, that
He's the One who has called us, He's the One who has extended mercy to
us, He's the One who has sent His own Son and is able and willing to give
everything that we have need of. Otherwise we take to ourselves (you
know, it gets back to the same old problem of what is right and what is
wrong) opinions, making judgements ourselves, and it always involves
judging God and the apostle whom He has appointed. That's what it
always is, when you get down to it. It's making judgments upon God.
It's nice to be with you, and I hope that our comments have all been
helpful because anyone can get off course. But either we get back on
course, as Mr. Armstrong has tried to do in every area; the college, the
church, the publishing arm--everything--or else we steer off course and
we're gone. That's inevitable, too. So I think it's imperative that
all of us, and particularly the ministers who will be going out, keep
the church congregations on course.
You've all heard Mr. Luker's report on Hawaii.
Frankly, I would hate to
have the burden of that minister for that congregation. And that's where
it lies. I don't see that it lies primarily with the congregation. I
feel it lies with the minister. And that's why God says there shouldn't
be many teachers or preachers or ministers among you because that is a
tremendous burden, a tremendous responsibility.
But when you forsake
that and draw people to yourself rather than God, that's the most
fearful thing that I can consider that anyone could ever do. So it's
most important, I think, that we as ministers understand that and learn
that lesson, and focus the membership toward God and toward the one whom
He has appointed.
Whether or not we agree with every decision (and you probably will never
agree with every decision that any man makes) doesn't have anything to do
with it. But when Mr. Armstrong says "God revealed something to me,"I
kind of quiver in my boots because that's frightening. You know, that's
an awesome concept, even though that shouldn't be frightening or unusual
because God has revealed things to all of us.
Where did He reveal to you that His Church is? How did He reveal to you
Certain truths? You know, that's all no less miraculous, frankly. But
it's a basic concept I've been talking about. Anyhow, I won't go on.
It's time for lunch. So the best to all of you.
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