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It is an exciting time in the Worldwide Church of God as Jesus brings in our denomination a revival through the Holy Spirit.
Yet, at the same time, many of our members are grieving. There is anger and depression over the significant losses we have felt: of dearly held teachings, of longtime fellow members, of a special feeling of uniqueness. It has been distressing and an emotional roller coaster for many.
I believe it is important to validate the feelings and experiences of those who are hurting. But, often out of a desire to help and encourage we provide simplistic answers rather than administering healing to the hurting. People in pain do not need solutions. They need love, care and assistance in the healing process.
I am finding the main struggle for many in our membership is the question "why?" e.g.,"I have studied and studied these changes, but I keep coming back to why God would allow this to occur."
It is natural to ask why, to want to know who or what "caused" one's problems. Some blame God, some themselves and some become angry with the church. But, knowing why a problem occurred will not make it go away. And, besides, I believe the why questions are not as easily answered as we might wish. Often, they are not answerable at all.
Why is partly a mystery. What we do know is our church had a lot of sincerity and desire to obey God but without needed maturity and solid biblical understanding.
The process of grief simply cannot be short-circuited. Denial, anger, depression and struggling with the question "why?" precede acceptance and gratitude. There are no simple solutions to the problems we have had as an organization. It will take time, love and the healing of the Holy Spirit.
However, if we are to help those who are hurting, we must avoid the tendency to apply a Band-Aid approach. If we do not allow people to communicate their grief, then their feelings will be internalized and play out in all kinds of destructive patterns.
If a member had just lost a loved one, what they would need is not a superficial understanding of the causes, but love, comfort and the assurance they won't be judged for how they feel. I believe we all need that same kind of care right now.
In Christian love,
David Covington
National Certified Counselor
Pastor, Roanoke and Lynchburg, Virginia
Internet:
david_covington@wcg.org
I just want to comment on how tremendous a resource The Worldwide News has been in this time of change. Anyone who has not read every issue has missed out on a great treasure.
With every issue comes precious clarification and understanding of the wonderful new truth our Lord is revealing to us.
Thank you for being faithful and loyal servants of Jesus Christ and patient shepherds of us, his sheep. Keep up the good work, and God bless all of you at headquarters who work so diligently on our behalf.
Rachel Johnston
Topeka, Kansas
I am in the unfortunate situation that my ex-wife has gone to United. The kids thus attended the Feast with her this year.
After the Feast I found one of them crying. He is 13. He was confused by the changes. Can you imagine how good it was to reassure him that there was nothing to be confused about--God will not hold him responsible for what he cannot understand, but that God will only hold him responsible for those things which almost anyone has control over--such as not lying, not stealing, loving others.
I am 100 percent behind the new direction in the church. The apostle Paul (and more so the other apostles) was faced with a set of changes even more dramatic than we have gone through.
We know of the pain Peter had to go through, from a comfortable set of beliefs that were closely aligned with Judaism, to "a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles."
I find the discussion that is taking place in the church today, mainly via the WN, stimulating and valuable. Especially that it is possible for someone like myself to participate in this discussion.
It is thus so regrettable that some of our brethren have decided to judge the matter before it has been fully heard and have elected to leave us. What a shame!
As our pastor, Morgen Kriedemann, often says, our beliefs should be strong enough to stand up to scrutiny. I am finding that they are--the core beliefs, that is.
I love the approach that seeks to "prove all things," with the Bible as the primary witness.
The articles in the WN certainly make one think, these days. The church can only benefit from that.
South Africa has just been through a rough time. Many of us old-timers have had to endure much grief to lose so many old and cherished friends, but it seems that we have turned the corner. Certainly the Johannesburg West church seems to be stabilizing nicely. One bit of evidence is what the conversation is about.
Please let Mr. Tkach know that we are right behind him. That the changes (once we recovered from the shock) are marvelous and that we are extremely excited about the future!
Elmar J. Roberg
Westgate, South Africa.
robergi@africa.com
I just wanted to say how exciting it is for us who surf the Internet to see the church shining its beacon. With so much focus on all the negative things that can be pulled up from the Internet, it's great to know we are reaching out with good news to the on-line world, churched and unchurched alike.
I stay in contact with many fellow Christians via the Internet, and the church's home page is a great anchor for us. Keep up the good work!
Frank Ancona
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Anconaf@aol.com
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