Why Did God Allow His People To Be Killed On The Sabbath?

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Warren Zehrung

Why Did God Allow His People To Be Killed On The Sabbath?

By Richard Markland, Sunday, March 13, 2005

I am sure what you are about to read will be very unpopular with a number of brethren and ministers. When writing, however, on a subject such as the tragic shooting of God's people in Wisconsin yesterday, I personally believe there is far more to what happened than many ministers or brethren will be willing to admit. I do not expect to win friends by what is written, and yet I feel it needs to be said. I am sure I will receive letters of disagreement. I am willing, however, to pay the price for what I am about to say.

I am sure many brethren and ministers tossed and turned last night when going to bed. I had a very difficult time comprehending what happened. What an absolute tragedy to read of something that has never happened in the history of God's church. Where was God? Why did He allow this to happen? Is it because Satan is after God's people and wants to bring unwanted attention by the media, or is there a far deeper meaning to what took place and yet it will be very hard for many ministers or members to admit?

How many Sabbaths have been observed by the average church member today? Most members in the different churches of God have kept countless services. Yesterday was suppose to be just another Sabbath, and what happened hit like a bolt of lightning out of nowhere. Why was a minister of God killed and why members at random?

So much has happened to God's Church since the apostasy by Joseph Tkach and associates. Things have never been the same. There are now a myriad of Sabbath keeping groups to pick from, and yet I can remember countless articles written in the past concerning so many various protestant churches and the catholic church. Somehow as God's people, we had a perspective on how wrong it was to have so many false churches, but today brethren have basically been able to pick and choose from a wide variety of Sabbath keeping organizations. My wife always coined the phrase, "salad bar churches" because there's always one to choose from which will fit within a particular mindset or comfort zone by any particular member for any particular reason.

We know we are in the Laodacean era, but who is a Laodacean? This is something the Philadelphia Church of God makes no bones about. I have been called one by various members and I am sure many people reading this have as well. United has a board which votes for a new leader every few years, and yet I've never had voting proven to me as Biblical. United is probably labeled Laodacean more than any other group. Living definitely leans in the direction of believing it is a Gideon army in the type of work it is doing. Small, and yet it will be used powerfully by God somehow to do a true work. The list of various organizations, and their views of what they are doing, is easily available and yet what does God think of the state of the churches today? Somehow He has been displeased with attributes of His church in the Bible and yet it isn't being viewed this way today. If this is the case, God has a double standard.

What happened to those who were killed yesterday is not being viewed on my part as a result of personal sins in their lives. I did not know the members tragically killed and I only knew of Randy Gregory in passing. I cannot help but wonder, however, what is the real reason behind what happened and could it be God's way of letting it be known He is not pleased with the state of His people and various churches of God?

Do I have a bone to pick? This may be one of the thoughts by readers. I was a member of Worldwide until 1997. I than switched to Global, later renamed Living. I attended United off and on for a few years. I was disfellowshipped from Living for unethical reasons and had witnesses to back up my innocence, but to no avail. Charges were simply groundless and unproven. My wife, who was ill with cancer at the time, was also disfellowshipped under the guise of guilt by association. She was not able to attend for months, and was never specifically charged with anything, but was categorized as a non-attending member and was therefore disfellowshipped along with me. Having cancer at the time limited her in every way. She was shocked to see her name listed as disfellowshipped along with mine. The tragic thing about being disfellowshipped is that it not only has happened to Linda and I, but to a number of members in various groups. No matter how I have let it be known as to why I was disfellowshipped, it has made little difference to some brethren. The reasoning is that the ministry was surely justified in what they did.

What if God allowed the senseless killing of the brethren, and a minister yesterday, to wake up His people? What if He is not pleased with the fragmented and disheveled state of His church? How can a true warning go out when the groups are all so small and yet specific organizations believe they are doing the real work? What if the many members who have been disfellowshipped and abused by the ministry have been noted by God? What if members are following a man more than God? What if God sees a Laodacean attitude that is an affront to Him? What if true love is the number one ingredient missing in the churches of God today? Take note that I am not accusing any particular group or person of being Laodacean or suffering from the spiritual ailments listed, but only stating the attitude is simply pervasive today.

What will now be the explanation given by the ministry for what happened? Am I wrong in believing the explanation by God's ministers will be that what happened is a warning of the serious times in which we live. Yes this is true, but why would God allow a disgruntled demon possessed person to come in and randomly shoot His people on the Sabbath where His name has been placed? I can't help but come to the conclusion that what will be said by the ministry, and believed by the brethren, is that Satan did this in order to bring unwanted attention. It is known He hates God's people and so this is why this tragedy took place. To admit, however, that this is a wakeup call to Philadelphia, Living, United and all of the church of God groups is something simply scoffed at and will actually ruffle feathers of various members who cannot believe it is possible God corrected His people yesterday.

I have felt for some time that far too many of God's people do not have a sense of urgency in their lives. I am not judge and jury towards anyone specifically because I have shortcomings myself. I simply look at the state of God's people overall, the various church organizations and the absolute abuse of power by those in charge. I have had individuals contact me over the years expressing a deep desire for God's people to be united, but how can this possibly happen? Who will step aside to allow someone else to be in charge? Would Mr. Meredith? Would Mr. Flurry? Would Mr. Holiday? Would other leading ministers of other groups? This would be equivalent to the parting of the Red Sea if it did.

I have felt for years there needs to be a churchwide fast of deep repentance before God by all groups. Men need to stop their desire for power by believing God is using them specifically. Far too many members still look to a man and yet many ministers and members do not believe this. Ministers and brethren need to ask God how to do it His way.

I am not on a mission nor do I have a bone to pick. I am just deeply sickened by the fragmented state of God's church today. The world is in such tragic shape and yet there is a lack of urgency and desire to do things God's way by God's ministers and His people. This shooting was a wakeup call, but I fear many ministers and members will not believe it.

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