Dear Brethren Letter from Raymond F. McNair August 26, 2004

A very warm greeting to all of you! I hope each of you is having a very productive and blessed summer. My wife and I have been very busy, not only with Church-related matters, but also with moving our office and home from San Diego to the Temecula area here in Southern California. This has certainly been one of the busiest summers we have ever experienced. And it seems the summer has gone by so quickly!

There is no way that my wife and I are able to find the time to take a proper vacation during this present summer. We are very busy doing God’s Work, but hope that in time we may be able to take a brief, much needed vacation. In fact, we haven’t taken a vacation in years! I realize that a proper vacation can be a very good thing—enabling one to “re-charge” his batteries, and go forward with greater zest; and in many cases, after taking a relaxing vacation, one can be more productive than otherwise.

Feast of Tabernacle plans. I hope all of you have been able to make satisfactory arrangements to observe the soon-coming Feast of Tabernacles. My wife and I regret that, even though I am getting stronger, I did not think it wise for me to attempt to have a regular “Feast site” this year. However, my wife and I will be getting together with a small group, who will be keeping the Feast with us here in the city of Temecula, California. Mr. and Mrs. Dan Cafeo, a long-time, faithful minister in the Church of God, will share in the giving of the Feast messages. I have known him for many years, and am very happy that he will be able to assist me during this joyous occasion. I would like to say, however, that, God willing, I will plan to have a Feast site in the fall of 2005, and hope as many of us as are like-minded can fellowship together at that time. Hopefully, all of you will be able to be strengthened by the messages you will hear during the coming Feast of Tabernacles.

Responses to my articles in The Journal. Responses to our articles in The Journal have been very encouraging. I will quote a portion of only one response in this letter: One person writes as follows: “Greetings Mr. & Mrs. McNair: …We have been reading your articles in The Journal. They are very informative, uplifting and inspiring. I personally have gained much from reading them and feel that my understanding has grown in light of the age we now find ourselves in. We have friends who now are reading your articles in The Journal and they, too, are inspired and are thankful for your work. How is your health and also Mrs. McNair? …Is there a website? How may we obtain our own articles? We look forward to hearing from you….”

Brethren, I hope all of you have checked out our Website (cog21.org). I think you will be quite pleased to peruse our Home Page. You should notice that there are some pulsating lights on those “links” that are now “alive,” and ready to be accessed. We have had numerous favorable comments regarding our Website, and during the next few months, I hope to be able to devote more time to developing it. There is still much to be done before we can have all of the material that is available (nearly a half million words in my own books, booklets, articles, etc.). Already, America and Britain in Prophecy (in full color) is accessible on our Website; and we hope to soon have The God You Can Know (also in full color) ready to access by the Website viewers. My book, Key to Northwest European Origins, is already accessible on our Site. It gives the origins of the core peoples who settled the United States, mostly from the nations of NW Europe. Several articles are posted, and can be accessed, by clicking on the relative “link” on our Website. If you want to print any of the seven articles which have already been published in The Journal, you can do so by clicking on our Website “link” called “RFMc Articles in The Journal.” All of them are now posted on that particular link. In addition, numerous other articles are also ready to access, if you will click on the moving links in the “Scroll Window” (in the center column of our Home Page).

We continue to receive favorable comments from those who have viewed our Site, and hope to do much more to make it an interesting as well as a valuable source of books, booklets, articles, letters, etc. Also, you will find that our “link” titled “Church of God Library/Archives” will be a valuable source of information for many brethren to VIEW certain materials, written by various ministers of God’s Church, including many of the works of Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. But viewers need to bear in mind that they must not infringe any copyright laws that regulate copyrighted material. As a minister, writer/editor and educator, “fair use” permits me to have copyrighted material for viewing only, but this does not mean that I, or the Church of God-21st Century, can authorize anyone who views such material on our Website to reproduce such copyrighted material (written by others) or use it in any way that is prohibited by copyright law!

IMPORTANT NOTICE! Please note that by the time you receive this letter, we will have moved our office from San Diego to the Temecula area of Southern California, which is about 50 miles north of San Diego. Also note the change of address at the top of this letter. You will notice that our P.O. Box number and city are changed to reflect our new office address. We hope to be able to notify you of our business phone number, just as soon as we can acquire it.

I also want to explain that during the time of our move (from August 26th through early September) you will not be able to contact us for a few days through the Internet. In the near future, you will be able to contact us at: cog21.org. Our local “cable company” says they will need a few days to connect us by cable to the Internet. Please be patient with us during this move.

Brethren, we are living in very sobering times! I hope all of us make it a daily habit to remember Jesus Christ’s words to “Watch ye therefore, and pray always that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all of these things that shall come to pass [wars, drought and famine, pestilence, violence, persecution, etc.], and stand before the Son of man” (Luke 21:36). [Note: Recently, I read an article which mentioned that a “Christian minister” had been sent to prison because he said homosexuality was an evil abomination (Lev. 18:22; 20:13, Rom. 1:26-31)! Will some of God’s ministers later be put in prison for preaching God’s Truth from His Word, the Holy Bible?]

When we look around us, we can clearly see the unmistakable signs of a very sick world that is careening crazily toward the precipice of self-destruction! Jesus Himself said there shall be “wars and rumors of wars…. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you [true Christians] up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake…. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved…. For then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the ELECT’S sake those days shall be shortened” (Matt. 24:6-22)!

Furthermore, the Apostle Paul warned of these same terrible times. He said that “in the last days PERILOUS TIMES shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parent, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Tim. 3:1-5).

Can anyone who possesses God’s Holy Spirit deny that we have been living “in the last days” for several decades—or deny that all of the above-mentioned “evils” are steadily proliferating? Two thousand years ago, the Apostle Paul predicted that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Tim. 3:13)! Many other such predictions are found in both the Old and the New Testament concerning the corruption, violence, and “sheer evil” that would steadily increase during this terrible “time of the end.” Jesus said the end-time violence and corruption would be like it was during Noah’s time, just before God destroyed all human life on this earth, except for Noah and his wife, and Noah’s three sons and their wives (Matt. 24:38-39; Gen. 6: 1-13).

Although the earth is “filled with corruption and violence”—what about “God’s people”? Are we allowing the rotten attitudes and the corrupt, violent deeds of those of the world around us to influence us so that we become like them? The Scriptures reveal that some of God’s own “servants” will become gluttons and drunkards, just like those with whom they associate, according to Ezekiel 34:2-22; Matthew 24:48-51! Some would even “smite [their] fellow servants” (primarily by their slanderous, sharp “words” of criticism), with seemingly little or no “fear of God”!

Unfortunately, I continue to receive reports of some “Church of God” ministers ruling over God’s heritage like “dictators”—harshly treating others in God’s Church! I will here include a few comments from members of the “Churches of God,” who have written us about ministerial abuse, but I will not reveal the identity of such ministers, or of the writer of the letter. A woman member—who related numerous abusive acts by a minister toward her husband and her—wrote the following sad words, which were addressed to my wife. She said that she and her husband “worked for a minister [who called them horrible names]. Many times me and my husband were pulled in the back room by the leader, [and] were told many times about our bad attitudes and that we were basically worthless. I cried many, many times in those meetings. I also prayed to God many times on my stomach about the things that were going on. If you know my husband, he is a very kind and loving person. He is quiet and sometimes shy. This [harsh criticism by the minister] devastated my husband….

“This particular minister treated the people who gave large sums of money as royalty. He would treat the penniless with cruelty [Speaking of such ministers, Ezekiel 34:4 says, “…with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them!”]…. Things like this have made me and my husband lose faith in the ministry. Even though we believe what HWA taught, we are very, very scared of the ministry…. Me and my husband are scared of some of God’s people. We only trust people who, by THEIR FRUITS alone we trust. We trust people who are sharing what HWA taught free of charge. We know that they do not have a secret motive. We know what is in their hearts because of their fruits.”

This same member also said, “With many tears I say THANK YOU! Thank you very, very much! When we were with…a cruel [Church of God] leader, I prayed to God…many, many times, ‘If the Kingdom is like this, I don’t want any part of it.’ How very sad to pray a prayer to God like that! It will take me and my husband a long time to heal from this.”

The writer continues, “May God guide you [Mrs. McNair] and your husband to help get the Church back on track. May God guide you both to heal all wounds and teach God’s people to work together as a team…. Many times people…are looking for a minister [of God]. We do try to guide them to one.”

Another person wrote me saying, “Since Mr. Armstrong’s death, the ministry in God’s Church has become a source of division rather than unity! I hope this will not continue. As we approach the end of the age, we all need each other!” I am sorry to say that I agree with those words. Because of such continuing problems in the “Church of God,” it is past time for someone to have the courage to begin (both by example, and by honest teaching), to urge all of God’s people, but especially God’s ministers, to rule over “God’s heritage” with genuine Christ-like understanding and unfeigned charity.

In reference to one of my articles in The Journal, one writer says, “Your latest article expressed your concern about the EXCLUSIVIST [attitude] of some of those in the COG organizations…. You are right when you say it is the leaders of these organizations that continue with this false teaching, who are to blame for its continuation…. I have come to see that if their leaders would only teach the Truth about the composition of God’s Church, most of them would not be EXCLUSIVISTS! Whether your efforts to enlighten the brethren will produce fruit depends on whether one is brought to a point where he has to seriously consider the matter, which I think depends on whether God brings one to it, and two, just how converted one is.

“You stated in your article that you had been teaching ANTI-EXCLUSIVISM when you were in GCG. I know you wrote in some articles, that the Church was a SPIRITUAL ORGANISM. I was happy then when I read it, because I had come to that knowledge also.” The writer then mentions the “dictatorial reign” of a certain minister of a “Church of God”: “But when I came to realize that he [this minister] was continuing with the same dictatorial form of organization…I left. I had proved to my satisfaction [that Christ] had not given the apostles and ministry DICTATORIAL AUTHORITY over those whom the Father drew to Him, but they were to be servants….” This person then urges me to “Keep up the good work!”

Another person says that “Attitude, Attitude, Attitude” is what is really important! I now quote part of a letter which I recently sent to a man who had written me concerning various attitudes in the “Churches of God.” In my reply to his letter, I made numerous points which I wish to share with our co-laborers in God’s Work: Here are a few of the points I made:

“In your letter to me, you said, ‘I…have been tracking the various groups in search of where the ‘Truth’ and ‘Work’ may be more fully re-constituted…. I believe that God used Mr. HWA to restore the government of God to the Church as His end-time ELIJAH…. I believe one thing that the ‘Church’ desperately needs is some sort of…open dialogue…. I believe that any coming together of those (that are willing) has to be based on the pillar and ground of the Church which is the TRUTH (1 Tim. 3:15), or Doctrine, Doctrine, Doctrine!... I do pray that your labour will not be in vain.’

I then told the person, who wrote the above statements, the following: “I fully realize that my efforts in attempting to break down some of the barriers of separation, and begin building bridges between brother and brother, and between the different (corporate) Churches of God, will take a miracle! This is because far too many of today’s ministers (in the “Churches of God”) want to be with a group where they will feel “comfortable” (as a number of such ministers have freely confessed when speaking with me)—and are not concerned primarily with seeing that these two important principles or guidelines are followed: 1) We ministers must diligently strive to follow and preach the TRUTH— the TRUE DOCTRINES of the Bible. 2) And we must also be careful to lovingly ADMINISTER the affairs of God’s Church by exercising sincere, unfeigned Christ-like LOVE and INTEGRITY. And when I use the word “administer,” I refer to the way ministers treat the brethren and their fellow minister! This is the area which many have written me about, explaining ministerial abuses.

Developing good relations with the Affiliated Churches of God: I am keeping in contact with over 20 ministers, and believe that our “affiliation” is proving to be very encouraging and beneficial. I am also in contact with numerous “little flocks” (that is, “isolated groups”) who have felt impelled by circumstances to begin worshipping God as one of God’s “little flocks,” rather than worshipping with an organized church—whom they believe has serious DOCTRINAL and/or ADMINISTRATIVE problems!

I then continued to explain to the above-mentioned enquirer. “This brings us to another section of your letter that I also heartily agree with. You say: “….I would ask the question—is church government/structure the problem? Or is it not the ‘ATTITUDE’ of those who administer it? I think the details of government are quite insignificant in comparison to ATTITUDE—How does the one in leadership view himself?” [I then told the writer of the letter the following: “And, I might add to what you said, ‘How does he treat the BRETHREN and his FELLOW MINISTERS?”]

This writer also asked, “Is there real humility [on the part of the minister]?” I then said in my letter to him the following: “After quoting Mr. Armstrong’s statements regarding “church structure” and “church government,” you then say, “The plain fact of the matter is that Peter and Paul LED—how did they LEAD—what was their ATTITUDE?”

I then explained briefly to him my background in the “Church of God”: “After four years in Ambassador College, I was ordained by Mr. Armstrong as an Evangelist on February 7, 1953, I was then asked to pastor various Churches before being sent to Britain to direct the Work there, and pastor God’s sheep in that country. Later I was made Deputy Chancellor of Ambassador College in the U.K. and continued to supervise the ministry in Britain, until I was returned to the U.S. (15 years after I had been sent to Britain), and was appointed Deputy Chancellor of A.C. at Pasadena” and was later made pastor of the Pasadena AM congregation.

I further explained to this man who wrote me that I had experienced both DOCTRINAL DEVIATIONS as well as ADMINISTRATIVE ABERRATIONS in three different “Churches of God,” and in each case I felt compelled to sever my relationship with them because of serious problems in the two important areas of DOCTRINE or ADMINISTRATION—primarily by the top leaders in those “Churches of God” where I had sincerely tried to work with the leadership.

“I will skip over the many intervening years and just mention that I continued working under Mr. Armstrong from 1948 until his death in 1986. I saw by his fruits that Mr. Armstrong faithfully followed God’s Word in DOCTRINE, and also by the way he ADMINISTERED, that is, by the way he treated those in God’s Church. After Mr. Armstrong’s death in 1986, I continued in the WCG, and served God’s Church faithfully as long as it appeared that Mr. Armstrong’s successor would also faithfully follow God’s Word in DOCTRINE & ADMINISTRATION. I proved for myself (as did tens of thousands of other brethren) that the new Pastor General and the men working with him did not, in our judgment, even come close to following Mr. Armstrong in these two important areas of DOCTRINE and CHURCH ADMINISTRATION. As a result, I had no option but to leave the WCG in order to be better able to serve God, without deviating from the plain teachings of the Word of God.

I then made the following points: “Unfortunately, I have talked with numerous ministers in various “Church of God” fellowships, and they have freely confessed that their “church” was wrong in certain doctrines, or in their administration of church matters, yet they felt secure and comfortable with their particular “Church of God.” Which is more important, finding and following the Truth of God, regardless of the cost, or settling back into a ministerial position in some ‘Church of God,’ where there is security and where they can attend with a ‘good feeling’? Sadly, some brethren, and even some ministers, have been more concerned with being associated with a group that makes them “feel good” and gives them a sense of security, with their social activities—rather than fellowship with a “little flock” whose members are much more concerned about following the TRUTH—DOCTRINAL TRUTH, and ADMINISTRATIVE TRUTH and INTEGRITY!!!”

I then told the man, “I pray that you and I, and all of God’s truly converted, Spirit-filled and Spirit-led brethren will always strive to put obedience to God’s TRUTH ahead of all else. God the Father seeks sincere people who truly intend to worship Him in spirit and in Truth. Jesus said: “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the TRUE WORSHIPPERS shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is [a] SPIRIT: and they that worship Him must worship him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH” (John 4:23-24)”

Brethren, I would again sincerely urge all who profess to be true “ministers of God,” to be diligent in making certain that we do all within our power to maintain the TRUE DOCTRINES of the Bible, while also making sure that we ADMINISTER the affairs of the Church of God under our care in the spirit of TRUTH and INTEGRITY! God will hold us accountable in these important matters!

God’s ministers must “cry aloud” and never hold back when correcting a serious problem among God’s people! But any correction must always be done in true Christ-like love and humility! As an evangelist in God’s Church for over 50 years, and as one who sat at the feet of God’s Apostle, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong for nearly 40 years (just as Paul was taught by Gamaliel—Acts 22:3), and as one who takes his ministerial calling very seriously, I ask: How can I fail to “cry aloud” and “spare not” (Isa. 58:1)? When I see certain abuses/evils in the “Churches of God”—abuses that have been a great stumbling block to many of the brethren—it grieves me, and I know it pains every faithful minister of Jesus Christ. Every true minister of Christ is also called to be a “WATCHMAN” in the spiritual matters of God’s people. If any one of us, as a true Watchman, sees any “Church of God,” or any person, whether minister or layman, going astray—either in DOCTRINE, or in PRACTICE—then he must do what he can to help those who err, and try to help them get back on track before it is too late!

During my many years in Christ’s ministry, I have repeatedly been corrected by God’s Apostle, by certain evangelists, by lower-rank ministers, and even by some of the un-ordained brethren. And, even though it is never pleasant to be told that you are wrong, nonetheless, if we accept correction when it is justified, and especially when done in love by the one who is correcting us, we should learn to accept just criticism, and, hopefully, change our course—whether it be in the area of DOCTRINE or PRACTICE! Numerous proverbs of King Solomon, as well as several New Testament Scriptures, tell us that we should all be willing to accept positive criticism, and, when proven to be in error, make any needed changes. [This does not mean to imply that anyone should accept criticism/correction, especially, if he feels that the one giving such criticism is wrong and is unjustified in his criticism! Therefore, let us all strive to maintain an attitude of being willing to welcome positive, constructive criticism, while rejecting negative, destructive criticism!

Brethren, I hope all of you are having a very profitable summer, and are continually striving to faithfully follow God and His Truth in all that you think, say and do. May the Great God who gives us every breath, and every heartbeat, continue to uphold, protect and bless you, and all of His servants worldwide—in all of the “Churches of God.” Let us all remember to pray fervently for one another!