Continuing with our series on Debunking “False Prophet” Myths, we move on to the next one:
“False Prophet” Myth #2:
Ronald Weinland is a false prophet because his church demands tithing.
If you’ve had the unfortunate experience of traveling to one of the many Weinland-hate sites out there, you’ll see one of their oft-repeated talking points is that “Ronald Weinland’s a con artist!”. They’ll accuse him of scaring people into giving their money to him.
According to their accusing fingers, his church doesn’t practice tithing because it’s based on the biblical system found in Leviticus. In their bitter eyes, he’s just a con man in it for the money.
The feebly slim foundation they rest this hypothesis on is because Weinland says Gods Spirit can only indwell you if you’ve been baptized. And you can only be baptized by his church if you start tithing to it.
And yet, it makes perfect sense. Their tithing system screens out those who aren’t genuinely interested in becoming part of their church, and makes sure those who do join practice what they preach by contributing.
And yet the Weinland-haters will point and say, “Well, look! He doesn’t account to anyone! He can do whatever he wants with that money!”
Well…yeah. Think about it. If Ronald Weinland truly is God’s representative on Earth, who are you to ask for an accounting of your tithes? Who are you to say to God’s minister, “Can I see a detailed report of where exactly my tithes are being spent?” It’s ludicrous and distrusting.
If you don’t trust the pastor, why are you even in the church?
I’ve heard him say many times in sermons that he will spend the tithes as he sees fit. Now, if his own congregation doesn’t have a problem with it, why do the Weinland-haters? They simply hate him and want to attack him for any reason.
But let’s consider their argument for one, brief ludicrous second. Let’s say it truly is a scam, and Ronald Weinland doesn’t mean a word he says. Let’s say Weinland is just trying to scare people into joining his church and giving him their money. Let’s say Weinland is then planning on taking off with the people’s money when his predictions don’t come to pass. Let’s say that were all true.
If it were, would he:
- Make a detailed prediction like “There won’t be a president in 2009″?
- Predict a nuclear attack by fall of 2008?
- Make extremely detailed predictions regarding geopolitical moves by Europe, China, and Russia?
- Leave such a short window of time to gather money?
- Spend so much money on Google Ads if he knows they’re a waste of time?
Of course not. A true con man never makes detailed predictions; he leaves them vague so he can change them afterwards. If this really is a con, why would Ronald Weinland write two books on the subject, 5 years ahead of time, and then spend his own money manufacturing them and shipping them for free? He doesn’t charge a dime for his books.
It’s stupid and ludicrous. The bitter, frothing-at-the-mouth lunatic anti-Weinland people want you to mistrust him. They want to destroy Weinland’s credibility in your eyes. They want you to doubt him. For reasons personal to them, they do not want you to believe a word Ronald Weinland says.
And the sad part of it all is, they hurt their own cause. If they actually worked at creating logical, intelligent arguments against him, I would be the first to acknowledge them. Instead, they come off as frustrated buffoons, flailing and desperate for anyone to believe them.
Good points, Citizen X.
I’ve already told you that I am a baptized member, since last year, yet do not pay tithe – not required to, as I earn no income, but subsist off social security and insurance annuity payments.
Thank you for your debunking the myth.
Nice article.
I can also point out that RW was a paster before he was a Prophet, so he would be more profitable if he just stayed a paster. My second point is that he adds nothing to the Bible (nor takes away). Is he asking for something that isn’t commanded to God’s people. And it is not easy to be a member of The Church of God. You can’t work on Sabbaths, weekly or annually to start with. In addition to other hoops you have to jump through. I don’t think anyone would do all these things if they didn’t really believe. If he was a con artist wouldn’t it be smarter to just let anyone join to get more tithes.
In addition anyone who listens to his sermons would know that he does believe he is who he says he is. He is a man of great integrity.
Lastly, I do think his is far from the only Church that requires Tithes. Could they write articles about all these other churches also.
not long to go now
I cannot wait!!! The excitement is crippiling some days. I just want to shout it from the roof tops so that everyone can know the good news, but then I remember that this is not good news to them.
I’ve withheld using the word “excitement” but for me it is a sort of excitement mixed with fear. I get excited at least for my family to see that what I have been talking about is true so that they can start there journey towards truth. I’m am afraid that even this is not enough for some of them with their proud hearts and they will die denying that God cares about what they do and how they live and even worship him.
Truthseeker,
That is exactly how I am feeling too. I am alittle worried that my family might turn out to have stuborn heart’s.
As I believe that once the nuclear attacks happen they would be shaken too their cores and then I could pass on what it is I have learnt.
But I understand that that might just not happen and I must prepare myself.
They are not very prideful but seem to be more of someone trying to avoid the truth.
So I just pray that a attack like that on the U.S.A would force them to face some truths, that I shall give them.
I have not tried up until now, as Mr RW is 100% right in the fact we cannot give this understanding to another. Only God. So I just pray and wait for someone to ask me a question.
I know what you mean. I still pray for humility for them. But where I live, I felt I should speak. My two daughters, 23 & 24, may have hope. I’ve told one, IF something happens this weekend, she & her husband should high-tail it to her in-laws’ basement. The other daughter, by a miracle I’m sure, is headed towards central PA & southwestern NY state this weekend with her husband & her daughter that is not normally with her. Since all of us live near several port cities, and none of us has basements, this should be good. Neither are believers yet, but do not attend any church, etc. My parents, on the other hand, go to church every Sunday, AND, my father is a minister in their church. I used to think my dad was the nicest, friendliest, smartest person I knew. I totally understand, now, why my mother is so sickly, and why so many of his relatives killed themselves (they were mormons). My father told me, with fake humility, that they would continue going to church on Sunday. This, despite his having read both books as well as Armstrong’s Sabbath article, and my saying that Sunday worship was every bit as bad as not worshipping on Sunday. They don’t have a basement either, but God will save them if they’re going to change.
Worrying for our kids is the worst part. I wish I would have had them in 5 years but it is what it is and there is purpose in everything.
I’ll pray for your family Sisterri. I guess you were Mormon all your life. What did you think about what they teach? I studied them independently as I could without getting too close mostly out of curiosity. Very interesting, and very far off. That’s all I’ll say about that.
I live on the other side of PA near Pittsburgh. I’m wondering which way the wind will be blowing this weekend.
i realize no matter how much preparing and storeing of herbs and radiation detoxes, if gods grace is not with me then wheather im in ny or pa it dosnt matter. i sent gods final witness to a friend and without them knowing it was i who sent it they gave it back to me. in front of a bunch of people i was mad fun of. i dont get mad anymore because god gives me the words to say that would try to open there hearts. i say to myself that it will all be ok cause we all will have to make a desision one day, weather to be to be with the lord or not. i hear so many theries and sarcassims everytime i speak of jesus or god, but one coment that came from someone i loved today broke my heart. he said ” i dont want anything to do with a god that would let all this happen” of course i repeated for the thousenth time that it is man doing it to himself, but he is so closed. of course we worry about or children but my 14 year old is so caught up in this culture ( not so great paarenting on my part) that i know drastic changes need to be made.
i fall asleep sometimes listening to rons sermons, his voice is so soothing and his words so refreshing. i would love to meet him and become part of his church. i live in queens and there arent any churches here that i know of that preach the bible. i also cant wait till his wife starts her thing cause im assuming shes goin to make a grand impression.
ron speaks of nothing but the truth and the same spirit that killed jesus is what we see when people bash ron.
i belive stuff is getting ready to hit the fan, and if it dosnt, i will just thank god for another day i hear these beautiful birds sing. god bless everyone. heres a podcast i listened to that anyone can google and will find interesting.
STEVE QUAYLE C2C INTERVIEW CURRENT EVENTS 5-17-08 (TFW
Hi Rachel, sorry to hear about your friend. When something like that happens to me it helps me to read or remember different scriptures that warns that this will happen to God’s chosen people. And really people just can’t understand if it is not given to them. A year and a half ago I would have said the same thing your other friend said. It just is not given or natural. Satan gives us what is natural to man, that’s why we choose his way unless we are called.
I fall asleep listening to his sermon too, and his sermons are like a foundation to me. If I’m feeling all alone in the world, they help me.
If you haven’t yet, I would recommend finding the requirements and doing the so that you may become part of the body if possible. You need to be baptized to have the Holy Spirit dwell in you. Now you have the Holy Spirit guiding you. I didn’t think that there would be a difference but there is. God will work with you directly in an indescribable way.
I stopped talking to most people about the truth unless they ask or say the right things.
The funny thing, truthseeker, is that I never considered myself Mormon. When I was growing up, in the “Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,” I was taught that we were not Mormon in the Utah sense (polygamy). But you know it really makes no difference whether I was Mormon, Baptist, Catholic, Islam, whatever – they’re all wrong. I’ve always thought Mormon ideas pretty strange. I just didn’t realize that the RLDS/Community of Christ church is so much like protestant churches, and therefore Catholic. About the only truth I can still accept is the idea of separation between the father & the son.
We’re all okay. I appreciate prayers. And, currently, we’re too far apart to meet, but perhaps when the nukes hit, I’ll go to my in-laws near Jamestown, NY??
I almost every night fall asleep listening to Ron. I even confessed one time that I went to bed with Laura’s husband. We laughed, because I wasn’t the only one.
Going to bed with my mp3 player saves me incredibly as far as hot flashes or pain in my arm is concerned – when I hear Ron, I’m comforted and go back to sleep.
I’m looking forward to Laura talking, too. I wouldn’t be surprised if it had to do with women and children and how we should be more responsible with our families, too.
Rachel, I, too, am sorry about what you had to go through. Rejection is frustrating – but it makes it so much better when you aren’t rejected!! I’m not sure what our responsibility is – I think it is to wait for others to ask us. If you’re not part of the church, yet, I can tell you there are members in the NYC area, now.
If you haven’t done so, check out http://www.cog-pkg.org/faq/, it’ll tell you what you need to do next.
I felt bad after writing about the Mormons. Not only are all religions wrong but they are also demonic at their core. I know, I studied a lot/most. I’m just glad that God has revealed the truth to me now.
I have been a christian for a long time (43yrs) have a solid foundation in the word so I do comment on the fact that
Jesus says anyone who preaches in my name is fore me and not against me it is God that truely judges anyone’s true motives… The Church in it’s self has lost the true meaning of the sermon on the mount….. or actually hasn’t understood the concepts…….. Jesus came to save sinners…we all are……and are set free by his sacrifice….also Jesus says “he would not that anyone perish or be lost” and everyone has the choice to accept him. Man is in himself a selfish breed and hard hearted.
Jesus also hasn’t come to bring peace but a sword read Matthew this would certainly mean end time events.