Charges of doctrinal errors, watering down of doctrines, ministerial abuse, adultery, stealing tithes, etc. have swirled around the one and only 'true' church. Books have been published, and stories written. The church grapevine carried some of the stories.
But none of these 'crisis' situations made much of a difference other than in the local area the crisis happened, or in Pasadena where members were always being blow about by endless controversy and change.
Time magazine articles and even an investigation by the State of California did not seem to deal any death blows. In fact, many times it strengthened the church. PERSECUTION was the battle cry and the members put on their armor. They mortgaged homes, denied themselves of frivolities (food, health care, cars, dentists) and pumped the money into Pasadena. All to the glory of God.
Then some demon inspired person at Apple went and developed a personal computer. Then Bill Gates (aka SATAN) went to town. Legion was loosed upon the world!
The personal computer and Internet age hit at an ideal time. Armstrong had died, new leaders were changing things. The Internet was abuzz. For the first the church had no control. As hard as they tried with veiled threats and outright disfellowshipment, they still could not stop information from flowing.
The Internet was largely responsible for the dissolution of the Worldwide Church of God into hundreds of splinter cults trying to maintain 'the truth once restored.'
Not a single splinter group has been effective in ministry since HWA departed to the hills of Altadena.. All the boasting, opulent buildings, 'colleges/universities', have essentially made ZERO impact on the world. Billions of people are in the world and some stupid little group in Edmond or South Carolina suddenly think they are the most magnificent end time work ever. EVER!
COGdom has always believed that the Holy Roman Empire, through the Roman Catholic Church, would be the persecutor of the church. It has not been the case. The Internet is destroying the 700 some Armstrongite personality cults of Armstrongism.
Sure, the various COG's use the Internet as their main door to the world. But too many of them are scared of the Internet for their membership. Flurry and Pack have laid down imperial edicts that their members are not to use various aspects of the Internet..
The Internet helped bring down the Worldwide Church of God. The Internet is currently helping bring about the breakup of UCG. Ultimately it will help bring down the Philadelphia Church of God, Living Church of God and the myriads of other silly little COGlets around the world.
What a great day they will ultimately be!
