Schism: The Human Failure to Remain United

The Human Failure to Remain United

Jesus said that he and the Father are one (John 10:30). Later, he said: "My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory. Now I am departing from the world; they are staying in this world, but I am coming to you. Holy Father, you have given me your name; now protect them by the power of your name so that they will be united just as we are." (John 17:9-11, NLT) He continued: “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!" (John 17:22-24, NLT) Hence, we can see that Christ clearly intended for his disciples to remain united.

Moreover, Scripture makes very clear that this is exactly where the Church began. Indeed, when the disciples came together after Christ's resurrection, we read: "When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place." (Acts 2:1, ESV) And, after Peter delivered his sermon, we read: "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." (Acts 2:42-47, ESV)

Unfortunately, people being people, things fell apart rather quickly. In the fifteenth chapter of Acts, we are informed that a dispute arose among the believers about whether or not Gentile Christians were obligated to observe the commandments of Torah. Moreover, although all of the apostles came to an agreement that Gentiles were NOT going to be required to observe the tenets of the Old Covenant, the other writings of the New Testament make clear that the issue continued to be a source of contention and division among the saints (see Romans and Galatians).

In Paul's first epistle to the saints of Corinth, we also see that cults of personality began to develop within that congregation. In other words, the saints began to identify more with a particular leader in the early Church and began to form groups within the congregation based on their allegiance to a particular leader. Paul wrote: "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, 'I follow Paul,' or 'I follow Apollos,' or 'I follow Cephas,' or 'I follow Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" (I Corinthians 1:10-13, ESV) For Paul, this divisiveness at Corinth was plainly NOT a positive development. On the contrary, he implored them to eradicate this behavior from their midst!

Paul went on to compare the ekklesia to a human body. He wrote: "The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, 'I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,' that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, 'I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,' would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, 'I don’t need you.' The head can’t say to the feet, 'I don’t need you.' In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it." (I Corinthians 12:12-27, NLT) Clearly, for Paul, the body needed ALL of its parts working together for the common good!

Indeed, this was a common theme throughout the writings we have from the Apostle Paul. He wrote to the Christians at Ephesus to "“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3) Does that mean that unity requires effort? Paul went on to tell them that perfect unity was a goal that everyone should strive to achieve (Ephesians 4:13). Likewise, he wrote to the saints at Rome to "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.” (Romans 12:16) He also wrote to the Christians at Philippi that they should "make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2) Paul told the Jewish and Gentile saints of Galatia that they had been made into one people in Christ (Galatians 3:28). Finally, in his second epistle to the Christians of Corinth, the apostle urged them to "Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.” (II Corinthians 13:11)

We should also note that this notion of unity is completely consistent with Christ's expectations of his disciples. In the Gospel of John, we read that Jesus told his disciples: “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other." (John 15:9-17, NLT) In fact, just prior to this discourse, Jesus had told his disciples that their love for each other would identify them to the world as his disciples! (John 13:35)

This is the sentiment that ALL of Christ's apostles echoed in their teachings. Peter wrote: "Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” (I Peter 3:8) John wrote: "If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (I John 4:12) The anonymous author of the epistle to the Hebrews wrote: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) Likewise, James wrote to his readers that pure religion was to be found in taking care of those among them who were in need (James 1:27). He continued: “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right.” (James 2:8) He also went on to say: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16) In other words, God expected his saints to love each other and to live in unity and peace with each other.

Nevertheless, as we have already seen, the saints didn't waste any time in turning their backs on the unity and love which Christ and his apostles had demanded of them. Differences of opinion became grounds to exclude and shun each other. Once again, James laid his finger on the problem. He wrote: "What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world." (James 4:1-8, NLT) Clearly, for James, the source of the division was human nature, NOT God!

This history of bickering and division has continued up to the present day - encompassing the entire two-thousand-year existence of the Christian Church. Over those centuries, there have been a number of heresies, opposing centers of power, church councils, and wars fought in the name of Christ and his Church. Like the Roman Empire itself, the Christian Church developed into a Western and Eastern tradition. The Western tradition centered on Rome, its bishop, and Latin. Likewise, the Eastern tradition centered on Constantinople, its patriarch, and Greek. (Now, while these designations are useful to us, it should be noted that they constitute an oversimplification of a more complex picture of East and West.) At any rate, these two halves of the Church coexisted for many centuries, and both regarded each other as constituting part of the Body of Christ. In 1054, however, theological and political differences resulted in both sides excommunicating each other, and the "Universal" was engulfed in the Great Schism - a division which has never been healed.

Later, in 1517, Martin Luther nailed his famous/infamous Ninety-five Theses to a church door in Germany, and the Protestant Reformation began. Then, over the next five hundred years, the Protestant Church divided into hundreds of different churches/sects/denominations. Among them, a group of Sabbath-keeping Christians emerged and were eventually known as Seventh-Day Baptists. A little later, one of the Millerite groups adopted sabbath-keeping and promptly divided into Seventh-Day Adventists, and the Church of God Seventh Day (which itself divided into two groups). Then, in the Twentieth-Century, a man named Herbert Armstrong broke away from one of the Church of God Seventh Day organizations and founded his own "Radio Church of God." Later, he changed the name to the "Worldwide Church of God" and ruled that organization until his death in 1986. After his death, the Worldwide Church disintegrated into a number of splinter groups, which have continued to splinter into smaller and smaller grouping ever since. One of these groups, the "Church of God International" has itself divided a number of times over the years. The most recent schism being Pastor Bill Watson of Medina, Ohio's declaration of independence from that group's Tyler, Texas headquarters.

What is the point of all of these Scriptural passages and history? That division is NOT of God! It is born of humans who have refused to follow Christ's commandments and teachings! In other words, division is ALWAYS born of SIN! Division is NOT consistent with Love. It is born of impatience, jealousy, anger, ego/pride, rudeness, unkindness, irritability, giving up, faithlessness, hopelessness, and a distinct lack of forgiveness (see I Corinthians 13:4-7). Schism within the body of Christ is also indicative of individuals who are NOT living according to the beatitudes outlined in Christ's Sermon on the Mount (see Matthew 5:3-10). In schism, we don't usually find much evidence of humility, hungering for righteousness, mercy, pure hearts, or workers for peace! Hence, we are forced to conclude that ALL schism is born of sin and is INCONSISTENT with Christ's commandment to love each other, and to help each other survive the pitfalls and suffering of this present world! In short, schism CANNOT be justified. None of the excuses offered by those who engage in the practice are ever sufficient to justify it! What do you think?

Miller Jones/Lonnie C Hendrix 

Crackpot Bob, Aliens and Demons

 

Behold! God's gift to the universe is also apparently an authority on aliens and demons. Demons? Sure, we're practically guaranteed those little darlings work intimately with the Great Bwana. Aliens? Eh, not so much—because who needs evidence when you've got divine vibes?

Never has the church been blessed with such an astonishing prophet, one who simply must shove his nose into every single trivial matter of daily life, the latest headlines, or the delirious ramblings of people's addled brains. Not once bothering to emulate a genuine prophet of God—y'know, by following those quaint biblical examples from prophets of yore—our omniscient overlord instead graces us with deep dives into topics nobody asked for or gives a flying saucer about, especially not actual Christians. Why bother teaching his flock how to follow The Way when you can dazzle them with pointless scraps of speculative drivel? Clearly, this genius-level idiocy always outshines the Gospel message when it comes to Bwana Bob.

Is it an Alien or is it a Demon?

In late October 2025, 3I/ATLAS came near the sun! Is it an Alien? Is it a Demon? A Harvard astronomer suggested that it was “an ‘Alien Mothership.’ Many people are convinced Earth has been visited by aliens from outer space. More Americans believe in aliens than in Jesus. Several people even claimed to be abducted by aliens. Other people say that, despite looking, scientists have not ever been able to locate space aliens and that every claimed alien sighting can be explained by a physical phenomenon. Tucker Carlson believes so-called alien spaceships are piloted by demons. Are there really demons? Well, God warns us about them in the Bible. Is it possible that all the accurate claims of an alien sighting are really manifestations of demons? What about poltergeists and apparitions? Did a demon visit Fatima, Portugal numerous times in 1917? Should we believe something that appears to be an angel if it supports a false gospel? According to the Book of Revelation, will demon sightings become more frequent? Is deception the purpose of these manifestations? Are verifiable signs and lying wonders prophesied to deceive? The answers to the questions of demonic deception are found in the pages of your Bible. Dr. Thiel uses the Bible to address the subject of demonic deception. He shines the light of Bible prophecy on the purpose of these deceptions and provides a way for you and me to avoid the deception of Satan and his lying spirits.

After Creating A New COG Entity To Collect Money, Samuel Kitchen Gets Smacked Down By His Brother For Rebellion

Timothy Kitchen has come out swinging after his brother, Samuel, established a new upstart COG group to collect the money of followers, though that number can be counted on one hand, at most two.

Timothy writes:

"God’s Government Is Not Established by Self-Appointment"

A Loving Admonition to Repent and Return to God’s Way

Dear Samuel W Kitchen,

God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). He never leaves the order of His Church to human reasoning or personal zeal. When a man—however sincere—claims to “establish” or “restore” something God has already set in place through His apostle, without the laying on of hands or the authority of God’s government, he places himself outside of that government.

Christ Built His Church Through His Apostle

Jesus Christ Himself said, “I will build My Church” (Matthew 16:18). The Scriptures show that He builds and governs it through the men He chooses and ordains. “No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron” (Hebrews 5:4).

Herbert W. Armstrong was chosen and ordained by the living Christ to raise up the Philadelphia era of God’s Church. Through him, God restored all foundational truths, the proper order of Church government, and the support structure of the Work. Mr. Armstrong never claimed to have “established” the Church himself. He repeatedly emphasized that Jesus Christ is the Head, and the Work was Christ’s—not man’s.

Therefore, when someone says, “I felt moved to establish the support services of the Worldwide Church of God,” he directly contradicts the pattern Christ Himself set. The spiritual candlestick was raised up once through Christ’s chosen servant—Herbert W. Armstrong—not through unordained human initiative.

Ouch! That butthurt can be felt all the way here in Pasadena! 

A Spiritual Organism Does Not Need Human Re-Establishment

It is true that God’s Church is a spiritual organism. But that does not mean every zealous individual can start functioning as part of its administrative structure. A spiritual organism functions according to spiritual government—Christ working through rank and order (Ephesians 4:11-13).

When a man says he is “manning the support structure” or “establishing support services,” he assumes an authority that belongs only to those Christ appoints. Without the laying on of hands by one already ordained within God’s government, there is no divine commissioning. Even Jesus Christ Himself waited to be anointed and sent by the Father before beginning His ministry (Luke 4:18).

The Role of the Unordained

There is a right way for an unordained man to serve. Every member is called to support the Work—not to lead it. Romans 12:4-8 and 1 Corinthians 12 describe the many functions in the Body. Each must remain within the office or measure God assigns. To act outside that measure is rebellion against divine order.

A faithful unordained man can:

Pray for the Work.

Support it financially and physically.

Study and grow in grace and knowledge.

Prepare himself humbly, should God one day choose to use him in a greater role.

But he cannot “re-establish” or “ignite” a candlestick. That is Christ’s work alone. Revelation 2:5 shows that only Christ can remove or restore a candlestick, for He walks among them.

Why Christ’s Government Matters

When anyone bypasses that government, he repeats the sin of Korah (Numbers 16), who said, “All the congregation are holy,” and presumed to take the priesthood upon himself. God’s swift judgment proved His government was not a democracy or personal feeling—it was a divine chain of authority.

Herbert W. Armstrong repeatedly warned that government is everything. It is the very test of whom we will obey—God or ourselves. To claim a divine commission without ordination is to reject the very government Christ restored through His apostle.

An Admonition to Repent

Brother, you say, “I may be a singular man, but with brethren supporting me, I can get the job done.” Yet Christ’s Work is not a human project. It is a divine commission, carried out by His chosen and ordained servants.

Your zeal could be commendable if it were properly directed under God’s order. But as it stands, your words show self-appointment, not divine appointment. You confess you are not ordained—and that confession reveals the need for repentance, humility, and submission to God’s government.

Self-appointment, not by divine appointment, is how every single COG has been started. None of them has had a divine appointment, but rather emerged as vanity projects for self-absorbed individuals seeking to protect their status. 

Repent—not of zeal—but of presumption. Seek out Christ’s true ministers, those continuing the Work under the government Christ set through Herbert W. Armstrong. Support them, not yourself. That is how one truly supports the Worldwide Church of God as a spiritual organism.

Remember Christ’s own warning: “Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” (Matthew 15:13).

---

Conclusion

The Philadelphia candlestick still burns—not because men proclaim it, but because Christ sustains it through His ordained ministry and faithful people. No man, unordained or otherwise, can “re-ignite” what Christ Himself maintains.

The call now is to humility, correction, and true service under God’s government. Only then can any man say he is truly supporting the Work Christ established—not building another.

“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls…” — Hebrews 13:17

Why Do COG Cult Leaders Brag That God Took Their Wives Away So That They Could Focus Upon The Work?

Oh, what a profoundly inspirational spectacle it was, all of us glued to our seats in rapt adoration as the magnificent Herbert Armstrong babbled endlessly after his poor wife's oh-so-convenient exit from this mortal coil. Eagerly hanging on every word as he smugly announced that the Almighty Himself had snatched her away, all for the noble purpose of letting Herb hyper-focus on his oh-so-vital "work"? There we were, brilliant as a herd of enlightened lambs, nodding along like this was the pinnacle of divine logic, straight from the heavens. The hilariously overlooked reality? Good ol' Herb couldn't be bothered to greenlight a basic, no-brainer procedure to unclog her bowels and save her life. But wait, there's more genius: he pirouettes like a pro and slaps the blame for her demise—and those stubbornly blocked innards—right onto us, the hapless church peons. The whole congregation was mired in glorious stagnation, rotting away like yesterday's compost, and naturally, it was entirely our brilliant fault. Bravo!

And lo and behold, stepping into the spotlight as the self-crowned kingpin of Herb's laughably majestic empire is none other than Gerald Flurry, yet another delightfully deranged pint-sized despot, eternally overinflating his ego with bombast and fake machismo to distract from his... adorably compact frame. After graciously allowing his first wife to wither and expire sans any real medical intervention, he too trots out the divine alibi: his all-merciful god mercifully bumped her off so he could sharpen his laser-like devotion to "the work." How utterly original!

Even the incomparable Dave Pack hopped aboard this oh-so-crucial apostolic thought train, snatching up a second wife for himself—who, by pure divine coincidence, just happened to be the nurse caring for his first wife—all to supercharge his utterly mind-boggling preparations for Jesus's glorious return to the sacred hotspot of Wadsworth, Ohio. So far, he hasn't summoned the holy guts to unceremoniously dump her like the rest of these spiritual superstars.

These paragons of humility and self-sacrifice—bless their narcissistic hearts—each proceeded to lasso in spry young brides, spinning it to the flock as an absolute necessity for propping up their earth-shattering, awe-inducing ministries with some fresh-faced vigor. Then, in a plot twist so predictable it hurts, each dumps his perky partner like yesterday's news and declares with pious flair that singleton status is the only way to truly crush it for the cause. Church of God faithful? Oh, what razor-sharp visionaries we are—veritable geniuses of discernment, or should I say, the fluffiest, most bamboozle-prone flock of dimwitted sheep to ever grace a pasture!

Exit and Support Network has this:

Members Forget What GF Said After His First Wife Died:
November 7, 2025 

 

This letter is in regards to Gerald Flurry’s second wife leaving him. 

 

The PCG is, and always has been, about a man. 

 

However, much like the liberals that they excoriate all the time, PCG members have a short memory. I know because I used to be one. 

 

I can clearly remember when Gerald Flurry said from the pulpit, shortly after his wife, Barbara, died, [September 5, 2004] “Brethren, I believe God took my wife away so that I can focus on the Work.” Likely, none of them remembered that when he took his now-ex, second wife. 

 

You can bet that the PCG is sparing no expense for Flurry’s medical care, likely administered privately at home without much fanfare. Meanwhile, “church” doctrine and counseling for members is to trust God to heal and eschew medical care. 

 

PCG members will have to do some deep reflection when Flurry dies. Their firmly held convictions about Flurry’s role and self-proclaimed offices will all vanish in the wind, just like Stephen Flurry’s high-pitched voice. –Former PCG member [Note by ESN: Read 6-11-20 letter: “Stephen Flurry’s Voice Bombards Your Senses.”] 

 

HWA Likewise Said He Could Focus More on the Work
November 8, 2025 

 

Regarding the previous letter. HWA likewise wrote that he later came to realize that one reason Loma died and was not healed [she died April 15, 1967] was so he “could focus more on the Work.” I wasn’t a member yet but receiving all the co-worker letters, Plain Truth, and other literature. I don’t remember which it was in, but I clearly remember standing in my living room reading those words that Loma didn’t like to fly and he would have to do a lot of flying now because of new radio doors opening up overseas. –[name withheld]