Galatians – A Powerful Warning Against Legalism and Returning to Shadows

Galatians – A Powerful Warning Against Legalism and Returning to Shadows

The book of Galatians provides one of the strongest New Testament parallels to the error of imposing Old Covenant practices like mandatory seventh-day Sabbath keeping on New Covenant believers. Paul wrote it to confront “Judaizers” who taught that Gentile Christians must observe the Mosaic Law (including circumcision, festivals, and holy days) to be truly accepted by God.

Key passages that directly apply:

Galatians 4:9–10

But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!

Paul equates turning back to mandatory observance of days (including Sabbaths) with returning to spiritual slavery under “weak and miserable forces.” This is a direct rebuke of any system that makes Old Covenant calendar-keeping a requirement for Christians.

Galatians 5:1–4

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery… You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Making Sabbath observance (or any Old Covenant sign) a “test commandment” for salvation, fellowship, or future inheritance is precisely the kind of legalism Paul condemns. It shifts trust from Christ’s finished work to human performance.

Galatians 3:24–25 The law (including the Sabbath command) was a guardian or tutor to lead us to Christ. “Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.” 

 

Galatians shows that legalism is not just a minor doctrinal difference — it is a different gospel (Gal. 1:6–9) that nullifies grace and severs people from Christ. 

Hebrews 3–4 develops a sustained argument that the ultimate “rest” God offers is far greater than the weekly Sabbath or even the physical Promised Land 

Hebrews 4 – The Spiritual “Sabbath Rest” Fulfilled in Christ — a present reality of resting from our own works by faith in Christ. God’s own rest began after creation (Heb. 4:4). 

 

Colossians 2:16–17 – Shadows vs. Substance … weekly Sabbath explicitly called a shadow; do not let anyone judge you by it. 

 

Romans 14:5–6 – Liberty Over Disputable Matters … days are matters of conscience, not grounds for judgment.

Israel under Joshua never fully entered that rest because of unbelief.
Therefore, “there remains a Sabbath-rest [sabbatismos] for the people of God” (Heb. 4:9).

This sabbatismos is not another weekly ritual but a permanent state of rest: “For anyone who has entered God’s rest also rests from their own works, just as God did from his” (Heb. 4:10). It is the present spiritual reality of ceasing from self-justifying efforts and trusting completely in Christ’s finished work. Believers enter this rest the moment they believe.

Colossians 2:16–17 – Shadows vs. Substance

7Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” (Col. 2:16–17)

The weekly Sabbath is explicitly listed among the Old Covenant shadows. Once the substance (Christ) has come, believers are not to let anyone judge them regarding these days.

Romans 14:5–6 – Liberty Over Disputable Matters

The apostle Paul applies this same principle practically in the church:

8One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.”

Galatians – The Danger of Legalism

Paul warns that returning to mandatory observance of days is a return to slavery and a fall from grace. Any teaching that makes Sabbath-keeping a test of righteousness or a requirement for salvation mirrors the exact error he confronted in the early church.

Grace, Not Legalism — The True Sabbath Rest of the New Covenant

The New Covenant does not abolish the principle of Sabbath rest; it fulfills and elevates it entirely in Christ. The weekly seventh-day observance was always a temporary shadow — a gracious tutor meant to lead God’s people to the greater reality of ceasing from all self-reliant works and resting wholly in the finished, once-for-all work of Jesus (Hebrews 4:9–10; Colossians 2:16–17; Romans 14:5–6).

Hebrews 4 reveals this rest as a present spiritual reality that every believer enters the moment they trust Christ alone. Colossians 2 declares the old shadows obsolete. Romans 14 treats observance of days as a disputable matter of Christian liberty. Galatians powerfully warns that imposing such days as a requirement is a return to slavery and a fall from grace (Galatians 4:9–10; 5:1–4).

Armstrongism’s insistence that seventh-day Sabbath keeping remains a binding “test commandment” for Christians today — and will be strictly enforced in the Kingdom — is a serious theological error that parallels the legalism Paul confronted in Galatians. By making a specific day a requirement for acceptance with God or for future salvation, it:

• Confuses the shadow with the substance, living as though Christ’s finished work never fully arrived.
• Undermines the glorious superiority of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:6–13), which operates by better promises, a better High Priest, and the law written on the heart rather than external rituals.
• Reimposes the very legalism the apostles decisively rejected (Acts 15; Galatians 1–5; Colossians 2:20–23; Romans 14). Turning any Old Covenant sign into a test of righteousness directly contradicts justification by grace through faith alone and risks alienating people from Christ.
• Diminishes the liberating power of the gospel, exchanging the rest we receive as a free gift for a system of ongoing performance, fear, judgment of others, and division.

In the coming Kingdom and the eternal state, the focus will not be a return to Mosaic calendar-keeping, but unhindered worship of the Lamb in the fullness of His glory (Revelation 21–22). The ultimate Sabbath will be perfect, unending rest — not because we keep a day perfectly, but because we are perfectly kept by grace in the presence of our Savior. The “rest” will be complete — no more sin, no more curse, no more striving. Every day will be a Sabbath in the fullest sense because we will forever rest in the presence of the One who is our Sabbath.

This is the heart of the New Covenant: we do not earn rest through commandment-keeping; we enter rest by grace through faith. Jesus’ invitation remains open to every weary soul:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me… and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28–29)

That is the true Sabbath rest of the New Covenant — and it is infinitely better than any weekly ritual could ever be.

Silent Pilgrim

God’s Most Highly Favored Crackpot Prophet Gets Secretly Juju’d by His Own African ‘Ministers’ — But Don’t Worry, the Pictures Prove Everything’s Fine!

 

God's most highly favored crackpot prophet popped his little cork again the other day. His delicate feelings got bruised by a comment on Banned by HWA, and now he's in full damage-control mode. Everything said about his charming naivety (or willful blindness) regarding what his African followers are actually up to has left a lot of people scratching their heads in confusion.

Because naturally, when someone dares point out the obvious, the solution is to fire off an urgent email to his most “truthful” acolyte in Africa for the official party line. After all, we’re all expected to swallow the words of a man living thousands of miles away as gospel truth — while even God’s most highly favored self-appointed prophet, who only lives a few hundred miles away, can’t be trusted to get his own story straight.

The comment in question:

05/23/26 a.m. I shared an anti-CCOG comment made yesterday at the Banned by HWA site with CCOG Malawian pastor Radson Mulozowa today. He responded with: Don't worry with these messages am going to finish hope of Israel as today Likhuva was in Salima to welcome brethren there who wants to be part of us They are crying because mulanje was the center of hope of Israel and once they have left everything is down completely 

 

My humble request is let us pray and support these so that we can finish everything in hope of Israel

This is just a beginning of disaster because it's the brethren who needs the truth

Forget about those letters

Best regards

Radson 

Rumors and tales that the CCOG is falling apart in Malawi are false, you see. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

How delightfully transparent. While Bob publicly insists his organization is thriving and stable, his own hand-picked pastor is openly celebrating “finishing” a rival group (Hope of Israel), poaching members, and declaring it “the beginning of disaster” for them.

But the real fireworks came from this letter — the one that apparently sent Dr. Prophet Bob into full meltdown mode:

Dr Pastor Bob Thiel doesn't know what is truly going on in Malawi. He has and is in a state of confusion. There is no CCOG in Malawi, it only exists on paper and fake pictures. Where are all these thousands Radson Mulowzoa and Evans Ocheing claim are in CCOG? Dr Bob we now believe has been under charms from Radson Mulowzoa and Mr Evans. We have seen this in Malawi, that when people are under charms they do and act in confusion. It has now been confirmed that Hope of Israel leadership in Mulanji district were met by Radson Mulowzoa, John Machemba, and Louis Wahela. This meeting simply was to take leadership and members away from Hope of Israel, through bribes and promises of big monies. Hope of Israel rejected Mulowzoa's offer. Radson Mulowzoa is desperate to show Bob something. When Bob gave Evans Ocheing well over 2000 USA funds to visit Malawi weeks back, why just take pictures with these Hope of Israel members. Would not you go there and visit with some of your big Congregations? Bob says a picture is worth a thousand words, yet can't Dr Bob discern the look on Priscilla's face, surely she is not happy. In Talking with her, she has said that Mr Evans invited her to that meeting and said she should go back to Radson and that the CCOG is dead in Malawi. She told Evans she can't and won't go back with Radson. Mr Evans than gave her a very expensive phone as a gift and also John Machemba and Louis Wahela were given Phones and large amounts of money. It has also been confirmed Radson was threatening to take the Phone away as Priscilla won't give in to Radsons demands of reconciliation. One might ask if according to Bob Thiel a Picture is worth a thousand words, why does Dr Bob reject the photo of Radson Mulowzoa and Patricia Sambani in a love embrace? Why does Dr Bob reject Video testament of Radsons Adultery? Why does Dr Bob reject Louis Wahela's video testament claims of Women and Witchdoctors associated With pastor Radson Mulowzoa? Yet these 2 John Machemba and Louis Wahela were welcomed back 2 or 3 times now to CCOG.. These men Dr Bob calls his Ministers are simply Witchcraft practitioners and Satana minions. Wake up Dr Bob and please ask God to open your eyes. We pray Jesus loose you from Satana charms and you are able to see what's on the ground in Malawi.

This is pure gold. The very man Bob holds up as proof that everything is fine in Malawi is accused of bribing people with expensive phones and cash, practicing adultery, associating with witchdoctors, and using “charms” to keep the distant American prophet confused and compliant. Meanwhile, Bob’s response to all this messy reality is to reject photos, videos, and eyewitness testimony while happily accepting staged pictures as “proof” of success.

And let’s not forget the extra layer of hypocrisy that makes this even richer: while Bob thunders from afar about being God’s specially chosen end-time apostle, some of his very own African followers are quietly consulting witch doctors for advice — and, according to multiple reports, even paying to have a little “juju” put on Bob himself. That’s right — the same prophet who claims divine protection and unparalleled spiritual authority is apparently getting hexed by members of his own flock using traditional African sorcery.

Nothing says “one true Philadelphia-era remnant church” quite like your African brethren secretly visiting the local witchdoctor to curse the man they’re supposed to revere as God’s mouthpiece — all while Bob’s hand-picked “ministers” allegedly bribe, threaten, commit adultery, and traffic in the occult.

But sure, Bob, keep demanding we all believe Radson’s glowing reports while the ground-level reality looks more like a spiritual dumpster fire mixed with ancestral spirits, bribes, and power plays. 

How very... continuing.

Divorced his wife for a younger model, and all of his children spoke out against this.

Has Church of God Assembly Ruptured?

 

Word is slowly leaking out that Shedlon Munson removed Jason Fritts from hsi roles in CHurch of God Assembly. Munsona nd Fritts were both kciked out of Living Churc of God by Gerald Wesrton in Augut of 2020 reportedly ov er the rewuirement that members wear them to church and that they shoudkl also be singing hymns during COVID. Weston, being mor econcerend aobut looking good int eyes of he world claped down qitht eh COVID resitrtions when they cam einto place.

As we get more edetails about this latest church splintering, we will let you know.

August 7, 2020

Dear Brethren,

It is with a sad heart that I must announce that Sheldon Monson and Jason Fritts are no longer in the ministry of the Living Church of God. We spent four and a half hours on Monday of this week with both of them discussing differences over masks, singing, how faith is exercised, and a few other issues. Then we held a Council of Elders meeting yesterday with Mr. Monson and 16 other members and advisors of the Council for another four and a half hours. Today Dr. Douglas Winnail and I talked with Mr. Monson on the phone and he agreed that we have come to a parting of ways. We also spent more than two hours with Mr. Fritts and could not reach an agreement on these subjects.

We do not have personal animosity toward either of these men. Mr. Monson has been a faithful minister for many years and Mr. Fritts, though younger, has also served faithfully for a number of years. We want to make this breach between us as painless and amicable as possible, but it is impossible as an ordained minister to hold different views of how to conduct services during this temporary time of stress and not cause division, no matter how sincerely held those views may be. Even without intending to do so, this causes confusion and fragmentation among members of the Church. It is important to understand the reasons for some of the decisions the Church has made and that were confirmed by 16 longtime ministers yesterday in the Council. And let me assure you that these are not all “yes men,” as those of you who know them can attest. We truly wanted to find a way to work through our differences so that we all speak the same thing, as Paul admonished in 1 Corinthians 1:10. We will explain the doctrinal issues and biblical principles in the services livestreamed from Charlotte this Sabbath to North America and believe that the overwhelming majority of you will understand. The Bible is replete with admonitions concerning how God views division and those who cause division, and is just as clear about the wisdom of avoiding such individuals. This does not mean that we see each other as enemies. If anything, we should pray for one another with a sincere heart, that they may be able to walk with us in unity in the near future. But for now, we are left with no other choice but to agree to disagree. Brethren, we must be unified as one body doing the Work God has given us to do. Christ warns us that a “house divided against itself will not stand” (

We will explain the doctrinal issues and biblical principles in the services livestreamed from Charlotte this Sabbath to North America and believe that the overwhelming majority of you will understand. The Bible is replete with admonitions concerning how God views division and those who cause division, and is just as clear about the wisdom of avoiding such individuals. This does not mean that we see each other as enemies. If anything, we should pray for one another with a sincere heart, that they may be able to walk with us in unity in the near future. But for now, we are left with no other choice but to agree to disagree.

Brethren, we must be unified as one body doing the Work God has given us to do. Christ warns us that a “house divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:25). Our world is falling apart around us. Satan is very active in dividing the world right now, and he would love to do the same in the Church. God has blessed us greatly during this time, and we are doing our best to walk through the many open doors He has thrust on us in the last several months, so it is no surprise that Satan is attacking us now through sincere, well-meaning, but confused individuals. Brethren, please do not get caught up in the politics of this world and issues such as whether to wear a mask or not. Here is a letter from one of our members and what she sees: Thank you for the work you are doing. Life today in this world is so different than I ever thought it would be, although I knew that these things would happen. I am praying for you, please continue to pray for all of us in the work. This is truly a difficult time, and it may be a time when God is sifting the wheat from the tares again. I am beginning to see division in the Church because of the dumbest thing ever, “masks.” I pray that we all see the one behind all of this and realize that nothing, absolutely nothing happens without God’s permission. It is so sad. This is a trying time for all of us. Pray that we don’t allow ourselves to fall into Satan’s trap. I see how Satan is trying to separate us (me) from the love of God. He is astute and we (I) must keep crawling to God for deliverance from Satan, the world, and ourselves. My biggest problem is me! Life today seems bleak, please pray fervently that we are able to celebrate the Feast together this year and focus on God’s Kingdom, coming to replace this world’s kingdom. May God bless you, your wife, and all my beautiful family in Christ out at headquarters and around the world. Thank you all for giving all you have to do God’s work. The magazines, letters, sermons, programs, Viewpoints, Whiteboards, Living Education, and so much more freely offered to us all are incredibly helpful. God gives us many passages of scripture on how to handle matters of controversy in the Church. To say that you believe Jesus is the Head of the Church and then reject all the scriptures proving how He guides His Church when there are matters of controversy is showing a lack of faith in His leadership. Why is it, my friends, that we believe Jesus is active as the Head of the Church and guides the servants He has appointed to lead His Church only so long as they agree with us? Walking by faith is essential, but, brethren, we need to ask ourselves: Is it up to each person individually to define “faith” in terms of wearing or not wearing a mask and singing or not singing during this “present distress” (

Brethren, please do not get caught up in the politics of this world and issues such as whether to wear a mask or not. Here is a letter from one of our members and what she sees:

Thank you for the work you are doing. Life today in this world is so different than I ever thought it would be, although I knew that these things would happen.

I am praying for you, please continue to pray for all of us in the work. This is truly a difficult time, and it may be a time when God is sifting the wheat from the tares again.

I am beginning to see division in the Church because of the dumbest thing ever, “masks.” I pray that we all see the one behind all of this and realize that nothing, absolutely nothing happens without God’s permission. It is so sad.

This is a trying time for all of us. Pray that we don’t allow ourselves to fall into Satan’s trap.

I see how Satan is trying to separate us (me) from the love of God. He is astute and we (I) must keep crawling to God for deliverance from Satan, the world, and ourselves. My biggest problem is me!

Life today seems bleak, please pray fervently that we are able to celebrate the Feast together this year and focus on God’s Kingdom, coming to replace this world’s kingdom.

May God bless you, your wife, and all my beautiful family in Christ out at headquarters and around the world. Thank you all for giving all you have to do God’s work. The magazines, letters, sermons, programs, Viewpoints, Whiteboards, Living Education, and so much more freely offered to us all are incredibly helpful.

God gives us many passages of scripture on how to handle matters of controversy in the Church. To say that you believe Jesus is the Head of the Church and then reject all the scriptures proving how He guides His Church when there are matters of controversy is showing a lack of faith in His leadership. Why is it, my friends, that we believe Jesus is active as the Head of the Church and guides the servants He has appointed to lead His Church only so long as they agree with us? Walking by faith is essential, but, brethren, we need to ask ourselves: Is it up to each person individually to define “faith” in terms of wearing or not wearing a mask and singing or not singing during this “present distress” (1 Corinthians 7:26)? Is it truly biblical? One not-so-peripheral issue in the first-century Church of God was circumcision. It was a big deal, where people had plenty of scriptural “evidence” on both sides. God provided that account in Acts as just one of many examples that teach us how Christ settles matters of controversy within His Body. Paul instructed the divided Corinthian congregation, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (

Paul instructed the divided Corinthian congregation, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-2). Some may wonder whether we will still have summer camps and the answer is an emphatic YES. We will have them as long as God permits us to do so! We have every intention to continue with our youth camps. I have spent 28 years working with our young people at our camps, and we have no intention of abandoning them. Please be assured that, overwhelmingly, the membership is loyal and has faith in Christ to lead His Church. As all of us understand, it is our responsibility not to get caught up in disputes over masks and other matters, but to preach the Kingdom of God. Let us not walk in fear but in faith, boldly doing the Work set before us while there is still time. Sincerely, in Christ’s service, Gerald E. Weston

Some may wonder whether we will still have summer camps and the answer is an emphatic YES. We will have them as long as God permits us to do so! We have every intention to continue with our youth camps. I have spent 28 years working with our young people at our camps, and we have no intention of abandoning them.

Please be assured that, overwhelmingly, the membership is loyal and has faith in Christ to lead His Church. As all of us understand, it is our responsibility not to get caught up in disputes over masks and other matters, but to preach the Kingdom of God. Let us not walk in fear but in faith, boldly doing the Work set before us while there is still time.

Sincerely, in Christ’s service,

Gerald E. Weston

Jesus’ Second Coming Itinerary: Church Politics, Then Maybe the Apocalypse and Satan (If He’s Not Too Tired)

Ah, yes—the perpetually seething, grudge-holding God of Armstrongism. The divine equivalent of that uncle who’s been stewing since 1975 about how the family ruined Thanksgiving and now shows up to every reunion with a baseball bat and a spreadsheet of grievances.

Why is He always so angry?

Because in the Armstrongist universe, God’s emotional range is basically “wrath” with occasional brief pauses for more wrath. This isn’t the “God is love” guy from the New Testament. This is Old Testament Greatest Hits: God as cosmic axe-wielding executioner who’s really upset about church organization charts, failed prophecies, and anyone who dares to keep the Holy Days without sending enough money to the right headquarters.

The theological roots remain the same: a heavy, lopsided diet of angry prophets, British Israelism, and end-time obsession that turns every minor church drama into cosmic prophecy. The various self-appointed leaders position themselves as the One True Remnant™, so anyone running a competing splinter is automatically a rebel against God Himself. And we all know how God handles rebels in their favorite scriptures—fire, slaughter, and zero chill.

Enter the Divine HR Hitman: Jesus Returns to Settle Splinter Scores.

According to Dave Pack’s teachings, when Jesus returns (the second time, before any rumored third time), His first priority isn’t comforting the suffering or battling actual evil empires. Nope. He’s going to personally slaughter three Church of God leaders one at a time, like a cosmic game of whack-a-mole with extra fire.

“Open the doors and let the fire devour the cedars.” 

Then, after that invigorating church-sanctioned hit job, He’ll spend years mopping up the rest of humanity. Priorities!

Now let’s add the full cast of characters this perpetually pissed-off God apparently has beef with:

• Dave Pack (Restored Church of God): The man who wrote the script. His version of Jesus starts with executing three rival shepherds in sequence. Pack has long positioned himself as the final apostle, so naturally his version of Christ shares his exact enemies list.

• Gerald Flurry (Philadelphia Church of God): The “That Prophet” who built a mini-empire in Edmond, Oklahoma, complete with his own Armstrong College and a very expensive auditorium. In the Pack prophecy lens, Flurry is almost certainly one of the three cedar shepherds getting divinely barbecued first. God (or at least Dave’s God) is apparently furious about all that Malachi’s Message merchandising and those fancy concerts.

• Bob Thiel (Continuing Church of God): The dream-interpreting, double-portion prophet from California who split from LCG after claiming God spoke to him through earthquakes and nightmares. Bob’s endless “prophetic updates” and endless begging for “co-workers” make him prime fodder for the divine slaughter list. Jesus returns… and immediately has to deal with Bob’s latest dream newsletter. The sarcasm writes itself.

Picture it: The King of Kings descends, the sky splits open, and instead of “Peace on Earth,” it’s “Hold on, I need to handle these three COG preachers who wouldn’t submit to the correct hierarchy.” Dave, Gerald, and Bob—the holy trinity of end-time rivals—getting taken out one by one while the rest of humanity watches in confusion.

Sarcastic translation:

“Welcome back, Lord! What’s your first miracle?”

Taking out the guys who run the other tiny Sabbath-keeping groups. They used the wrong logo and didn’t recognize My true servant.

It’s comically petty. The Creator of galaxies returns… and His top priority is settling scores between competing Armstrongist splinter groups. Not Satan. Not the Beast Power. Not global tribulation. Just church politics with extra violence.

Why does their God need to be this violent, perpetually pissed-off creature?

• Control mechanism: A raging God is perfect for tithing and loyalty. “Send it in or you’ll end up like one of those three shepherds Jesus personally executes.”

• Prophetic one-upmanship: Each leader (Pack, Flurry, Thiel, and the rest) has to sound more urgent and apocalyptic than the others. Herbert W. Armstrong set the tone; they’ve just cranked it to 11 and added specific names, timelines, and body counts.

• They worship the God of the Law, not Grace: Jesus gets reduced from loving Savior to angry enforcer who’s mostly coming back to punish everyone who didn’t keep the Holy Days correctly or support the right “work.”

• Massive ego projection: When your entire identity is “I alone am God’s faithful servant while Flurry, Pack, Thiel, and the Laodiceans are all scum,” it’s convenient when God shares your exact temper and hit list.

The irony is thicker than a stack of old Plain Truth magazines. These leaders have been wrong about dozens of dates and prophecies for decades, yet their version of God is so obsessed with doctrinal purity that He’ll start the end-time slaughter with other Church of God ministers. 

Classic Armstrongism: a small, angry religious fiefdom projecting their own pettiness and rage onto the Almighty. The God they describe doesn’t seem interested in mercy, relationship, or emotional stability—He just seems exhausted with all the splintering and ready to burn it all down, starting with the competition. 

What a loving plan of salvation.

Empty Wallets, Golden Temples: Financial Abuse and Exploitation in Armstrongism

A haunting image has circulated widely online: a disheveled, homeless man lies on a filthy sidewalk, his loyal dog curled beside him. Overlaid on this scene of raw human suffering is a powerful quote from Jim Wright that cuts straight to the heart of religious hypocrisy:

We’re a country where preachers are millionaires. Religion has its own TV shows and theme parks. We don’t have just churches in America, we have giant mega-churches, temples of glory made from gold, crystal, and thousand dollar bills. We live in a country where religion rakes in tax free billions, buys itself the court and the election.... and looks out of our TV’s every week complaining about persecution. PERSECUTION.”

While Wright’s words primarily target the glitzy world of prosperity gospel megachurches and televangelists, they apply with striking relevance to Armstrongism — the religious movement founded by Herbert W. Armstrong and carried forward by the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) and its numerous splinter groups. Though Armstrongism lacked the theatrical flair of crystal cathedrals and miracle crusades, it perfected a highly effective system of financial extraction framed as divine commandment. The result was the same: concentrated wealth at the top, widespread hardship among the faithful, and a constant narrative of persecution that shielded the system from accountability.

The Three-Tithe System: Biblical Mandate or Engine of Exploitation?

Central to Armstrongism was a mandatory tithing structure drawn from Old Testament law and presented as non-negotiable for salvation:

• First Tithe: 10% of gross income, directed to “the Work” — the church’s global media, publishing, and headquarters operations. 
• Second Tithe: Another 10%, set aside by members for observing the annual Feast of Tabernacles, effectively funding church-controlled festival sites and activities. 
• Third Tithe: A third 10% paid every third year, ostensibly for widows, orphans, and the poor within the church.

In practice, members often surrendered 30% or more of their income through tithes, offerings, building funds, and emergency appeals. Questioning the system or falling short was labeled “robbing God” (Malachi 3:8–10), carrying heavy spiritual consequences, including fear of disfellowshipment and eternal damnation. Families routinely sacrificed healthcare, education, housing stability, and retirement savings to meet these demands. Many former members describe years of financial devastation that followed them long after leaving the group.

Notably, the ministry — regarded as modern-day Levites — did not pay tithes. They received them, often at significantly higher compensation levels than the average working-class member.

Leadership Luxury Built on Member Sacrifice

Herbert W. Armstrong lived in opulent contrast to the sacrifices he required. His residence on Pasadena’s Millionaires’ Row, private jets (including a Gulfstream), custom clothing, and lavish headquarters campus stood as monuments to the wealth extracted from followers. At its peak in the 1970s, the Worldwide Church of God reportedly generated over $200 million annually (the equivalent of hundreds of millions today) almost entirely from member tithes.

Ambassador Auditorium, dubbed “God’s House,” exemplified the grandeur: a multimillion-dollar performing arts center used to host celebrities and project an image of divine blessing, and pretend to not be associated with a church. Similar patterns persist in major splinter groups. Leaders in organizations such as the Philadelphia Church of God have maintained private aircraft and ambitious building projects while continuing to emphasize sacrificial giving.

State investigations, including a high-profile 1979 probe by the California Attorney General, highlighted concerns over fund mismanagement and the wide gap between leadership lifestyles and member conditions. Though the church fought back successfully in court, portraying the action as religious persecution, the episode revealed systemic issues that former insiders had long alleged.

The Persecution Narrative as a Shield

Armstrongism framed its members as a tiny, persecuted remnant — the “Philadelphia era” church battling a Satan-deceived world and apostate Christianity. Any external criticism, lawsuit, media report, or regulatory scrutiny was immediately cast as a satanic attack. This worldview encouraged members to respond to financial pressure with even greater loyalty and giving, while insulating leaders from meaningful accountability.

Just as Wright mocks wealthy preachers who decry “persecution” from their positions of comfort and influence, Armstrongite leadership portrayed themselves as embattled apostles even as they enjoyed privileges far beyond those of their followers. Members struggling in poverty were told to “trust God,” tithe faithfully, and await blessings — blessings that seemed disproportionately to flow toward headquarters rather than those in genuine need.

The Human Cost

The long-term impact on members has been profound. Testimonies from ex-members frequently include:

• Families forced to choose between tithing and feeding their children or paying rent.
• Delayed or forgone medical treatment, often compounded by the church’s emphasis on divine healing.
• Elderly members left without adequate support despite years of third-tithe contributions.
• Deep financial scars — depleted savings, ruined credit, and intergenerational poverty — compounded by social shunning upon exit.

After Herbert Armstrong’s death in 1986, the main Worldwide Church of God underwent significant reforms under Joseph Tkach Sr. and his successors, eventually abandoning mandatory tithing and many core Armstrong doctrines. However, dozens of splinter groups continue the original model, repeating the cycle for new generations of believers.

A Call to Examine Religious Systems

Jim Wright’s quote, paired with the image of forgotten human suffering, forces an uncomfortable question: When does a religious organization cross from a voluntary faith community into a system that exploits its members? In Armstrongism, the language of obedience, prophecy, and end-time urgency masked what many now recognize as systemic financial abuse.

Jesus Himself warned that it is nearly impossible for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God and sharply condemned religious leaders who “devour widows’ houses” while maintaining outward piety (Mark 12:40). The apostle James defined pure religion as caring for orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27).

For current and former members of Armstrongist groups, the photo and quote serve as a sobering mirror. They challenge believers to ask whether their faith tradition truly serves people — especially the vulnerable — or whether people primarily serve the institution. True spiritual integrity demands transparency, accountability, and genuine care for those who give so much, rather than temples of glory built on the backs of the faithful. The image endures as a visual rebuke: while leaders fly in comfort and decry persecution, too many of the faithful are left lying on cold floors, still waiting for the blessings they were promised.

RCG/David C. Pack Newsflash: The Kingdom Will NOT Come on Pentecost

 

David C. Pack of The Restored Church of God may be a false prophet, but he is absolutely predictable.

During “The Greatest Untold Story! (Part 635)” given on May 17, 2026, the Pastor General piled on yet more proofs that the Kingdom to Israel would begin on Pentecost (May 24, 2026 – Sivan 8). But, not really.

While seemingly confirming Pentecost, he un-invented the initial Kingdom to Israel that was to occur prior to Pentecost. Dave built in much wiggle room to flee from the eventual Pentecost date failure while sprinkling in doubt and revised ambiguous language, leaving the impression his new points were “immense.”

The Pentecost Proofs are Immense!

The very next day, he dissolved hopes for the Kingdom arriving on Pentecost 2026.

The very next day after Part 635 was delivered, Dave spent a total of six minutes during his New Moon Special Comments on May 17, 2026, to dissolve five hours and seventeen minutes of preaching from “The Greatest Untold Story!” Parts 633, 634, and 635.

How sad that RCG brethren are now forced to come to Sunday worship services when the new moon falls on it. The drastic changes Dave and company continue to manufacture the further away WCG shrinks in the rearview mirror, should disturb all the Herbie die-hards still clinging to the last remnant of a bygone era. The Restored Church of God is not even a Splinter anymore, but some deformed hybrid of Sabbath-keepers and Dave idolators.

The total 99 minutes, which included 26 God-inspired points proving the Kingdom would arrive on Pentecost from the previous day, were wished away into the cornfield. It seems that his "immense Pentecost proofs" were not so vital after all.

He also had to un-proclaimed that “The Greatest Untold Story!” Series was concluding “within 24 hours,” after admitting he had no credibility. At least he got something right.

No new date was set, and the brethren in The Restored Church of God were urged to exercise patience because these necessary updates were God's fault. So, if brethren want to blame someone, do like their Pastor General does and blame God.

The Kingdom Will NOT Come on Pentecost!
May 24, 2026

Marc Cebrian

See:  RCG/David C. Pack Newsflash: The Kingdom Will NOT Come on Pentecost

How Four Random Street Signs Convinced Grown Adults They Were on Holy Ground

Over the decades, the Church of God has been blessed with an endless parade of crackpots, each one more unhinged than the last, peddling their precious pet theories, wild speculations, and outright bald-faced lies. It’s this proud tradition of gullibility and zero discernment that has allowed modern con artists like Bob Thiel and Dave Pack to flourish, happily vacuuming up whatever few desperate, wide-eyed followers they can find. Nothing says “led by the Holy Spirit” quite like flocking to the newest liar with a website and a printing press.

Liars have always found the most fertile, well-fertilized ground in the Church of God. It’s practically their spiritual homeland. We’ve endured generations of lying false prophets who knew the exact timeline of end-time prophecy — every single time. (They were wrong, of course, but the next one will definitely be right. Just wait.)

We’ve had genuine crackpots who stood up and declared that four egrets in front of the Auditorium were about to come alive, grab the whole building, and fly it to Petra like some divinely sanctioned Uber, with a fifth egret acting as celestial navigator. And yes, some actual functioning adults left the church to follow this majestic egret-based theology. Truly, the finest minds at work.

Then there was that absolute masterpiece of biblical exegesis floating around Pasadena when I got to college: the unshakable belief that God Himself had personally branded the campus with His sacred name through — wait for it — street signs.

Green Street, Orange Grove, Del Mar, St. John

First letters? G-O-D-S.

GODS.

God’s campus. God’s church. God’s holy vending machines. Some genius actually convinced people this was divine proof. Because obviously the Creator of the Universe moonlights as a city planner in Southern California.

But here’s the real kicker — the biting truth they never want to admit: flip those letters around and it spells DOGS.

And honestly? That makes way more sense. God didn’t claim that campus — He let the dogs have it. The whole thing has been one big theological dog park for decades. A place where every stray crackpot theory could run around off-leash, hump each other’s legs, and leave little steaming piles of false prophecy wherever they pleased.

And the funniest part? That “God’s campus” belief is still limping along today as a housing development and a College-Prep private school, even though the Almighty apparently looked at the property, said “Yeah, I’m out,” and abandoned it decades ago like a bad blind date. But sure, keep clutching those street names, folks. Divine endorsement never looked so… canine.

Maybe this is a prophetic truth that will allow Samuel Kitchen to buy the Ambassador Auditorium and HWA's mansion. This is the COG after all, anything is possible.

What an absolutely stellar, rational, and spirit-led organization this has been. 

Peak 1st Century Christianity. .