The latest Restored Church of God minister that has had a "mind washing" is Larry McElroy. He has his own version of his escape from being blinded by subtle demonic doctrines and teachings in WCG and UCG.
What shocked him the most about WCG was that Tkach Sr. made this comment:
“The sign of true Christians is faith in Christ, not keeping the annual festivals. So, like the Sabbath, we keep the festivals to celebrate salvation in Christ”
McElroy writes:
What's really outrageous that a man who claims to be a "christian" is outraged that some one tells him that the sign of a true Christian is that they have faith in Christ. McElroy would rather be doing something, law keeping, sabbath keeping, not wearing earrings, not having his wife wear make up, etc, rather than just having faith in Christ. Anyone religious or not knows that the sign of a Christian is that they have faith in Christ. Yet the idiots in far right-field Armstrongism are too dumb to see that.SUCH GARBAGE WAS DUMPED ON THE MINISTRY! Where was the outrage? I pounded my fist on my desk when I read this!
Later the behavior of numerous ministers’ children was like a kick in the stomach, with some marrying outside the Church. How could this be (ll Cor. 6:14-18)? The results were inevitable—several went back to the world, keeping Christmas and other pagan holidays, and never returned to the WCG. Next, the dress code went into a nose dive—long hair and earrings for men and revealing outfits and make-up for girls—all done to accommodate the world!
McElroy then like all rats on sinking ships, jumps to United Church of God, where he is looking to be disgusted again. Of course they immediately find all kinds of things wrong:
He goes on:My first meeting with UCG pastors and elders was in 1995. An evangelist, now leader of UCG, came to Phoenix. A meeting was held with the pastors, local church elders and a few deacons—a large group, as Phoenix had three UCG congregations. The evangelist asked for questions. The first came quickly from a pastor: “When do we get a raise?” I couldn’t believe my ears—after all that had happened, this was crude! But it was also very telling—the word “hireling” comes to mind. Where was the love for the brethren? Where was the desire to lead God’s people to safety? Later in the meeting, finances were discussed. After some discussion, I raised my hand and commented, “Mr. Armstrong said we should prepare to lower our standard of living.” That comment was the “lead balloon” of the day!
Later my wife and I attended the 2nd and 3rd conferences of UCG, held in Cincinnati, OH, and Louisville, KY, respectively. Our first conference had to some degree a Feast-like atmosphere, but it featured wrong government, voting, politicking and coveting for power. Several major questions were asked: “How soon before we get insurance? How soon do we have retirement?”
What an outrage!
At the 1996/7 UCG conferences, we witnessed several things that were mind-boggling, but they seemed to faze no one:
- Those nominated to be on the Council of Elders posted resumes including their titles and accomplishments, and why they would be good for the position.
- After the 1996 elections, one newly elected council member came by us and said in a loud voice and with raised arms, “hey, we won—let’s go out and celebrate!” I couldn’t believe my ears. I Iooked at my wife; she looked at me—how could anyone treat such a responsibility so superficially, so flamboyantly?
- Voting to change church doctrine became an option
- The designation of a “Home Office,” not a “Headquarters.”
Isn't it outrageous that that called their HQ a Home Office instead of a Headquarters? How STUPID can these COG people get! So I guess that because Pack calls his church HQ a Headquarters then that's what makes them a true church? How stupid!
He ends with:
We got it! The adventure of a lifetime began—the journey to find the true Church of God. We were yet to wander in a toxic spiritual wilderness for some time. There were many lessons for us to learn—even unlearn. But eventually we arrived “back home.”
Today, an increasing number are returning to the full Truth they once loved. They see the dramatic difference between The Restored Church of God and the splinter groups. They see the unity of purpose and doctrinal purity found nowhere else. They see God’s hand in His one, undivided unified Church.
"Everything is glorious in Restored Church of God. We have the worlds largest and fastest growing Church of God. We have the ONLY end time Apostle as leader, we call our headquarters a HEADQUARTERS instead of the wimpy, effeminate Home Office, we talk about law all the time, we anoint our eyes, WE ARE THE BEST!"
Like all the other moronic letters written on Pack's corny blog for defecting Church of God ministers, there is no mention of Jesus. Jesus is irrelevant to the law. Not wearing make-up, not voting, not marrying outside the church, and law keeping carry far more weight than Jesus does.
You can read this rather boring and sad letter that truly says nothing worthwhile here:
A Group Started on the Wrong Foundation—Another Voice Speaks Out
And the greatest part of the garbage was false prophecy.
ReplyDeleteIn the immortal words of Gorkon, the Klingon Ambassador, "I see we have a long way to go".
No good place to post this, but I just realized that I was baptized 44 year ago today - dunked in the swimming pool beneath Ambassador Hall by Howard Clark. He asked me to pledge undying loyalty to HWA but I refused to do so. Howard dunked me anyway. Refusing to pledge allegiance is something I have always been proud of - one little wrench in the machinery. What a long strange journey it has been.
ReplyDeleteSo does McElroy think that the sign of a true Christian is keeping the Sabbath and annual feasts, huh?
ReplyDeleteSo does this mean that Jews are saved in Christ too then? They observe the Sabbath, annual festivals and the law as well. Oh, that's right! They don't have faith in Christ. So according to God's standard then they're not.
So McElroy can you tell us please what good is the "sign" of the Sabbath etc. going to do them in terms of salvation?
Besides, which day exactly is the seventh day Sabbath? Is it really Saturday? The Samoans might differ with you there since jumping the International Date Line last month. And what calendar are you using to calculate the holy days may I ask? Are you sure it's correct otherwise you might get caught keeping the wrong days!
Further, where exactly does the Bible say Christians are saved by keeping the Sabbath or annual festivals or the law? Or that such is a "sign" of a true Christian?
I'm not sure what makes me more sick. The fact that such swill is being served up or that 20 years ago I would have thought that it was good stuff.
ReplyDeleteSo if so much garbage was dumped on the ministry, then why didn't they do something about it then? I'll tell you why, when you have a heirarchy and the so-called government of God, then you don't question the chain of command, especially if they are signing your checks. If the top down model was the government of God, then no one should have left the Catholic church because they have a direct line to God and from the apostles. Why do we have to keep reinventing the wheel and have all these little meglo-maniac big fishes in little ponds? Is this the nature of man, to crave this type of attention and justify it with a benevolent cause, or sometimes an evil cause.
ReplyDeleteSeveral major questions were asked: “How soon before we get insurance? How soon do we have retirement?”
ReplyDeleteAside from the most zealous of ministers, how can people sit there and argue that it wasn't just about the money all along? Honestly.
John said, "So does McElroy think that the sign of a true Christian is keeping the Sabbath and annual feasts, huh?"
ReplyDeleteMY COMMENT - I have learned in my travels that there are a small number of members in the grandparent church to the Worldwide Church of God, the Seventh Day Adventist Church, who keep the annual Feasts - the same feasts that HWA claimed to restore to the true church. Does this make them true Christians in McElroy's eyes?
According to GTA, Herbert Armstrong admitted to him that The Church of God, Seventh Day was God's true church too. The Church of God, Seventh Day does not officially recognize the annual Feasts yet Herbert Armstrong admitted that they are God's Church too. Sounds inconsistent, Mr. McElroy?
The Seventh Day Baptists keep the Sabbath. What if there is a Seventh Day Baptist that keeps the annual feasts? Does this make
him/her a "true Christian" according to McElroy?
Richard
Larry McElroy: "SUCH GARBAGE WAS DUMPED ON THE MINISTRY!"
ReplyDeleteI knew a WCG "minister" who said he had disagreed with the WCG's teachings ten years before the WCG changed everything in January 1995. Of course, he had stuck around another ten years to continue to collect a paycheck, but then finally got laid off when the changes hit the WCG's income. I could say much more about the bum, but let it suffice to say that he was a real piece of garbage.
I also knew some UCG "ministers" and found out how they behave. Much could be said about them, but again, let it suffice to say that they were some real pieces of garbage.
Last night, I watched "Blind Spot", the memoires of Adolf Hitler's private secretary, on DVD.
ReplyDeleteI would recommend it highly to anyone who was ever part of the Armstrong movement. There are just incredible parallels!
BB
I knew Larry McElroy many years ago in Phoenix. He had the most black-and-white mentality that I think I have ever encountered. He's a nice guy to deal with as long as you agree with him completely. I can understand his attraction to Dave Pack.
ReplyDelete"I knew Larry McElroy many years ago in Phoenix. He had the most black-and-white mentality that I think I have ever encountered"
ReplyDeleteAnd that's exactly why there are so many Christian denominations, Churches, splits, splinters and slivers.
Religion sorts out by personality. Those who see everything as right/wrong God/Satan Truth/Falsity Us/them end up in such environments endeavoring to inflict their worldviews on other less compliant and more critically thinking people.
Having been on both sides of the WCG Member/Minister, critical thinking rarely if ever reared it's "ugly" head. People just sat around waiting to suck up the latest from HQ, HWA or the local minister's sermon or the minister's personality with precious little critical thinking.
RCM, Dave Pack, Gerald Flury, Ron Weinland, etc...are not critical thinkers. They are religious clones going were lots of people have gone before yet seeking a different results.
Churches and ministers in the one man show want members to be dogs not cats. They need to train their flocks and no one yet has figured out how to herd cats. The critical thinker in the congregation is not a welcomed addition and either will comply eventually or "fall away."
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So, what shocked Larry McElroy the most about WCG was that Tkach Sr. made this comment:
ReplyDelete“The sign of true Christians is faith in Christ, not keeping the annual festivals. So, like the Sabbath, we keep the festivals to celebrate salvation in Christ”
Well, perhaps Joe Tkach Sr. wasn't all that wrong there with that comment. Perhaps Larry should learn something from Joe Tkach Sr. b/c we know that faith is a fruit of God's Spirit (Gal 5:22) and must come from God, by His Spirit, somehow.
Here's a verse that shows that it is God who gives out a measure of faith is one (a Christian? Prophet? Anybody? Any man/woman!):
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as GOD HATH DEALT to every man the MEASURE OF FAITH.
That's God's "business" with what He does with His faith, but it appears God intends to give it to every man/woman in his/her own order...
John