A COG False Prophet
This letter was on Exit and Support. While it is from an exUCG member, it applies to COG members in all the splinter groups who know about but don't talk about HWA and his failed prophecies. He is highly regarded by most, but a lot don't like to bring him up now at all:
Blatant False Prophecies:August 5, 2013
I was wondering if you still have Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web book by David Robinson available in PDF form? I think it would be helpful.
We have stopped attending with United Church of God after reading some articles on the history of the WCG and HWA's failed prophecies. I had to really stop and think, "How could God endorse such doctrine proposed by a man who made blatant false prophecies?" UCG never talks of it's relationship with Armstrong. --No longer attending UCG
Here is a list of 209 failed prophecies of Armstrongism
What might have been the impact if HWA had volunteered at a mission, or halfway house? Those are some pretty thankless, and self- effacing activities, yet they make far more difference in real peoples' lives than one might as the grand pooh bah of false prophecy!
ReplyDeleteThe height of arrogance is the pretense of knowing the future, and then when that pretense becomes lies, simply pocketing the tithes, walking away, and saying "Oh well...."
BB
The Exit and Support Network out of all courtesy, should supply links to The Painful Truth when the occasion arises. We are on the same side of the fight for freedom from religious abuse!
ReplyDeleteYou listening Bill?
All of Armstrongism is rooted in British Israelism, which we have done a pretty good job of debunking. Herbert Armstrong said Bitish Israelism was the key to prophecy. Because British Israelism is wrong, Herbert Armstrong's prophecies based on it are wrong and have failed miserably.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, nobody seemed to see the rise of radical Islam. Some how the age old war between the Arabs and Israelis rooted in the Old Testament have been totally ignored. Which one of the ACoGs prophesied 9/11?
Because of the presumed connection between ancient Israel and the United States and Britain of today, keeping the Feasts, particularly the Feast of Tabernacles was the natural result of trying to keep the Old Testament Laws as physical observances because we are supposedly of the lost 10 tribes of Israel (which the Jews deny -- none were lost and 6 of the 12 tribes are mentioned in the New Testament: Somebody's math is really bad). But the Feast was purely a physical observance and though it may (or probably may not) picture "God's Plan", it is not New Covenant stuff. The predictions that the Feast is going to be kept in the Millennium are in the Old Testament only and there isn't any real support for any Gentiles to keep it as Christians.
Now it may be the case that it could be a nice celebration to honor God and learn more about Him to love Him, but you know, you go to the Feast of Tabernacles and hear lies -- based on the same old delusions based on British Israelism. There's so much doom, devastation, destruction and not much real mention of the absolutely fantastic fabulous redemption now open to humanity. Furthermore, there don't seem to be many sermons about either Jesus or God as the Father because it seems as if the ministers are nothing more than modern Corporate executives having all the conversion of, say, Kenneth Lay.
The real root of the problem is that the ACoGs and particularly United have attempted to set up a Corporate business rather than a viable church and have failed miserably in their incompetent mediocrity to be a success at either endeavor.
Since the Armstrongist churches of God are so embroiled in the lies they teach, there isn't a snowball's chance in a blast furnace that God would be in any of them or attempting to work with them.
Furthermore, they are at war with one another and simply do not know the way to peace.
If anyone is looking to the ministry of Armstrongism for some sort of godly example to follow, they've come to the wrong place because they don't even understand ethics and morals at all and their best ethic is that the end justifies the means in the "Moral Mazes" perspective of what is right and good is what the guy above you wants from you: It's a problem, you have to solve it and you're going to do it no matter what.
And they wonder why we have such contempt and disgust toward them.
The Exit and Support Network ignores the Painful Truth because it can....
ReplyDeletewell I suppose that if one worships HWA, then his failed propheices would matter....
ReplyDeleteI always do a lot of daydreaming, or private study in other parts of my bible during prophecy sermons anyway....
does anyone think that ministers are infallible?....they do get things wrong on occasion, and prophecy is just one area....
if you truly "prove all things" you won't be too terribly upset at the mistakes ministers make....remember, they're human too.
Anonymous 9:51, it was always presented as a whole package, and if you were too independent or did any critical thinking, or unauthorized picking and choosing, you were labeled as unconverted, or Laodecean. Those factors you cited speak directly as to whether the organization is really "God's" Church (it is not), whether the ministers are actually "God's" ministers (they are not), and whether they actually even have God's Spirit in the first place (if they do, He has been quenched and grieved).
ReplyDeleteThe very foundation of Armstrongism is the belief that HWA was God's end time apostle, and that he brought restored truth which nobody has the right to correct or change. He may or may not be worshipped by various members, but at the very least, he is venerated in ACOG circles as the Catholics do their saints.
Having said all of that, congratulations on having an independent and personal relationship with Father God. I believe that to be the correct course. Sounds like you have seen through "government from the top-down" and realize that God actually works from the bottom-up, transforming Christian hearts one by one!
BB
Yep I just came to the realization today that what has been amply documented is that Armstrong believed 1) that his wife had a dream from God commissioning him to preach the gospel; 2) that he believed his work was the fulfillment of Matt 24:14; and 3) that Christ was going to return in his lifetime! All false premises! What can you make of him other than A FALSE PROPHET??!! Ironic that IMO he was proving Christ's own prophecy true (in contrast to HWA's plethora of false prophecies!) when Christ Jesus said: "For many will come in my name saying I am the Christ and will deceive many" Matt 24:5)!
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget that up until the 1970's, Herbert Armstrong insisted that you could not become a member of the Radio Church of God and be baptized (into Jesus?) unless you embraced British Israelism.
ReplyDeleteCould not...
Could not....
yes BB, you have pointed out the difference between Armstrongists and Christians....those of us in the Church know that HWA was not an apostle, but merely a man used by God to bring others into His Church.
ReplyDeletethere are, unfortunately, many who idolize HWA, possibly without realizing it....they are among those looking for a man to lead them, much as the Roman Catholics looks to the pope...
well, there is no "pope", no "one man head of The Church"...and no single orgnaization that is the whole of The Church....that doesn't mean that every organization that takes the label "Church of God" is truly part of His Church.
The Church is composed of spirit filled people, called by God into His service...and they are scattered all around the globe.
what I see people here resisting is the falsehood put forth by so called "ministers of God"...and you folks tend to confuse them with those who truly follow Jesus....throwing the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak.
You can only throw baby out with the bathwater when there is an actual baby to begin with. Otherwise its just water.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDelete"The Church is composed of spirit filled people, called by God into His service...and they are scattered all around the globe."
MY COMMENT: What a load of crap! IF(I say in capital letters because NONE of them have the "spirit")...IF any "church" was composed of spirit filled people(ha!), even ONE, why would they be sitting in men's "churches"? What a superstitious belief!
Anon 5:53, HWA taught that God worked through one man, him. Period. He published flow charts to show it: "GOD...JESUS CHRIST...HWA." and presented it to the entire "church."
ReplyDeleteIs that the church you speak of? The one that you say God used HWA to bring people into?
The one that would have labeled your "no one man head of 'The Church'" belief as heresy?
The one that emphasized what you describe as the "falsehood put forth by 'so-called ministers of God?'"
That one?
Come back when you can present a point without contradicting yourself.
Anonymous 5:53, I have acknowledged in the past that there actually could be Spirit-filled members in the ACOGS. However, I don't believe that they received God's Spirit as a result of their membership in, or the doctrines of the Armstrong movement. There had to be other factors involved, most likely the depth of their daily relationship with God and with Jesus Christ, and a "circumcised" heart. I have also met Catholics whom I am certain by the fruits in their lives were indwelt by the Holy Spirit. These would be part of this global group which you mentioned. Many people within the Armstrong movement are completely unaware of the greater body of Christ, because they believe that there is only one true remnant church, and they believe that their particular splinter is it.
ReplyDeleteIt is an interesting topic, and I have discovered much since being involved in mainstream Christianity. Prominent evangelists (I don't mention names any more because our anonymous potshotter then takes every opportunity to trash them) teach that there is a deeper level of conversion, called "baptism of the Holy Spirit" which occurs sometimes years after one becomes saved by accepting Jesus Christ as personal savior, repenting of sin, and making Jesus one's Lord and Master. These evangelists encourage Christians to seek and pray for this baptism, as it brings complete transformation of the heart. They preach it because they have experienced it, and can pinpoint exactly when it occurred in their lives, sometimes well into their own ministry. I'd encourage anyone interested in this to do some reading of materials from sources outside of the Armstrong movement, even if one intends to remain within the Armstrong fold. It is not a political or sectarian thing; it has to do with something most Christians are already seeking.
Certainly, all of us recall hearing various ministers bemoan the fear that the vast majority of the membership of WCG was not even converted. People who left were said never to have been called, which can cause great mystery, lack of faith, and doubt in members' own lives. Knowledge of this deeper baptism leads one to pray for its fulfillment in one's life, prayers that will be answered by God. Perhaps this baptism of the Holy Spirit was never taught by HWA/WCG because it is completely beyond the control of the ministry. A good spiritual guide can mentor towards it, but cannot institute it through the laying on of hands, etc. It is something God does, in His own timing. Part of our independent and personal relationship with Him.
BB
Does UCG admit Armstrong was false prophet and lied to cover it up? Talk you way out of that one Joe!!!
ReplyDeleteI doubt if ESN will give credit to the Painful Truth or anyone else that is not promoting orthodox Christianity (which was the root from which HWA sprung in the first place). They don't promote free speech any more than a cult does.
ReplyDelete