The similarities between the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Churches of God (Armstrong era) are strikingly similar. That is particularity so because of our heritage as faith groups that have ties in the William Miller fiasco. The JW's are just as secretive and manipulative in its teachings and administration as the Churches of God are.
Both share similar aberrant doctrines,
Both have abusive teachings,
Both shelter pedophiles and abusers in their midst.
Both practice shunning (disfellowshipment).
Both have top down structural government that welds powerful authority
over those 'less than' below them.
Both are secretive.
Both ridicule medicine.
Both have a distorted view of Jesus.
Both ridicule apostates.
20 comments:
Just change Witnesses to Armstrongites and Jehovahs Witnesses to Church of God and you have our story.
One way the various Churches of God are preferable to Jehovah's Witnesses: no COG members go around knocking on doors offering tracts and holy talk. Another way: they permit alcohol.
All of these cults start by diminishing and jading anything and everything that could be enjoyable in life. They trap people into a lifestyle of total dependence on the cult. And, they leave people in a perpetual state of wishing they had a life, and working the cult's program, thinking that that's the way they are going to eventually get a life. That isn't even carrot dangling. At least carrots taste good if somehow an accident or mistake happens and you get to take a bite. No, the ACOGs even have their substitute there. I call what they do "parsnip dangling".
BB
The JWs also promoted the aluminum hysteria believing that cookware made of aluminum caused all sorts of ailments. They built a home called Beth Sarim, which means "House of the Princes" at 4440 Braeburn Road in San Diego so that when the OT princes, the "ancient worthies" such as Abraham, Enoch, David, etc. returned to earth they would have a nice place to live. It even had palm and olive trees so that the princes will feel at home. He also had V 16 Cadillac coupe and a bomb shelter on the property. Judge Rutherford lived there in the meantime. Why would the leader of the JW's live on the west coast when the HQ was in NY? Some say because he was an alcoholic and the organization wanted him out of the way. Sounds a bit like HWA, living well off the people, big car and a "place of safety."
BB, Herbert actually promoted parsnips. He said if they are simmered just till tender and taken off the stove before they get all mushy, they are really good. After hearing that recommendation one of my classmates at Ambassador said something that corroborates your assessment of cult life. He said, "I don't like parsnips, but if that man set parsnips in front of me and told me to eat them, I would!"
Once years later, I got curious and grew some and tried cooking them Herbert's way. Not good. That was the last time I devoted garden space to parsnips.
Im going to join the hit parade of cults and start my own.
However, mine is going to be "natural and organic"...
It will be known as the "JOJOBA WITNESSES"
Well, Prof, my mother knew how to fix parsnips so they were good. I liked them when I was a kid, and have tried to prepare them myself with mixed results.
I call the UCG the hangers-on church. These are people who don't quit have the courage to leave armstrongism but latch onto the UCG just incase Armstrong was right. The fear of losing salvation sure has a powerful hold on people.
It has been said ; "Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."
in the same verse it says: "....there is none good but one, that is, God:"
Conclusion: Don't follow puny man nor any of his groups, follow Yehovah; remembering:-"Luk 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."
cheers
ralph.f
Well, guys, I can assure you that none of my friends, family, or neighbors knew about parsnips while I was growing up until my parents had the bad misfortune of hearing "The World Tomorrow" broadcast. Parsnips were part of the barrage of insider information, just like carob, Prevention Magazine, paranoia about "perverted" white flour and white sugar, and a host of other things that just flat make Armstrongites cultic and weird.
If parsnips can actually be prepared to make them enjoyable, apparently nobody I ever knew was able to apply the secrets.
BB
Jesus was a Jew and said, "keep the commandments." Question? Who was he talking to? Jews or Gentiles? Which Commandments was he referring to? Which ones were other referring to when the term "Commandments" is being used? Or which "Laws"? Which Laws or Commandments were the Gentiles told to obey. We know what the Bible says, but I ask, What does it mean? How many different lists of Laws or Commandments are there? Noahide Laws? Moses Laws? Royal Law?
Bikler Bob, don't curse the parsnip plant just because Jesus was in a foul mood one day and cursed the fig tree. In the Kingdom, Martha Stewart will be in charge of delicious parsnip recipes. You may even be assigned to the Heavenly Cloud upon which you'll pick parsnips that propagate propitiously in perpetuity. Martha's parsnips anointed with oils and herbs will be Jesus's favorite food in the Kingdom, even though they may make Him fart a lot. (Everyone around Him will forgive Him, though.)
With Jesus and Martha involved, the Kingdom will be a total gas!
Martha Stewart??? Is that what the ghost of Gerald Waterhouse has chosen for the Kingdom? Why darn it all! My vote would have been with that Brabushka type old lady that did The Dump Cookbook!
You know: "Parsnips? Why don't even peel them! Leave the stubs of the greens right on them! Put them in a microwave bowl, dump a can of Lipton Onion Soup in, and sprinkle lightly with Sensimilla seeds! Cook for 5 minutes, and voila! A real gas for any high holy day!"
LOL!
BB
on October 9, 2015 at 2:17 PM
Anonymous said...
"Jesus was a Jew and said, "keep the commandments."
Then asked a number of questions. Seems like "anonymous" could make good use of a Bible Correspondence Course and I'd be happy to recommend a couple.
Whenever I see the exclamation "Jesus was a Jew" I sometimes ask "When did He become a Christian?" Was it when He was baptized by John the baptist?
I will try to answer a couple of "Anon's" questions. viz.
Q1."Who was he talking to? Jews or Gentiles?"
A1. Scripture doesn't say. It just says "Mat 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
Q2."Which Commandments was he referring to?"
A2. Read the associated text. "Mat 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
Sufficient of the "perfect law" as in "Act_22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day." to indicate He was referring to the 'Decalogue', the Ten Commandments.
Q3. "Which ones were other referring to when the term "Commandments" is being used?"
A3. Read the surrounding text.
Q4. Which Laws or Commandments were the Gentiles told to obey."
A4. All that are applicable to the individual. Yehovah is no respecter of persons. see "Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Act 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." and read the surrounding text.
Q5."What does it mean?"
A5. It means what it says!
cheers
ralph.f
ps:
re. "righteousness"
See: "Psa 119:172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness."(AKJ)
cheers
ralph.f
Ralph, sorry if I was not clear in my comments. But, wasn't Jesus a Jew? Didn't he live as a Jew? Didn't he wear tassels and keep the OT laws? But later on in the NT, when the word law or commandments was used, was the writer always referring to the Law of Moses? Can't we use the word LAW to refer to moral law, a ceremonial law, a civil law, traffic law, contract law, etc.? Rom 3 speaks of the law of faith. Rom 8 speaks of law of the spirit of life. Gal speaks of Law of Christ. James 2 speak of the Royal Law. LCG letter answerer will often say, "Jesus kept the Law." I reply, "Sure he did, but are Christians to do the same? Do you wear tassels or stone those who break the Sabbath?" Bottom line, just as it is today, the term law or commandments can refer to different things. No?
BTW Ralph, when I make a comment, do you think that it might be more useful if we avoided condescending language, such as suggesting that I need the use of a good correspondence course? When I write to LCG and others asking them questions, I usually preface my comments with, "It is my understanding that . . . . ." They usually come back with some arrogant comment that is typical of the Churches of God. That arrogant attitude is something that I hope I left behind when I left the WCG in 74.
on October 11, 2015 at 12:07 PM
Anonymous said...
"BTW Ralph, when I make a comment, do you think that it might be more useful if we avoided condescending language,"
Now I'm sorry anon. Condescension was not my aim. I read your post as if you were asking questions to which you had no answers. Answers that can be found in a good Bible correspondence course.
I hope to reply to your other comments when I have a little more time.
cheers
ralph.f
Just checking. My recent balcony Succah "HERE"
It didn't work. I'll try again "HERE"
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