The Philadelphia Church of God has spent over two decades deifying Herbert Armstrong. They now are attempting to deify Richard Armstrong, by calling him the first martyr of the end times.
“God called on Abraham to be willing to sacrifice his son. God was willing to sacrifice His Son for you and me. I have had to give up my son. Richard David Armstrong died Wednesday morning, July 30, as the first real martyr for God’s cause in these latter days just before the return of Christ in all power and glory” (Herbert W. Armstrong, co-worker letter, Aug. 5, 1958).One thing that stands out in the article is the attitude of Herbert Armstrong. Never one to miss an opportunity to gather in money, he used Richard Armstrong's terrible accident to guilt trip members into sending in as much money as they could. HWA would later use this same tactic when his wife was dying from a blocked colon.
Another co-worker letter, dated August 28 of the same year, states, “Some had thought God would never let such a thing happen …. But nothing would please Satan more than to see us now lose faith.”
It’s no wonder why God, in the same chapter known as the “faith chapter,” goes into detail about the martyrdom of so many of His saints. The Church and its co-workers received perhaps the biggest lesson in faith it had ever received! In a co-worker letter written after the accident, before Richard died (on July 27), Mr. Armstrong scolded many of them for letting down in their prayers and offerings. “Co-workers, will you not only pray for my son’s miraculous and speedy recovery—but also for the financial salvation of the Work of God?” Throughout the letter, with the call for more believing prayers, Mr. Armstrong called for more faithful offerings. He said Satan had struck one of God’s “very chiefest laborers,” but that God’s Work needed more co-worker laborers “who help with their urgent heart-rending prayers, and with their tithes and generous offerings, regularly every month, or even every week.”The financial salvation of the work? Seriously? How sick can the manipulative man get? This request was all about manipulation. Make the members feel that because THEY had slacked off on prayers and in giving that it was their fault Richard had this terrible accident.
"Disgusting sinners! If you had been praying more my son would not have been injured and the work would be increasing! Get on your knees and beg God to heal my son and to correct your sinful attitudes as you give more money!"
26 comments:
In fact, wasn't Dorothy Armstrong the first martyr of the end time, as she gave up her virginity for HWA?
Dwight = brother.
Richard = son.
Small edit. :)
Dwight??
Dave Packman copied Herb by claiming that his wife died for the work. Intellectually dishonest and so manipulative.
Where did these leaders learn/steal all these ploys? Is their some secret manual, a 'How to be a cult leader for dummies?'
I enjoyed reading David Jon Hill’s memoirs several years back, in which he reminisced about himself and Dick happily and furtively smoking cigarettes as they transported the World Tomorrow broadcast tapes over to Hollywood for dubbing or some such thing. Mr. Hill seemed poised to reveal a number of additional new realities to us all, and then, unfortunately, suddenly passed away.
The Armstrongs didn’t invent hype, but they surely taught the world how to use both it, and smoke and mirrors, very convincingly in a compelling religious package. Nothing was as it appeared to be to all of us lowly, peon lay members. The hippies may have hallucinated on mushrooms, but the source of our own hallucination resulted from HWA keeping us in the dark, and covering us with sh*t. To paraphrase Woody Woodpecker, “Poo poo poo caca!”
BB
Here is another dave pack comparison video false christs. the things this guy is teaching are crazy he seems to be a schizophrenia sufferer. please share to stop people from being drawn in to this nonsense. thank you
Yeah, actually, strictly speaking, his sister Dot really the first martyr.
I find it fascinating to watch PCG turn "Roman Catholic" within a 25 year period.
The emphasis on the miracles Richard performed before his demise, the martyrship. He fits the exact criteria for catholic sainthood. Of course wcg taught we were saints all along, but miracle martyrship thing is taking it to the next (catholic) level.
With the other emphasis on material things, like stones, turned into "objects of worship" I am really anticipating a kind of "Maria" to appear on the scene. Perhaps a new musical "Edmond side story" or perhaps some 15 year old Mexican girl could fill the role, I don't know. And of course a gay man will have to paint a "last judgement" in the auditorium.
It seems that after the 1995 Tkachian changes we are seeing the entire 1st century scenario unfold again.
Since all goes faster nowadays, perhaps the next Luther or Savonarola will appear within the next 40 years already. This time I expect that to be a black man with an earring though or pinky ring with rocks.
nck
Indeed Byker, the David Jon Hill autobiography was perhaps the most honest and forthright thing ever written about the old WCG. It was a crying shame that he died before finishing it, and in fact , was left hanging right at what might be termed "the best parts yet to come".
Anyone care to share a link to the Hill autobiography?
It was a terrible incident but how does a traffic accident make one a martyr? Does that come under the definition of a martyr?
Regarding Dorothy, I've often reflected on what emotional traumas she must have faced in her life due to her father's lecherousness. Going into marriage not a virgin which was a state practically worshiped in Worldwide and knowing her defiled state was due to her own father. What about Vern Mattson when he learned the truth, yet was bought off by being the financial manager for years until he was shafted and Al Portune took over. Poor Vern took the blame and the fall when he could hardly have bucked the old man.
We always practically idolized Loma, but she could not have been ignorant of all that was going on. How she could be innocent of any culpability in the whole scam with all she had to have known is beyond me, but the power of human irrationality is a force to be wondered at.
Deception is indeed a powerful force. I think of David Antion, whose wife was Shirley Armstrong's sister and defiled by Garner Ted. It's always been a mystery to me how he could follow Ted into his organization after that past. The power of deception is truly beyond fathoming.
Is what David Jon Hill wrote available anywhere? I'd like to read it.
This tactic is appalling. But I'm actually surprised that you don't here this more coming out of the ACOGS these days, especially being that so many old timers are dying out. "Look at Mr John Doe! He GAVE his life to GOD's WORK. Follow his example and GIVE GIVE GIVE!" At what point do people stop and look around and see all the sacrifice and say when is enough enough?
Did David Hill mention the incest with HWAs poor underage daughter?
Maybe because of HWA's teaching against medical treatment, Don Billingsley didn't take No Doz to stay awake while driving...
Sending tithes was more important than taking medicine. Though we all know this is common knowledge, seeing it in print in one of the Church Articles was still a nausea inducer. The sheer evil that permeated the church was well known among the ministry. In one of the minister-only bulletins, GTA actually said it was likely impossible even God's spirit could rid the ministry of all of the (insert worldly carnal trait here) that was in the ministry.
Because it was mandatory that all ministers read every word of every Headquarters communication, absolutely No one in the ministry was unaware of the treachery and carnality in the ministry at any time. Not every minister in the field was a part of the widespread corruption and carnality. But many were. Those that were a part of it seemingly could not see it - and others, I can only assume, were ashamed of it. It was a runaway problem that sparked HWA's "get back on track" program in the early 80s. Herbert's authoritarian dictatorship to "clean house", and his "forcing of unity" by squelching any dissent put all of the open dis-unity into the underground, but did not by any means get rid of it. Better hidden and underground then open and exposed. After all, appearance was everything in the Church.
-SHT
Sorry I forgot the link for the dave pack comparison false christs, here it is thanks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFa8srzuo6k
I believe that the David Jon Hill articles were in the Journal. They are also available at this link...
http://godward.org/?s=david+jon+hill
Thanks, Connie. I went immediately to the site and read it all. I knew and worked some with Jon Hill when I was in College. Always liked and respected him. He was certainly as sincere as I and many others were at the time.
http://www.godward.org/archives/Special%20Articles/a_hill_of_an_experience.htm
Kevin
Thanks Connie.
HWA was calculating in everything he did to work everything to his advantage. I wonder how things might have gone had his son not been killed. Of his sons Richard seemed to have the stronger character. I think there would have been some serious conflicts had Richard become increasingly popular and posed a threat to HWA's ego.
You can learn about the true HWA intent by just a quick scan of his "autobiography".
In the early years he'd go to a town, preach several nights in tent meetings. If there were enough people he'd start a congregation and place a man in charge.
One time a congregation that he started quit sending him their "tithes". He claimed they left God's work, he knew there was a problem that he had to correct. How to keep the people faithful to "God's" (really HWA's) work?
His answer. Ambassador College. Training yes men, dependent upon a paycheck, to keep the churches faithful to herbies work.
His ego didn't allow him to "merely" bring people to Christ, he had to control them so that HE could do HIS work.
He started out with what "I believe" to be some truth that he learned from the COG7th day, G.G. Rupert and others and he completely perverted that truth with his ego.
For those who still hold to the Sabbath, Feasts, God's plan of salvation, none of these originated with HWA. Most came from G.G. Rupert a former SDA and I'm sure G.G. learned them from someone else.
The Sabbath, Feasts etc. do not stand or fall with HWA no matter what many say. Keeping the Sabbath and Feasts does not automatically make you an Armstrongite. Believing in his perverted form of church government/ministerial class, and having to do an organized worldwide work, etc. does make you an Armstrongite.
The gospel has gone out by individuals through word of mouth for almost 2000 years, it is not dependent upon a one man, or small group of men conglomerate.
Organizations of men divide.
Kevin
Job 5:3 I have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling place.
Job 5:4 His sons are far from safety; yea, they are crushed in the gate; nor is there any deliverer.
Richard Armstrong was killed by driving up a ramp in the wrong direction. He was crushed in the gate.
Quite a fitting name:ARMstrong!! It shows where the faith and trust was put: in a MAN!! I get sick and tired of even hearing the name mentioned!!🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮 He didn’t restore ANYTHING and He could have used a ROCK!! It all came to NOTHING, so what good was it???? What became of it all??? It came to NOTHING!! Take a stroll to Pasadena and try to find it!! If He thought it was good, He would NOT have DESTROYED it!! 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮 SHUT UP ARMstrong already!! I am ready to vomit!! Find something more productive to do with your time!! It is a dead horse!!
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