Armstrongism has been preaching and delivering the same message for over 70 years since Herbert Armstrong split off in doctrine to go off and "do his own thing". It has always been the same, in one form or another. The pattern has been consistent, and the results have been exactly the same.
It really does not matter who the messenger in the COG's are, or even what the variations are.
On one extreme is the extreme fundamentalist end - the Packs and the Flurry's that build up big campuses under the same exact scenarios. The end's coming, Jesus is coming "there", wherever "there" is (Edmond, Wadsworth, or why not - Punxsatawny to meet the Groundhog), you've got to send in the money (20, 30, 50, even 100 percent!!!) to preach this "Gospel" while under the strict autocratic dictatorship of the ministry. You've got about 3 years to go, maybe 5. Then, it does not happen (It never has - in ANY splinter on ANY timeframe they have proposed), and the clock resets for another "big push" of more money - this time, yes, THIS time, they've got it right. They get more money, you get disappointed. They buy expensive suits, you get buy on Quaker Oats. You don't say a thing about it, or you have an attitude problem. Buck up, chin up, and trust, they'll say - God's in charge. After all, God did all of this, they'll say, and God's in charge, they'll say. You get back in your comfortable zone to repeat the same soul-crushing, mind-numbing process again, listening to part 3,405 of a 12,349 part sermon, going to services every week to hear the same message time after time. Like Groundhog Day. (now do you get the reference?)
On the other extreme is the extreme wacky end. The Thiels and the Malms that make pathetic and ridiculous attempts at getting out "the message". From ridiculous animations to huge big deals about some intro program that resembles what used to be, from crooked bookcases to shabby curtains. From over-the top sound systems distorted to the point you can't hear anything (because they think they're being 'obedient'), to green-screen Digitizer Judaizers - to publishing every single piece of Armstrong related material on the net - it always leads to the same result. Nothing. Like a groundhog at night, they lumber across the road, snarling and hissing at any attempt at criticism, not realizing that they are a small pinprick of light against the 2 billion candlepower intensity against the knowledge available on the internet.
It doesn't matter who they are. It's always the same.
Attempts to figure out prophecy - and failing every time. Unique interpretations only they've figured out that will bring in one person, causing two to leave. Predictions and speculations trotted out with dramatic presentation that go down faster than a frozen groundhog in a storm. (Alright, I'll stop with the groundhog - you get the point). Rules and Regulations that strip you of your adulthood and reduce you to a small child in an adult body. Don't wear shoelaces. Don't wear this. Don't wear that. This is wrong, that's wrong - now you're grounded from Church for two weeks without any fellowship. And don't talk back and cop an attitude with me, young man or young lady. I said you're grounded. Don't make me kick you out of the house.
What is your responsibility in all of this?
You feed them. You clothe them. You pay their bills. You pay for their car. Their gas. Their electricity. Their utilities. Their groceries. Their internet. You pay for their insurance. Their travels. And it stops there. You have nothing else to say about it.
They can got to Sak's Fifth Avenue, the BMW dealership. Zoe's Jewelers. Punxsatawny. (Sorry, I could not help it.) They could even go to Victoria's Secret or Chippendale's and you would know NOTHING about it. You could be paying for anything under the sun and you wouldn't know about it because any attempt would be construed as "rebellion against God's Government". And what happens.
You struggle. Your kids do not go to college. You don't have enough food. Your bills are struggling. You rob Peter to Pay Paul, and Mark, Luke and John keep calling. Your family is alienated, your friends are few, but it's all okay because you're storing your reward in the Heavenlies while your spiritual "superiors" live High on the Hog on your hard work, sitting there, laughing to the bank. This is how it has been for over 70 years. This is how it always will be, so long as people continue to enable these scammers with their schemes and lies.
Yes, you want to keep the Sabbath. Yes, you want to keep the Holy Days. Yes, you feel that this is the right way to honor God. I know! I've been there! We've ALL been there! Every one of us was hooked into whatever franchise of Armstrongism we got hooked into because we wanted to do what is right. We wanted to do the right thing no matter what the "world " thought about it. We gave it our all, and we gave up our all. But let's be honest. We were lied to. Over, and over, and over again. We were told it was the truth to find it a worse cesspool of lies, fraud, and evil then what we ever believed was possible. If you feel like you need to keep the Sabbath and Holy Days, why not at least do it in a clean and pure environment - instead of a cesspool of oppression and everything God has condemned in the manners of attitudes and greed and filth?
The entire Bible speaks literally volumes about the exact attitudes and circumstances of Armstrongism. The arrogance. The conceit. The oppression. The merchandising. The pride. The overall lesson of the entire word of God is strict and absolute condemnation of the very attitudes, behaviors, and principles of organized Armstrongism - and even in some cases, organized Christianity in all forms. They aren't standing pretty in the eyes of God for their treatment of not only their version of Christianity, OR their members who had a pure heart and just wanted to do what was right and got scammed to the hilt for it all. The abuse has gone on too long within the Churches of God. Far, far too long.
But to think that God is behind the abhorrent, unprincipled, egocentric, vain, greedy, narcissistic, manipulative, backstabbing, lying cesspool of muck and filth of destructive behaviors that rot and spew out of the garbage pile that calls itself Armstrongism today, while setting up chairs and singing songs in the pits of hell and shame and praising God in the garbage pile of vomit and rot? I don't buy it. And that goes for any organization, Christian-professing or otherwise - who exploits, demeans, oppresses, guilt's, shames, and coerces the people for their own ruthless gain and mammon. God has never been behind the practices and attitudes behind the "work" - whether in the 40s, the 70s, or today. Maybe Ambrose figured this out in whatever circumstances he may have been aware of and simply said "Enough".
It is time to stand up for righteousness in the Churches of God. It is time to stand up and say, "Enough! I will have no part with this iniquity". It is time to seek God in prayer, to seek the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and be set free from the oppressors. It is time to take back your lives for the sake of your family, your friends, your God, and the Truth. It is time to set YOUR life on the track that God has for you. As scripture says, seek you first the Kingdom and HIS righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
I don't know your circumstances, or you. I don't know the obstacles in your path. I don't know what your individual circumstances are. But I do know that Jesus loves you, and cares for you. He died for you. And he LIVES for you.It is not my place whatsoever to advise you of anything (as it never has been the place of anyone in the Armstrong churches to do so. I am NOT qualified, and neither have they ever been). You and only you know your life's story and what is best, because YOU have a brain that God gave you, and no man has the right to disrespect the mind God gave you for their own ways and thoughts. THIS kind of thought and action of what to do regarding you and the Churches of God in Armstrongism is only between you and God. But with that said. I am a Christian - and as a fellow believer - I ask only that you think about and reflect on the words of Jesus in the book of Matthew. And that you pray, and hear what God has to say. I pray God will bless you as you seek His will in your life, for you and your family and all of your loved ones. And if you know someone - anyone - who would benefit from this writing, you are free to copy, and to share.
submitted by SHT
9 comments:
"... because YOU have a brain that God gave you, and no man has the right to disrespect the mind God gave you for their own ways and thoughts."
You shall know them by their fruits. The fruits of confusion and diverse opinion show clearly that most people are irrational, deceived, and not all that smart. Their biggest problems are that they overrate their own thinking ability and listen to fake experts.
Is this Mr Ambrose and dave packs final disscussion?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZKXM631h6g
"...because YOU have a brain that God gave you, and no man has the right to disrespect the mind God gave you for their own ways and thoughts."
Isn't it interesting that, although they practice virtually the same rules, diversity of opinion is embraced and encouraged in synagogue or at temple, and the atmosphere is vibrant, healthy, and predominantly happy as compared to that found in Armstrongism. My Jewish friends have consistently told me that they marvel that anyone could derive all of the misery, fear, repressiveness, and violence towards children within the family from Torah.
Make the calling pure... Eliminate the money, power and control, and watch who really is of the faith or not!
"It doesn't matter who they are. It's always the same."
I agree with your assessment of the groups you mention, but I notice that United was not among them. United is not a perfect church, but it is a long way from the cultish WWCG and the groups you describe.
United has it's pockets of WWCG mind sets, but for the most part it's a much better Christian environment. I'd still like to see more balance from some speakers when it comes to Law and Grace. Without God's Love and Mercy, the creation plan doesn't work, now, or in the Kingdom. We are still just humans straining to understand it all in a very confused world.
I have visited 2 Messianic Jewish groups - one believes Jesus did away with the Law's requirements and one believes everything but the sacrificial laws are in effect.
Both services were highly enjoyable and the people in charge very friendly to all.
Lot of emphasis on worship through religious songs- some of which I already knew.
The teaching was a Bible reading, then based on it.
We also sorrowed for the 11 killed in Pittsburgh.
Plus they have their good works and support unaffiliated Messianic Jewish organizations.
I plan to keep attending both for a while (Friday night and Saturday morning).
They both seem to be about 50-50% Jew and Gentile.
"My Jewish friends have consistently told me that they marvel that anyone could derive all of the misery, fear, repressiveness, and violence towards children within the family from Torah."
If the Jews are so great why did Jesus call their leaders snakes and vipers and the children of the Devil, and why were the Jewish masses dumb enough to follow those leaders, and why do they do so still?
You sound more like a Jew than a follower of Jesus.
Nice try though.
Nice article and call to action for the many who are as sheep, locked up and neglected and abused.
There are many variances to the "It's always the same". The 1970's were not like the 1980's. The 1980's were nothing like what transpired in the 1990's. What is transpiring today, is far removed from all other eras.
Is it (the Armstrong model) workable? Yes it is, but it is wholly contingent on many many factors. In the end, even if a workable model is functioning, there is so much missing because it is such a narrow defined religious model that is introverted as apposed to extroverted.
Today, with the over 400 splinters staining and soiling themselves and each other and led by extremist leaders, the model of foul religion blossoms with an anti-Christ (against Christ) impiety standard practice.
In what should be the highlight of the week for those in the COG's, Sabbath services has turned into listening to the self edification of the leaders and talk revolves around the latest set date or the new title or the 50 proofs for this or that or the newest building or how bad splinter A B or C is. The actual dynamics of personally attending services where the demand for "Common" is required and worship and fellowship is replaced with "I have a pile of money in my 401K and I have to decide soon to send it in" or "our daughter is being divorced and her husband got them into massive debt and I don't know how we will be able to help her because we have to send in all of our money to headquarters" is a dynamic foreign to most church attendees.
Pure religion un-defiled is now lost for so many. That clean and pure enviroment you (SHT) recommend for COG members to find is wise advise, for many a member are trapped in a basement with a grated ceiling with you know what reigning down upon them.
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