Herbert Armstrong loved to decry the religious confusion in the world at large and within traditional Christianity in particular. He wrote in A Voice Cries Out Amid Religious Confusion:
“Why the Babylon of religious confusion in the world? Why so many differing religions? More than 250 denominations in Christianity, besides Judaism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, Shintoism, Taoism, agnosticism, atheism and evolution. How could the world have become so mixed up? Out of this spiritual wilderness, a voice cries out in clarity and power, decrying this world confusion, with the reassuring TRUTH of the world's only and SURE HOPE!”
If Herbert Armstrong was that voice, then why has the organization which he founded splintered into so many diverse groups? The old Worldwide Church of God doesn’t even exist as an organization anymore – it became Grace Communion International (a largely mainstream Protestant Church that has shunned many of Armstrong’s teachings). In addition to that body, there is a United Church of God, Restored Church of God, Living Church of God, Philadelphia Church of God, Continuing Church of God, Church of God – a Worldwide Association, Church of God International, Church of God an International Community, Church of God the Eternal, Church of the Eternal God, and a host of smaller groups. Interestingly, most of them claim to be the ONE, TRUE church and characterize each other as apostates. ALL of them have different doctrinal beliefs, methods of governance and/or styles of worship.
Armstrongism as the antidote to religious confusion? I’m just not seeing it. What do you think?
-Miller Jones
ReplyDeleteHere are some of the religious confusers:
The False Prophets
The Truly Evil
Gerald R. Flurry (PCG): Satan's destroyer of HWA's writings, the true gospel, families, morality, etc.
David C. Pack (RCG): Satan's greedy, lying, thieving, vomiting mess.
Just Nuts
Ronald E. Weinland (COG-PKG): Satan's false witness and fiction-writing ex-con.
Robert J. Thiel (CCG): Satan's retard who thinks of himself “in terms that are not realistic.”
I dont know about current Armstrongism and do not contemplate adhering to any petty dictator.
ReplyDeleteI know HWA asked most of the classic philosophers questions, like your example, and each sermon said, "dont believe me."
I also know that people leading real nations often called him a "navigator in a confused world".
A navigator mind you, not the pilot himself.
Having observed this dichotomy, I conclude that Armstrongism provides a tool for some to answer the great questions, from their own inner world of prejudice, releasing the worst from a closed mind, while others from a open or (non member) perspective might have answered the same questions in a more illuminated way.
Some would interpret the 7 churches message as speaking about closed separate groupings and others would see the verses about "but some among you".
HWA was not as closed minded as his accolytes. HWA was transparent, open and frank about not having been baptized by a COG minister, had cog7th day ministers preach at the Feast and met many dignataries of different faith who seemed to like him.
HWA called God Allah in his conversation with Mubarak and endeared many by his lack of knowledge on many things. Even his wife jokek in the Plain Truth early 1950's....that.... If there was secret knowledge hidden in the Great Pyramids, Mr Armstrong was certainly not privy to that........
I think intellectuals viewed hwa more distantly and philosophically than those used to "one truth".
Our Pastor once joked about the date of fleeing to Petra only known in Nr Armstrongs blue book in his safe in Tuscon.
It caused quite a riot amongst the congregation and me as a kid questioning my parents. They answered that it was a joke.
First time I knew that a hole to be funny. A revelation.
Nck
I remember barely HWA pounding on his bible saying prove all things....
ReplyDeleteI have proved one thing, WCG,GCG & LCG r all terrible organizations but most everyone here knows that already.
"navigator in a confused world"
ReplyDeleteLike "The Helmsman Sets the Ocean Course", a patriotic song about Chairman Mao.
A mistake people made with HWA's approach was the assumption that those who asked the "right questions" also had the "right answers".
" I’m just not seeing it."
ReplyDeletewell, Lonnie, you've said something I can agree with you on....
there are false churches everywhere....some even put Church of God in their name.
ReplyDelete4:54
ReplyDeleteI have no problem with your assessment.
I just read an article about the "white knight narcissist."
nck
It is easy to declare unity if you do the following:
ReplyDelete1. Claim that your organization is the one and only true church.
2. Claim everything else to be apostate.
This is what HWA did. And this is what each individual splinter group does. Hence, from their relative perspective, they see no problem with disunity.
Among Christian churches, the approach above also was at one time the case. Finally, there was recognition that various churches were really just denominations and none could claim to be the one and only true church. Instead there was recognition of the Invisible Body of Christ, the ekklesia that spanned many different organizations that shared major theological principles.
The Apocalyptic Millerite denominations will never reach that level of maturity because they are fervently driven by revenue collection. To not be the "One and Only True Church" is to share revenue with other organizations. That kind of magnanimity is not in their cultic makeup. Being unique is a big part of their sales pitch. What they learned from HWA was effective product branding.
Miller, of course Herbert Armstrong was the antidote to religious confusion, just as Jesus Christ was. And we know how both of their efforts turned out.
ReplyDeleteOf the two, who would be the guiltier party? The one with a 90 year movement or the one with a 2000 year movement?
Ironic, that HWA framed the confused religionists as being of the world. Very smart. For the world to come was now defined and obtainable.
Jesus Christ unwound the confused religionists and their 7 brothers and 1 wife tale with: "but they which shall be accounted WORTHY to obtain that world, and the resurrection ........ neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection".
Maybe, Jesus Christ's mystery of the ages and Herbert Armstrong's were not that far apart save for what constitutes worthy.
The Swan(s) in Flight sculpture in front of the Big Sandy ad-building represented the ascend of or transformation into true democracy, liberty and freedom of the type as speifically experienced in the Nordic (Scandinavian Countries.) (Different from the Pasadena Egret theme of Aspiration and the souring of the (human) spirit.)
ReplyDeleteIf all the modern administrators of armstrongism descended into old fashioned paternalistic mind controlling uniformity, they have failed to grasp the true original Vision and why and how AC was envisioned as the original one was envisioned to be close to Locarno.
The Five Swans may also be interpreted as one single swan in different stages of flight or transformation.
In no way should the original philosophy be interpreted into a mind quenching exercise of totalitarian control.
nck
If HWA had followed "church government" of the COG 7th Day, and subjugated his pet "US/BC" disproven theory, and submitted to his superiors, perhaps there would not be the confusion of his legacy churches.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteAll sorts of bad people rose up from among the wreckage of the WCG speaking perverse things to try to get a following and a paycheck from former WCG members.
WATT,
ReplyDeleteUnlike Herbert Armstrong, Jesus Christ did not offer an elaborate theology that was to be the exclusive property of his followers. His message was simple and focused on love of God, love of each other, mercy, forgiveness and redemption. Yes, there have been a great many folks over the two millennia since he walked this earth who have appropriated his name and message and used them to hurt and abuse their fellows. Christ didn't discourse on science, history, genealogy, economics and politics. Some of his followers have done that, but he didn't.
Herbert Armstrong demanded perfection (although he was very imperfect). Jesus Christ accepted people where they were and offered them redemption. Herbert Armstrong's teachings engendered confusion and division, while Christ appealed to the better angels of our nature. Hence, it seems unfair to lay the blame at Christ's feet for the sins and confusion that his followers have promulgated in his name - for their failure to yield to those better angels.
Do we blame our Founding Fathers for the sins and failures of their successors? Do we blame Charles Darwin for the misapplication of his theory by some of his followers into the field of human sociology?
Herbert Armstrong claimed to be a follower and representative of Jesus Christ - Christ never claimed to be a follower of any man, religion or human organization. Herbert Armstrong lorded it over his followers - Christ forbade his disciples to lord it over each other. Herbert Armstrong wrote numerous tracts, booklets and books - As far as we know, Christ never personally wrote anything.
If someone steals your identity and engages in financial malfeasance in your name, should we hold you responsible for the fallout from that person's crimes? Admittedly, a great deal of evil has been committed and much blood has been shed in God's name, does that make God responsible?
Herb repeatedly said "prove all things" to his listeners. But if you came to a conclusion that differed from the official doctrines, his ministers would beat the crap out of you and/or would kick you of his church. The "prove all things" thingy was a marketing Pharisaic mask.
ReplyDelete"Unlike Herbert Armstrong, Jesus Christ did not offer an elaborate theology that was to be the exclusive property of his followers."
ReplyDeleteWhat???? So Jews understand Jesus? Buddhists? Muslims?
Hmmmmm. Me thinks you not know what you talkinbout lucy!