Think Armstrongism died in 1986 or 1994? Oh no. It's alive and well and now "on steroids" in 2022 in The Restored Church of God, headed by new cult leader Dave Pack. In this explosive episode, we talk with @kevindenee, Pack's son-in-law and a former high-ranking member in the RCG who left in 2016. He talks publicly for the first time about the church, ready to blow the whistle on its nefarious nature.
See Spotify for other episodes: Worldwide: The Unchosen Church
Dave Pack reminds me of the commercial 'You are somebody'put out by Midas Muffler decades ago. His whole purpose, much like HWA, wants recognization and power. His total lack of humility and continued requests for more and more money, reveals what occupies his mind.
ReplyDeleteWhat gets me is that none of these cogs have discerned what Yahweh really thinks of them. Yahweh allowed the temple to be destroyed in 70 A.D. because of the behavior of the leaders along with the citizens of Israel. Look at what HWA built and all you see are ruins. All of the buildings except for one has been demolished.
Anyone with half a mind should be able to discern that Yahweh is not pleased with these people. When you study what Yahshua said about the leaders of His day, then one must admit that the leadership of today are committing the same acts and since Yahweh changes NOT, He must look upon them in the same way. I would hate to be standing in their shoes when standing before Yahshua to be judged.
I'm hearing Taps as the Sun sets on The Empire of Dave and the Deplored Church of God
ReplyDeleteI'm hearing Taps as the Sun sets on The Empire of Dave and the Deplored Church of God
ReplyDeleteHow will this thing blow? Dave holds all the cards, and just by selling the properties he'll be able to fund a solo ministry without taking in any tithes. He could be another Harold Camping. Again, and again, and again. And he wouldn't need any donations after selling all the RCG-owned properties.
Some readers here may be familiar with the cult classic When Prophecy Fails. Many remember that the group grew closer together and more committed to their beliefs after the initial December 1954 contact prophecy failed. But what most don't know is that even after the group finally collapsed a few years later, the leader of the group remained active as a UFO prophetess and wannabe contactee until she died in 1992. Pack could go it alone and remain a voice for many more years until he dies.
At least Harold camping only set one date. And stuck by it, even to his embarrassment.
DeleteI'm glad I listened to this. The Bible says let this mind be in you which was in Christ, but the longer men are under Dave Pack ack they think like him and act like him. Jesus also told us to forgive others as he forgives us but if you don't forgive then he won't forgive you either. So I forgive Kevin Denney for raking me over the coals because of breaking strict trivial rules that Dave Pack made up that were never in the WCG. I think it's good he was able to move on.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I apologize for any offense I have may have caused you and deeply appreciate your sentiments of forgiveness.
DeleteI am so glad Kevin did this. The interview was fascinating the whole way through.
ReplyDeleteIt would be immensely helpful for other former RCG members to come forward and tell their story. Dawn Blue wants to hear from you: howitsdone.onair@gmail.com
There seems to be more public momentum for exposing what is going on inside RCG.
DCP is probably getting Tums delivered by the crate these days...
Part of me is thrilled with all the recent exposure of Pack and his insanity. However, I am also concerned about what Dave might do given this public airing of the inner workings.
ReplyDeleteI know many do not believe him to be any physical threat to himself or others, but I just worry that this will not end well. I just want the members to get out safely and see a for sale sign covering the front gate. Dave can find a very nice sanitarium with all his ill gotten gain. But this one, given the family ties, has got to hurt. It's no less than what he deserves.
This splinter group is one of many products in the religious marketplace. Some people who like the product will buy it. We can do "Consumer Reports" viewpoints on this product and it is a matter of concern for others that we do so. We need to help people define the product based on our past experience with similar products. But in the last analysis, in a nation of religous freedom, people buy what they want.
ReplyDeletePerspective is important. An atheist would likely see not much difference between this splinter group and the Methodist church. A theologian at Fuller Theological Seminary would see that comparison much differently from the atheist. I bought into orthodox Christianity. Most atheists would then see me as little different from the people who are members of this splinter group.
It is fine to get wrapped around the axle over this splinter group's behavior but it is important to retain perspective. We have and should have limited influence in the domain of belief. That's why the US Constitution opts for freedom in the First Amendment.
Just saying ...
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David Pack is a pretty good talker and writer, but to become a truly great talker and writer he would have to work on the content of his talking and writing and cut out all the lies and nonsense and attempts at swindling people out of everything they own.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that Denee leaves out is that both the WCG and RCG use a control mechanism that if you leave, you will lose your salvation, or that you will experience the Great Tribulation in its full fury.
ReplyDeleteIt is the insertion of putting the church and your commitment to a human organization and its sole leader that is the gateway for Eternal Life.
This is a blasphemy against the Salvation of Jesus Christ and his name alone. The cult leaders acts as the creator of "need" without any alternative choice , and is the equivalent of holding you hostage with a price even greater than physical life or death, but ETERNAL death.
Sadly, this is always how things turn out whenever people begin to worship a manmade organization instead of our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Dear friends, I plead with you all: Repent and ask the Lord Jesus for a personal relationship. He will not reject anyone who diligently seeks Him.
ReplyDeleteAt least Harold camping only set one date. And stuck by it, even to his embarrassment.
ReplyDeleteNope! Camping was a five-time loser before he gave up. Amateur compared to Dave, but also far better known.
Harold Camping Wikipedia Article
"Setting prophecy dates seems like a rookie cult leader mistake." lol.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine what Kevin went through. My brief time there actually was kind of enjoyable and helpful to me personally. I met a lot of great people and really like my congregation and minister. Good people. Admittedly, I had no contact with Dave or HQ at all. Maybe for the best.
But they say at first when you learn, especially from the Bible, at first it is instructional. Then it becomes belief. Then comes conviction. Finally, the conviction overwhelms you and controls your life.
Very difficult and painful to leave that conviction.
People dont leave these places for the same reason many people dont leave bad marriages or lousy jobs. The fear of the unknown and a clean slate freaks them out worse than their current state.
ReplyDeleteI guess another reason they dont leave is because they love whats going on. Dont forget that group. I gaurantee theres a group of people that loves this prophetic conjecture and all this theoretical date setting. Like they knew they were joining a doomsday cult the day they joined and thats exactly what theyre looking for and DCP is delivering. The math and the speculation and the expectation is like candy to that group and that group does exist. It always has and always will too.
Anyway may be other things people can think of but those two are the big ones imo.
Those are certainly contributing reasons, yet for me, I heard the cog assertions without a background in the arguments that would have delivered me from the WCG proof texting. Thus, I became a true cog believer. I believed what they said was The Truth so I hardly considered an alternative and was not held in by fear of punishment or the unknown, yet…
DeleteGetting to know non-cog Christians slowly woke me up and their admirable lives slowly woke me up to Christ. I did not know Him. While yet in the COGs, I remember hearing those who left say they never knew Jesus and I would scoff and dismiss them. It is ironic when the cogs distinguish themselves from mainstream Christianity by saying they teach the Gospel OF Christ while mainstream Christianity only teaches the Gospel ABOUT Christ. Of course this is wcg nonsense, but the ironic part is that the cogs, albeit rarely, only teach ABOUT Christ and basically that He is pertinent only twice: as a Sacrifice and then as a returning conquering King. The time in between, for the cogs, is to follow the Law (which they pick and choose from). But, I question whether they ever experienced being OF Jesus and how He taught a new gospel and is the Gospel. It’s sad that their teaching of Jesus turns the teaching OF Jesus on its head and I smugly believed it for too long.
I’m thankful that my wakening to the false teachings of the cogs included time spent with non-cog Christians who understood Jesus rather than my just wakening to the great flaws in the cogs on my own.
Illuminating the renewing work of Christ in our daily lives is invaluable for those coming to this site. Disillusionment is dangerous for a Christian, but the love of Christ being illuminated in our current lives protects against the worst part of disillusionment one might feel as they remove themselves from the cogs.
Though i sometimes/often forget, I do pray all who are waking up FROM the cogs are also waking up TO the abiding and comforting love of the Lord. The Lord allowed your journey to pass through the cogs, maybe for reasons unknown, but here you are nevertheless and you are cared for…and seen of the Lord.
As an ex-member of the WWCG, LCG and for a very very brief time RCG, and as a current member of COG, the Eternal, I recommend to anyone who is interested to know more about the implosion of the WWCG to read the book "A Peculliar Treasure" found on the website of COG, the Eternal.
ReplyDeleteArmstrongism is a toxic man made religion.
DeleteThank you for sharing your side. I always knew it could not have been easy for you and Jennifer. I just want to add from my personal perpective that I think RCG was a good place, but it changed after Shirley Pack died, but it's just my personal observation.
ReplyDelete