Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Another Defection From Restored Church of God: RCG Exit Letter: Richard Nogan

 



RCG Exit Letter: Richard Nogan

 

Dear Mr. [Minister],

 

I write this with a heavy heart. Though I do enjoy a good debate, this subject matter goes much deeper than that. My intent is not to ridicule anyone. I am not shy about being frank. After all, David C. Pack emphasized several times, “God is very frank, brethren." So here we go.

 

My wife, Lolita, and I were in The Worldwide Church of God under Herbert W. Armstrong. I was baptized on February 2, 1980, and my wife in July 1982. She stayed in WCG until 1995, while I left in 1996. This was due to the "Apostasy" that had taken place after Mr. Armstrong’s death. That is another subject but does have its relation to this letter. After that, we did not go to any "splinter/sliver" group.

 

After about 16 years, I felt this tug on my heart (pardon the vernacular) for wanting God in my life again. During this period, our lives were turned upside-down. The former life we totally engaged in was pulled right out from under us. We did not know where to go or what to do. We were lost children and knew nothing about the splinter/sliver groups.

 

After 19 years, we found The Restored Church of God under David C. Pack in 2014. This led me to study intensely to re-prove what we once believed and had lost. It all seemed right again, even though it differed significantly from WCG. I give this little background not to talk about us but to explain the damage that “Church hurt” can afflict in one's life after putting all your trust in an organization that claims they are the “only ones with God’s truth.” A place that is “the ONLY one true Church of God” with Jesus Christ as the Head. He is only working with that church. It amazes me the limits that are placed on God.

 

So here lies the problem. The figurehead of The Restored Church of God, David C. Pack, has been claiming titles and believing he has many mentions in the Bible. He also tries to convince others this is true. A lot of bad things can happen once you go down that road, including mind manipulation.

 

The "prophecy" series stories are full of failed predictions. Many have put up with this for approximately 7 years. To me, that was not so bad even though we did some weird things trying to be obedient, like staying up for 24 hours in our best clothing for the return of Jesus Christ. Weird, all right. We chalked it up as experience and David Pack’s misunderstanding because God has not revealed everything to him yet.

 

Okay, so we jump more to the present. We were constantly told not to build new barns but to give all. (Common. Another story where scripture has been manipulated so many did give a lot. You know the story.) Then came the fear tactics of threatening our salvation. Oh yeah, that is a major play. Along came fear and Satan moved right in. “Brethren, if you do not believe what I'm saying, you need to check your conversion!!! If you leave, you have left God's Church and are no longer part of the body of Christ with your salvation at stake!!!”

 

On and on it goes. Meanwhile, David C. Pack built a big luxurious barn for horses and recently bought half a million-dollar house. These things are known, but I repeat them for context.

 

Now comes the condemnations, with many being thrown into the lake of fire and thrusting God's enemies through with a sword. Granted, the Bible does have much to say about that, but it is not any man's judgment call to make but because many in RCG worship DCP they can't wait to condemn and start thrusting. The judging and condemning have crept into the mind and spirit of RCG. Let me be clear, I am not saying everyone in RCG, but that spirit, without a doubt, has been planted.

 

Example: A few of us went out for a meal, and an individual brought up that he saw a man in black walking a dog and that he was of a wicked spirit. This person went on and on, judging and condemning a person they did not even know. When I brought this to their attention, that Christ died for that person walking the dog, and that God will give them a chance, too, I was just told to “go back to Egypt” repeatedly. The strange thing is, that accuser was close to me and my wife. In fairness, they did apologize the next day, and all was forgiven. But looking back now, it is interesting how that type of mentality is so subtle as it takes over any rational behavior.

 

This finger-pointing, judging and condemning continued to grow in RCG. We understand that we can all do that in one way or another or say things we ought not, but when it continues to grow as a message from the ministry, something is seriously wrong.

 

We would hear in sermons how evil everyone else is and how lukewarm and unconverted the splinters are, and that if you have trauma in your life, "GET OVER IT!" Stop your whining, you crybabies. Have a self-pity party. Another minister said, “We (ministers) are the only ones equipped to deal with what you are going through.” 

 

Let me inject here that at the Feast of Tabernacles a couple of years ago, we were told from the lectern that those with tattoos should have them scrubbed off with a wire brush. When I asked someone with a tattoo what they thought of that statement, they replied, “Maybe that’s what we deserve.” A contagious, condemning, oppressive spirit was at work.

 

I have talked to a sizable number of brethren about different groups and peoples, and most had the same reaction about a subject, "Mr. Pack said…” or “The minister said…” There was no original thought or question to be had. No wonder that condemning, oppressive spirit grows in RCG.

 

Now, I come to the statement from the very Apostle under Jesus Christ, who had died for all people and races. It went something like this, “The Chinese people are wicked, evil people." Then he ranted and raved about their dragon symbols. I can see if the rant was about the CCP as a corrupt, evil government because that really cannot be argued. But to say such things about a people, who are any of us to judge? Well, DCP seems perfectly fine with doing that.

 

Maybe RCG heads should do some research regarding what people suffer under severe persecution because they take on the name of a Christian, believe in The Father and His son, keep the commandments as best they understand, they hide when trying to worship together. They have to hide pages of the Bible or the Bible itself if one is that fortunate. Christians are targeted by the CCP police. Hunted down and, if caught, taken to a prison where the individual is interrogated for hours, beaten, and put in a dungeon-type cell for as long as it is decided. They are starved and sometimes die due to cruel punishments. Not to mention what other nations do to Christians, such as burn their villages, murder men and children, rape women, and behead their loved ones right in front of them because the Christians will not recant.

 

Strangely enough, some also are Sabbath-keepers. My point? Who are any of us to judge while limiting God to who He acknowledges, who He will have mercy on or not?

 

Let’s ask the question: Being that God is the only One who can draw a person and reveal the truth to and with that, the person totally surrenders all, and I do mean ALL, and they go through this severity then God's response is, “Sorry you didn’t belong to RCG, the only place I am working. Thanks for what you went through, but…"

 

Perhaps as an apostle, "one sent forth," and one who is an evangelist, "euaggelistēs, the one who proclaims the glad tidings,” should leave the empire of dirt, the Wadsworth compound, which both say they rarely go out of—and do the work of God in China. I believe they still know what work that is. Or go to other countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, and Laos, to name a few, and see how that works out for them. Point again? The finger-pointing, judging, and condemning are NOT our place and not of God! Especially at this time.  

 

I have often heard how corrupt and evil or lax the splinter groups are and how they beat their fellow servants and make merchandise out of the brethren. Oh boy, remember Romans 2:1-3? With that in mind, it is not my intent to do any of this to anyone in RCG or anywhere else, but it is my intent for this to be a reality check for all of us.

 

I ask for forgiveness, first, from our Father through Jesus Christ and ask it also of those in the body, whoever they are and wherever they may be. If we all humble ourselves and work together as one body, then so much more will be accomplished. But at this time, I do not think that will happen. There are too many political and power struggles, even in the Church of God.

 

This One Church is a manipulator of the scriptures. This is why my wife left, and I was suspended, because I do not believe this, either. I was asked to read the book, “The True Church: One Organization, Or Many?” Of course, it is biased, but I read it. This letter could become several pages of questions and refuting, but I have no interest in doing that now.

 

So, my wife and I are now lepers, unclean, and are not to be contacted? Amazing how the very ones that were our brothers and sisters in Christ turned against us so quickly. Not even a text by the hypocrites who talk behind Mr. Pack and the minister’s back. Yes, true unity in action.

 

Mr. [Minister], please accept this as my resignation as a member of The Restored Church of God.

 

Be safe,

 

Richard Nogan

 

P.S. I went into my RCG login, and the song "For the Love of Money" by the O' Jays started to play. LOL!!! My wife and I laughed, not knowing how and why it played.

 

Courtesy of Marc Cebrian

See: RCG Exit Letter: Richard Nogan

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

What's outside of Pleasantville?

Anonymous said...

“The 'prophecy' series stories are full of failed predictions. Many have put up with this for approximately 7 years.”


Fool me 25 or 50 times, shame on you. Fool me 100 or 200 times, shame on me.

Anonymous said...

"This was due to the [tkach] "Apostasy"... This led me to study intensely to re-prove what we once believed and had lost"

So dropping Anglo-Israelism is "apostasy"?
And how did that go 're-proving' Anglo-Israelism??

Anonymous said...

I don’t know how anyone can look at DCP and his RCG and all of his inconsistent statements over the years and not get cultish vibes like Mormonism and Scientology. His is a pseudo-Christian cult just like these cults. People enter these cults at their own risk…

DW said...

I am so glad this couple got out of RCG. Took courage. I hope they don't go looking for another cog though. This utterly absurd notion HWA invented that the Bible is a coded book and only he had the key, is as false and heretical a teaching as can be devised by an evil, greedy man. They will do just fine on their own, studying their Bible.

I did notice he made no mention of the Holy Spirit, whose function it is to guide us into the truth of God's Word. I hope they never believed Pack's blatantly false teaching that the Holy Spirit is an "it" and not God as well. That is the unpardonable sin. Too late for Pack who has taught this heresy for years, but hopefully not too late for this couple to learn the identity, function and purpose of the Holy Spirit. I wish them the best and pray they will stay away from cogdom and find a Bible preaching, true Christian church, which RCG is not.

Mark Wolfe said...

Hear! Hear!

The three things you must do when you listen to a sermon.
1. Think
2. Think!
3. Think!!

Any organization which attempts to take that right away from you is absolutely NOT of God.

Mark Wolfe said...

Let me get this straight. So, rebellious personality A (HWA) gets baptized by a 7th Day Baptist minister and joins a COG7 group Headquartered in Stanberry MO. A former SDA minister ordains him to the ministry a short time later. Now, Minister A (HWA), can't get along with anybody, constantly is arguing about doctrine, will not take correction, does not believe in the one true organized church doctrine or government, and rebelliously starts his own ministry, the Radio Church of God, while still taking tithes and offerings from members within the Stanberry or Salem headquartered group.

Minister A eventually gets booted out of the church. After scores of prophecy failures during WWII he moves to Pasadena to get a fresh start. Shortly thereafter, Minister A proclaims himself Apostle A and the one and only true church is his. Headquarters government rule is enforced, ironically, now that Apostle A (HWA)is in charge. Strangely, the doctrine, is now viewed as biblical.

As a side note it is reported that HWA studied the communist party methods during the 30's and 40's in order to keep his members in line. Whether that is true or not I do not know, but the HWA model is peculiarly like a communist governing model, where the citizenry pays the freight for the opulence and power of the few governing elite.

Eventually, after training many ministers who pledged fealty to the king, Apostle A dies. His chosen successor does not want to be Apostle B, but uses his powers to destroy everything Apostle A has built causing many ministers to flee from the carnage. Some want to stay ministers, some presiding evangelists and a few covet the prize of Apostle B. Those few fight over who will pay the most homage to and holds fast to the correct doctrines of Apostle A. Once all of this is established in the minds of the subjects, presto, Apostle B (pick a name) is announced to the world.

Now it is Apostle B who decides doctrine. It is Apostle B who is infallible. It is Apostle B who proves all things. It is Apostle B who leads the Government of God. It is Apostle B who decides where God's tithes and offerings go. And if you disagree or question Apostle B you are Lake of the Fire material. Which, in a sense is true from a worldly perspective, because you no longer have value to Apostle B and his goals.

It seems to me the most rebellious of all personalities end up leaving groups to start their own and enforce rules that he could not live up to in the previous group(s).

Tonto said...

Glad to see Mr. Nogan, using his NOGGIN!

Anonymous said...

At least this couple were together in the leaving, even if it was a couple of years apart. When one spouse enters RCG and the other one doesn't the pain and destruction of the relationship is overwhelming. Upon entry into RCG there should also be a phone number for a divorce lawyer, to have one spouse discard the other due to being "not called" and considered "unworthy" and the "I'm the righteous one because I'm a part of God's true church" attitudes is a death blow to any marriage regardless of how long the parties were together.

Anonymous said...

I like that idea, 1:50. In actual practice, these ACOG splinters treat one spouse leaving the cult as being "cheating" on the other. I can't even imagine a wife leaving the church and the plausibility of remaining in the house with her husband who has not. The church would see it as being even worse than if he had caught her in bed with the garbage man! (or in a vice versa situation, the wife catching the husband with a stripper).

But, HWA always used to say that the WCG was not a democracy. They didn't believe in or practice the freedoms outlined in the founding documents of our country. This is why I would never have gone to Petra or one of their places of "safety" from the tribulation. The true colors of the ministry would have come out. People would be expelled from the camp for minor offenses, and probably even stoned. To me, it was always hilarious that some people came into the church because they thought they and their families would be spared the horrors of the tribulation.

So, if any RCG members are tuned in here, the way you see spouses who leave the church treated in the here and now is indicative of the way y'all are going to be treated in their places of "safety". Just thought you should know! In Dave Pack's case, he will become even more like Dave Pack when no longer restrained by frivolous things like the Bill of Rights. You going to like him as Freddy Krueger?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous at 5:56 PM said...“In Dave Pack's case, he will become even more like Dave Pack when no longer restrained by frivolous things like the Bill of Rights. You going to like him as Freddy Krueger?”


Dave Pack becoming even more like Dave Pack?

Yikes!

Move over, Freddy K. There is a new, even worse, freak in town.

Anonymous said...

So you joined the circus and it turned out to be a clown show is what youre saying?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

David Pack will rant & rage about anything and anybody (or any group or religion for that matter), because he doesn’t want his followers to examine him.. God forbid they will do that!