The COG and its Waldensian Sabbath-Keeper Myths

 

by Ryan Caswell

Caswell Visuals

(Reposted with permission)

Another example of the Church of God’s misuse of historical information is found in the Living Church of God’s “God’s Church Through the Ages” book. Understand the quote we will see was used in literature by the Worldwide Church of God published decades earlier, who took it from the Seventh Day Adventists who published it almost 100 years before them. Each group uses the exact same quote, which was originally published in 1792. Since each of these groups is trying to prove Sabbath keeping as a necessity for salvation, they attempt to locate Sabbath keeping groups that extend back to the original 12 apostles. Thus they can establish their lineage and teachings linked up as an unbroken chain going back to the first century. 

One link in this historical chain is the Protestant group called the Waldenses. In Adventist literature, this group is called the “Sabbatati,” a supposed reference to those who keep the “Jewish Sabbath.” COG groups also credit them with keeping the Mosaic Laws and their resemblance to their movement in terms of doctrine and government.  

Examining “Sabbatati” and “Insabbatati” in Context

In LCG’s materials, this complicated passage (taken from the SDA’s) supposedly establishes the Waldenses in this way. Let's look at this passage and see if the Waldenses actually fit the mold of a Sabbath and Law keeping, group that resembles the Living or Worldwide Church of God. 

In the book “God’s Church Through the Ages” LCG states:

“What were some of the other doctrines taught by the Waldenses? Is there evidence that the early Waldenses were Sabbath-keepers? One of the names by which they were most anciently known was that of Sabbatati! In his 1873 work, History of the Sabbath, historian J. N. Andrews quotes from an earlier work by Swiss-Calvinist historian Goldastus written about 1600. Speaking of the Waldenses, Goldastus wrote, “Insabbatati [they were called] not because they were circumcised, but because they kept the Jewish Sabbath” (Andrews, p. 410). Andrews further refers to the testimony of Archbishop Ussher (1581–1656), who acknowledged “that many understood that they [the names Sabbatati or Insabbatati] were given to them [Waldenses] because they worshipped on the Jewish Sabbath” (p. 410). Clearly even noted Protestant scholars at the end of the Middle Ages were willing to acknowledge that many Waldenses had observed the seventh-day Sabbath.” (God’s Church Through the Ages, Chapter 3, heading: The Cathars and Waldenses)

First let’s understand what they are quoting here. The author of the LCG material claims J.N. Andrews is quoting Goldastus, that is incorrect. The J.N. Andrews’ book “History of the Sabbath,” is actually quoting another book by Robert Robinson, a baptist theologian who (converted to Unitarianism late in life) studied deeply into Christian baptism in the 1700’s. His book Ecclesiastical Researches, (which was published posthumously), listed a quote from Jacob Gretseri (written in latin) who was quoting Melchior Goldast (Goldastus). 

However when both LCG and Andrew’s references this, they fail to make that distinction. 

In addition, recognize that J.N. Andrews isn’t a historian as LCG claims, he is in fact an early Seventh Day Adventist prophet and preacher. He was a close confidant to Ellen G. White and established large swaths of Adventist prophetic interpretations. One of his main contributions was linking the United States of America to the two horned Beast of Revelation. He was the founder of Andrew’s University and followed White, supporting her false prophetic interpretations throughout her life. This isn’t to say that his historical work is flawed (however, much of it seems to be) but both of these individuals are verified false prophets, according to the Christian tradition, as their interpretations had to be re-explained once they failed. 

So when you are reading either the LCG or WCG literature, you are actually reading what was copied from SDA church history, not something from Herbert Armstrong or the WCG. Even though the Seventh Day Advetist’s are technically heterodox and not a cult, WCG uses these flawed explanations of an unbroken chain of Sabbath keeping churches that extend back to the original apostles, in order to substantiate their claim as the “One True Church.”

Examining the Seventh Day Adventist Claims

In order to better understand the terms “Insabbatati” and whether the Waldenses kept the Sabbath and held similar beliefs to WCG/LCG, we need to find J.N. Andrew’s work, the “History of the Sabbath, from the Seventh Day Adventists and begin tracing the sources to see if the book’s author provides any further information. The passage LCG references is on page 410. 

“But let us now see who they are that make these statements respecting the observance of the Sabbath by the Waldenses, that Robinson alludes to in this place. He quotes out of Gretser the words of the historian Goldastus as follows: "Insabbatati [they were called] not because they were circumcised, but because they kept the Jewish Sabbath."33” (History of the Sabbath, J.N. Andrews pp 410)

Here, Andrews reveals that the moniker “Insabbatati” comes from Robert Robinson’s work. This book, “Ecclesiastical Researches,” seems to be the source most Sabbath keepers use to prove that the Waldenses were Sabbath keepers. In his book, Robinson actually states there are 4 positions held by scholars regarding the title given to the Waldenses.

1. Some of the leaders may have kept the Jewish Sabbath 

2. They rejected the Catholic holidays (or Sabbaths)

3. It was a derivative of the word “Sabot” or “Zabot,” which denotes a mark on a certain type of shoe that was worn by peasants. 

4. It is the derivative of a Spanish word for someone who lives and travels in the mountains. 

“It would be endless to make a detail of accidental names: it is not necessary here; and it will be more proper to take them up as they fall in the way in other countries. The above are sufficient to convey a just notion of what is intended, which is, that to reason from a similar name to a similar faith is illogical. An example or two shall be added of such names as the fruitful geniuses if commentators have perplexed.

Some of those cheiftians were called “Sabbati, Sabbatati and Insabbatati, and more frequently, Insabbatati.” Led astray by found without attending to facts, one says they were so named from the hebrew word Sabbath, because they kept the Saturday for the Lord's Day (1). Another says they were so called because they rejected all the festivals, or Sabbaths in the low latin sense of the word. Which the Catholic Church religiously observed. (2) A third says and many with various alterations and additions have said after him, they were called so from sabot or zabot, a shoe because they distinguished themselves from other because by wearing shoes marked on the upper part with some peculiarity (3)….Several better reasons may be given for the name. The latin word “caput” a head was corrupted by the Spaniards into cabeca, and hence came “cabo,” a cape, a headland. They called these people “los incabats” and founded the word “enzabats,” meaning inhabitants of hills, mountaineers.” (Ecclesiastical Researches, Robert Robinson, pp303)

Returning to the source material, Robinson is clear that many of those who were led astray, not having the facts erroneously credit the Waldenses with keeping the Jewish Sabbath. He goes on to actually warn those who try to match a peoples name with their religious beliefs. (e.g.: Naming a group of people who are scattered in the mountains, across several countries with a tradition of which day they worship on.) He states that when it comes to the Waldenses, that is illogical and there have been many “accidental names” given to this group. 

Robinson goes on to write that the first 3 reasons he lists often trick scholars since they may seem likely but are not factually substantiated. From his research, the term “Insabbatati,” comes from the fact that this group of people inhabit the hills and mountains. 

On page 310, he sums it up best.

“That the people called Valdenses and Sabbatati originally inhabited this district is the most probably of all conjectures. This first a corruption of Caldenses, or the inhabitant about the hot wells, or Callenses the natives of the counties; and last from Sabadell one of the [local] towns.” (Ecclesiastical Researches, Robert Robinson, pp310)

However, when Andrews’ quotes Robinson, he summarily dismisses all his conclusions without giving reasoning. He claims that only the first two options could be supported and as expected, this conclusion supports the SDA position. At last he found a “Jewish Sabbath Keeping link” outside of the Catholic church in the middle ages. 

Dismissing Source Material

Perusing “History of the Sabbath,” it is clear that Andrews spends a significant amount of time trying to discredit Robinson’s conclusions in favor of his own. 

“Mr. Robinson gives the statements of three classes of writers respecting the meaning of these names, which were borne by the Waldenses. But he rejects them all, alleging that these persons were led to these conclusions by the apparent meaning of the words, and not by the facts...Mr. Robinson rejects these these three statements, and then gives his own judgment that they were so called because they lived in the mountains. These four views cover all that has been advanced relative to the meaning of these names. But Robinson's own explanation is purely fanciful, and seems to have been adopted by no other [Sabbath keeping] writer. He offers, however, conclusive reasons for rejecting the statement that they took their name from their shoes. [Examining the source information, Robinson details almost 10 pages of research on why option 4 is most plausible. Since that doesn’t support Andrews claims, he rejects it] There remain, therefore, only the first and second of these four statements, which are that they were called by these names because they kept the Saturday for the Lord's day, and because they did not keep the sabbaths of the papists.” (History of the Sabbath, J.N. Andrews pp 409-410)

Why Andrew’s rejects Robinson’s conclusions is never clear and he never addresses Robinson’s research on locations. He seems to dismiss it on the grounds that other Sabbath keeping writers don’t agree with Robinson. 

At the very least, Andrew’s is only willing to give his readers a partial quote from Robinson, removing the most salient material and keeping only the information that agrees with his own conclusions. 

It is also worth noting that Emilia Comba, a popular Waldenese pastor from the 1900’s, who is also widely quoted by the SDA’s and COG’s never mentions that the Waldenses keep the Sabbath, Holy days or other Mosaic Laws. He more closely aligns with Robinson’s conclusions and affirms the moniker of “Insabates,” was because of the “sabates (sandals) some wore in mountainous regions. While this isn’t Robinson’s conclusion, Comba identifies this name “Insabbatati” as a result of their clothing and not because this is a reference to the Jewish Sabbath. 

Consider the following quotes:

“The first name they are ambitious of, that of “Poor of Christ,” was not new, nor was that of “Brethren.” Catholics sometimes call them after the name of Waldo, their teacher; sometimes “Poor of Lyons,” or “Leonists,” to mark their origins; or again, Insabates, because of the “sabates” [sandals] they were in the habit of wearing.”

History of the Waldenses of Italy: From Their Origin to the Reformation, Emilio Comba, pp250

“We shall now add a few more details about Waldensian customs. The early Waldenses as we have seen were distinguished by a particular costume. They wore a woollen tunic, a cloak and a particular kind of shoes. They cut the upper part of these latter, so as to recall the apostolic use of sandals and marked them with a sign resembling a shield on account of which they were called “Ensabates or Insabbatati.” They were like the Nazarenes in respect that they wore their beards and their hair long. A monk whose halting jests have been already noticed mocks at them in his own fashion He says They find it more convenient to cross the straps of their sandal than to crucify their members, they crown not their head but their shoes. That sign was however a cross in the days of the persecution.”

(History of the Waldenses of Italy: From Their Origin to the Reformation, Emilio Comba, pp277-278)

Waldenses Beliefs and Government

Several other striking differences between the Waldenses from the Church of God movement is in their orothodox protestant views. Both Robinson and Comba specifically note religious practices that were common to the Waldenses. “Christian liberty” or “grace” was a hallmark characteristic of their congregations. This stood out in sharp contrast to the Catholics belief in the necessity of works and rituals for salvation. The Waldenses also believed God was a Trinity, and in His triune nature. While LCG adheres to strict law keeping for salvation, the primitive Waldenses resembled baptists in their belief around divine grace. In addition, there was no clear governing hierarchy or clergy class among the Waldenses, with women freely teaching in their congregations. Added together all of these characteristics paint a very different picture from either LCG, the WCG or the SDA congregations.

“To be convinced of this, one has but to consult the scriptures. There we shall also find that the good are in the minority. If we desire to belong to that number, let us learn to invoke the aid of the Holy Trinity, love our neighbor, and turn a hopeful eye upon the blessings to come. Our salvation depends on that. (History of the Waldenses of Italy: From Their Origin to the Reformation, Emilio Comba, pp227)

The new law is superior to that of Moses; the Sermon on the mount is a testimony to that. Jesus having Himself been baptized for the salvation of men, conferred upon His Apostles the power of baptizing and instructing every creature in the law of the Gospel. To his power He added that of performing miracles and foretelling the future. (History of the Waldenses of Italy: From Their Origin to the Reformation, Emilio Comba, pp229)

“The distinguishing feature of the primitive Waldenses is the doctrine and practice of Christian Liberty. The orthodox positively affirms “they were not guilty of manichaeism, and other abominable heresies.”...”Yes, replies Limberch, “to say honestly what I think, of all the modern sects of Christians, the dutch baptists most resemble both the Albigenses and the Waldenses, but particularly the latter.” (Ecclesiastical Researches, Robert Robinson, pp311)

“It’s not clear that the ancient Waldenses had any clergy...They held the priesthood in abhorrence. They allowed women to teach and laughed at the distinction between clergy and laity. (Ecclesiastical Researches, Robert Robinson, pp313)

Waldenses--Establishing a Link to the Apostles?

As we have seen, both the SDA and COG movements rely on Comba’s book to establish the Waldenses and their supposed Sabbath/Law keeping as a crucial link for church history to bring them to the first century. Unfortunately, these groups don’t heed the fact that Comba himself specifically warns against trying to use history to prove the Waldenses have apostolic connections. Shockingly, in the preface to his book on Waldense history, Comba makes the following warning.

“There has been desire on the part of some to extend backward their early history; with this only as a result, that it has been crushed out of all shape. The historian has filled it full of fables and traditions picked up at hap-hazard; then, as if with trumpet-blast and clarion ring, its antiquity was blazoned forth. But, although the sound re-echoed far and wide, it could not dispel the thick cloud that overhung that people's origin and early days. Flatterers are more to be feared than assailants. The former would have it credited or imagined that the Waldenses are of a patriarchal age--of great duration; that they are apostolic in name and in fact, but barren withal; that they had an existence, but always in the cradle; that they did not live with all the word implies, but slept for three, seven, or even ten centuries! It is quite possible to conceive that such an uneventful existence--if such could be--might well have passed unnoticed; what we deny is that such an existence was possible. We shall examine facts, and after all if we find the antiquity of the Waldenses to be less far reaching than has been supposed, it is none the less grand and venerable...There is an idea with some, that its origin may be traced back to the very time of the first preaching of the Gospel; but it is important that this idea be disentangled from a confused mass of legends…We shall find the first authentic source appearing with Waldo, and the disciples whom tradition has called by his name. From that time onward, we shall follow the sinuous course of their followers' history down to the eve of the Reformation. (History of the Waldenses of Italy: From Their Origin to the Reformation, Emilio Comba, Preface)

Cherry Picking Facts

In addition, another source commonly used by the COG groups is William Jones' “The History of the Christian Church, from the Birth of Christ, to the XVII. Century” COG’s regularly use this historical source to prove their apostolic lineage but it is clear from Jones’ own writing that this is foolish and impossible.

“It may possibly strike some readers with surprise that no notice is taken, in the following pages, of a multiplicity of sects which arose, from time to time, in what is called the Christian world, and whose history occupies so very large space in the volumes of most of our modern writers on this subject...In tracing the kingdom of Christ in the world, I have paid no regard whatever to the long disputed subject of apostolical succession. I have, indeed, read much that has been written upon it by the Catholic writers on one side, and by Dr. Allix, Sir Samuel Morland, and several Protestants on the other; and I regret the labour that has been so fruitlessly expended by the latter, persuaded as I am that the postulatum is a mere fiction, and that the ground on which the Protestant writers have proceeded in contending for it, is altogether untenable. It is admitted, that the Most High has had his churches and people in every age, since the decease of the Apostles; but to attempt to trace a regular succession of ordained bishops in the Vallies of Piedmont, or any other country, is "labouring in the fire for very vanity," and seems to me to proceed upon mistaken views of the nature of the kingdom of Christ, and the sovereignty of God, in his operations in the earth, as they have respect to it. (“The History of the Christian Church, from the Birth of Christ, to the XVII. Century” - Jones, vol. 1; p. xvi)

In short, two of the most quoted resources used by the COG’s to establish the doctrinal lineage through the Waldenses (or any other small sect) is tantamount to ignoring the vast amount of knowledge which establishes the contrary view. There is no “unbroken chain” of either Sabbath or Law keepers that can be traced back to the original apostles. Those who try to force history to do so, end up twisting or ignoring centuries of research proving a contrary view.

Other WCG Conclusions on Sabbath Keeping

The Worldwide Church of God also produced other pieces on church history. One particular piece written by Dean Blackwell, The Plain Truth About the Waldenses which was his PhD thesis at Ambassador College (WCG’s unaccredited Bible school in Pasadena, CA), is one of the more detailed pieces of literature the church produced (even though it wasn’t circulated widely). While I am not refuting all his claims in this article, it’s helpful to keep these few points in mind.

1. The bibliography of his “research paper” is a veritable “who’s who” of SDA theologians and prophets. Much of the information in his thesis paper is lifted verbatim from those materials. The historical inaccuracies have already been vetted in other places and most of what Blackwell brings is not “new” research, just “requoted” materials from the SDA’s.

2. The Waldenses themselves refute claims that attempt to connect their organization to the early apostles and do not teach apostolic succession. In fact, that was one difference between them and the Catholic Church historically. While Catholics see their Popes extending back to the original 12, the Waldenses hold to no such belief.

3. WCG ministers who compiled their fabricated church history have already been caught specifically removing vital information in their historical stories, to substantiate their positions.

In the final analysis of the LCG’s quote in “God’s Church Through the Ages,” we can see not only do they obfuscate where the information came from, they also misrepresent the research in the original material as did the Seventh Day Adventists. LCG cited research that was lifted from a false prophet in a heterodox Christian tradition (SDA’s) and I find it curious that Armstrongism, which is quite outspoken on being the “Only True Church,” relies on information from such a source. However in this case, they seem to do so with ease, since it supports their narrative. Robert Robinson’s research is taken out of context, by both by J.N. Andrews and the writers at LCG. They directly ignore Robinson’s warnings and instead, insert their own misdirected conclusions, making it seem like theirs is the only conclusion one could draw. 

Conclusion

The moniker “Insabbatai,” is used by LCG, WCG and the SDA’s to prove the Waldenses were Sabbath keepers, to establish an unbroken apostolic link back to the original apostles. The authors they quote, almost always refute this conclusion. Obviously, the COG writers don’t report this part of the research. My conclusion can only be that they are either deceptively twisting a historical reference, hoping no one examines the source material, or they never actually investigated it themselves outside of official church literature.

This is a powerful demonstration of how leaders in these groups who teach this can be deceived by the materials they openly profess to have “proven” and never thoroughly examined where their own history comes from.

For a more detailed examination of the SDA/WCG church history narrative, I recommend Bruce Renehim’s book “Daughter of Babylon.” His work is exhaustive and compiles a variety of other source materials disapproving the church history story told in the Church of God groups. In addition, Comba’s book referenced above is also very readable and paints a detailed picture of who the Waldenses are.