Exposing the underbelly of Armstrongism in all of its wacky glory! Nothing you read here is made up. What you read here is the up to date face of Herbert W Armstrong's legacy. It's the gritty and dirty behind the scenes look at Armstrongism as you have never seen it before!
With all the new crazy self-appointed Chief Overseers, Apostles, Prophets, Pharisees, legalists, and outright liars leading various Churches of God today, it is important to hold these agents of deception accountable.
Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web of Corrupt Leaders
Godless and wicked old Walt Disney has always been trying to push magic, witchcraft, and sorcery on people as good, clean entertainment for the whole family.
Yet even dizzy old Walt found Basil to be too weird.
Disney's assessment notwithstanding, Wolverton was an importance force in other arenas. Wolverton’s The Bible Story had a profound influence on the mindset and theology of the Worldwide Church of God, in my view. It emphasizes what is known as the Deuteronomic or Deuteronomist texts. These texts include:
Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Samuel Kings
The Deuteronomic texts are characterized by a transactional relationship with God. This is of the form:
If you break the law, you will be cursed. If you keep the law, you will be blessed.
The dominant theme of the Deuteronomic texts is found at these two unnuanced poles with little gradation in between. The Bible Story was an interesting read. I remember reading it when it was serialized in the Plain Truth. I always read it because it was more interesting than most of the other articles. But it carried with it a thematic emphasis on transactional theology. It was dogmatic and indoctrinating for readers. It supported the Armstrongist pulpit’s emphasis on law as the defining moment of one’s relationship with God to the exclusion of the New Testament emphasis on grace. Wolverton’s writing was probably unplanned as an internal strut for the Armstrongist pulpit but had there been planning, no better strategy could have been adopted.
Over against the Deuteronomic texts would be the Book of Job for example and many of the Psalms. In the Book of Job, the understanding portrayed is that you can rigorously keep the law and still fall short spiritually. Job’s “friends” clearly represent the Deuteronomic view.
Biblical scholars believe that the “Deuteronomic Bible” arose at the time of the Babylonian exile as a result of the editorial rework by scribes. It really makes no difference. When Jesus was with us, he did not raise objection to this thematic piece of the Bible. Instead, he fulfilled it and replaced it with New Covenant theology portrayed throughout the books of the New Testament but most forcefully in the Sermon on the Mount. Love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy all depart from the strict forensics of the Deuteronomic texts. I believe that Wolverton’s influence on WCG theology is greatly underestimated. And I believe that the WCG might have been a much different church if Wolverton had started The Bible Story with the Gospels rather than the Torah.
Maybe Basil's bad guys & ogres had too much of a surreal, ultra sinister, Salvador Dali-ish-melty-clocks-ish, macabre twilight zone look for Disney corp. back then to expect U.S. was ready for at that time. Although Disney did approve the scary "Pin Cushion Man" of Ubbe Ert Iwerks.
Even CBS canned the progressive Smothers Brothers, so it is no surprise Disney rejected Mr. Wolverton.
Basil should have tried again with them a little later 🖌️🎨👺
Scout All this talk of "Love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy" is nothing more than the equivalent of eating the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. It's "winning the lottery" morality. Why work for a living if all you have do do is eat the forbidden fruit?
“The Triumph of Grace: Literary and Theological Studies in Deuteronomy and Deuteronomic Themes
“About this ebook:
“The Apostle Paul's negative statements about the law have deafened the ears of many to the grace that Moses proclaims in Deuteronomy. Most Christians have a dim view of this book, which they consider to be primarily a book of laws. However, when we read or hear it read orally without prejudice, we discover that rather than casting Moses as a legislator, he appears as Israel's first pastor, whose congregation has gathered before him to hear him preach his final sermons. Accordingly, Deuteronomy represents prophetic preaching at its finest, as Moses seeks to inspire the people of God to a life of faith and godliness in response to God's repeated demonstrations of grace. Deuteronomy is a dead book for many, because we have not recognized this gospel; we have heard only law. The essays in this collection arise from a larger project driven by a passion to recover for Christians the life-giving message of the Hebrew Scriptures in general, and to open their ears to God's amazing grace in Deuteronomy in particular. The wide-ranging "meditations" in this volume do not all focus equally on the topic of God's grace, but this theme undergirds them all” (Daniel I. Block, everand.com).
“The theological significance of Deuteronomy can scarcely be overestimated. Inasmuch as this book offers the most systematic presentation of theological truth in the entire Old Testament, we may compare its place to that of Romans in the New Testament. Moreover, since Deuteronomy reviews so much of Israel’s historical experience of God’s grace as recounted in Genesis though Numbers, a comparison with the gospel of John may be more appropriate. Just as John wrote his gospel after several decades of reflection on the death and resurrection of Jesus, so Moses preached the sermons in Deuteronomy after almost four decades of reflection on the significance of the Exodus and God’s covenant with Israel. Thus, like the gospel of John, the book of Deuteronomy functions as a theological manifesto, calling of Israel to respond to God’s grace with unreserved loyalty and love” (Daniel I. Block, Deuteronomy, NIVAC, p.25).
Dt 30:2 and when you and your children return to the LORD your God... Dt 30:6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
“Deuteronomy 30 represent the climax of the gospel according to Moses as he has proclaimed it in this book” (Ibid., p.694).
“Moses declares that Yahweh will secure permanent and total devotion through circumcising their hearts... he expresses the goal of surgery with a simple infinitive phrase: “to love the Lord your God.” As elsewhere, “love” denotes commitment demonstrated in actions that serve the interests and pleasures of one’s covenant partner. This could not be achieved through legislation;... With this act, the goals of life and ideal expressed by the Shema (6:4-4) will be realized (Ibid., p.698).
“Like Moses, Jeremiah is fully aware that there are two Israel... Moses looks forward to a time when the boundaries of physical and spiritual Israel will be coterminous. All Israel will love Yahweh; all will listen to this voice and live according to the Torah of Moses; and all will participate in Yahweh’s favor” (Ibid., p.701).
“The so-called “new covenant is not actually new; it means the fulfillment and realization of the ideals represented in God’s covenant with Abraham, which was transferred to the entire nation at Sinai and renewed with this generation on the Plains of Moab.... (Ibid., p.702).”
Deuteronomy 30:1-10 also provides the roots of Pauline thought... Refracted through Jeremiah’s vision of the future, Paul looked forward to the fulfillment of the Mosaic idea when “all Israel will be saved” (Rom 11:26).
Scout, love, grace, forgiveness, mercy etc, always amounts to others paying for one's own mistakes. I know from personal experience that it's the ACOG culture. Kenneth Copeland Christianity is the same. Why do you think churches keep splintering??
No, Scouts not wrong, I reread the volumes recently and it is definitely depicted as a transaction of sorts. Its too bad because in terms of the Deuteronomic history (Joshua through Kings), its a pretty good attempt at "storyfying" the history, even if you have to mentally cross out all the made-up windowdressing and doctrinal statements.
The "good guys" and leaders thought and behaved as if they were Armstrongites. It was a multi-level approach, like Rocky and Bullwinkle, in that the parents who read it to their children would be educated (indoctrinated) while the children were being educated.
15 comments:
Blessing in disguise.
I can't see any difference in his work and that of the Disney studio.
Too Weird Even For The Godless And Wicked
Godless and wicked old Walt Disney has always been trying to push magic, witchcraft, and sorcery on people as good, clean entertainment for the whole family.
Yet even dizzy old Walt found Basil to be too weird.
Hey, if you can't wallpaper a bedroom with your rejection notices, you're not a true artist :)
Disney's assessment notwithstanding, Wolverton was an importance force in other arenas. Wolverton’s The Bible Story had a profound influence on the mindset and theology of the Worldwide Church of God, in my view. It emphasizes what is known as the Deuteronomic or Deuteronomist texts. These texts include:
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Samuel
Kings
The Deuteronomic texts are characterized by a transactional relationship with God. This is of the form:
If you break the law, you will be cursed.
If you keep the law, you will be blessed.
The dominant theme of the Deuteronomic texts is found at these two unnuanced poles with little gradation in between. The Bible Story was an interesting read. I remember reading it when it was serialized in the Plain Truth. I always read it because it was more interesting than most of the other articles. But it carried with it a thematic emphasis on transactional theology. It was dogmatic and indoctrinating for readers. It supported the Armstrongist pulpit’s emphasis on law as the defining moment of one’s relationship with God to the exclusion of the New Testament emphasis on grace. Wolverton’s writing was probably unplanned as an internal strut for the Armstrongist pulpit but had there been planning, no better strategy could have been adopted.
Over against the Deuteronomic texts would be the Book of Job for example and many of the Psalms. In the Book of Job, the understanding portrayed is that you can rigorously keep the law and still fall short spiritually. Job’s “friends” clearly represent the Deuteronomic view.
Biblical scholars believe that the “Deuteronomic Bible” arose at the time of the Babylonian exile as a result of the editorial rework by scribes. It really makes no difference. When Jesus was with us, he did not raise objection to this thematic piece of the Bible. Instead, he fulfilled it and replaced it with New Covenant theology portrayed throughout the books of the New Testament but most forcefully in the Sermon on the Mount. Love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy all depart from the strict forensics of the Deuteronomic texts. I believe that Wolverton’s influence on WCG theology is greatly underestimated. And I believe that the WCG might have been a much different church if Wolverton had started The Bible Story with the Gospels rather than the Torah.
Scout
Maybe Basil's bad guys & ogres had too much of a surreal, ultra sinister, Salvador Dali-ish-melty-clocks-ish, macabre twilight zone look for Disney corp. back then to expect U.S. was ready for at that time. Although Disney did approve the scary "Pin Cushion Man" of Ubbe Ert Iwerks.
Even CBS canned the progressive Smothers Brothers, so it is no surprise Disney rejected Mr. Wolverton.
Basil should have tried again with them a little later 🖌️🎨👺
Fortunately MAD MAGAZINE had better taste!
He may have been too talented.
Assuming alot without any evidence.
Scout
All this talk of "Love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy" is nothing more than the equivalent of eating the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. It's "winning the lottery" morality. Why work for a living if all you have do do is eat the forbidden fruit?
1:24
In your spirit, I believe you have died of cyncism. I'm sorry for you.
Scout
“The Triumph of Grace: Literary and Theological Studies in Deuteronomy and Deuteronomic Themes
“About this ebook:
“The Apostle Paul's negative statements about the law have deafened the ears of many to the grace that Moses proclaims in Deuteronomy. Most Christians have a dim view of this book, which they consider to be primarily a book of laws. However, when we read or hear it read orally without prejudice, we discover that rather than casting Moses as a legislator, he appears as Israel's first pastor, whose congregation has gathered before him to hear him preach his final sermons. Accordingly, Deuteronomy represents prophetic preaching at its finest, as Moses seeks to inspire the people of God to a life of faith and godliness in response to God's repeated demonstrations of grace. Deuteronomy is a dead book for many, because we have not recognized this gospel; we have heard only law. The essays in this collection arise from a larger project driven by a passion to recover for Christians the life-giving message of the Hebrew Scriptures in general, and to open their ears to God's amazing grace in Deuteronomy in particular. The wide-ranging "meditations" in this volume do not all focus equally on the topic of God's grace, but this theme undergirds them all” (Daniel I. Block, everand.com).
“The theological significance of Deuteronomy can scarcely be overestimated. Inasmuch as this book offers the most systematic presentation of theological truth in the entire Old Testament, we may compare its place to that of Romans in the New Testament. Moreover, since Deuteronomy reviews so much of Israel’s historical experience of God’s grace as recounted in Genesis though Numbers, a comparison with the gospel of John may be more appropriate. Just as John wrote his gospel after several decades of reflection on the death and resurrection of Jesus, so Moses preached the sermons in Deuteronomy after almost four decades of reflection on the significance of the Exodus and God’s covenant with Israel. Thus, like the gospel of John, the book of Deuteronomy functions as a theological manifesto, calling of Israel to respond to God’s grace with unreserved loyalty and love” (Daniel I. Block, Deuteronomy, NIVAC, p.25).
Dt 30:2 and when you and your children return to the LORD your God...
Dt 30:6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
“Deuteronomy 30 represent the climax of the gospel according to Moses as he has proclaimed it in this book” (Ibid., p.694).
“Moses declares that Yahweh will secure permanent and total devotion through circumcising their hearts... he expresses the goal of surgery with a simple infinitive phrase: “to love the Lord your God.” As elsewhere, “love” denotes commitment demonstrated in actions that serve the interests and pleasures of one’s covenant partner. This could not be achieved through legislation;... With this act, the goals of life and ideal expressed by the Shema (6:4-4) will be realized (Ibid., p.698).
“Like Moses, Jeremiah is fully aware that there are two Israel... Moses looks forward to a time when the boundaries of physical and spiritual Israel will be coterminous. All Israel will love Yahweh; all will listen to this voice and live according to the Torah of Moses; and all will participate in Yahweh’s favor” (Ibid., p.701).
“The so-called “new covenant is not actually new; it means the fulfillment and realization of the ideals represented in God’s covenant with Abraham, which was transferred to the entire nation at Sinai and renewed with this generation on the Plains of Moab.... (Ibid., p.702).”
Deuteronomy 30:1-10 also provides the roots of Pauline thought... Refracted through Jeremiah’s vision of the future, Paul looked forward to the fulfillment of the Mosaic idea when “all Israel will be saved” (Rom 11:26).
Scout, love, grace, forgiveness, mercy etc, always amounts to others paying for one's own mistakes. I know from personal experience that it's the ACOG culture. Kenneth Copeland Christianity is the same. Why do you think churches keep splintering??
No, Scouts not wrong, I reread the volumes recently and it is definitely depicted as a transaction of sorts.
Its too bad because in terms of the Deuteronomic history (Joshua through Kings), its a pretty good attempt at "storyfying" the history, even if you have to mentally cross out all the made-up windowdressing and doctrinal statements.
The "good guys" and leaders thought and behaved as if they were Armstrongites. It was a multi-level approach, like Rocky and Bullwinkle, in that the parents who read it to their children would be educated (indoctrinated) while the children were being educated.
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