Banned by HWA! News and Observations About Armstrongism and the Church of God Movement

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.

Saturday, June 29, 2024

"Theological illusionist David C. Pack took another one on the chin..."

Smoke and Mirrors

Theological illusionist David C. Pack took another one on the chin when the Kingdom of God did not arrive at The Restored Church of God Headquarters Campus on Pentecost, June 16, 2024.

After spending 4 hours and 16 minutes waving his long, powerful lists in the air proving Pentecost 2024 was the day Jesus Christ would return to pat him on the back with a world-witnessed attaboy, the Pastor General flinched in the concluding 63 seconds to extinguish all his momentum by prognosticating his own inevitable failure.

It was a little bitch move.

Predictably, Dave later clung to that thin lifeline of being right about being wrong for the 82nd time since March 2022. In advance of Pentecost, an anonymous email from Church Administration blessed the brethren with another “my Lord delays His coming” declaration.

During "The Greatest Unending Story!" Part 519 on June 20 and Part 520 on June 22, David C. Pack pushed on by dissolving the past and recycling his notes, promising a brighter future.

But that is a cheap parlor trick consisting of smoke and mirrors.

Jesus Christ Brings the Kingdom of God
July 7, 2024
Sunrise on Tammuz 1 at 6:02 AM ET

A brief summary of Parts 519 and 520 is for the skimmers:

•  Pentecost was “a shadow” of Tammuz 1.
•  Tammuz 1 is the new date that was declared through careful implication rather than declaration.
•  The Kingdom comes in summer, not spring.
•  The falsely imagined New Moon on the 10^th of each month was abandoned.
•  Midst of the Years is when three types of years intersect.
•  David C. Pack has logged over 25,000 hours of Bible study during the Series.
•  David C. Pack’s enemies are mocking.
•  RCG members leave because they do not believe God.
•  Herbert W. Armstrong was not a false prophet, so David C. Pack is not a false prophet.

David C. Pack is the most insecure narcissist you will ever meet, who consistently shrinks away from a date as it approaches because he knows the truth: Dave doesn’t know Jack.

Expressing a medical-grade learning disability, Wadsworth's resident false apostle, false prophet, and false teacher walks in the same circles, repeating the same mistakes. Even though nothing but depleted checking accounts occurred on Pentecost, the prophetic bungle still had a bright side.

Part 519 – June 20, 2024
@ 00:04 Well, here we are. You’ll learn why I thought we would be. All the complicated or maybe should say complications and gymnastics of how the Kingdom could arrive on Pentecost (the tenth of a month) are over.

This smoke and mirrors introductory wordplay obscures two embarrassing points Dave did not want to admit: 1) Brethren will learn why Dave thought they would be there instead of why he was wrong. 2) The New Moon he invented on the tenth of each month to force the circle moed into the triangle slot Pentecost was immediately abandoned.

@ 00:24 I can’t describe just, from a personal perspective, the peace this brought when I discovered (well, discovered it several days before Pentecost), I I was suspicious at the end of the week. I spoke on Tuesday. I’d been suspicious for a long time, but what finally came to bear is what will come out today.

Like when Dr. Strange lamented that the warnings come after the spell, David C. Pack confesses his hidden doubts about his own teachings after it is too late. Instead of NOT teaching something he was troubled by, the self-centered hireling pushes through his discomfort to preach it anyway. Brethren be damned.

David C. Pack’s state of mind and well-being broadcast which spirit drives him. The brethren still attending The Restored Church of God reading this right now should seriously consider which being they are supporting by giving this spiritually bankrupt organization their money. You KNOW Dave is a false apostle, yet you stay because you value the social club aspect more than holding fast to what you know to be true.

Your continued attendance and financial support promote religious madness. You already know this. If you think God will step in and push what your eyes and ears already tell you, then you are playing a smoke and mirrors game with yourself. You reap what you sow, folks.

After Dave was warmed up, his Pentecost confessional became less opaque.

@ 33:43 And we know, as I knew all along, but then Pentecost kinda fogged in for reasons I’ll will explain. We’re looking for a New Moon. It’s pretty simple. You know I’ve been suspicious for over a month about various dates. But, again, I’ll just say, a shadow got in the way [chuckles].

It is not Dave’s fault. That pesky Pentecost shadow fogged things up.

@ 41:15 One thing bothered me about Pentecost, and I didn't know what to do about it. It was it's it's still in spring. We need a New Moon that’s in summer.

And just like that, one prophetically timed season snaps to become another. The Pentecost backpedaling continued in Part 520 with obvious sleight-of-hand excuses.

Part 520 – June 22, 2024
@ 17:02 And and so, I thought because of so many verses on dawn I’m gonna show you I thought, “Well, maybe it is Pentecost." Rather than, it was a shadow.

@ 1:29:17 It's very important for the picture of what was seen on Pentecost. We we know that it carries many elements of shadow. Now think. Here are some of the areas of shadow. And I got confused near the end because I thought, “Well, okay, it has to be a great day. Pentecost is a great day.”

@ 1:29:51 And so it's I I I I'll hope you'll excuse me. I'll excuse myself for getting confused. I wish I hadn't.

David C. Pack is quite generous when it comes to forgiving himself. His most merciful leniency is reserved for when he looks in the mirror. Not so much for those he would like to see cast into the Lake of Fire.

All of his rationale for why nothing happened on Pentecost is just verbal smoke and mirrors.

With an uneventful Pentecost in the rearview mirror, it is time for Website Services to strike these from Member Services:

Flashback Part 514 – May 25, 2024
@ 1:13:42 I told you I knew exactly when this was, and that’s true. I know it’s in spring.

Flashback Part 517 – June 8, 2024
@ 40:15 It would almost be an act of deception by God to lay out all of this and say, “Sorry. Fooled you. Joke’s on you.”

@ 1:09:59 In fact, could we even learn that every 10^th of the month, goin' backwards and forwards forever, is a New Moon?

This fleeting New Moon heresy was conjured by a mentally corrupt sorcerer and his whipping boys in the Third Floor Executive Imaginarium. The wooden walls encase a perverse think tank where biblical truth is twisted to death.

Flashback Part 518 – June 11, 2024
@ 49:32 All those things began to build up in my mind, and I think God was preparing me for years to come to understand the 10th, but not until it was we were ready.

David C. Pack's Pentecost 2024 failure proves God was NOT preparing him for years to understand this. The lying false apostle's plain words accuse himself, and the RCG brethren will not hear it. He tells everyone what they need to hear to judge whether he speaks the truth or not.

@ 1:29:50 This is some of the deepest things of God I’ve ever been blessed to teach.

Time exposes that there was no blessing and the doctrines were not from God. Yet, the picnics are sometimes fun, so keep paying this man to lie to you, brethren.

During Parts 519 and 520, David C. Pack’s list fetish was fully engorged as if waving his worthless and partially recycled lists provided any credibility since all the previous lists failed to produce accurate results.

David C. Pack holds his lists up before the entire congregation, and he strikes the rock with promises that water will burst forth. But none ever does. During Old Testament times, that would have justifiably been stone-picking time.

@ 39:04 Now, we’re gonna examine dozens. Actually scores of points, and it’s time to get it right.

@ 56:15 I don’t know how many points. I got about 60 points here, and we've covered 6. So, we’re about a tenth done.

About an hour into Part 519, he is only on Point #6. I left RCG three years ago, but I still feel that sinking internal cringe of anticipating hours more of pointless suffering in the Main Hall meat locker. Brethren endure countless ruined Sabbaths at Headquarters in The Restored Church of God. That is lost time, and we will never get back.

David C. Pack admits something that should embarrass everyone in RCG in 3…2…1…

@ 1:20:06 Now, there are some [Tammuz 1] points that roll right over from the Pentecost list.

His proofs can be swapped between differing conclusions, illustrating their flexible worthlessness.

Part 520 – June 22, 2024
@ 42:09 But I told you, the list of things I’ve been looking at for a long time was that long list, and over time, it kept growing.

When God charges a chosen servant to relay vital information to His people, it is God's responsibility for them to get it right the first time. David C. Pack adopted the "trial and error leads us closer to success” philosophy, which may work in entrepreneurship but is proof of false leadership in prophetic theology.

The Bible gives anyone a single chance to prove God is backing them. David C. Pack was revealed to be a prophetic fraud on August 30, 2013. He is forever invalidated, and nothing biblical will happen on July 7.

David C. Pack was never commanded to hit the rock, talk to it, or drop it on his foot. No water will ever spring forth. He was not sent, yet he ran. He rushes to call out lunacy with his arms waving in the air.

His endless lists will never produce fruit. Compiling, reading, and holding them up is a smoke and mirrors technique devoid of substance that is no more valuable than the hot air that blathered them.

When brethren flee The Restored Church of God, they do so because they have proven from the Bible that David C. Pack is false. They know the cowardly enablers at Headquarters willfully support their human idol with feigning lips, spreading wickedness with lying tongues.

That truth is distorted through smoke and mirrors.

Part 519 – June 20, 2024
@ 11:36 We know that 90% 90% of Israel will blow it off. That’s why I I I’m often comforted when I see people who understand this [7-Year] Kingdom is set up, and no other church on the face of the earth has or ever has, does or ever has understood it. They’ll just blow it off, and I I, and I don’t take it personally. I know they just simply don’t believe God.

Dave absolutely takes it personally. Former ministers tell many stories of him getting incensed when someone openly disagrees with him in the most minor matters. David C. Pack’s Greatest Hissy Fit during Part 430 is an appropriate reminder of how Dave reacts to indifference.

@ 12:21 You know, we have modern scoffers today. We know they’re gonna be scoffers in this Kingdom. They just don’t believe.

We do not believe you, Dave. You are a documented hypocritical liar and blasphemer.

@ 22:34 And I we have people leave us all the time. [chuckles] Many come in, but we have people leave us all the tuh. They absolutely want nothing to do with what God tells them to do.

It is easier for him to accept people leave because they disregard God rather than he is wrong.

Still deceptively beating the drum that he is not a false prophet by being born again as a staunch Elijah-denier (wink wink), he gives the unpaid field mollusks more quotes to hide behind when quizzed.

Part 520 – June 22, 2024
@ 1:36:13 Apparently, the Series, in some way, prophesied. If it if you prophesy again, then you prophesy again. I I do not claim to be a prophet. But why people all believe That Prophet would first be human?

@ 1:36:45 John the Baptist. “Are you That Prophet?” He said no. If somebody asks me, I’ll say the same thing. I won’t I I I won’t claim to be a prophet.

His insatiable ego craves biblical specialness so desperately, Dave wishfully projects the accolades of the brethren in 3…2…1…

@ 1:36:53 “Well, you should, Mr. Pack!” Well, maybe I should, then, pray for me because I’m not gonna do it. Was it inspired preaching?

That is like a man adamantly asserting he will not commit adultery after having already committed adultery. History on the internet is hard to erase, Dave.

@ 1:37:56 Either way, prophesying or inspired preaching would seem to add credence to Tuh to Tammuz. I mean, tell ya, you you you judge what you think my words are.

David C. Pack's words are neither prophesying nor inspired preaching. His prophet denials are smoke and mirrors tricking new or amnesiac brethren.

The self-appointed apostle is so woefully inept he never considers the implications of his own words. David C. Pack is screaming to the members of The Restored Church of God that God is not guiding him, nor is he moved by the Holy Spirit to preach what he does.

@ 1:43:42 'Cause this, remember. If you wait, if you wait one month, boy, that’s it for eternity. You think that didn’t weigh incredibly heavily on me. I mean, it was it was one of the most stressful periods of my life trying to put all this together. I’ll just say that. …So, but I’ll just tell ya, you know, when when you when you when YOU settle on a date, you are settling on an eternal date. You don’t want that pressure on you. I promise you.

An authentic, inspired spokesman for God would not feel pressured because the man is not settling on any date. He is only conveying what God already chose. The pressure is on God to get it right, not the human conduit. A faithful end time messenger would not feel such stress about what God is doing because God is doing it, not him.

This demonstrates David C. Pack does not believe God is revealing this to him, but the self-assigned mouthpiece has to “figure out” what God wants. That is the fatal flaw in believing he can receive an utterance from God without actually hearing an utterance from God.

David C. Pack does not believe David C. Pack because nobody should.

If you think he does not take reasonable opposition personally, ask yourself why he keeps the victimhood card in his back pocket. Anyone who reminds Dave of what he said is counted as an enemy.

@ 1:44:14 You have no idea how many of our enemies are sitting out there mocking what I took on there nobody else even saw. You have no idea.

From what others tell me, plenty of RCG brethren have an idea because they read these articles on exrcg.org and Banned by HWA. Yes. They have a pretty good idea, Dave. Hi, Brad.

Dave then builds the most colossal straw man argument while standing behind the dead shadow of Herbert W. Armstrong of The Worldwide Church of God.

@ 1:44:28 Nobody thought Mr. Armstrong was a false prophet when he thought the Millennium was the First Kingdom. He wuddn’t a false prophet. You could ask, “Was he?”

Dave offers a series of plastic questions that are apples to oranges comparisons. Hollow questions about the Millennium, the New Heavens and New Earth, and the Day of the Lord are carefully worded because they focused on WCG doctrines, NOT date setting.

His warped logic is easy to discern and is pure smoke and mirrors. Non-critical thinkers like Edward Winkfield may accept it all at the surface level, but that smoke is so dilute you can see the huge cracks in the glass.

It is topped off with more woe-is-me, where Dave finally admits why he relied so much on smoke and mirrors techniques during Parts 519 and 520.

Part 520 – June 22, 2024
@ 1:45:36 He had 59 years. I had under nine years working alone with ferocious opposition. And boy, if I if I don’t tiptoe just right you you you just can’t even believe. You can’t even believe.

David C. Pack had to tiptoe just right due to ferocious opposition. Like all the servants of God in the Bible had to. He is a one-man show doing this on his own steam, brethren. Hear him when he tells you that.

The righteous are as bold as a lion. Biblical frauds tiptoe with verbal smoke and mirrors.

Marc Cebrian

See: Smoke and Mirrors

But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were jutisfied...

Washed, Sanctified, Justified, and Glorified in Jesus

Too many of the folks who profess to be disciples of Jesus Christ are ignorant of what his life, death, resurrection, and ascension accomplished for us. Unfortunately, a large number of Christians are operating under the mistaken assumption that their good works will save them from death and eternal damnation. Scripture, however, is explicit about the fact that this is accomplished for us by Jesus of Nazareth. Even so, some of these folks continue to believe that they have a significant role to play in their own salvation! Moreover, they falsely accuse those of us who do understand how we are saved of antinomianism - rejecting or doing away with any obligation on our part to be moral or righteous. They say that we effectively turn grace into a license to sin, but nothing could be further from the truth!

In this regard, one of their favorite proof texts is drawn from Paul's first letter to the saints at Corinth (which they twist and pervert in the same manner they do the rest of the Scriptures). In that epistle, the Apostle Paul upbraided Christ's disciples for squabbling among themselves, and even appealing to the secular courts to settle their disputes with each other (I Corinthians 6:1-8). He went on to write: "do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality (male prostitutes), nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (I Corinthians 6:9-11, ESV)

Paul was pointing out that their current behavior did not reflect the reality of what Christ had done for them. He went on to remind them of what Christ had done for them. Paul said that Christ had washed or cleansed them of their sins, had sanctified them (made them Holy), and justified them (imputed his righteousness to them). In other words, he was pointing out that their sinful behavior was more of a reflection of their former sinful life than one that reflected what Christ had accomplished for them! Instead, they were acting like folks who had NOT been redeemed by Jesus - like folks who would NOT be a part of God's Kingdom. The apostle was effectively reiterating a principle which Christ had taught his disciples during his earthly ministry - good trees produce good fruit, and bad trees produce bad fruit.

Paul went on to remind them that they were now Christ's, and that the way that they lived their lives should reflect the fact that they had been given the gift of God's Holy Spirit. Hence, once again, things like practicing sexually immorality and engaging with prostitutes was inconsistent with the reality of their new life in Christ (I Corinthians 6:12-20).

Likewise, in his epistle to Christ's disciples at Rome, Paul told them that Jesus Christ had freed them from the Law of sin and death and had given them the Holy Spirit to assist them in their new life (Romans 8:1-11). He went on to explain that the Spirit had made them Sons of God, and that they would be glorified with him someday (Romans 8:12-17). Paul continued: "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us...For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." (Romans 8:18-25, ESV) He concluded his thought: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified." (Romans 8:26-30, ESV)

So, we see from Paul's perspective that Jesus Christ accomplished: 1. cleansing us of our sins, 2. making us Holy before God, 3. the imputation of Christ's righteousness to us, and 4. making us able to host God's Spirit. This is salvation through Jesus Christ! Now, we should also state that Paul makes clear that these things are accomplished by Christ both immediately and over the course of our lifetimes on this planet. Even so, it is God who decided that we would be called to Christ and saved - redeemed from sin and death and given eternal life with God. Yes, the wages of sin is DEATH, but eternal life is God's GIFT to us through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). There is NOTHING that you or I can do to acquire this gift. Nevertheless, if we have truly accepted the gift, our behavior will reflect that reality!

Miller Jones/Lonnie C Hendrix

Friday, June 28, 2024

Domestic Abuse in the Churches of God

Let that sink in!

Over the years, various Facebook exCOG groups have been filled with horror stories from women who were told by their ministers to go back home and submit to their husbands, as "Christ commands", regardless of the abuse they were suffering through. From violent beatings, rapes, and public humiliation, these women were told to bear it as their cross of burden, because God will correct it all in the end. After all, church government is more important!

Sadly, some women did just that an ended up being murdered, having bones broken in their bodies, raped and mentally abused to the point of incapacitation.

How sick could our ministers be?

Thankfully many brave souls did not listen to their ministers and called police on their husbands and had them arrested. Others fled marriages and took their kids and went to other states to start over.

Christian Coalition Against Domestic Abuse

Domestic abuse is a crime!

Report the abuser and do not listen to a minister tell you otherwise.

99% of the ministry in the Churches of God have had NO legitimate counseling training and very few will report abusers to the police as they are required to.

Here in California ministers/preachers/clergy are mandated reporters by law of child abuse, elder abuse and domestic violence.

If your minister fails to support you and report your abuser, then REPORT him!

Who are Mandated Reporters?

Any person who is required by law to report a particular category or type of abuse to the appropriate law enforcement or social service agency.

Mandated Reporters are legally responsible to report the incident themselves. They are not required to investigate any known or suspected case of abuse.

Mandated Reporters Include...

All licensed healthcare professionals, including but not limited to:

– Physicians
– Nurses
– Mental Health Professionals
– ALL employees in a long‐term health facility
– EMTs, paramedics, medical examiners

Social Workers, Marriage & Family Counselors

Child care custodians / Elder or dependent adult custodians

Employee of a protective service or law enforcement agency

Teachers

Clergy

Commercial film & photographic print processors

California Mandated Reporting Requirements

Safety Plan

Be Prepared to Get Away…

Their Fabricated Tithing Doctrine: This is the big daddy. This is their sacred cow. This is the beating heart of their evil empire. The crown jewel. The Death Star.

It is amazing how this blog gets under the thin skins of so many little self-appointed false prophets of the church. The Great Bwana Bob Mzungu Thiel, the Chief Overseer of Africa and the Occasional 100 Caucasians, popped his little cork today over a letter we posted some time back by Harry Eisenberg (see previous post) where Eisenberg discussed how the church covered up the fact that tithing was not a command.

The Great Bwana Bob, along with many of the other charlatans masquerading as COG leaders claim tithing is a new covent command. They have to do this because they would have no other means to fund their disturbing little "ministries". Trying to prove that tithing is still commanded seems to be one of the times they feel justified lying is appropriate. As hard as they try they cannot disprove that tithing is NOT a new coveant command.

Their Fabricated Tithing Doctrine

This is the big daddy. This is their sacred cow. This is the beating heart of their evil empire. The crown jewel. The Death Star. The one ring to bill them all. The pot of gold. Their matrix (into which they want to plug you). Their Wizard of Oz. Their magic spell. Their special power. Their secret recipe with the eleven herbs and spices. Their Golden Goose. The very air upon which they breathe!

Question this doctrine and watch these money hungry pastors bare their fangs. This is a teaching that they will bear no compromise on. Tithing, or at least their own version of tithing, is their one true love.

Here are some bullet points about tithing that these money hungry pastors don’t want you to know:

The New Testament Church did not tithe.
The New Testament does not teach tithing for Christians.
Their favorite Malachi verses cannot be used for Christians since Christians are not under the law of Moses.
Abraham’s one off tithe of his war booty did not set up a precedent for Christians to regularly tithe their income.
The version of tithing they teach cannot be found in Scripture (see below).
The “Storehouse” in Malachi cannot be equated to your local church organization.
There are plenty of rich (money wise) Christians who do not tithe. This would be impossible if their version of tithing was true.
The New Testament teaching is that you decide how much to give, and there are no rules about where it goes. You cannot be compelled to give.

It may come as a surprise to learn that their tithing doctrine is a combination of twisted scriptures and wishful thinking, as opposed to solid Biblical exegesis reflecting a central thrust of New Testament teaching. Here is their tithing doctrine stated in a nutshell:

“Christians must give ten percent of their gross income only to their church organization. If they do, then God will bless them for any offerings they make to the church organization beyond this ten percent. But if they do not give ten percent gross, then they are stealing from God and God will curse them.”

There are variations of this teaching, and sometimes it is called a “principle”, but the above definition contains the core essence of this doctrine.

It is vital to grasp that tithing is not for Christians. Tithing was part of the old law (of Moses) which was fulfilled (completed) by Jesus. You know that Christians are not under the law of Moses don’t you?

But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. – Romans 7:6

know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. – Galatians 2:16

All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” – Galatians 3:10

New wine should not be put into old wine skins, nor should new unshrunk cloth be used to patch an old garment; if you think you need to obey the law of tithing then you need to obey the whole law (or you will be cursed, Galatians 3:10).

What is more, this tithing doctrine they teach isn’t found in either the New or Old Testament. Tithing in the old testament does not match what these pastors preach – this unique tithe teaching is of their own invention.

This is such an important subject that Cultwatch has a special website TithingDebate.com dedicated to setting Christians free from this fake doctrine. There are free books to download and articles to read. Make sure you read our article “Should you give? New Testament Giving Supported!”, because Cultwatch is not anti-giving. If you think tithing is for Christians today, then you need to read TithingDebate.com

Tip: If you are struggling to feed your family or buy them clothes, then understand that you do not need to give to the church. You can still do so if you choose, but you should not feel under compulsion since your family is more important. Also understand that if you are poor then that does not mean God is cursing you, or that you have done something wrong; this is an erroneous teaching these greedy men promote to guilt you into giving. Remember, your duty is to your family first. If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. – 1 Timothy 5:8

Tip: Churches that push this erroneous tithing doctrine will often try to enforce tithing via written agreements (called covenants), and also by monitoring what people give (so they can compel them to give more if they are not meeting the ten percent target). First, grasp that these “covenants” are illegitimate and not worth the paper they are printed on, because they contain false doctrine (like tithing) and set up the pastors as a false authority over you. God would not be party to a covenant that contains falsehoods, therefore God was not party to the covenant you were pressured to sign, therefore you are free from this burden. It is as if you never signed it. Second, recording what you give and using that information to pressure you to give more is wrong, the Bible implies that our giving is best done in secret so that only we and God know what we gave. Don’t go to a church where they monitor what you give. (note: some churches voluntarily let you record what you have given via a numbered envelope system for tax purposes. Done correctly, no one in the church will know what you gave. There is nothing wrong with this kind of recording.)

Your Counter Strategy: Stop giving to that church until they change their ways. That doesn’t mean to stop giving to Godly works, we would encourage you to give as the Holy Spirit prompts you and as you decide. But it is valid to protest false doctrine by refusing to fund the system that promotes that false doctrine.

Check out CULTWATCH: How Pastors Get Rich

How the Truth About Tithing Was Suppressed (And Still Is) In The Church of God

The Great Bwana to Africa Bob Mzungu Thiel had another meltdown today over this letter. Apparently, it is time to run it again.

"Hello. Ted? This is Bob... Remember that tithing research?

I think we're going to have problems with Harry."

There has been a great discussion on the Ambassador College Alumni site about tithing and how one man, through much research, proved that tithing was not an Old Covenant or New Covenant command for church members. Of course, this did not sit well with an administration that survived on tithing.

The man who did this research was Harry Eisenberg.

From Ambassador Report 1

Editor: At beautiful, serene Ambassador College a person who is too concerned about truth may suddenly find himself living in a hostile environment. His personal quest for truth may not be regarded as dangerous or heretical as long as his voice is not heard by too many people; but if he is eloquent, or in a position to influence minds in the Ambassador entity, then his quest for truth will be regarded as a great threat.

After Ambassador College ascended to a position of limited prestige among fundamentalist institutions, and while in the midst of accumulating perhaps the most effective propaganda machinery of all such institutions, there occurred the simultaneous accident of accepting a student who regarded the acknowledgement of truth as paramount.

By the time this happened, Garner Ted Armstrong had become a major industry. The Worldwide Church of God had become Ted's religious arm of global influence and the church's Doctrinal Committee had become an efficient oppressor of truth.

The following account, written by Harry Eisenberg, is an account of character assassination. It clearly explains how truth is suppressed inside the Ambassador entity and how the one who discovers it must become silent, giving way to the personal doctrines of those in power, or be removed.

Before his discovery, Harry Eisenberg was an employee of Ambassador College. He is the author of eight major articles published for Ambassador under his by-line, as well as the author of numerous articles written for others or published under no by-line. Here is his story:

Quite by coincidence, I am writing this article on the main campus of the University of Maryland. As is the case with virtually every other institution of higher learning, considerable research into both the sciences and humanities has been undertaken here. The purpose of the university is not only to educate students, but to provide new knowledge and answers to questions affecting our society.

Colleges and universities have in fact been the major vehicle for providing society with new knowledge in just about every field. The student, especially the graduate student, is on campus not only to absorb knowledge but also to make a contribution to the body of knowledge extant in his particular field. To use a familiar phrase, he is expected to give as well as to get!

One would think this principle should hold true for Ambassador College as well. Unfortunately, this has not been the case. This is due to a basic difference between Ambassador College and other institutions of higher learning.

Whereas most universities exist to promote the advancement of knowledge and to pass it on to their students, Ambassador College exists to promulgate to the public the knowledge and values of its founder, Herbert W. Armstrong. New discoveries and/or contributions to knowledge are often not welcome there. For one thing, such new discoveries are not, generally speaking, in keeping with the primary aim, which is the dissemination of existing knowledge. Furthermore, should any new concept uncovered through the research of a faculty member or student conflict even remotely with the views of the founder, such research is utterly unwelcome, as Herbert Armstrong's views are regarded as sacrosanct and inspired.

For example, one student wrote a research paper for an Ambassador theology class, claiming that the scriptures speak of a spirit in animals as well as a spirit in man. He provided considerable evidence to support his contention. Upon presenting the paper to his instructors, the student was urged to keep his ideas to himself. It seems the spirit in man and the idea that animals differ from man is a pet concept of Mr. Armstrong's, and the theology instructors were afraid to present the Student's findings to him.

The following semester the student was not allowed to register for classes and was expelled from the college. He was charged with the crime of "highbrowing the ministers", whatever that means. The loss was Ambassador's, not the student's.

I was a paid researcher on the staff of Ambassador College for over four years. Generally speaking, my work involved providing "proofs" for the pet concepts and theories held by Mr. Herbert Armstrong and/or his son, Garner Ted. Occasionally, I was successful as in the case of an article entitled "Did Jesus Have Long Hair?" This article attempted to show that there is historical evidence proving that Jesus did not necessarily wear long hair, as he is often pictured today.

My article was widely reprinted and resulted in a personal full-page interview in a major Los Angeles daily. It was one of few articles which have cast Ambassador College in a good light. It was met with complete silence by an administration which feels any publicity should he its own private realm.

In January 1973, I was asked by my supervisor, Brian Knowles, to research the subject of tithing. In particular, Mr. Knowles was interested in learning who paid what to whom and how in ancient Israel.

And so I began a systematic study of the tithing doctrine by listing each Biblical verse which in any way refers to tithing. What followed was a study of commentaries, encyclopedias arid various historical sources. The result was inevitable! I came to see that the tithing concept as promulgated by Ambassador College and the Worldwide Church of God was contrary to both the Old and the New Testaments.

Scripture makes it plain that the right to collect tithes was given to the Levitical priesthood in exchange for their service in the Temple. There is no evidence that this right was ever passed on to the New Testament Church. The Encyclopedias BRITANNICA and AMERICANA both confirm this view when they state the early New Testament Church did not practice tithing, although it was later adopted by the Catholic Church in the Sixth Century A.D.

Upon presenting the research paper to my supervisor, I was treated in a manner reminiscent of Galileo's encounter with the Catholic Church. I was warned that I had better keep my findings and views to myself. Naturally, it was assumed that I had done the paper because I had some kind of ax to grind and was merely out to prove a previously held notion. Research at Ambassador so often has meant nothing more than finding "proofs" for the "inspired" concepts and ideas of the Armstrongs.

When I was asked to squelch my ideas, I pointed out that that might be difficult as four people had already seen the paper. I was told that if I would keep it down, a doctrinal committee (sic) would eventually consider my findings. Six months went by and about all that the so-called doctrinal committee accomplished can be seen by reading a booklet entitled MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE published briefly by Ambassador College in the summer of 1973.

When I concluded there was no reason why I should keep my paper from others, I proceeded to show it to anyone who inquired about it. Not believing I was the ultimate authority on the subject, I collaborated with a team of some six other Ambassador College researchers on a more in-depth paper on tithing which was completed in December 1973.

As a result of these papers and the fact that I no longer felt a religious compulsion to practice tithing, I was dismissed, without warning, from my job on January 7, 1974. This happened despite the fact that my new supervisor, Dr. Robert Kuhn, acknowledged that I had done outstanding work for him. So much for religious freedom at Ambassador College.

The paper in question was ultimately published with minor modifications by both the Foundation for Biblical Research and the Associated Churches of God. Some open-minded researchers for a newly reconstructed doctrinal committee which was investigating tithing confided to me that any thesis or dissertation from reputable theological institutions that they had the opportunity to examine dealing with the subject in question, tended to agree with my findings.

Finally, in a meeting called to investigate the origin of the papers published by the Foundation and Associated Churches, I was publicly slandered by Ambassador President, Garner Ted Armstrong. Armstrong stated, "Now I don't express it as assassination of Harry's character-it is his mind I'm worried about and not his character. I'm not a bit worried about his personal integrity or his personal habits nor his personal sincerity, but I'm not prepared to say he is the most balanced individual mentally, and that I would rely an awful lot on his research."

But he had been relying "an awful lot on his research". Just weeks before, Armstrong had been parroting my findings on his television program seen by millions in the U.S. and Canada. Furthermore, many of these programs were repeated on the air over and over again. On more than one occasion, articles bearing the by-line of Garner Ted Armstrong but researched by me appeared in fire PLAIN TRUTH magazine.

Only when my findings disagreed with Armstrong's private views was my research no longer reliable and the writer fit for ridicule. But such are the risks that anyone takes who might dare disagree with the administration.

-Harry Eisenberg

Editor: Harry's efforts to obtain the truth about tithing represented a special threat to the Ambassador administration. It is the one threat Ambassador fears the most-the threat of individual integrity asserting itself over Ambassador's aristocratic corporate structure.

Consequently, on January 7, 1974, Harry Eisenberg's hopes of a fair hearing for tithing research died by committee. Harry's voice, as well as his research, had to be removed from among the followers.
The Ambassador College Board of Trustees found nothing sinister about Harry's removal. Ministers and students who had liked him apparently found nothing objectionable in his being disfellowshipped. "He was a youth overly exposed to satanic doctrines, demonic thoughts goaded him into an attitude of rebellion. Nothing unusual in that." It ended, however, in his dismissal from an organization to which he had dedicated his life.

The announcement of Harry's termination took less than a few seconds. There was no risk that the doctrinal committee would expose the true reasons for Harry's dismissal because members of that committee had been a party to it. There was no risk of exposure from members of the Ambassador-controlled media because a few words about the "Ambassador Oasis" from the charismatic Ted Armstrong and the students would inquire no further. They would not try to digest the indigestible, think the unthinkable, or question Pilate about the removal of a Christian.

No, on January 7, 1974, all seemed well. In fact, things seemed better than ever. And, in short time, the people would again be reminded that "God's work is moving ahead stronger than ever."

Thursday, June 27, 2024

"Alpha Men" In The Churches of God

Plain Truth 1961

Rod Meredith is well known for saying some absolutely bat shit crazy stuff over the decades, most of it easily disproved. Why people view him as some spiritual giant is mystifying to most people.

Nothing pushed his buttons more than being referred to as "the church's most effeminate minister". Reportedly, Herbert Armstrong himself said that. In the early 1970's when he was "teaching" a class at Ambassador in Pasadena, he had an absolute meltdown over the fact that many men were wearing Izod pink polos. Only queers wore pink. Supposedly, almost all the men in his class wore pink Izod polos to class the following week. You can just see his red face with veins popping as he had a fit. Delightful!

The church has always had gay and lesbian members in it for decades, some closeted, some not. Melvin Rhodes and Dennis Luker were sympathetic to gay and lesbian members in the Worldwide Church of God/United Church of God and had developed an online support group for members.

In 2011, I had this from a gay UCG member posted on my blog as a comment:

I am a member of UCG and had a laugh when I read about the rumor of UCG's "Hidden Gay Feast Site." It is disheartening to me that some COG folks would be bitter about UCG's efforts to show compassion toward homosexuals. Showing kindness and respect for people doesn't mean "justifying" sin, as some of these people seem to think.

The UCG upholds the traditional biblical teachings about sexual relationships: Sex in heterosexual marriage is good; all other sexual relationships is sin.

I've survived the harsh COG for 40 years. I remember the terrible attacks and contempt shown for gays during the WCG years from the 70s forward.

I'm so glad that men like Dennis Luker and Melvin Rhodes have been willing to listen and learn about the subject of homosexuality; and have shown compassion and respect to me and others who have struggled with homosexuality for most of our lives.

I live as a celibate Christian man, as a member of the UCG. My survival in the Church is due in part to Dennis Luker being willing to step out and learn about this issue - and also treat me with respect.

I have a story posted on the Internet, if anyone cares to read it. It is at: www.michael9776.com

Sincerely,
"Michael" (not my real name) from "UCG's "Hidden" Gay Feast Site? Hardly....."

Today, James at The Painful Truth site sent me a link to one of his current articles: Alpha male. In it he has a quote from a letter sent to him by a former church member.

My grandparents began listening to radio church of god back in the old days and the rest is history. My parents were both raised in the church and while my dad is no longer in it and hasn’t been for many years my mom and grandma are still deeply involved with different splinter groups. I have attended many different splinters throughout my time in the church such as United, Living, the fathers call, which is led by Brian Orchard, and faithful flock, which is led by Don Billingsly. I can safely say that these last two people are some of the few people in the world that I truly hate.
I put my foot down and refused to attend church anymore in 2016 and it caused a big rift between me and my mom. My Parents divorced in 2009 and I lived as a “spiritual orphan” for most of my life. I’m sure most of you know that divorced women are the lowest lifeform possible in the church and it wasn’t much better for me. Having been out of the church for four years now I’m only starting to begin to understand just how badly it has infected my way of thinking.
To give an example I was unable to acknowledge the fact that I am gay until 2019 and it still amazes me to this very day. It always felt like my worst nightmare growing up and I secretly hoped I would not turn out gay but here I am. I also find it extremely hard to go see a doctor. I have been vaccinated once in my life and while I would like to get more I can’t bring myself to do it. I received a tetanus last year when I was in the hospital for a work related injury.

The article by James then continues on with how hypocritical COG ministers and elders were (and still are) and calls them outright liars (which is true). His first topic is: Reality #1: The Ministers of Armstrongism are liars

He goes on to talk about how hypocritical and abusive church leaders were as they led secret lives of their own while making the lives of members a living hell. From HWA's incest, GTA's philandering with both men and women, to Rod Meredith's bullying.

Alcoholism was rampant in the ministry from Herbert Armstrong down to the lowly church elder. In the 1980's one minister, Dennis Luker, tried to help the ministry deal with this problem. He combined with local Pasadena churches to start a support ministry for alcoholics. I remember the photo taken with him and local Pasadena community ministers and priests on the church steps of a local Episcopal Church. Soon after that, the crap hit the fan. How dare he work with worldly Christian and think that counseling by these unconverted agents of Satan would help COG ministers! How dare he! Even worse, it exposed the COG ministry as having their own issues they were dealing with and the church could not have that happening. Having an infallible ministry was a church priority.

James continues on:

Evangelist Dennis Luker strove to do the honorable thing. In fact, in context, it was an almost impossible uphill battle to make any headway. A minister before him had traveled amongst the churches to tell his story of the journey from alcohol to encourage members to follow suit. The problem is that because of Herbert Armstrong and Garner Ted Armstrong, the free flow of alcohol was permanently embedded within the ‘ministry’ of the Gospel. It wasn’t called the Feast of Booze for nothing. When we look at the history of Armstrongism, it does appear that at least 50% if not 90% of the problems in the cult were a result of Alcohol abuse among both the members and ministers. So… in 1982, Evangelist Dennis Luker issued what he called, “The Luker Challenge”. He said, “If you say you can do without it, prove it!” And that challenge did start many on a positive path to recovery. Unfortunately for Armstrongism, as soon as people left the haze of alcoholism, many of them went on to leave Armstrongism. And why not? Better off in every way.

From that point on many of the top leaders and his fellow ministers had it in for Dennis Luker. He had a target on his back. When he started his ministerial outreach to gay and lesbian church members that target immediately became an enlarged bullseye.

Many COG ministers started immediately lying about Dennis Luker. James coninues on with this:

Some people assumed and spread the rumor that Dennis Luker was gay. That is absolutely not the case. He was anything but — Married with two adult children… but then you know very well what church gossip was like. Yes, he was a feminist, but definitely not homosexual. Some are wondering that if that were true, why all the interest in gay men? This has to do with family relationships.
Evangelist Dennis Luker had a close friend in the church who happened to be a millionaire businessman who also was married with children. In due time, Dennis Luker’s daughter married the son of the millionaire friend. It was quite the affair. The wedding and reception was held in a prestigious hotel. There were hundreds of people. The reception itself cost $25,000 and each person attending had the opportunity to have some really good cuts of beef. It would have cost 3 times as much today. His daughter had at least two children. In due time, the Luker’s son married the daughter of the millionaire businessman. They had two children. The children were ‘double cousins’.
In due fullness of time, the Luker’s son finally he admitted he was gay and went off with his male lover. That hit the families very hard and that is why Mr. Luker was so invested in his interest of gays. It is doubly shocking in the context of the Worldwide Church of God. Herbert Armstrong and the administration pretended the whole thing never happened and swept it under the rug, leaving the Lukers to deal with the whole unfortunate situation as well as they could with all the whispers in the background.

The post by James continues on in great detail about attitudes in society, churches, cultures, and much more when it comes to GLBT people. He doesn't give the GLBT people a pass either.

James ends the extensive article mentioning this (referencing Rod Meredith's asinine article above):

A brief comment concerning the Featured Image: The Shocking TRUTH about “QUEER” Men by Roderick C. Meredith…

Check out the entire article here: Alpha male

Herbert Armstrong's Tangled Web of Corrupt Leaders