The Major Problems with Armstrongism

The Major Problems with Armstrongism 

(which this blog and others have identified)

The following teachings of Herbert Armstrong have been thoroughly refuted here and elsewhere:

1. The nature of God. His teachings about the Trinity, and more particularly those that were related to the Holy Spirit.

2. The nature of the human potential. His teaching that man would one day be equal to God.

3. The biblical origins of the English-speaking nations of the earth. His teaching that the people of the United States and Britain are the descendants of the birthright tribes of Israel (Ephraim and Manasseh).

4. That the return of Jesus Christ to this earth is imminent. He repeatedly engaged in date setting and misleading people about the signs of the times.

5. That Christians are obligated to observe the commandments of Torah (including the weekly Sabbath, Holy Days, tithing, and clean and unclean animals as food.

6. That the symbolism of the Holy Days reflected Armstrong's understanding of God's plan. More particularly, his understanding of the meaning of Atonement, Trumpets, and Tabernacles.

7. The nature, purpose, and fate of the angels. Especially, as it related to Satan and his demons.

8. The nature of the ekklesia. His teachings about government within the Church, the composition of the Church, disfellowshipping, and that traditional Christians were deceived members of a false church, a pseudo-ekklesia.

9. The influence of paganism on Christianity. More particularly, his teachings regarding Christmas, Easter, Halloween, Saint's Days, etc., and his rejection of the cross as a Christian symbol.

10. The interpretation of prophecy. More particularly, his headline theology and insinuating modern nations, institutions, and leaders into biblical prophecies.

11. The nature of the Gospel. More particularly, his de-emphasis on the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth and what all of that meant for humanity.

12. The nature of the Kingdom of God. He ignored the anti-authoritarian message of Christ and dismissed the fundamental change that was being wrought in the nature of humanity. Instead, he emphasized a literal government which would forcibly impose its will on everyone.

13. The nature and purpose of human sexuality. More particularly, his teachings about dating, marriage, homosexuality, divorce and remarriage, child rearing, appropriate clothing, makeup, and what constituted sexual lust.

14. The nature and role of faith and works in the life of a Christian. His understanding of love, mercy, forgiveness, repentance, faith in Christ, and physical works was twisted and inconsistent with what is revealed in Scripture.

15. The way that Scripture was used and interpreted. Mr. Armstrong's insistence on literalism and proof-texting; and his rejection of all textual criticism, along with the way he ignored context, doomed his interpretations of Scripture to failure.

Lonnie Hendrik/Miller Jones

Musings...Medicine, Theology, Politics: It's all the same

 

This speech from "Patch Adams" has always resonated with me on so many levels applying to so many personal experiences and perspectives.  

"You were never one of them" is an evaluation I have heard all my personal life in being a WCG pastor. "You say the things I am only thinking" is also a quiet moment with another pastor at lunch. I believe that is true and why this speech resonates so much with me personally. 

Getting caught up with WCG, or any Cult of Personality or group beliefs not your own, though you felt they were supposed to be and riding through all the storms that others bring your way can make one feel they failed for not conforming and for not going along to get along. 

Not going along to get along has been one of my own personal life lessons. It's why I can say I now see myself as having been a salesman for the Armstrongs, in the past, and not a well-trained theologian and pastor. I let myself see the Bible through the eyes of others believing it was wrong to see it through my own. Those days are long over. 

But it is not so When you are "not one of them", you are free and, to you, and there be few that find that kind of freedom. And while the price, indeed, is high, for saying what others are only thinking, I find being authentic a much better road to travel.

Besides, life is too short to be someone else.

Is Your Faith So Shallow You Will Let Others Steal Your Crown?

Is Someone Trying to Steal Your Crown?

Over at Banned by HWA, in reaction to Dennis Diehl's post about the dangers inherent to trying to live one's life in accordance with a Divine purpose, a conversation was inaugurated about whether or not Dennis was trying to steal a Christian's metaphorical crown. Now, this is not the first time this charge has been leveled against the various authors of the posts which appear on that blog. Of course, we must first understand that the entire blog is devoted to holding Armstrongist "agents of deception accountable." In other words, everything which appears there is meant to expose the inconsistencies and errors inherent to the theology of the Armstrong Churches of God - to prevent THEM from "stealing your crown."

The concept of crown stealing is drawn from a passage in the book of Revelation. In the messages to the seven ekklesia of Asia, the congregation at Philadelphia was praised for its faithfulness to God's word and their perseverance in the face of opposition to their work (Revelation 3:7-10). Then, in the next verse, we read: "I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown." (Revelation 3:11, ESV) What did they have to hold on to? Wasn't it faithfulness to God's word and perseverance in the face of opposition? Are the Armstrong Churches of God faithful to God's word? OR Are they the agents of deception that we contend they are? In other words, if they aren't being faithful to God's word, then what do they have to hold on to?

In this connection, I have always thought that the message to the ekklesia at Laodicea was more appropriate for the Armstrong Churches of God. We read there: "For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see." (Revelation 3:17-18, ESV) Indeed, they glory in the "truth" which they possess even as they completely misunderstand the nature of the "crown" they seek to protect and the kingdom which it represents!

The Greek word "stephanos" is translated into English as "crown." It is indicative of the wreath, garland, coronet which was worn by the Roman emperor or given as a prize to the victor in the public games of that time - a symbol of the honor due to a particular person. In his letter to the ekklesia at Corinth, Paul wrote: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." (I Corinthians 9:24-27, ESV) Likewise, he called the saints at Philippi his "joy and crown" in the Lord (Philippians 4:1). Paul also wrote to Timothy that a "crown of righteousness" was waiting for him "which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing." (II Timothy 4:8, ESV) For those who endure trials, James said that they would receive a "crown of life" someday (James 1:12, ESV). Moreover, Peter wrote to the leaders of the ekklesia to: "shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory." (I Peter 5:1-4, ESV)

In short, even the use of the "crown" as a metaphor in the writings of the New Testament undermines the teachings of the Armstrong Churches of God about the Kingdom of God and the reward that Christian's are intended to receive from God! Finally, I would also point out that this context makes abundantly clear that YOU are responsible for protecting your crown - NO ONE can steal it from you if you are doing what you're supposed to be doing!

Posted by Miller Jones/Lonnie C Hendrix

Greco-Roman COG Con-artist Takes Questions At Feast And Acts Like It Is A Big Deal

God sure knew what he was doing when he was forming the foundations of the earth so that in these perilous end times, a prophet would arise who would be filled with all the knowledge that true believers need to know.

Never has the church had such a magnificent prophet/apostle/Joshua/Elisha/Elijah in its midst who surpasses all revealed truth from Herbert Armstrong?.

Our most highly favored God to be, the Great Bwana Bob Mzungu Thiel had this to say about his question and answer session at the Feast on prophecy.

CCOG Q&A: Prophetic Questions in Galveston

For this sermon, Dr. Thiel took written questions from people attending the Feast of Tabernacles in Galveston, Texas. He did not see the questions until he saw them while doing the sermon. Questions/topics addressed included whether or not there would be a future Zerubbabel and Joshua, the “teachers of Isaiah 30:20, the timing of the ‘Day of the Lord’ and the 6,000 years, if there is a relationship between the timing of Habakkuk 2:6-8 and Daniel 11:39, the sequence of Daniel 11 and the King of the North, Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies and Satan’s plan, why Muslims will turn against the King of the North, when Satan is cast out of heaven, Sabbath matters, whether Philadelphians would be subject to deadly persecution, the canon of the Bible, the short work, forgiveness, whether or not the serpent Eve saw looked like a snake, the timing of Matthew 24:29, having servants and maids in the Millennium, and the timing of Ephraim and Manasseh turning against Judah, plus comments related to the Beast, Islam, crosses, and the Antichrist. Dr. Thiel commented on each and every question that was submitted.

The Danger in "The God Given Purpose"

 

"Isn't it fantastic that if there is no purpose you have nothing to fulfill. You can just live. 

But no. You want a purpose and not just a simple purpose, but a God given purpose.

It's very dangerous. People who think they have a God given purpose are doing the cruelest things on the planet. They are doing the most horrible things. And they have always been doing the most horrible things. Because when you are given a God given purpose, life here becomes less important than your purpose."

Sadguru-Stop Looking for Purpose

 I couldn't help but think the how true that is when reading the previous post about the trials and tests of Samuel Kitchen as he runs around the planet seeking and fulfilling his perceived God Given Purpose. What a mess he is. The God given purpose can do that to you. 

I don't recall much emphasis, if there was any at all, on having a God given purpose growing up in the Dutch Reformed Church. I never heard the phrase and knew no one striving to find it or fulfill it in that context. We just lived our lives and found meaning wherever it presented itself. That is my recollection.  My parents found meaning in volunteering for the Red Cross or the State School where my brother resided. That was enough. 

But when I discovered The Worldwide Church of God at 14 in a world of assassinations, racial upheaval and war in the Middle East, I became convinced my purpose was to respond to being chosen and have a good explanation as to the oft asked question once in the church, but yet unknown, "So, how did you come into the truth?"

Not only that, my God given purpose was to become a Pastor. That was my personal goal when I went to AC. However, the first student assembly there, GTA warned us all that if anyone came here "to be a minister", to get that out of your head.  What!?  I thought this was a seminary?  (I was naive about the WCG and AC as well as the Armstrongs).  I recall my thought being, "We'll see about that", but kept and pondered these things in my heart. It was kinda like being told in advanced public speaking class by the instructor/minister "No one get's an "A" in my class".  Uh huh...we'll see.  He was mistaken. 

From then on, it was game on.  My purpose was to become a King or a Priest in the Wonderful World Tomorrow. To rule over 10 cities, or 5 or just 1 if I was a lazy ass or had less than stellar enthusiasm for my God given purpose. Personally, I never cared for the idea of ruling cities. I would have more hoped for a nice log home, along a lake in the Adirondacks and basically being left alone with a few good friends in the surrounding Wonderful World Tomorrow community. 

My perception of being a Priest or King was that those positions, back in Biblical and Medieval times were probably considered the premier positions as opposed to the peasant population, so that seemed like great positions to aspire to in that miserable and mundane setting the average person had to endure just to get by. 

My God given purpose was also to attend the FOT with 3 services a day. Morning, afternoon and evening, at least at first, until exhaustion and illness caught up with way too many, marriages were getting a bit frayed, and the kids were beginning already to hate church. I recall thinking at 18 when I attended my first FOT at Squaw Valley, these folk are a bit too driven, but I really think it was just a way to give every hot shot HQ minister some sermon time, at the expense of everyone's attitudes, to serve not God, but ego.  But that's just me. 

It hadn't yet dawned on me that "Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven," (Matthew 5:19) could be taken to mean "no worries, at least I made it" :)

So for the next 30 years, I invested in my God given purpose. To preach the good news of the Kingdom of God both to inspire and motivate. Then of course, the Deity and Jesus must have gotten bored with that purpose and changed it, working a "miracle in the Church".

 Now we had a different God given purpose, and I personally had better get onboard and preach it or else. The new God given purpose was to magnify his Son, honor him through new, but not new of course, Holy Days of Christmas and Easter and eschew all things in the previous God given purpose. Of course, this was all done on purpose. 

I was no longer interested in the concept of the God given purpose and I thank God that I never hopped over to those insisting on the old God given purpose or those all emotionally attaching to new one, which, of course, was not new at all. It was just new to them. For me it was the reinvention of the wheel. Not interested. 

From all of this, my personal conclusion in the whole matter was that the Deity and Jesus are tricksters who would have known that when I sought my original, because I was chosen, had "come into the truth" and now had my God given purpose, but it really wasn't that at all and decades on the ruse would be revealed. Being suspicious of the new God given purpose and having already experienced that the first quarter of my life, I don't find a need any more to have such lofty goals or purpose.

The obsessions and compulsive behaviors one can come up with to fulfill their God given purpose are myriad and not a bit frightening. They can tear your family apart and leave you not a bit broke if one attaches oneself to, say, a Gerald Flurry, Dave Pack or others not only obsessed with their own purpose but in need of being in charge of inflicting it upon others at great cost. 

 The world, indeed, is full of examples of the perils and dangers in having one's own God given purpose which conflict with the God given purposes of others.  

So I agree with...

" People who think they have a God given purpose are doing the cruelest things on the planet. They are doing the most horrible things. And they have always been doing the most horrible things. Because when you are given a God given purpose, life here becomes less important than your purpose."

Poor Samuel Kitchen is a really good example of a really bad view of himself and the folly of "The God Given Purpose". 

"If you have balance, then you can climb. If you don't have balance, then it is better you stay on the ground. It's not safe for somebody who is not balanced to climb high. It is best you stay close to the ground. Then you should not climb"

"If you are looking for a purpose, you are seeking madness. If you find one, you are sure mad. If you think you have found a purpose in life, you for sure gone crazy. Because only insane people have purpose. Or people who have purpose are insane in many ways. "

"If you think this is your purpose (to fight for "my country") you will destroy the whole world for the nonsense you believe in"

"The purpose in life is to live"