The little tidbit below is from a forward in COGWA's Discern magazine titled, Christianity’s Strange Story, by Clyde Kilough that covers articles about Christianity, Pentecost, and Constantine.
It starts off about Pentecost and makes the claim that almost all Christian churches today claim Pentecost as part of their story. They supposedly do it to "enhance their story" about themselves, unlike the Churches of God, who use it to...uh... enhance the story about themselves. Armstrongism is sooooo fun!
Pentecost—it’s an odd word with a strange story.
Its Greek origin simply means “count 50” (referring to calculating its timing), but there is nothing simplistic about its Old Testament origin and New Testament explanation. Together they reveal some of the deepest meanings of God’s work with humanity.
Today virtually all Christian denominations commemorate Pentecost, claiming (for enhanced credibility) to trace their lineage to that holy day in the first century that clearly marks the beginning of the Church.
Armstrongism is also guilty of this! It claims direct lineage to the 1st century church and claims to practice 1st century Christianity, which it clearly does not do.
Armstrongism has taken in all kinds of myths and stories to enhance its credibility and perfect image over the pagan so-called Christians that they see surrounding it. We have the absurd British Israelism myth, the one true church, the becoming God as God is God, church eras, church government, and many more extra-biblical enhancements that make Armstrongism unique.
Kilough goes on to say this:
That day’s events literally altered the course of world history. We cannot fathom what today’s world would be without the impact of the religion(s) that emerged. Even hardened skeptics are forced to admit that something powerful occurred. How else could a body of believers suddenly appear, quickly permeate the Roman Empire, and so upset the established religions that they would rail against Christians as “these who have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6)?
Today, though, it’s the world that appears to have turned Christianity upside down. Or is it possible that an imposter “Christianity” that Jesus Himself forewarned us about is now reaping the fruit of the seeds it sowed long ago? That’s another topic in this issue: “How an Emperor Corrupted Christianity.”
What about today's imposter Christianity that permeates the Churches of God? We see men like Bob Thiel, Dave Pack, and Gerald Flurry who have made a mockery of Christianity, the church, and Jesus himself. Liars in the Chruch of God are given places of honor in today's COG movement, so Armstrongism shouldn't be so quick to condemn the "worldly" Christians around them.
That’s part of traditional Christianity’s strange post-Pentecost story. It’s akin to a “switched at
birth” shocker, with the aged Christianity not much resembling its infant counterpart. What happened?
If you want to see a "switched at birth shocker," then look at the abysmal mess that Armstrongism is in today! How can any of them honestly believe they are practicing 1st-century Christianity? How can any of them claim to be heirs of the Holy Spirit sent at Pentecost?
7 comments:
A glimmer of truth found in a pile of trash… yes, the Holy Spirit came upon the believers and continues to come upon believers. The actual Church, that is, the body of the Lord Jesus Christ continues to grow, and preach the gospel. HWA was just another false teacher, false prophet, and liar.
The actual church continues to change lives and the gospel continues to produce fruit and an amazing harvest of believers. Salvation belongs to God!
Leave it to the followers of HWA to mourn the death of the Jewish Christian, two millennia after it occurred!
There are two conflicting theories (amongst others), regarding mankind's journey throughout the ages. One is best described by the term "evolutionary". The other is described by the term "degeneracy". Actually, these forces are both happening simultaneously, so it becomes debatable as to how to identify the specific force which is predominant in a given case.
HWA chose "degeneracy" as his one size fits all, a fact which rendered all of his theories as flawed. He even preached an exception, in BI, in which two sub tribes allegedly failed to degenerate, and retained their original genetic makeup, and would be responsible for the punishment known as the great tribulation for forgetting the culture which He gave them!
It seems so obvious in reading the epistles of Paul, that Christianity (TGCOL and Beatitudes) was shown as being highly functional within the context of either Jewish, or Gentile cultures. Yet HWA missed this remarkable point, rejecting Paul's own words as well as the powerful, rich historical testimony of the Antenicene Fathers. He failed
to perceive or accept the evolutionary nature in that, and in fact proclaimed that nobody had proclaimed the message he taught for 2,000 years. He treated Christianity as having
nearly died except for small statistically negligible highly debatable pockets.
BB
What’s the membership of cogwa? Anyone know.
And their total per year income?
Ministry salaries?
What percentage of that income is actually devoted to the gospel, hall rental costs, travel expenses, cars etc etc. Is this published and readily accessible to one and all?
Or do they all need a DOGE close looking at…..
All those questions can apply to UCG and LCG.
As a blog master from here, a few weeks ago, wrote that ' this blog is full of UCGers' maybe one of the many can enlighten ?
The most recent COGWA audit was published in the Sep-Oct '24 "One Accord."
But it doesn't have all the detailed data you're seeking.
The Nov-Dec issue with Feast of Tabernacles reports may be as close as COGWA revealed to membership numbers.
The conclusion of this particular thread states:
"...If you want to see a "switched at birth shocker," then look at the abysmal mess that Armstrongism is in today! How can any of them honestly believe they are practicing 1st-century Christianity? How can any of them claim to be heirs of the Holy Spirit sent at Pentecost?"
Excellent questions for the hirelings who fled (John 10:12-13) from the former WCG and went out, like sheep departing from a pasture of water, green grass, etc., to create their own organizations, thinking that God would support them and become part of their confusion in so-called "greener pastures."
What new thing(s) have they learned since 16 Jan 1986? What growth in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ has occurred in their lives, as they continue to await the arrival of some "another Jesus" to "very soon" return to planet earth to reign here for some 1,000 years, and then fail after Satan exits the pit to again deceive this entire world's inhabitants?
For example, consider a couple of comments by Kilough who wrote: "...Today virtually all Christian denominations commemorate Pentecost, claiming (for enhanced credibility) to trace their lineage to that holy day in the first century that clearly marks the beginning of the Church......That’s part of traditional Christianity’s strange post-Pentecost story. It’s akin to a “switched at birth” shocker, with the aged Christianity not much resembling its infant counterpart. What happened?..."
"Birth shocker?" What happened? What means Clyde Kilough when he speaks about how Pentecost: "...clearly marks the beginning of the Church...", when such a statement is not true.
Some used to preach that Pentecost was the "birthday of the Church," and that was never true. Which disciple did the Church begin with?
On Pentecost more were added to God's Church, which had begun 3 1/2 years earlier after Jesus Christ was baptized as the first member of God's Church, and sealed by God's Spirit.
When one leaves out of the picture the first member of God's Church, Jesus Christ, then yes, we must wonder: "...How can any of them honestly believe they are practicing 1st-century Christianity? How can any of them claim to be heirs of the Holy Spirit sent at Pentecost?"
But, do those 2 questions really apply to the manmade/created organizations of cogwAssociation, and of the United Ass. with its Shabi leader, Living, and all organizations under the leadership of such former WCG hirelings as Franks, Weston, Winnail, Pack, Flurry, Coulter, Weinland, and yes, even Kilough himself?
Time will tell...
John
You know what is really strange, Clyde? Continuing to follow the dictates of a man that wouldn't lower himself to take on menial labor to feed his family but would debauch himself and destroy members of his own family through his 10+ year sexual abuse of his daughter Dorothy.
Knowing the corruption within the church you think is true is very strange, The struggles between Herbert and his son Garner Ted based on organizational power and sexual jealousy is debauched and yes strange.
The WCG hierarchy that some COGs have softened damaged people and their faith through elitism, strictly and unassailably enforced dogma, and demolition of particularly a man's role in the household. Strange.
The divisiveness that separated your congregants from the local Christian community and their extended and often nuclear families must sound good to you Clyde, but a man of god would know better. Indeed, strange.
The cognitive dissonance your church created when basically brainwashing the real and the actual. The Germans did not come, those so called "false Christians sure made a better society and extended help to others outside their congregation which the COGs almost never do save for a couple of cans for a food shelf. It was even good "false" Christians that fed Armstrong's family when he wouldn't. Strange Strange Strange.
A church that claims these helpful Christians are pagan for Sunday and Christmas and Easter while ignoring the actual history and foundation of these days is a strange church indeed.
A church that denies the Holy Spirit's work in others, yet quotes from these same false Christians is strange, very strange.
Pompously presuming the intentions of churches for recognizing pentecost as a means to "enhance credibility" shows your own ignorance of Christians and seems to indicate you don't recognize how massive the giving of the Holy Spirit was. Shocking and strange.
Look your church started with the Millerites in the late 1820s during the Western New York religious revivals. It was from this area that much of the remnant theology (we're the only real Christians) took hold. The Shakers and Mormons were just some groups that came out of this. It was william Miller and those following Miller that created the 7th day adventists which spawned the Church of God 7th day which spawned Armstrong and Armstrongism. Even stranger Armstrong got many of his ideas from those groups.
It's strange that a church claims they can, with many gaps, trace their belief system to the apostles. But, if any members of those groups came today to enter one of these churches they would be turned away. For example, Polycarp was accepting of the Trinity and the Sunday Resurrection, the Waldensians have no record of sabbath keeping or the Holy days, Stephen Mumford was a trinitarian that did not keep the holy days. Strangely you embrace them as brothers, but not if they were here today.
It's strange that you ignore scripture that explicitly says there is no further need for the tutor (Law) now that Christ has come.
It's strange that you think the Good News (the Gospel) is more of a warning and witness than a redemptive force stirring the Holy Spirit.
You've had criminals of all sorts at a higher rate than other churches, but I suppose that is okay by you...strange.
There is so many more strange things within and about the cogs, but I weary from them.
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