Crackpot Bob and Malachy

The crazier the conspiracy theory, the more Crazypot Bob secretly believes it.

 

Problem Child: Bobby Thiel - The Early Years?

The Roots of the Living Church of God's conflict with Little Bobby Thiel. 

 

How to Deal with Disgruntled Church Members / Biblically

Part Ways with Them

When dealing with disgruntled members, what happens if none of the proposals above work? What happens if members pray for the disgruntled members, reach out to them and seek to listen to them and understand the root of their dissatisfaction, find relevant solutions and extend forgiveness, but to no avail?

In fact, this is very likely. One would hope that disgruntled members will eventually stop being disgruntled and be reconciled to the church, but with all human and heavenly efforts combine, there is no such guarantee.

This issue can be brought to a Board meeting or a Members meeting. As a united body, the church will be called upon to decide what to do about the disgruntled member, still humbly seeking a mutual settlement of the matter and reconciliation.

Unfortunately, if this final measure is unsuccessful, the church must be prepared to let this member go, treating them as a “publican or a heathen. If all reasonable efforts are made to resolve the matter, but with no success, then the disgruntled member may have to be asked to renounce his/her membership in the church.

 The truth is there may be members who are disgruntled about foundational doctrines of the church, which evidently cannot be adjusted to suit their whims and fancy.

Similarly, some may have personal vendettas that they refuse to release, so for the greater good of the church body, they may have to be seen as an unbeliever and, therefore, no longer a member of the body. Leaders who understand human nature and the power of the evil and negativity from this one disgruntled member to spread within the entire body of believers and shake the church’s very foundation must be prepared to take a stand.

The Eternal Dance: Armstrongism in Contention with Nicene Christianity

Fair use

The Eternal Dance

Armstrongism in Contention with Nicene Christianity

By Scout

“Except for the point, the still point, there would be no dance,

and there is only the dance.”  T.S. Eliot, from “Burnt Norton”

 

Dance is my analogy for the relationships between the God Persons in the Trinity.  Everything that we say about God is an analogy.   We know only the created realm and he dwells in the uncreated realm.  When we think of him or describe him, we use the earthbound categories that we know.  We talk only in symbols, in metaphors.  The whole of creation is his poem.  He is not just the tribal God of the ancient Hebrews. He is the sovereign uncaused first cause of the reality that we know.

I am going to briefly examine some of the conclusions concerning the Doctrine of God drawn by the early church around the time of the Council of Nicaea and a few centuries thereafter.  I am going to compare these conclusions to the classical Armstrongist Doctrine of God. In this essay, as I speak about God, I am limited to analogical language and I understand that. In accord with Analogia Entis, it is the most that I or any of us can attain to.   I will start with co-equality.  

What Trinitarian Co-Equality is Not 

I used to think that God in his divine nature was comprised of three identical persons joined together in some essential way.  And at some point, the three in conclave decided that one would be Father, one would be Son and one would be Holy Spirit.  But since they were all identical, this organization was simply a matter of arbitrary election.  So, the Father Person could have been the Son Person and the Son Person could have been the Father Person, for instance, and that alternate arrangement would have been just as valid as the present arrangement.  My naïve model of these divine interpersonal connections is not the model advanced by Nicene Christianity. 

Father, Son and Holy Spirit

The Nicene Model is that the Father eternally generates (begets, Greek “monogenes”) the Son (John 3:16) and the Holy Spirit proceeds (John 15:26) from the Father.  A post-Nicene modification, originating in Spain, added “and the Son” so that the Holy Spirit was asserted to proceed from the Father and the Son (John 15:26).  This addition is what separated Eastern Christianity from Western Christianity.  The point is that the Divine Persons are not undifferentiated.  They are not equal in the sense of being exhaustively identical.  They are equal in ontology (existential essence).  But differ in interpersonal relationship and economy (role, activity).  

The brothers back then had to look at the data and come to a conclusion. Arius was insufferable. Arius elevated the transcendence of the one God (1 Cor 8:6) and correspondingly diminished Jesus. Constantine wanted everyone to speak the same thing.  It hardly mattered what it was.  The brothers knew that God was eternal and unchanging (Malachi 3:6).  And whatever “beget” meant, it did not mean that eternal Jesus (Hebrews 7:3) was created like the Arians asserted. So, they concluded that Jesus had been generated by God from eternity.  God always was and Jesus always was by divine nature.  And that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son eternally.  So, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are not three beings that are indistinguishably the same.  They are different in that they naturally and eternally exist in a community defined by different interpersonal relationships.  “Father” is not just a moniker.  The designation is based on the fact of begettal.  They are together one essence and one God but have different economies.  The Nicene view resonated well with the Biblical data concerning divine personhood, ontology, Monotheism and economy.  

The Nicene Model may seem awkward.  But is not because the Bible is a spurious document and Christianity is a spurious ideology as atheists would claim.  It is because human language and categories are not adequate to the task.  Yet, we should resist the temptation to tame all this complexity by imposing human simplicity on it.   That is what classical Armstrongism has done and I will turn there next. 

Family By Itself Means Bitheism

The first WCG minister that ever visited with me was a pastor of the local WCG congregation.  A few years after we talked, he left the WCG and started a Unitarian denomination.  He was regarded by the WCG as a rebel and a heretic.  But, actually, he was a reactionary.  he went back to the early roots of the Armstrongist denomination.  The first leader of the Church of God Seventh Day was Gilbert Cranmer and Cranmer was a Unitarian.  The Church of God Seventh Day was Arian like the earlier Adventists. Unitarianism and Arianism had a profound, nontrinitarian influence on the formation of WCG theology.  And a theme that runs through Unitarianism and Arianism is the subordination of Jesus in his capabilities and his scope.  

Armstrongism is not just Trinitarianism with the subtraction of the Holy Spirit to form a Binitarian theology.  Armstrongism asserts a different kind of relationship between the Father and the Son.  Armstrongist belief is that the Father and the Son form an expandable family to which other sons will be added through the salvation of Christians.  But the family model is based in the biological human family where each member of the family is a separate person.  Any connection between members is only matter of agreement in viewpoint and is not ontological.  In the Armstrongist family model, the Father does not eternally generate the Son and the Holy Spirit is like an energy of God and not a personal being. Armstrongism claims Monotheism in the sense that God is one family.  This assertion is internally inconsistent because the family relationship does not provide for the unity of persons at the level of essence.  God may be like a family but that is not the full picture.  Family is a weak and limited analogy. The Trinity transcends family because of its special unifying relations as already described.  

Armstrongism is actually a form of polytheism.  The subcategory of polytheism involving two gods is referred to as Bitheism.  Armstrongism is not Binitarian because it proposes no concept of unity at the level of essence among the God Persons. Binitarianism is a form of Monotheism and Armstrongism is not Monotheistic.  Further, Armstrongism proposes that one day there will be millions of gods who are god-as-god-is-god. 

So Armstrongism took a step forward by declaring that Jesus is God and abandoned its Arian roots in the Church of God Seventh-Day.  But it took a step backward into polytheism by proposing that the unity in the God Persons is only the family relationship modeled on human biological connections.  Family just doesn’t cut it.  

In the Last Analysis: My Two Cents

What difference does it make?  If we must deal in analogies, can we say that one analogy is better than another?  Maybe, at the end of the day, the Arian Model is just as good as the Nicene Model because they’re both just analogies for something that transcends our understanding.  While that reasoning has an appeal, it is not the whole story.  There is a pattern.  The Anti-trinitarians are typically one-off, likely small, religious groups that harbor many other beliefs that are a departure from orthodoxy.  They emphasize works and they have a diminished view of Jesus and the grace he brought to us.  Any organization that systematically downplays the role of Jesus is not going to lead anyone to a good outcome.  Not only is the Nicene Model a better fit to the Biblical data, something we should value, it tends to not co-reside with odd beliefs.

 

 

Crackpot Prophet Goes Wackadoodle Over New Pope Who Could Be The One, But Maybe Not, But Maybe...Possibly

Where would the Church of God be without all of its crazy self-appointed and illegitimately ordained weirdos that latch on to every conspiracy theory or legend out there? From Catholic visions of Fatima, Nostradamus, Malaky, Gary North, and every other crackpot weirdo on late-night AM radio stations, they have all found a following in Armstrongism. The weirder it is, the better it spreads through the church.

No one takes this to the extreme more than our illustrious, illegitimately ordained, and self-appointed prophet to the church, the Great Bwana Bob Thiel. The Great Bwana, though a day late, is not letting the new Pope get by his conspiracy-laden mind.

He has already updated his poorly researched book on the new pope, but all he has done is change a few names from previous popes mentioned to update it to Pope Leo. As usual with all of Bwana Bob's books and articles, it is filled with all kinds of crazy conspiracy theories. It is an entire book about "one wonders", "maybes", "could be's," and "possibly," as you would expect from a false prophet who is too big of a coward to really take a stand. Besides, when he talks about all of the "maybes" and "could be's" it is his easy out by never being held accountable for lying to his followers and the public.

Leo XIV will be ecumenical. And, because of the Augustine Order connection, militant in some ways. 

It just frost the Great Bwana's butt that churches might just get along, unlike the Churches of God who refuse to. 

Next, the Great Bwana starts to go whack-a-doodle: 

Because of the timing of his papal election, Pope Leo XIV could possibly fulfill biblical prophecies about a particular False Prophet, the final Antichrist. 

 

But we will need to see if he ends up doing “great signs” and wonders:

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:11-17)

The Great Bwana then goes on to quote his favorite crazy dude, Malachy. Any fellow crackpot he can find to support his craziness, the Great Bwana latches on to them, even after admitting that most people also think these nut jobs are crazy (just not COG folk).

If Pope Leo XIV does not perform “great signs” and never calls fire down from heaven, then he could not be the final Antichrist and would not be the last Pontifex Maximus. But if he does those signs, that would point to him being the final Antichrist. 

 

Now, there is a list of pontiffs that an Irish Roman Catholic bishop named Malachy put together in the 12th century. Over a decade ago, I bought a copy of the book shown above related to the Malachy predictions of 112 future popes. 

 

Though various Roman Catholics believe that the list was divinely inspired, and this also seems to have been the position of the Protestant prophetic writer Hal Lindsey, many (including this author) do not believe that the list was from God. Many make light of the list for a variety of reasons. 

 

Even the expression “malarkey” seems to have originated as a derivative of the word Malachy, possibly because of how some viewed Malachy’s writings. Malarkey signifies worthlessness.

Read that again:  Malarkey signifies worthlessness. There can be no better definition of Bobism than this. Worthless!

The Great Bwana then goes on to say that he thinks the Malacy was demonically inspired, yet he quotes him endlessly, as if what he said were fact. 

I have long believed that the list was demonically-inspired–hence I do not rely on it.

He then goes on to quote it and discuss it:

In both Malachy’s list and the Book of Revelation we see:

1. Reference to the city of seven hills/mountains.

2. The destruction of the city of seven hills/mountains.

3. The end of a power in Rome.

4. Persecution.

5. Troubles/tribulations on the earth.

6. A type of judgment.

7. Events for the end time.

And, produced a ridiculously silly video:

Malachy Prophecy, Francis, Doom in 2027?

Do you know who Malachy was? He was an Irish bishop and saint of the Roman Catholic church who put together a list about 900 years ago. This list has been a source of amazement and interest for centuries and at the same time it has also been a source of ridicule. Recently his list has been making headlines; the publication, Euronews has an article citing “Malachy’s List” and doom in 2027. The reason Malachy’s List is once again front-page news is because of what the list contains, as well as because of health concerns related to Pope Francis. It contains a prophecy of the number of popes until Jesus returns as well as a description of the characteristics of each pope. So, why does this matter? How many popes are on the list? What about the reign of the last pope? Are there any similarities between Malachy’s description of the last pope on his list and the prophecies in the Bible? Does the Antichrist fit in to Malachy’s list? Is it possible that Malachy’s list actually predicts the final judgment and the return of Christ in 2027? These questions are fascinating and provocative. Let Dr. Thiel shine the light of Bible prophecy on the answers to these questions. Answers from the verses of the Bible that bring prophecy to life.

He ends by promoting his "new" book and dancing around everything he said about the new pope. It is "could be" time to the max, except when it's not, then it's not.

In my previous ‘Last Pope’ book of 2013, I wrote:

Pope Francis I … if he does not perform various signs and wonders, the Bible is clear that he certainly would not be (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:13-16). 

 

The same is true for Leo XIV. 

 

That said, my book about the Malachy prophecies and how Pope Leo XIV could be the one to fulfill the last one...

Crackpot Prophet Wants You To Know Turkey Has Roads!

 

One of Bob Thiel's followers just completed a trip to Turkey to visit the sites of the seven church that COG groups love to talk about. Two things stood out for them,  they discovered how pagan all of these cities were, and that Turkey has modern roads. Who knew!  

Then  Bob's follower makes an observation on how those modern roads will allow a United European Army, i.e. the Germans, to have easy access to invade Jerusalem when Bob Thiel's predicted time of the end arrives.

"Dear Dr Thiel, 

 

In March, Shirley and I travelled to Turkey to visit the seven church sites of Revelation 2 & 3. Not only did we experience the remains of these historic cities of Asia Minor, but we also got a little taste of modern Turkey. 

 

All these historic sites had basically one common theme in their architecture and construction, paganism and idolatry were embedded everywhere. If it wasn’t carved into marble or granite it was painted on walls like wallpaper or laid into the floor with mosaics. Any form of true Christianity seemed far removed."

"Today Turkey has an extensive and very modern network of concrete highways 2 & 3 lanes travelling in opposite directions They cut across valleys and mountain sides, through tunnels and allow for travelling speeds of up to 140 km and run the length and breadth of Turkey. 

 

I kept thinking of how a united European army and its logistical support could quickly travel across Turkey and towards Jerusalem. 

 

Regards

RW"

Why can't COG members just enjoy the world around them without imagining some doom and gloom scenario? Prophecy addiction is a major health issue in Armstrongism.

Then, the always astute, illegitimately ordained, and self-appointed prophet to the church and the world makes two mind-boggling observations:

Yes, Turkey has a lot of modern roads. 

 

Also there are signs of paganism all over the world, and yes, also in the areas that once had the seven churches of Revelation.

I guess that diploma from the "Theological School" in India was worth something after all! He is smart, now! He was quick to scrub any link to that school and his fake degree, though he has kept the title they gave him.

I have studied graduate level Early Church History from Fuller Theological Seminary and other schools in and out of the USA like T of CU, where a Th.D. in Early Christianity was earned). A doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree was earned from the Union Institute and University where I studied various biological sciences and research methodologies. I also have other degrees/training, and have studied theology, both formally and informally.

 

 

We have a new Pope and he is American! Crackpot Bob soon to melt down.

Expect copious amounts of useless conspiracy laden crap from Bob Thiel now that the new Pope has been elected. The fact that he is American lends a new monkey wrench to crackpot Bob's malarkey.

The world's foremost prophet sure did not predict this!

Lake of Fire Church of God had this comment:

Odd that the Armstrong Church of God profit (oops, I mean Prophet) didn't prophesy or foresee the election of an AMERICAN pope! 

The marriage of religion by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the political United States of Europe (EU) Beast power played such an important integral part of R/WCG end time prophecy. 

Who foresaw an American Pope united with the Beast power led by the Germans attacking America - the Pope's home country-kicking off the Great tribulation? 

You are right, Gary. Little Bobby Thiel, the ACOG prophet who was asleep at the wheel, 

is soon to have a meltdown. Richard

Breaking news:

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Robert Prevost, a missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and leads the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops, was elected the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.

Prevost, a 69 member of the Augustinian religious order, took the name Leo XIV. He appeared on the loggia of St. Peter’s Square wearing the traditional red cape of the papacy — a cape that Pope Francis had eschewed on his election in 2013.

Prevost had been a leading candidate except for his nationality. There had long been a taboo against a U.S. pope, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States in the secular sphere. But Prevost, a Chicago native, was seemingly eligible also because he’s a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.

White Paper: Proposals for Educating Young People in the United Church of God About Herbert W. Armstrong’s Importance to Church Beliefs and Practices

I will just leave this here in its entirety, without commentary, though I am highlighting some things. 

Crap, after highlighting things, I could find NO WHERE in this upcoming propaganda campaign any reference to teaching UCG youth about Jesus Christ and what it means to be a follower of him. Jesus gets the back burner once again.

What do you have to say about this?

White Paper: Proposals for Educating Young People in the United Church of God About Herbert W. Armstrong’s Importance to Church Beliefs and Practices

Posted on April 28, 2025 by nathanalbright

Authored by: Nathan Albright, Submitted for Consideration to Aaron Dean, Candidate for President of the United Church of God

Date: April 28, 2025

---

Executive Summary

Herbert W. Armstrong, as the founder of the Worldwide Church of God (WCG) and a pivotal figure in the Church of God movement, played a transformative role in shaping the doctrines, practices, and global outreach of the church. His teachings, including the identity of the Twelve Tribes of Israel in the modern world, seventh-day Sabbath observance, and the emphasis on biblical prophecy, remain foundational to the United Church of God (UCG), an offshoot of the WCG established in 1995 to preserve Armstrong’s core doctrines. To prevent the emergence of “a generation that did not know” Armstrong’s contributions, as warned in the cyclical forgetting described in Judges 2:10, it is critical to educate young members of the UCG about his legacy. This white paper proposes actionable strategies for Aaron Dean, a candidate for UCG President who worked closely with Armstrong, to engage younger generations. These proposals leverage Dean’s personal experiences, modern educational tools, and community-based initiatives to ensure Armstrong’s significance is understood and appreciated.

Introduction

Herbert W. Armstrong (1892–1986) founded the Radio Church of God (later the Worldwide Church of God) in 1934, growing it into a global ministry through his radio and television program The World Tomorrow, the magazine The Plain Truth, and the establishment of Ambassador College. His teachings emphasized the restoration of biblical truths, including the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, Old Testament Holy Days, and the belief that Western European nations, particularly the United States and Britain, are descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. These doctrines, collectively referred to by critics as “Armstrongism,” form the theological backbone of the UCG, which was founded to maintain Armstrong’s teachings after the WCG’s doctrinal shifts in the 1990s.

Aaron Dean, having worked closely with Armstrong during his youth, is uniquely positioned to convey the historical and spiritual significance of Armstrong’s work. The biblical warning in Judges 2:10–11, where a new generation “did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel” and “did what was evil,” underscores the urgency of educating young UCG members. This white paper outlines five key proposals to integrate Armstrong’s legacy into the education and spiritual development of UCG youth, ensuring his contributions remain a living part of the church’s identity.

Proposals for Educating Young People

1. Develop an Interactive Digital Curriculum: “Herbert W. Armstrong’s Legacy”
   • Objective: Create an engaging, age-appropriate online course to teach UCG youth (ages 10–25) about Armstrong’s life, teachings, and impact.
   • Implementation:
     • Partner with UCG’s Media and Communications Services to design a modular curriculum hosted on the UCG website or a dedicated app.
     • Include short videos featuring Aaron Dean sharing personal anecdotes about Armstrong’s dedication, work ethic, and vision for the church.
     • Cover key topics such as:
       • Armstrong’s early life and calling (e.g., his transition from advertising to ministry after intensive Bible study).
       • The growth of The World Tomorrow and The Plain Truth, which reached millions globally.
       • Core doctrines (Sabbath, Holy Days, identity of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and prophecy) and their biblical basis.
     • Use interactive elements like quizzes, virtual tours of Ambassador College’s history, and discussion prompts for youth groups.
     • Offer a certificate of completion to encourage participation, tied to youth camp or festival credits.
   • Rationale: Digital platforms are effective for engaging tech-savvy youth. Dean’s personal stories add authenticity, while interactive features foster retention. A 2023 Pew Research study noted that 80% of teens prefer multimedia learning, supporting this approach.
   • Timeline: Develop and launch within 12 months, with pilot testing at UCG youth camps in 2026.
   • Budget: $50,000 for content creation, platform development, and promotion.
2. Establish an Annual “Herbert W. Armstrong Heritage Day”
   • Objective: Create a church-wide event to celebrate Armstrong’s contributions, fostering community engagement and historical awareness.
   • Implementation:
     • Designate January 16 (the anniversary of Armstrong’s death in 1986) as Heritage Day, held during Sabbath services.
     • Organize activities such as:
       • A keynote sermon by Aaron Dean or other elders who knew Armstrong, highlighting his role in restoring biblical truths.
       • Youth-led skits or presentations reenacting key moments, like Armstrong’s first radio broadcast in 1934.
       • A “Legacy Fair” where youth explore exhibits on Armstrong’s writings, media, and global outreach (e.g., his meetings with world leaders).
     • Encourage congregations to host essay or video contests for teens, with themes like “How Armstrong’s Teachings Shape My Faith.”
     • Distribute a commemorative booklet summarizing Armstrong’s life and UCG’s commitment to his doctrines.
   • Rationale: Annual events create lasting traditions, and youth participation fosters ownership. The Philadelphia Church of God’s similar efforts to honor Armstrong have strengthened member loyalty.
   • Timeline: Plan for January 16, 2026, with preparatory materials distributed by Fall 2025.
   • Budget: $20,000 for materials, contest prizes, and congregational support.
3. Incorporate Armstrong’s Teachings into UCG Youth Camps and Bible Study Programs
   • Objective: Embed Armstrong’s legacy into existing youth programs to ensure consistent exposure.
   • Implementation:
     • Revise UCG youth camp curricula to include daily 15-minute sessions on Armstrong’s contributions, led by camp counselors trained by Aaron Dean.
     • Use Armstrong’s writings, such as The United States and Britain in Prophecy or Mystery of the Ages, as discussion starters, focusing on their relevance to modern prophecy.
     • Integrate Armstrong’s emphasis on biblical obedience (e.g., Sabbath-keeping, tithing) into practical workshops, showing how these practices stem from his teachings.
     • Develop a teen Bible study guide, “Following in Armstrong’s Footsteps,” with weekly lessons linking his doctrines to scripture.
   • Rationale: Youth camps and Bible studies are formative for UCG teens, with over 500 participants annually. Embedding Armstrong’s legacy here ensures broad reach and spiritual connection.
   • Timeline: Implement at 2026 summer camps and roll out study guides by Spring 2026.
   • Budget: $15,000 for curriculum development and counselor training.
4. Launch a Mentorship Program: “Ambassadors for Armstrong’s Vision”
   • Objective: Pair young members with elders who knew Armstrong to share firsthand insights and foster intergenerational bonds.
   • Implementation:
     • Create a voluntary program where teens (ages 14–18) are mentored by elders, including Aaron Dean and others who worked with Armstrong.
     • Mentors share personal stories, such as Armstrong’s commitment to preaching the gospel globally, and guide mentees in studying his key booklets.
     • Host quarterly virtual or in-person “Legacy Talks” where mentors and mentees discuss Armstrong’s impact on their faith.
     • Encourage mentees to lead a congregational project (e.g., a sermonette or community outreach) inspired by Armstrong’s example of service.
   • Rationale: Personal mentorship builds trust and makes history relatable. A 2024 study by Barna Group found that 65% of Gen Z values one-on-one spiritual guidance.
   • Timeline: Pilot in select congregations by Fall 2025, with full rollout by 2027.
   • Budget: $10,000 for program coordination and virtual platform costs.
5. Create a Multimedia Archive and Podcast Series: “Armstrong’s Enduring Voice”
   • Objective: Make Armstrong’s sermons, broadcasts, and writings accessible to youth through modern media.
   • Implementation:
     • Digitize and curate a UCG online archive of Armstrong’s The World Tomorrowepisodes, Plain Truth articles, and books, with youth-friendly summaries.
     • Launch a monthly podcast hosted by Aaron Dean, featuring discussions on Armstrong’s teachings, their biblical roots, and their relevance today (e.g., prophecy in 2025 geopolitics).
     • Include youth voices in the podcast, such as interviews with teens who apply Armstrong’s principles (e.g., Sabbath-keeping in school).
     • Promote the archive and podcast via UCG’s social media, targeting platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where 70% of teens are active (Pew Research, 2024).
   • Rationale: Multimedia archives preserve Armstrong’s voice, while podcasts engage youth in a popular format. The Restored Church of God’s similar efforts have boosted engagement among younger members.
   • Timeline: Launch archive by Summer 2026 and podcast by Fall 2026.
   • Budget: $30,000 for digitization, podcast production, and marketing.

---

Addressing Potential Challenges

• Skepticism About Armstrong’s Legacy: Some youth may view Armstrong’s teachings, like British Israelism, as outdated or controversial due to modern genetic research debunking it. Emphasize the spiritual intent of his teachings (e.g., understanding prophecy) and Dean’s personal testimony to bridge generational gaps.
• Overemphasis on Armstrong: Critics within UCG argue that focusing on Armstrong risks venerating a man over scripture. Ensure all materials frame Armstrong as a servant of God, not the source of truth, with clear scriptural grounding.
• Resource Constraints: Limited budgets and volunteer time may hinder implementation. Prioritize low-cost initiatives like the mentorship program and leverage existing platforms like UCG’s website to minimize expenses.
• Engaging Diverse Youth: Urban and international youth may feel disconnected from Armstrong’s Western-focused teachings. Tailor content to highlight universal principles (e.g., Sabbath rest, God’s plan for humanity) and include diverse voices in podcasts and events.

---

Expected Outcomes

• Increased Awareness: Within three years, 80% of UCG youth (ages 10–25) will demonstrate basic knowledge of Armstrong’s contributions, measured via surveys at youth camps.
• Stronger Identity: Youth will articulate how Armstrong’s teachings shape UCG’s distinct identity, fostering commitment to the church’s mission.
• Intergenerational Unity: Programs like mentorship and Heritage Day will bridge gaps between older members who knew Armstrong and younger ones, strengthening church cohesion.
• Preservation of Doctrine: By embedding Armstrong’s legacy in education, UCG ensures its core beliefs endure, countering the doctrinal drift seen in the WCG post-1986.

---

Conclusion

Herbert W. Armstrong’s role in restoring biblical truths and building the Worldwide Church of God is central to the United Church of God’s identity. Aaron Dean, with his firsthand experience, can lead efforts to educate young members, ensuring Armstrong’s legacy inspires future generations. The proposed digital curriculum, Heritage Day, youth camp integration, mentorship program, and multimedia archive offer a comprehensive approach to engage youth meaningfully. By implementing these initiatives, UCG can avoid the cycle of forgetting described in Judges, raising a generation that knows and values Armstrong’s contributions to its faith and practices.

---

Recommendations for Immediate Action

1. Form a task force by June 2025, including Aaron Dean, youth leaders, and media experts, to prioritize and pilot the digital curriculum and Heritage Day.
2. Allocate $125,000 in the 2026 UCG budget for these initiatives, with phased implementation to manage costs.
3. Engage youth feedback via focus groups at the 2025 Feast of Tabernacles to refine content and ensure relevance.

---

References

• United Church of God. (2025). Official website and doctrinal statements.
• Pew Research Center. (2023). Teens and Technology.
• Barna Group. (2024). Gen Z and Faith.

---

This white paper provides a roadmap for Aaron Dean to educate UCG youth about Herbert W. Armstrong, ensuring his legacy endures in a way that resonates with the next generation.

Is United Church of God A Radical Departure From WCG Culture?

The following was posted on a UCG-related website, Edge Induced Cohesion. This is the biggest case of gaslighting I have ever seen on how special the departure of the United Church of God was when they left WCG. 

This all stems from an effort underway in the United Church of God to educate its youth about Herbert Armstrong, who he was, and what he taught. This will be presented in a separate post.

Gearing up for the GCE this weekend, I designed a booklet that will be distributed to all the elders in attendance with several dozen comments submitted by elders who were there in 1995—for both the May Indianapolis conference + the December GCE in Cincinnati—reminiscing on those events and what happened, as well as advice they would want all to take forward from here. I came away all-together re-energized about UCG in light of reading those experiences. What they did was profound. It was not like the Anglican Church deciding “we don’t like the Pope,” and creating their own church in every way almost exactly like Catholicism, except with the King as Pope. It was a revolutionary leap to create something that by design attempts to foster mutual respect and mutual deference among elders, and a major, radical departure from the WCG culture that preceded it. There is no pastor general; there is no hierarchy of ministry who are discouraged from socializing with those beneath their station. The titles are all corporate, save the Council of Elders. The incentives of UCG’s structure are for collaboration and a spirit of working together in good faith. In his written remarks, one minister expressed an astute observation that’s been rolling around my mind ever since: Unlike every other splinter group, UCG was not formed by a minister taking his following and starting his own thing; it was a collaborative effort of men and women in humility wanting to work together in mutual deference. Denny Luker famously denounced the former approach in a passionate, impromptu speech in Indianapolis, and it was a turning point for the organization to take roots. 

Those who have failed to internalize these lessons are those who have split off when they don’t get their way.

That is a pretty big hypocritical brush to label COGWA! 

Remembering history can be important, for many reasons. One is to understand the context within which your current circumstances came to be. Another is to learn from the wins and mistakes of those who came before. Theologically speaking it is good to know how in previous times, certain beliefs reigned and to understand why—whether correct or incorrect—so that you can try and stay grounded in Scripture when the winds of culture come blowing through the congregation. It’s better to be exposed to things in the past by a sympathetic voice first, than to hear it about from a hater who selectively quotes only the worst to scramble your faith—but only if the sympathetic voice is honest and unafraid to wrestle with the really tough questions. Only two ministers I’ve ever asked the question, “Did Mr Armstrong rape his daughter?” have been able to honestly talk about that uncomfortable question—and those two both, in so many words, expressed that while they felt the evidence stacked against that accusation, they ultimately couldn’t know for sure—but that it is their faith in Jesus Christ as the perfect head of the Church that drives their identity and energy as a minister. 

 

The lesson of your Scripture in Judges is that they forgot the LORD. There is no corollary for forgetting Mr Armstrong based on that Scripture. I could never imagine any New Testament author even in their weakest moments hoping that future generations would remember them. Not based on their writings, anyway, which exclusively point to Jesus Christ. Heck, I’ll bet Mr Armstrong himself would hate the thought of it, too. 

 

I think it’s good to talk to those who knew Mr Armstrong and saw incredible things happen in the Church of God because of him. I also think it’s good to read his book for all sorts of reasons, not least of which is to understand how culture can easily create false biblical interpretation (e.g. interracial marriage is wrong based on Noah’s perfect ancestry). Read The Plain Truth‘s from the ’40s about how Hitler was in Argentina; or the 50s/60s about how desegregation was a communist plot to weaken America. As I said, it’s better to hear from a sympathetic voice first, and to read something for yourself, to have a context within which to place the stories of people whose parents were forced to divorce because of bad biblical interpretation, or whose family members died because it was explicitly taught at that time that to seek medical attention was a sign of no faith. Only someone around at that time can contextualize that for you, and most will not excuse it, but they can at least wrestle with it alongside you (at least the honest ones).

Unfortunately, the WCG culture that was created by Mr Armstrong (and around him) leaves such a negative legacy, and all COG’s desperately need to shake off much of it. 

Yet, none of them ever do. They dig their heels in and praise him up one side and down the other. 

So I will count myself as an internal critic inside UCG against this idea. Take every proposal for implementation you list (which are all excellent and well-considered), but focus instead on how: “Jesus Christ’s leadership of His Church and work building His Kingdom is central to the United Church of God’s identity,” and how UCG leadership “can lead efforts to educate young members, ensuring Jesus’s legacy inspires future generations.”

LCG Looking To Have Doors Opened So That They Can Be "The Watchman"

 

One of the impediments of being an illegitimately ordained Church of God prophet like Bob Thiel is that he no longer has any legitimate claim to being a Watchman to the world, as he has in the past. Now he has to surrender that job to the Living Church of God. The very church that has refused to listen to him! I had better get out my umbrella because the spittle is going to be flying once again here in CA.

Why do the Churches of God all feel they have a need to be a Watchman? There is no COG today that is doing anything that bears a witness to the world like they think the old defunct Mother church did. 

Even the Worldwide Church of God never was a watchman because they could only talk about some angry god itching to spank the world or about that creepy "strong hand from someplace". Even with a supposed 8 million  Plain Truth subscribers, no real witness went to the world. No one remembers who the church was and the world has no idea who Herbert Armstrong was.

Yet, here we are with Living Church of God waiting for doors to open so their message can warn the world. Been there, heard that, done that.

The Church as a Watchman: Throughout history, God has used His servants to warn His people of coming events. Moses warned the Israelites that disobedience to His laws would bring punishments (Leviticus 26:15–39). Isaiah was told to tell God’s people their sins (Isaiah 58:1). Jeremiah warned the Israelites “you have forsaken the Lord…. Your own wickedness will correct you” (Jeremiah 2:17–19). Hosea’s message was that “they sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind…. Israel has forgotten his Maker” (Hosea 8:7, 14). Ezekiel was commissioned to be a watchman to the house of Israel and told he would be accountable for delivering God’s warning to them (Ezekiel 3:17–19). In Ezekiel’s day, the Israelites had already gone into captivity, which means that Ezekiel’s message must be delivered to modern Israelite nations today. Let’s pray that God will open doors to enable His Church to deliver that warning and that we stay focused on that mission.

Have a profitable Sabbath,
Douglas S. Winnail