The Supreme Sin: Not Funding God's Luxury Concert Hall (A Masterclass in Spiritual Blackmail)

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The Supreme Sin: Not Funding God's Luxury Concert Hall (A Masterclass in Spiritual Blackmail)

In the grand tradition of televangelist fundraising letters that could double as extortion notes, Herbert W. Armstrong's June 29, 1969, missive from 39,000 feet (because nothing says humility like dictating theology from a plane) drops the ultimate bombshell: What is the WORST, most TERRIBLE sin imaginable?

Spoiler: It's not murder, adultery, or even idolatry in the classic golden-calf sense. No, the SUPREME sin, the one that severs you from EVERYTHING GOOD, from the SOURCE OF ALL GOOD, from INHERITING and SHARING with God ALL THAT HE HAS, is... failing to cough up extra cash for the EXTRA SPECIAL BUILDING FUND to construct Ambassador Auditorium.

Yes, brethren, the Almighty—who created galaxies, oceans, and every blade of grass—apparently can't bear the indignity of not having a multimillion-dollar, acoustically perfect concert hall on the Pasadena campus. Because nothing screams "spiritual priority" like equating skipped TV dinners with eternal damnation.

Armstrong masterfully redefines idolatry for the modern age: It's not bowing to wooden statues. It's the horror of excessive TV viewing, enjoying the wrong kind of shows, reading wrong material, or—gasp—pursuing MATERIAL things! (You know, like food, shelter, or college funds for your kids.) These are the false gods threatening your soul. But the real clincher? Putting any of that ahead of YOUR PART in honoring God with this EXTRA SPECIAL BUILDING FUND.

Never mind your regular tithes (those are non-negotiable for keeping the Gospel Work charging forward worldwide). Never mind the additional offerings God supposedly demands for the regular ministry. The BUILDING FUND must be EXTRA—on top of everything else. Don't you dare reallocate; that's basically telling God His new marble palace isn't worth skimping on your family's groceries.

In a stroke of humble genius, Armstrong casually mentions he's increasing his own monthly special offering (again), and he's been faithfully pouring in since the fund began years earlier. Subtext: If a man in his 70s flying private can sacrifice, why can't you lowly wage slaves?

The math is airtight: Two years prior, the faithful ponied up $150,000 a month for other buildings. Now membership's grown by nearly 50%! So $200,000 per month is totally doable—IF YOUR HEARTS ARE RIGHT WITH GOD, IF you stop idolizing your pathetic desires, and IF you're willing to let banks and insurance companies finance the rest (because God helps those who help themselves... with loans).

Fail to hit the target? Armstrong will simply lose heart. (The emotional stakes! The drama!) Unlike those poor saps in David's day who lacked the Holy Spirit, our response will prove whether we have it. No pressure.

But don't worry—he's not heartless. Many of you "simply are not able." God understands. Armstrong understands. Just make sure enough of the able ones are willing. Pray about it. He'll know by the total haul.

And that P.S.? Pure gold: Send your non-binding "statement of intention" NOW, or he can't authorize groundbreaking. No one should give what they can't afford or harm family (perish the thought!), but you should be willing to SACRIFICE non-essentials. Use WISDOM! Pray for judgment!

The auditorium—eventually built in the early 1970s at a cost reportedly around $7–11 million (roughly $50 million+ in today's dollars, funded by the sacrificial "extra" offerings of the faithful)—became the "Carnegie Hall of the West," hosting Sinatra, Pavarotti, and more. It was sold off decades later amid church upheavals, now listed for $45 million.

So remember, brethren: The path to salvation isn't faith alone. It's faith plus tithing plus additional offerings plus extra-extra for God's vanity project. Skip that last one, and you're basically cutting yourself off from ALL THAT GOD HAS.

What a beautiful gospel. Pass the special yellow envelope—eternity's price tag just went up.

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The quote from Herbert Armstrong's letter, that Samuel posted, expecting church members to give to his vanity project, the very same building Samuel Kitchen believes he has the right to buy. 

What, then, is the WORST, most TERRIBLE sin?

It is that which cuts you off from EVERYTHING GOOD — FROM THE SOURCE OF ALL GOOD — from the God from whom ALL good comes — from INHERITING and SHARING with God ALL THAT HE HAS!

The SUPREME sin is to lose the supreme BLESSING — to be CUT OFF from GOD! The most AWFUL sin is to have another god before Him! And nearly every-body in this sick, polluted, unhappy world is worshipping other gods!

They may not be literally bowing down before an idol made of wood, stone, gold or other material. But devoting themselves to PLEASURE: to excessive TV viewing, to "enjoying" the wrong kind of TV diet: to filling the mind with FILTH in front of the TV set, or reading material of a wrong kind; to MATERIAL pursuits and interests; to material things!

Could it be that EVEN YOU are putting some of these things ahead of HIM — or ahead of YOUR PART in HONORING our God with this EXTRA SPECIAL BUILDING FUND — or ahead of YOUR PART In HIS GOSPEL WORK? As I write this letter I am INCREASING my own personal monthly SPECIAL OFFERING for the Building Fund. I have increased it before. And I have never stopped putting in this SPECIAL OFFERING since the Building Fund first began, several years ago.

Meanwhile, the WORK OF GOD must continue to GO FORTH with INCREASING POWER, WORLDWIDE! Your TITHES must go for that — your first tithe, that is. God calls on all of us to make ADDITIONAL offerings regularly FOR HIS GOSPEL WORK. What we give for the BUILDING FUND must be EXTRA, in addition to ALL THAT! It must not come out of the REGULAR offerings and tithes.

Brethren, I KNOW we can finance this HOUSE FOR GOD, if we allow God to make our hearts willing. Two years ago we were able to contribute $150,000 per month to the BUILDING FUND for other buildings! There are almost half again MORE OF US now! We CAN contribute $200,000 per month to this EXTRA SPECIAL FUND — IF OUR HEARTS ARE RIGHT WITH GOD — IF we really DO not put other false "gods" or interests, or desires, ahead of HIM! And IF we can put in $200,000 per month, with the financing big banks and insurance companies are willing to make available to us, WE CAN START BREAKING GROUND THIS AUTUMN!

If we fail, — well, I'm simply going to lose heart! Those people in David's day did not have God's HOLY SPIRIT. Our response to this appeal will show whether WE have! We can do it IF WE ARE WILLING!

ARE YOU WILLING, according as God has prospered you? I know too well, many of you simply are not able. God understands that, and so do I. But ENOUGH of us are ABLE — IF willing! Are you PRAYING? I will know by the over-all answer.

Brethren, I think we are going to break ground very soon on that beautiful building!

With love, in Jesus' name,

Herbert W. Armstrong

P.S. If you did not send in your statement of intention, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO NOW. I cannot authorize this work to proceed unless the statements of intention mount up to $200,000 per month. It does not bind you — but lets me know whether we can go ahead. I do not want any to give what you are not able, or to harm yourself or family. But we should be willing to SACRIFICE and GIVE UP things we planned to do or buy if they are not necessary. We should use WISDOM! PRAY for wisdom and good judgment.