For decades, personal speculation has been the driving force behind much of the preaching in the Churches of God. This problem first exploded across the COG scene many years ago and has only intensified since the great apostasy that shattered the Worldwide Church of God (the Mother Church) in the late 1980s and 1990s. Today, the entire Church of God movement is riddled with abusive speculators such as Bob Thiel, Dave Pack, Gerald Flurry, Ronald Weinland, Alton Billingsley, and virtually every human head of the hundreds of splinter groups now in existence.
Almost everything these leaders preach is pure speculation rather than solid biblical fact. Instead of faithfully teaching what Scripture clearly states, they repeatedly offer their own private interpretations, prophetic guesses, date-setting, and imaginative theories — presenting them as if they were direct revelations from God or authoritative “new truth.” Sermons and booklets are filled with bold claims about exactly when the Great Tribulation will begin, who the “man of sin” is, which nation will invade another, or how specific current events are fulfilling obscure prophecies down to the month or even the day.
This practice is not harmless. Nathan Albright has written a White Paper on this issue: “The Importance of Teaching What the Bible Says from the Pulpit and Avoiding Personal Speculation as an Abuse of the Power of the Pulpit”. It explains that the pulpit is a sacred trust, not a platform for personal opinion or philosophical display. A minister is a steward of divine revelation (1 Corinthians 4:1–2), not its owner. When a preacher substitutes personal theories, political opinions, or imaginative conjectures for biblical exposition, he abuses the authority God has given him and distorts the sacred office.
The fragmentation following the great apostasy created the perfect environment for speculation to flourish. When the Worldwide Church of God largely abandoned the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong, thousands of members fled into dozens — eventually hundreds — of splinter groups. With no central authority and intense competition for members, many new leaders felt pressure to distinguish themselves. The easiest and most effective way? Claiming special prophetic insight or “understanding” that others lacked. This turned the pulpit into a stage for one-upmanship rather than humble exposition of Scripture.
- Repeated Prophetic Failures and Loss of Credibility History shows a clear pattern: leaders make specific predictions that do not come to pass, yet they rarely repent or stop. Instead, they often revise the dates, spiritualize the failure, or blame the members for not having enough faith. This cycle has repeated for decades across many groups. When predictions collapse, members experience disillusionment, bitterness, and shaken faith. Some leave the Church of God entirely, while others become cynical and distrustful of all ministry. The credibility of the entire movement suffers, making it harder to reach new people with the true gospel.
- Doctrinal Drift and Spiritual Confusion Speculative preaching erodes doctrinal clarity. Congregations begin treating human guesswork as inspired truth, leading to confusion, division, and spiritual instability (Ephesians 4:14). Members spend more time debating the latest “prophetic update” than growing in holiness, love, or practical Christian living. The Bible becomes a puzzle book for end-time timelines rather than the living Word that equips believers for every good work.
- Cult of Personality Over Christ When preachers promote their own interpretations as “God’s revelation through me,” the focus shifts from Scripture to the man in the pulpit. Loyalty is demanded toward the leader’s latest theory rather than to Christ and the plain Word of God (1 Corinthians 1:12–13). This fosters authoritarian control, where questioning the speculation is treated as rebellion against God Himself. The result is a toxic environment that resembles a cult of personality far more than the humble, Bible-centered fellowship of the early Church.
- Erosion of the Fear of the Lord and Reverence for Scripture Bold speculation about divine mysteries teaches listeners to treat God’s revelation lightly. It implies that human insight can add to, improve upon, or even replace what God has already clearly said. This normalizes irreverence. Instead of cultivating awe and trembling at God’s Word, members learn to chase the next exciting “revelation.” Over time, this weakens genuine faith and opens the door to further error.
- Spiritual and Psychological Coercion Because sincere believers rightly revere the pulpit, they are especially vulnerable. Leaders who equate their fears, preferences, or failed guesses with “the will of God” exercise coercive control over consciences. Members may feel pressured to give more money, isolate from family in other groups, or remain in unhealthy situations “until the prophecy is fulfilled.” This violates pastoral ethics and Christian liberty, turning the shepherd into a taskmaster.
- Institutional Decay and Endless Division Churches that tolerate or encourage speculation from the pulpit eventually suffer theological decay, loss of trust, and repeated schisms. The focus on the preacher’s latest theory rather than the immutable Word of God leads to more splits, more tiny groups, and more isolation. Instead of unity in the faith, we see competition, accusations, and a scattered remnant that cannot effectively do the work God has called the Church to do.
White Paper: The Importance of Teaching What the Bible Says from the Pulpit and Avoiding Personal Speculation as an Abuse of the Power of the Pulpit
The pulpit occupies a sacred trust within the community of faith. It is not a platform for personal speculation or philosophical display, but a solemn charge to communicate the Word of God faithfully. This white paper examines the ethical, theological, and practical imperatives of confining pulpit teaching to what Scripture actually says. It warns against the creeping tendency of ministers to substitute personal theories, political opinions, or imaginative conjectures for biblical exposition—an act that constitutes an abuse of authority and a distortion of the sacred office.
I. The Nature of the Pulpit as a Sacred Trust
Divine Commission and Accountability The preacher stands as a steward, not a proprietor, of divine revelation (1 Corinthians 4:1–2). The words spoken from the pulpit are not personal property but entrusted truth. A minister’s authority derives entirely from fidelity to God’s Word; deviation converts stewardship into self-promotion. The Power of Influence The pulpit shapes consciences and directs lives. The hearers assume that what they are being told is the Word of God rightly divided (2 Timothy 2:15). Misusing this trust through speculation or conjecture exploits spiritual authority for personal ends. The Ethical Boundary Between Teaching and Storytelling A sermon may employ illustrations or analogies, but the moment a preacher speaks in the name of God about that which God has not revealed, the act crosses from illustration into invention—a violation of Deuteronomy 18:20 and Revelation 22:18–19.
II. The Dangers of Personal Speculation
Doctrinal Drift and Confusion Speculative preaching erodes doctrinal clarity. Congregations begin to treat theological guesswork as inspired truth, leading to confusion, division, and spiritual instability (Ephesians 4:14). Cultivation of Personality over Principle When preachers promote their own interpretations as truth, the pulpit becomes a stage for charisma rather than conviction. The result is a cult of personality that displaces reverence for God’s Word (1 Corinthians 1:12–13). Erosion of the Fear of the Lord To speculate boldly about divine mysteries teaches listeners to treat God’s revelation lightly. Instead of cultivating awe, the preacher normalizes irreverence by implying that human insight can rival divine revelation.
III. The Biblical Mandate for Faithful Exposition
Preach the Word, Not the Self (2 Timothy 4:2–4) Paul commands Timothy to “preach the Word,” not to entertain the hearers with opinions or fables. The apostolic model of preaching emphasizes reading, explaining, and applying Scripture. Pattern of Expository Ministry Ezra and the Levites “read from the book of the law of God, distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading” (Nehemiah 8:8). This remains the pattern for all who handle the Word publicly. The Model of Christ and the Apostles Jesus consistently grounded His teaching in “It is written,” demonstrating submission to the authority of Scripture even as the incarnate Word. Likewise, the apostles preached “according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).
IV. The Abuse of the Pulpit as a Power Structure
When Opinion Masquerades as Revelation The pulpit becomes abusive when preachers use its authority to sanctify personal conjecture. This blurs the line between divine and human speech, misleading the congregation into obedience to human will rather than divine command. Psychological and Spiritual Coercion Listeners who revere the pulpit are vulnerable. When leaders equate their preferences or fears with the will of God, they exercise coercive spiritual control, violating both pastoral ethics and Christian liberty. Institutional Consequences Churches that tolerate speculation from the pulpit eventually suffer theological decay, loss of trust, and internal schism. The congregation’s faith becomes grounded in the preacher’s personality rather than in the immutable Word.
V. Principles for Faithful Preaching
Textual Fidelity Every sermon should clearly identify, interpret, and apply Scripture. The text must control the message, not the other way around. Transparency of Interpretation Where interpretation is uncertain, the preacher must admit uncertainty rather than disguise it as revelation. Humility protects both the truth and the hearers. Doctrinal Consistency Preachers should anchor every message in the broader biblical witness, ensuring harmony with established doctrine and the full counsel of God. Accountability Structures Churches should maintain oversight mechanisms to ensure that pulpit teaching aligns with Scripture—peer review among elders, post-sermon Q&A, or theological training refreshers.
VI. Restoring Reverence for the Word
Renewed Emphasis on Biblical Literacy Congregations must be trained to discern the difference between what Scripture says and what a preacher merely imagines. The mature congregation becomes a safeguard against pulpit abuse. Cultivation of Expository Habits Teaching line by line through books of the Bible minimizes the temptation to speculate. The preacher’s role becomes that of a guide rather than an oracle. Repentance for Misuse of Authority Ministers who have used the pulpit for self-expression should publicly repent and recommit to faithful exposition. Restoration of trust begins with honesty before God and the flock.
VII. Conclusion: The Call Back to Scriptural Authority
The pulpit must be reclaimed as a platform for truth, not theory. When preachers restrict themselves to what the Bible actually says, they liberate their hearers from the tyranny of personality and return them to the freedom of God’s Word. To speculate beyond revelation is not creative theology—it is spiritual malpractice. The preacher’s calling is not to say something new, but to say again what God has already said, with clarity, conviction, and humility.
Appendices
Appendix A: Scriptural Citations on Preaching and Authority
Appendix B: Historical Examples of Pulpit Speculation and Its Consequences
Appendix C: Practical Framework for Sermon Review and Accountability
Appendix D: Training Outline for Expository Preaching
If you stick to the Bible itself, what you can say is very limited, and in many cases not clear. It needs a lot of explaining.
ReplyDeleteMy brother once spoke with Gerald Waterhouse after one of his marathon "inspirational" sermons. He had some questions. Waterhouse smiled after a few, and said "You do realize that most of this was speculation, don't you?"
ReplyDeleteWhat we've learned over the years was that there were many " extrabiblical" teachings amongst HWA's restored "truths", including speculation derived from his eisegesis (much of which was nicked from others, in blatant plagiarism), and conspiracy theories (like Simon Magus, Nimrod, and British Israelism).
On the internet forums which sprung up during the early 2,000s, it was popular for some of the participating stalwarts from back in the day to go elitist on us and to reply, "Well, I never believed that!" One lady claimed never to have read booklets which were required reading back in the day such as "US and BC in Prophecy", "1975 in Prophecy", or "The Book of Revelation Unveiled at Last!" As if she wouldn't have been whispered about as probably being one of the emerging Laodiceans during that era! Or, she would have left in disgust like I did in 1975 as remaining inventory of those booklets were being taken to the dump! Those were the days when "But Mr. Armstrong says......" usually finished an argument.
The problem is, the paper that's the topic of this post minimizes the addition of personal opinion, and makes it appear as if it emanates from the field ministry, when in actuality the R/WCG was founded based on many of the opinions and guesswork of one Herbert W. Armstrong (his methodology often rooted in mimicry of Alexander Hislop). It's as if when the founder speculates, we call him an Apostle, and his ruminations become doctrine, but if others continue the speculation, adding guesswork of their own, it becomes a contaminant to the "faith once delivered". Wouldn't that be like contaminating existing pollution? I guess that's just one of the privileges accorded to a latter day Apostle.
Let's face it, there are people out there who probably don't secretly wish that they could be Black as they noodle around on their guitars, but instead wish they could have been Herbert W. Armstrong's Proctologist! Hopefully, the reader realizes that that is just my educated speculation based on empirical evidence collected over the decades!
BB
The problem is that none of this works. Let me cite an example. I listened to a leading WCG minister from Pasadena give a sermon in a large midwestern city about the races of mankind. That topic was his specialty. In the course of this, he read a scripture that he maintained proved that “Israel” would reign over the other nations in the Kingdom of God. He had a scripture to support this and people in the audience dutifully turned to the scripture. After the rustling of pages was over, I read the scripture and the scripture did not in any way say what the leading minister said it did. There was no body language from the audience indicating that the obvious misreading was disturbing to anybody. Everyone sat respectfully listening. After the sermon, I fellowshipped as usual, all the smiling faces and handshakes, and nobody brought up how the leading minister had misinterpreted the scripture. To make it clear, the minister used a scripture to support a racial idea that the cited scripture did not support. In fact, it supported the opposite view. His interpretation was 180 degrees out and nobody batted an eye. (I may not have been the only one appalled. I had no means of surveying the entire audience. But the optics were that nobody found this gross misinterpretation to be an issue.)
ReplyDeleteSo, what is the real problem? There was not in these people a heart for the truth. It was as if there was a veil over their eyes in the reading of the Bible. They were imprisoned inside of a cult. None of the techniques cited in this article is going to help that situation. You can’t take people like this and teach them Biblical literacy. They believe what they believe because that is in their hearts. It is the grace of God that imparts an open mind to the Gospel. At one time, I sat among these people as one of them. Today I am a Christian, by the grace of God.
Scout
And you despise them.
DeleteAnon 7:39:28 AM PDT ‘And you despise them’………there is nothing in Scouts comments that I can see that even remotely points to him despising these folk of his old church. Quite the contrary. He is just pointing to his own experience, of which many of us here share similarities. I miss many of my old church friends, and many of them are still caught up within the Armstrong movement’s countless splinters. But despise them? My goodness no, what would make you think in your mind that we would ever despise these folk?
DeleteIf you're going to speculate (and this goes for blog/social media posts as well as preaching), SAY clearly that you're speculating and LABEL it as such.
ReplyDeleteThat way, people are far less likely to get wrong "thus saith the Lord" ideas.
Armstrong: Lev 23:6 means a 7 day feast begins on the 15th and a feast after sunset at night on the 15th. The verse doesn't "say" that, only, a feast on the 15th and eat ub 7 days (why are herbites eating ub 8 days??)
ReplyDeleteNever kept 8 days of UB in my life. Alot of misinformation and gross neglect on about U.B.
DeleteThey eat ub at the passover service on the 14th, and on 15-21.
DeletePartaking of UB at the Passover service on 14th is not qualifying for a whole day observance of the Feast of UB making it 8 days.
DeleteThe problem on WCG and its debris is it has a grossly undereducated ministry. They are mere Bible readers, proof texters and have their pious convictions based on boatloads of marginal information.
ReplyDeleteArmstrongite ministers such as Thiel, Pack, and Flurry (to name a few) are just as you said, "grossly uneducated" when it comes to theology and the Bible. Thiel may know a lot about history and seems to be good at it, but theologically, he is a lightweight with no real long-term education in theology, eschatology, and hermeneutics. His "knowledge" comes from COG booklets and sermons by his idols. He admits he took a few classes at AC and Fuller Seminary, but never got a degree or had an in-depth study in anything theological. Even his "degree" from his Indian diploma mill is based upon proving Armstrongite literature instead of a real Bible education
DeleteFrom my experience, most Herb ministers are not book readers. They have only read a handful of books on human behaviour post their AC education. I also question whether my last minister ever read the bible cover to cover since some of his beliefs were bizarre. Not directly covered in this article is the "overlay" map of reality imposed by contemporary Christianity on the bible. For instance, practising narcissistic devaluation (mentally shrinking members minds) is rampant in church world. Hence the complaint of being treated as children. Secular books are far more accurate in describing the world as it is rather than the typical Joyce Myer/Kenneth Copeland world view.
Delete
ReplyDelete“Today, the entire Church of God movement is riddled with abusive speculators such as Bob Thiel, Dave Pack, Gerald Flurry, Ronald Weinland, Alton Billingsley, and virtually every human head of the hundreds of splinter groups now in existence.”
MANY FALSE PROPHETS have arisen from the wreckage of the Worldwide Church of God to siphon off people's tithe money in exchange for their own personal -- and wrong! -- prophetic guesses.
If you financially support any of these FALSE PROPHETS, then you become their guilty accomplice and are helping them to lie to other people.
Was Jesus a false prophet? He did not return yet. The Bible says if the words of a prophet do NOT come to pass, he is a false prophet. The words of Jesus have NOT come to pass. We cannot just keep waiting and waiting. By that standard nobody is a false prophet because we can just keep waiting for any prophecy to come to pass.
DeleteAnother part of the speculation revolves around looking at many things such as world events through the lens of Armstrongism. So from the pulpit, the ministers along with the laity have to remain in this invisible cultish bubble, not seeing things outside the bubble that may be the actual truth. It could be really dangerous in the future especially in the area of their version of prophecy, which I feel their version comes through the will of man. Speculation from them looks like “in the next ten to fifteen years” from the pulpit.
ReplyDeleteTank
Family separation and the impact of high-control groups
ReplyDeleteWhen Belief Breaks Families.
There are groups that go beyond faith… and begin to control who you can speak to, love, and trust.
The Philadelphia Church or God in Edmond Oklahoma Controled by False Prophet, Gerald Flurry is one such group.
In this environments, loyalty is not just encouraged — it is demanded above family. They destroys lives, drive members and ex members to suicide.
Parents are separated from children. Grandparents are cut off from grandchildren. Lifelong relationships are labeled “dangerous” overnight.
A word is often used: “disfellowshipped.” What it means in practice is simple — cut them off.
No calls. No visits. No relationship.
For those outside looking in, it’s hard to understand. But for those living it, the cost is devastating:
• Families divided for years… sometimes decades
• Children growing up without knowing grandparents
• Loved ones treated as if they no longer exist
And for those who are cut off… the silence can be overwhelming.
Isolation. Grief. Loss. A life suddenly emptied of the people who mattered most.
Can even lead to the suicide of members and ex members. And it has.
A Grandfather’s Plea
“I am still here. I still love my children. I still long to see my grandson.”
Time keeps moving. Children grow up. Opportunities are lost.
And the question remains:
Should any belief system come between a family and love?
A Call to Think and to Care
If you know someone in a situation like this:
• Encourage open communication, not silence
• Value family bonds, not forced separation
• Ask questions when something demands total control
Because no system, no leader, and no organization should have the power to erase a family.
Please do not support the Philadelphia Church of God or any event held at Armstrong Auditorium on the groups compound in Edmond Oklahoma
Here we go again. More corrupt reasoning by disident UCG ministers seeking to lead people away from the church. You do all you can to cause doubt and division. We see what you are doing, and it is going to catch up to you real soon!
ReplyDeleteWhat is a dissident? A dissident is one who does not agree. Everyone disagrees with something. What are they dissenting from?
DeleteI have a hard time believing GCI would pay a ministurd more than UCG.
DeleteIf you follow the laws of your preacher he is your god. Perhaps he is one of the trickster gods like Loki.
ReplyDeleteHuman nature follows along on one's spiritual journey. There are natural human propensities which come into play. It is a natural impulse, if one is attempting to learn about God, and attempting to get close to God, to draw closer to another human whom one believe to be further advanced in their odyssey, more knowledgeable. For optimal results that person should be helpful, but not someone who takes control of your life, either by asserting authority or inducing behavior modification through fear. In order to be truth, concepts should be allowed to be questioned or challenged. What's everybody afraid of? It something is true, it will certainly survive a few human challenges!
DeleteThat is the only way it can all work, while staying real. Unfortunately, Herbie and the boys portrayed themselves as being those more knowledgeable, further advanced humans, closer to God, and then whored it all up by bringing extreme control and exploitation into the lives of simple seekers of God. They forgot about listening and assessing needs and doing whatever was necessary to help each individual based on their specific needs. Why that would have been just too tedious and frustrating! They made it instead into a one size fits all set of rules and policies with no right to appeal or challenge, and went about enforcing it all in such a way that grieves and usurps the Holy Spirit. That is not being a spiritual guide or mentor! It is why Armstrongism does not work and corrupts its leaders.