Armstrongism: A Failed Work of Men
Herbert and Garner Ted Armstrong are long dead, and the Worldwide Church of God which they built no longer exists! There isn’t anything left of the Ambassador College which they founded and operated. The defeat and captivity of the United States, Armageddon and the establishment of God’s Kingdom failed to materialize in their lifetimes. Herbert Armstrong’s designated successor changed or eliminated many of his most cherished doctrines. Moreover, NONE of the men who have set about the task of perpetuating his teachings has remained completely faithful to Armstrong’s teachings, and NONE of them have been able to establish an effective outreach to the world. So, what is the legacy of Armstrongism? Was it a work of men OR a work of God?
We read in Matthew’s account of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount that Jesus told his disciples to: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, you will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-20, ESV) Did Herbert Armstrong’s prophecies come to pass? What are the fruits of Armstrongism? Did the tree that he planted bear good or bad fruit? Wasn’t that tree cut down and destroyed?
In the book of Acts, we are informed that the apostles were arrested for preaching about Jesus and brought before the Jewish Council. In that account, we read that one of the leading Pharisees named Gamaliel addressed the assembly and warned them about the ramifications of what they were doing. He said: “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So, in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God! (Acts 5:35-39, ESV) In other words, whether this Jesus movement was of men or of God would soon become clear to everyone! It would either collapse under its own weight, or it would thrive because of God’s blessing!
Now, we all know that the Armstrongs are dead, and that the Worldwide Church of God no longer exists. What does that tell you? Do you have eyes to see and ears to hear? Everything that we have observed tells me that Armstrongism produced the fruit of failed prophecies, strife, division, hatred, and ruined lives. Likewise, everything that we’ve observed informs me that Armstrongism was a work of men – that it was NOT a work of God! After all, Christ once told Peter that he would build his Church, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18, ESV) Did the “gates of hell” prevail against the Armstrongs and the organization which they founded? If so, then maybe it’s time to reevaluate your commitment to those teachings and the groups which seek to perpetuate them? OR Will you be the only one left standing when they turn the lights out at your former meeting place for the last time? The verdict has been in on Armstrongism for three decades – what about YOU?
Lonnie Hendrix
42 comments:
NONE of the men who have set about the task of perpetuating his teachings has remained completely faithful to Armstrong’s teachings
Keep in mind that even Herbert W. Armstrong wasn't completely faithful to Herbert W. Armstrong's teachings. Just go back and look at church publications from 1937, 1957, and 1977 and you will see various old teachings dropped without comment and other new teachings added on.
HWA has been dead for 40 years. Since even HWA couldn't manage to keep teaching the same thing for 40 years, it should be no surprise that his successors have made their own changes over the last 40 years.
Armstrongism was basically one of the failed Judaizing movements that has popped up periodically since 33 AD. It was doomed to fail from its very begining, because it had no way of giving eternal life to its followers. It could only give them a social club where they could larp as Jews, and accomplish nothing with their lives that was worthwhile.
God's Holy Days are getting nearer and nearer.
Herbert Armstrong is a man denied being allowed to rest in piece on this blog. He is denied awaiting the judgment of Jesus Christ like all mankind.
It forever reminds me of the Catholic Pope who centuries ago, was so bitter towards the previous Pope, he had him dug up, placed in fresh Papal robes and proceeded to shout and insult his corpse for several days.
That behaviour didn't help that Pope and it certainly doesn't help the blog authors on here.
I like to think that God had a hand in the empire of Armstrong being destroyed because of its excesses, lies. twisting of scripture and damage it caused. His elevation to an apostle being one of many falsehoods.
Miller Jones wrote, “Likewise, everything that we’ve observed informs me that Armstrongism was a work of men – that it was NOT a work of God!”
I have puzzled over what forces sustain Armstrongism. Why does it just go on and on? The crowd of followers is dwindling and scattered but it just carries on. There are two principles I believe to be at work. The first is explained by the psychological theory of cognitive dissonance. It says simply that people rationalize the decisions they have made. They accumulate data and belief that weighs on the side they have decided to believe in. I spoke with a friend shortly after the Global Church of God arrived on the scene years ago. She became a member. There were like seven people in the entire state she lived in who were members of that denomination. A rational person might conclude that maybe this apocalypse might be a message about the validity of Armstrongism. But, instead, she was proud of the fact that there were so few people left. It meant that her status was more exclusive. She had acquired importance. She was now a part of the tiny inner circle of true believers. I believe that the people who persist in the Armstrongist denominations have all been through a similar process of rationalization. They have removed the cognitive dissonance from their thinking, and this permits them to persist.
One might then say, “Why have some walked out on Armstrongism and others have not? Shouldn’t anyone be able to sit down and think with reason about this and make the right decision? If it is all a matter of human reason, why have Armstrongists scattered in so many different directions, including becoming orthodox Christians?” I believe we must give due consideration to Election. According to Paul in the Letter to the Ephesians, those who are Christians during this Age were elect from before the foundation of the Cosmos. The people who are driving the Armstrongist movement, across its many, many, denominations are principally non-Elect. They are not going respond to Christianity. They will find a means of offsetting the rationality that you have described in your essay. They cannot be disparaged. Its not their fault. The Bible was not written for them. God chose some and not others.
This is why I do not write to convert Armstrongists to Christianity. I do not believe it is possible. I think we discussed this before. Who is a Christian is a matter of the choice of God. I write for people who are Elect and experienced a tour of duty with Armstrongism for whatever reasons God had in mind and are now, happily, no longer associated with Armstrongism. Like me, these exiters must evaluate what message there is in being snared by a cult and then being delivered.
I appreciate what you have written. Directly on target.
Scout
We should note that Herbert W. Armstrong's opinions of prophecy, the downfall of the USA, the Apocalypse precipitated by the rise of the Beast and the False Prophet, the Tribulation, Place of Safety and return of Jesus Christ were collectively his Hook", the vehicle by which he disrupted peoples' mind sets and coerced them into his church. He became the Elvis of evangelists, building a stupendous base of wealth and power for himself along the way.
Herbert equated the so-called restored truths and his church's obedience to all of them with God's trust in choosing to whom He would reveal true understanding of endtimes prophecy. And then, after he had built his base, the picture of the woman (church) grew a moustache, and the limousine in which she was riding suddenly had a blowout and ran out of gas! Theives stripped the vehicle of its most valuable parts and each attempted to build a new one with the parts he had salvaged. None could produce a running vehicle, but each held on, refusing to share his stolen parts, insisting that he was the only designated driver. Nobody even bothered to call "shotgun" because there was no interest in simply being a passenger. Gasoline, the impersonal power which propelled the original vehicle simply evaporated and joined the rest of the greenhouse gases, which then became a soon coming apocalypse all their own. After all, if God can raise up stones to do his work, He can also accomplish His work utilizing a gas motif!
As Peter Wolf of the Jay Geils Band once frantically rapped in the prequel to one of the band's best known songs, "Ya Know I musta! You know I musta! Oh, Baby I musta! I musta got lost somewhere down the line!"
A person I knew back in 1995 always said he didn't like the fruit he seen after Joe sr. introduced the doctrinal changes. What he didn't realize was that the bad fruit he seen was always a part of Armstrongism and was there all along . Much of the bad fruit was swept under the rug or ignored. This man I think is still a member of the UCG. I hope he can see the bad fruit of the UCG or maybe they are just sweeping it under the rug as well!
So true! Good point!
“It would either collapse under its own weight”
When you have an individual (HWA) create an organization, then has a son (one lives the longest being GTA), then he is kicked out by his father’s organization in 78’. Then the successor (JT) changes the teachings. Thus leading to an implosion and splinter groups. Well , this is the COLLAPSE UNDER ITS OWN WEIGHT. Like they say when one leaves a job. “ I left it better than I found it.” Not one minister in a splinter group can leave the job better than what they had in Worldwide. I mean this is the reality of the situation.
Tank
Scout,
I believe ego sustains continued involvement in Armstrongism. "My judgment couldn't be that bad," and "I've invested so much of my life in this enterprise - that would all be time wasted." As for becoming a Christian, I believe that everyone (including Armstrongists) can repent, accept Christ's sacrifice, be baptized, and receive God's Holy Spirit. Thanks for your support.
Amongst it's leadership in the splinter groups remains a remnant of individuals that went through Ambassador College who are of a certain age now. They hold on to the threads the strongest. Plus, they may say"I have nowhere else to go" like Richard Gere in Officer and a Gentleman. As the years go on....
Agreed parts of Armstrongism are completely dead .....although many of his wierder thoughts like Christmas being very unChristian are mainstream now.
Ok Armstrongism as a living tenet of principles is dead.
Yet many of the Works the Church supported in their embryonic phase when it was not certain they would survive (like the World Court, Worldwildlife Fund, bringing Japan to Kenya to establish their main education tool for their main export product and thousands of more works I will not mention since I have tried so for 20 years are still alive and kicking.
nck
You give very poor counsel. Your view seems to be that “judgment must be left to God alone” and therefore believers should never make judgments. You say it is not our place.
Scripture does not support that. The Bible draws a sharp distinction between condemnation (God’s role alone) and discernment / evaluation / judging behaviour (the believer’s responsibility).
In John 7:24 Jesus said, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with righteous judgment.” He does not say “do not judge.” He says judge rightly, meaning believers must evaluate truth, behaviour, and doctrine.
And Paul is even more explicit: 1 Corinthians 5:12–13
“Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside.”
This alone shows your position is not biblical. Believers are commanded to judge within the church.
There are many verses - too many to list here. The Bible forbids hypocritical or condemnatory judgment (Matthew 7:1–5), but it commands: judging doctrine; judging behaviour; judging sin; judging teachers; judging good vs evil.
Your defence of Armstrong is not biblical, and you need to reevaluate your position.
God’s Holy Days approaching has nothing to do with whether Armstrong’s teachings are biblically correct. If you mean it as a prophetic flourish, urgency does not replace sound doctrine. Armstrong has foregone any claim to prophetic enlightenment and in this area as well your defence is misplaced. It's time to wake up,
Across: Catholicism; Orthodoxy; Anglicanism; Protestant denominations;
Evangelical churches , Christmas is universally treated as a celebration of the incarnation. It remains a central Christian feast , a major liturgical event
There is no mainstream movement declaring Christmas “unChristian.”
There are fringe groups (Armstrongism, some Hebrew Roots sects, a few ultra‑fundamentalist pockets including Jehovah Witnesses) who repeat Armstrong’s old talking points but they are not mainstream. Your claims are factually wrong. And the claim of these groups that Christmas is “pagan” reflects a very narrow Armstrong/Hislop reading of history. Serious scholarship does not support it, so you may want to broaden your research beyond that tradition.
Imagime if he had insisted that these "works," as you call them, be run in accordance with his normal church government paradigms, nck! Good thing the beneficiaries were permitted to use their own discretion in running them!
Speakimg of wildlife, I thought it was hilarious when Vic Kubik gave a bunch of cows to church members in impoverished nations, and then when the split occurred, the people who got the cows went with the COGawa and took the cows with them.
Ya inow, as church members we weren't permitted to donate to United Fund, Red Cross, UNICEF, or any other charities. We were told to give all such donations to "God's" Church, and they would give to charities. If homeless people asked for a handout, you tell them to get a job, or you'd pray for them, or some other halfway excuse. I never heard of the church giving to any charities, and now you tell me that in your era, the era of arranged meetings between HWA and world class dignitaries, he actually gave to wildlife funds when according to his prophecies, everything around us was only going to be around for 3-5 more years? I mean, WTF?
Elvis of prophecy ?! Hilarious. Do you commentators even grasp the reality of clarity in what you write? More lines and gimics not always the better. Herbert Armstrong's life was the complete opposite of poor dominated Elvis's.
10:47.......You do not seem to know much about the 150 million (1970) dollars or more that were spent on charities. Many of which are alive today or helped those institutions in their start up phase.
Also HWA used leverage. For instance he got the Japanese to pay for aiding to Kenya feed Africa. Japanese who were stifled with guilt about the atrocities they had unleashed on the world and were desperate to to good things......(of course needing oil for which the GII was used to fly Japanese "Front Men" dignataries (from the leading families) to Kuwait and Africa and South America.
and you don't know much about developments in christianity where it is widely accepted that Christ of course was not born on the 25th of December which was a Roman festival......even the Pope know that except mr anonymous stupidity blabbermouth..
nck
Oh, I think my imagery did the job quite nicely, 11:39. Of course there were differences between the two men. However, each was dominated in individual ways, Elvis by his manager, and later by the drugs which he took for solace, and HWA by his crackpot theories, the monster he created based upon them, and the alcohol which dominated his later life.. Still, both mens' fame and personalities managed to shine through brightly. .One key difference is that Elvis actually is still widely remembered, and his artistry cherished. Graceland has not fallen into the hands of developers and been turned into condos. HWA? Well, that's another area in which the tale of two men diverges.
Not to worry! I can understand how a black and white thinker might miss the subtleties in what falls between the lines,. We see examples of that all the time around these parts!
The largest failure of Amstrongism is not in the declining numbers but in the damage done to the lives of those who where "sucked" into this horrible religion. Armstrongism is heavy on empty promises and spiritual abuse and light on a positive message of salvation through the saving grace of Jesus. Instead the emphasis was put on "qualifying" for salvation which is very much an abusive shame based theology. The damage done to the lives of the many thousands who have been a part of Armstrongism over the years can not be quantified but it is huge!
How patronizing ! Elvis Graceland home and his post death prosperity and re-emergence of longivity of his music was much to do with his ex-wifes business skills and not Elvis himself.
Absolutely well said 10:16!đź‘Ź
10:47 said: “…We were told to give all such donations to "God's" Church, and they would give to charities. If homeless people asked for a handout, you tell them to get a job, or you'd pray for them, or some other halfway excuse.”
After reading Kelly’s “Should the church teach tithing?” I learned that Paul’s example was the total opposite to HWA and his ilk. Paul encouraged Christians to work as he himself did and give whatever you can to the poor NOT to tithe money or give it all to the “church.” It’s why I now no longer tithe money. If I give any money to a church group it’d be freewill not a mandatory 10%. But tbh I haven’t given any money to any church group for 16 years probably now. And if I do give any money away it’s usually to homeless people I encounter on the street.
Ok. Got it! So, too bad HWA's ex-wife Ramona didn't hang around and preserve his homes. Score Elvis 3, HWA nothing!
3:43 Since these people (remnants of worldwide) blew their empire, they don't deserve any more tithes. They had all that money coming to them, the two colleges, nice real estate in Pasadena and Big Sandy, all the money going to planes and jet fuel. In the end nothing to show for it, but starting over in this group or that group. They don't deserve my 10% anymore either.
NCK
I am puzzled by your talk of all the money donated to various organizations by HWA. I don't recall ever hearing anything about this. I know about China and Israel but have heard nothing about money flowing to the organizations that you mention. Where do you get your information about this? And why is it credible?
I can hardly imagine HWA doing anything of merit that would not be accompanied by great and bombastic fanfare. Wouldn't HWA have at least wanted the poor people whose money he was giving away to know something about the ostensible nobility of its purpose?
Scout
The Church helped fund the movie Paper Moon through AICF and Herbert Armstrong joined with Sam Wanamaker to help restore the Globe Theatre in London. Ambassador Foundation (i.e. the church) was also a major donor in building the Ronald Reagan Library here in Simi Valley.Its name is prominently displayed at the top of the wall of donors. There have long been unsubstantiated rumors the church also helped finance the 1979 movie Wild Geese
Oh Scout....
Everything was reported.
David Nivens disease foundstion. Oxford University Chiair for the Republic of China ehen they were stilll a developing Country.
Dr Singh dliwn into Japan to convince them to join the World Court.
Stan Rader pledging a million to the Philipine land teform on the CIA base.
OESO sponsorshios.
Many US Ambassadors acknowoedging HWA had donw more for US Syrian diplomacy than ANY government officisl.
The Japanese Emperor bestowing the highest honor to a civilian because of the Church help for the return of Okinawa to Japan.
(which is currently the most important locatin for US Pacific Ambitions.
Fimancial support Constitutiinal Law Chair and research UCLA.
Belgian scientifc research for mineral resources in New Guinea. And hundreds more projects.
All OPENLY REPORTED IN PUBLIC SOURCES and sermons for those who did not have their EYES WIDE SHUT.
Nck
Care to share the quid pro quo associated with these "donations", nck?
Do the recipients know about HWA's sex sins?
"quid pro quo"....... would you ask that of the Knights of the Round Table.....?..... Then why ask of the most true knight of the largest and most benevolent Empire mankind (had) ever witnessed.
An example. Egypt had since Soviet sponsored Aswan dam been the largest recipient of "US Foreign Aid". Sadat's popularity amongst his own however was cemented through his (and Jehan's personal charities. You of course do know that the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Thailand.... etc had shared British and American nationality...... are you beginning to see a pattern here with US & Br..... Empire and Abrahams blessing.
Another hint....
Read Gilpins Political Economy about the very basis of American Power. THEN REWATCH HWA meeting Sri Lankas Jayawardene..... who analyses HWA ON VIDEO..... and says..... "The more you give the more you get...."
WATCH When the Greek elites listen to HWA just weeks before their decision of joining the EU threatening them with annihilation through the atomic bom.
Isn't that akin to the proces just recently when Sweden, Finland joined NATO.... and this week Iceland definitely seals joining the EU...(America's main project since 1945)
Nck
Nck 12:37 is correct many WCG brethren did not have their eyes wide shut like "Scout" and knew this was going on.
Some of this was even reported in newspapers at the time. It was known.
It certainly sounds as if HWA was indeed in cahoots with the CIA more than he was with Jesus Christ. I do not find any examples of tithes being used to fund such things in Biblical times. These "donations" were happening at a time when church widows and their children were being taken off third tithe assistsnce and sent to go collect welfare instead. What a horrible misuse of our tithes! Thank you, nck, for exposing yet more ego-driven evils of HWA/WCG/AC! Sri Lanka, indeed! What do they have to do with Bible Prophecy or for that matter the gospel? And HWA inducing Greece to join what he believed to be the Beast Power? That's got CIA written all over it!
8:28
Since your analysis is obviously driven by hate and even wrong on the proclaimed Mission of the Work and especially the fact that some things seem "obvious" I might aswell warn that you are probably wrong on the Agency.
To clarify "obvious".... 99% of Americans would identify George W Bush jr as Texan "obviously."....Whilst in truth he is a major part of the original WASP establishment elite class that ruled the USA for 150 years undisputed.
(as the catholics are now ruling)
Nck
10:16 I am 1:45 and that is not what i meant at all and you know it.
You weave a whole strawman statue up, scapegoating my comment and then take the long route on tearing your own built strawman down.
Good for you. Feel better now.
Remind yourself how many decades has Herbert been dead ? And how old was you when he died? A child perhaps?
There is no hatred here. I hope that Herbert and Garner Ted will repent of their sins and be allowed access to God's Kingdom in the 2nd resurrection. Having said that, the donations made by Herbert and Stan Rader to world leaders and cultural enterprises do NOT fit the biblical definition of charity - helping those in need of health care, food, clothing, or housing. Moreover, the commission which Christ gave to his disciples in the 28th chapter of Matthew is NOT consistent with Mr. Armstrong's interpretation of it, or with the message delivered by Peter, Paul, James, and John.
Oh boy. The Catholics are now ruling? W, a Texan? You think everybody forgot about Gerorge H.W. Bush, and Kennebunkport, as much as it was always mentioned?
Sometimes, nck, if something smells like a dirty diaper, it is a dirty diaper! When will you join the right team in our cancellation of HWA?
Last sentence, 12:58, yeah. They call that growth when it suits them. HWA called COG7 dead Sardis because they resisted and refused to grow with him (his words, not mine) Having said that, I don't know that HWA would consider the changes the ACOGs made which depart from his last set of policies as growth. That's another one of those slush words that Armstrongites sling around at one another. I especially think he'd have some harsh words for Dave Pack.
Miller. I have never debated the thesis put forward in your posting, right or wrong. Since I hardly discuss religious tenets.
I do know that we did define the biblical definition of charity as defined by you ridiculous. As most of our money went into leveraging teaching people to fish rather than the direct distribution of fish. By for instance aiding the japanese in contacting kenya firvthe agricultursl school we might have helped 200 million people alone..... over the years, ongoing till now in only 1 country.
Perhaps billions in giving the Auditorium'd blueprints to Deng and have a copy built in Bejing as an ongoing effort to lead that country from abject poverty to world leadership.... althoughtge Chinese government only ooenly credits Dr Kuhn for that AFTER he severed ties....
Nck
Nck,
As with many other beliefs and practices of Mr. Armstrong, the way that money was spent on existing world leaders and their projects demonstrates a high degree of inconsistency/dissonance with the theology promulgated by him. He taught that ALL of this world's leaders and governments were deceived and influenced by Satan and his minions and were going to be overthrown and replaced by Jesus Christ. Likewise, he taught that they did NOT have the solutions/answers to the problems which their people faced. Hence, forgive me for pointing out the logical inconsistency in supporting those same leaders/governments and their projects with the tithes of folks who were themselves often struggling to put food on the table, make mortgage payments/rent, and keep the lights on. At least Catholic charities and the Salvation Army are focused on helping real people in need. Indeed, it seems counterintuitive and counterproductive to pour church resources into furthering the aims/interests of the nation-states of this world.
Miller.
I must say that I often enjoy your commentary since it speaks to the "Spock" part in me.
You are right that "man would never be able to fix their greed evil spirit caused problems"..... UNLESS a change of mind were to occur. Only them the dessert would bloom. On a secular level poorest Singapore and some Oil countries were kept up as examples in booklets where there was human rule with a rod of iron but the people prospered far above average.
The only Mission of the Work was to witness of that change mind and the works as guided by the Spirit (not the triune one), not SOLVE every problem.
Anyway I knew this as a 4 year okd when my seafaring family had seen most aid rot in the harbors of this world in India, Africa etc because most hunger was politically induced like the fake hunger crises in Ethiopia early eaghties and most in the seventies and sixties.... Eveey problem in the wirld could actually be solved tomorrowceven without God.... since man has everything at their disposal NOW to solve everything...... EXCEPT.... the Spirit ruining everything.
Soup kitchens are really and truly ridiculous and unnessasary when you think of it really deep if only we chose our leaders well.
Yet I do recognize that many benefit benefit from such aid caused by our collective stupidity to not yield to the eternal Law.
Nck
Politicians and religious leaders routinely deceive the people who trust them. The right leaders are not available to vote on. They never make it. I often think of what a great president Mitt Romney would have been. We are faced with quasi-choice, and then victimized by "the agenda". It's a one-two sucker punch.
Is Nck a Ai android? Comment reads peculiar. Spelling in Vulcan language ?
Nanonano 1:32
Nck
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