The Gospel of Jesus Christ

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Although most Christian denominations/groups have understood the Gospel message, groups like the Armstrong Churches of God (ACOG) and Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) have fundamentally misunderstood that message. Instead of the GOOD NEWS about salvation through Jesus Christ, they preach a message about the physical restoration of God's government over this earth. In short, their message is fundamentally a political one instead of a spiritual one. Oh sure, they pay lip service to the spiritual part - admitting that that is certainly part of the message. The focus, however, is clearly on the establishment of a literal kingdom on this earth. Even worse, they claim that the Christians who preach the traditional Gospel are promulgating a FALSE gospel! Which brings us to the point of this post: Who is preaching the right Gospel?

The ACOGs and the JWs love to cite certain prooftexts to support their contention that the more traditional gospel message is incorrect. For example, in the Gospel of Matthew, after Christ's temptation by Satan, we read: "From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" (Matthew 4:17, ESV) A few verses down from that one, we read that Jesus "went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people." (Matthew 4:23, ESV) Likewise, in the Gospel of Mark, we read: "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.'" (Mark 1:14, ESV) Indeed, the subject of the "kingdom of God" is ubiquitous to the canonical narratives about Christ's teachings.

Unfortunately, Christ had to deal with people's expectations - just as we have had to deal with expectations in our own time. When we talk about kingdoms, most folks think about government and all that that entails - authority, power, thrones, armies, territory, etc. In other words, most folks are very practical and literal when such things are discussed. Jesus of Nazareth, however, had a completely different conception of the Kingdom of God, and it did not meet the expectations of his audience.

Christ had to contend with these expectations throughout his ministry. In the Gospel of Luke, we read: "As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. He said therefore, 'A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.'" (Luke 19:11-12, ESV) People expected Jesus to reclaim his ancestor David's throne and immediately dispatch their Roman overlords. In short, they expected the Christ to reign from Jerusalem and forcibly put down all of his foes. In spite of numerous sermons and parables, these expectations persisted.

In the Gospel of John, we find a rather detailed account of Christ's trial before Pilate. We read: "So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, 'Are you the King of the Jews?' Jesus answered, 'Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?' Pilate answered, 'Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?' Jesus answered, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.' Then Pilate said to him, 'So you are a king?' Jesus answered, 'You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.' Pilate said to him, 'What is truth?'" (John 18:33-38, ESV) Notice, that when Christ was asked if he was the King of the Jews, he told Pilate that his kingdom was NOT of this world!

Indeed, right before Jesus ascended into heaven after his resurrection from death, his own disciples reflected this same expectation. In the book of Acts, we read: "So when they had come together, they asked him, 'Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'" (Acts 1:6-8, ESV) Notice that his own disciples still expected him to set up a literal, physical kingdom! This after listening to Christ's parables and messaging for over three years and having experienced his trial, death, crucifixion, and resurrection.

Why this expectation? Most of the Jews of that time were expecting a Messiah who would restore the Davidic Kingdom to Judaea. They were familiar with what the Hebrew prophets had predicted. Christ's disciples had read (or heard) the book of Isaiah. They knew about the prediction: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." (Isaiah 9:6-7, ESV) Once again, for many Jews, there was only one way to interpret this prophecy - that the Messiah would reestablish the throne of David in the Promised Land.

Even so, the writings of the New Testament make very clear that Christ had very different notions about the Kingdom of God, and what would constitute a fulfillment of the predictions of those Hebrew prophets. In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Christ said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3-10, ESV) What? That doesn't sound very political! Indeed, it sounds like very spiritual language - even uncharacteristic of what we would normally associate with kings and kingdoms.

As the account of this sermon continued, we are told that Jesus elaborated on commandments dealing with moral or ethical behavior. Once again, not what one would normally expect in a discussion about government. Instead, he talked about anger, lust, retaliation, loving your neighbor, giving to those in need, and how to pray to God! (Matthew 5:31-48 and 6:1-15) He went on to say: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21, ESV) Jesus told his disciples not to worry about providing for their physical needs, but to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:25-33, ESV)

He went on to warn them against judging each other and told them that they should worry about correcting their own faults and sins (Matthew 7:1-5, ESV). Christ told them to ask God to provide for their needs and to treat other people the same way that you yourself would like to be treated (Matthew 7:7-12, ESV). Jesus went on to use a tree as a metaphor for human behavior, saying that good trees produce good fruit and vice versa (Matthew 7:15-20, ESV).

Finally, in this long discourse about the kingdom, Christ concluded by saying: "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:24-27, ESV) It is impossible to overstate the fact that this was NOT the kind of language that his disciples were expecting to hear about God's Kingdom!

Instead of ejecting the Romans from the Holy Land, Christ healed the sick, calmed a storm, and cast out demons who were afflicting people (Matthew 8 and 9). In fact, we are informed that "Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.'" (Matthew 9:35-38, ESV) What was all of this talk about harvests? Wasn't he supposed to be setting up his administration in Jerusalem and establishing his own authority over the land?

Christ went on to compare the kingdom to a farmer planting seeds and experiencing different results based on which type of soil the seed fell into (Matthew 13:2-8, ESV). Later, he explained that the story about planting seeds was symbolic of folks who heard his message about the kingdom (Matthew 13:18-23, ESV). Next, he compared the kingdom to someone sowing good seed in his field, and then having an enemy later plant weeds in the same field (Matthew 13:24-30, ESV). Jesus also compared the kingdom to a mustard seed and a little leavening, indicating that it would begin small and spread throughout the world (Matthew 13:31-33, ESV). Once again, it is hard to overstate the fact that this was NOT the kind of language that his audience was expecting to hear about the Kingdom of God! They were expecting a political discourse, and they got instead a discussion about character and farmers harvesting crops!

Indeed, Christ's message bewildered everyone. When speaking with one of the leading religious leaders among the Jews, Jesus told Nicodemus that "unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3, ESV). Continuing the account, we read: "Nicodemus said to him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?' Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.' Nicodemus said to him, 'How can these things be?' Jesus answered him, 'Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.'" (John 3:4-17, ESV)

Try for just a moment to put yourself in the shoes of Nicodemus. He had been trained his entire life to look for a Messiah who would restore the Davidic kingdom, and this guy was talking about saving the world and eternal life! This was the Gospel of the Kingdom of God! Once again, this was an astounding turn of events. This was NOT what anyone was expecting from the Messiah! Moreover, the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) go on to tell the story of a Messiah who was arrested, put on trial, executed, and resurrected from the dead - never once having fulfilled their expectations of a political revolution!

What's more, when Jesus did talk about the exercise of authority/power, he did not speak of it in terms that his audience was accustomed to hearing. In the Gospel of Matthew, we read: "At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" (Matthew 18:1-4, ESV) A little later, in the same account, Christ said: "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:25-28, ESV) That this was NOT the style of leadership that his followers were accustomed to is apparent in the account!

Still not convinced that Christ's message was NOT a political one? Let's take a closer look at the Gospel message his apostles were preaching.

In his epistle to the Christians at Rome, Paul wrote that he was "called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ." (Romans 1:1-5, ESV) Although he mentioned the fact that Christ was a descendant of David, he emphasized the fact that he was also the Son of God, that he had been resurrected from the dead, and that he (Paul) had been commissioned to spread this message throughout the world.

Likewise, in his letter to the saints at Corinth, Paul wrote: "I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (I Corinthians 1:4-9, ESV) Notice that there is NOTHING of a political nature in what Paul is preaching. Instead, his message is focused entirely on what Jesus has done (and would do) for them.

Finally, in his epistle to the Christians of Galatia, Paul wrote: "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." (Galatians 1:3-5, ESV) With this context, Paul then went on to proclaim: "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6-9, ESV) Apparently, even in Paul's day, there were some folks who were trying to twist/pervert the Good New (Gospel) about Jesus Christ and salvation through him!

Likewise, in the epistle of Peter, we read: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (I Peter 1:3-9, ESV) Once again, we see that the focus of the message is salvation through Jesus Christ. This is the message that Christ and his apostles preached about the Kingdom of God!

Hence, we have demonstrated from Scripture that the Gospel of the Kingdom of God was focused on the person of Christ and what he was doing for humankind. It was a message about salvation - the salvation of the entire earth. It was a message about faith, grace, humility, mercy, love, and forgiveness. It was NOT a message about the human conception of governance or political systems. In short, the Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the good news about salvation and eternal life through Jesus of Nazareth - THE KING OF KINGS!

Posted by Miller Jones/Lonnie C Hendrix

The Pull to Return: A Look at Why Some Feel Drawn Back to Armstrongism – And What to Hold Onto as You Decide

The Pull to Return: 

A Look at Why Some Feel Drawn Back to Armstrongism – 

And What to Hold Onto as You Decide

by The Silent Pilgrim

If you’re reading this because you once stepped away from the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong—or from one of the Church of God groups that carry them forward—and now find yourself feeling pulled back toward that world, please know this first: your heart is not wrong for feeling this way. That deep ache, the sense of something missing, the whisper that maybe you made a mistake leaving—it’s real, and it hurts. You’re not weak, confused, or failing spiritually for experiencing it. Many, many people who have walked this same path have felt exactly what you’re feeling right now. You are not alone, and your longing deserves compassion, not condemnation.

The structure, the certainty, the community, the feeling of being specially chosen by God—these things were powerful. They gave meaning, belonging, and hope in a chaotic world. When they’re gone, the emptiness can feel crushing. Life crises, loneliness, family strains, or even just watching the news and remembering old prophecies can bring everything rushing back. It’s okay to admit that leaving didn’t magically fix everything, and that parts of the old life still call to you.

This article isn’t meant to push you one way or the other. It’s here to sit with you in the tenderness of this moment—to help you name what’s pulling at you, honor how hard this is, and give you space to breathe and think with kindness toward yourself.

Understanding the Deep Pull

Here are some of the most common reasons people describe feeling drawn back, shared quietly in letters, forums, and recovery spaces from those who’ve been there:

• When Life Hurts, the Familiar Feels Like Safety

A serious illness, the end of a marriage, losing a job, grieving a loved one, or just years of feeling adrift can make the old rules and routines feel like a lifeline again. The Sabbath rhythm, the holy days, the clear “what God expects” answers—they once provided structure when everything else felt out of control. In moments of pain, returning to what’s known can feel like the only way to find solid ground. That instinct to seek comfort is deeply human. 

•  The Heartbreaking Loneliness Without That “Family”

Services every week, the Feast of Tabernacles with its long days of fellowship, shared meals, singing, and feeling like you truly belonged somewhere—these created bonds that can feel irreplaceable. After leaving, building new friendships, especially deep ones rooted in shared beliefs, can be exhausting and slow. Some people attend a Feast “just once” to see old friends and find the warmth overwhelming. That pull toward belonging again is not a sign of failure; it’s a sign you’re wired for connection, like all of us.

• The Weight of Fear, Guilt, and “What If” Questions

The teachings about the end times, the “one true church,” the warnings about becoming Laodicean, the idea that leaving puts your salvation at risk—these messages were planted deeply. Even years later, they can resurface during hard times: “What if the Tribulation starts soon? What if I’m not protected?” Guilt over “sins” like eating unclean foods or skipping holy days can gnaw at you. And there’s often that quiet voice asking, “I gave so many years—what if I was wrong to leave?” These fears are not proof the teachings are true; they are echoes of a system designed to make departure feel terrifying. 

• Family Ties and the Pain of Division

The splits in the 1990s and beyond broke countless families apart—parents in one group, children in another, siblings not speaking. If loved ones are still inside and reaching out, or if rejoining would heal rifts or let you be close again, that longing is powerful and understandable. Wanting family harmony is not selfish; it’s natural.

• Nostalgia for Purpose and Identity

Being told you were part of God’s special remnant, with exclusive understanding of prophecy and truth, gave a profound sense of meaning. Mainstream churches can feel foreign or “pagan,” and everyday life can seem empty by comparison. The old identity was strong; losing it can leave a hole that nothing else seems to fill the same way.

These feelings don’t mean you’re spiritually deficient. High-control groups like this are built to meet real human needs so completely that stepping outside them leaves raw, unmet longing. The pull is strong because the system was engineered to be.

Questions to Hold Gently as You Reflect

No one can decide for you, but many who’ve walked this road (some who returned, some who didn’t) have found it helpful to sit quietly with questions like these, without rushing:

• What am I most afraid will happen if I don’t go back?
• What specific hurts or empty places in my life right now feel soothed by the thought of returning?
• Have I given myself permission to grieve what I lost when I left—and to look honestly at both the good and painful parts of that time?
• If fear, guilt, or loneliness weren’t driving this, would I still feel drawn for the same reasons?
• What would a life of peace and freedom look like for me, even if it meant building new community slowly?
• Am I open to exploring whether God’s love and care for me could be bigger than any one group or set of rules?

There’s no “right” answer here—only honest ones that feel true to your heart.

What Some Have Found on Both Paths

For some, returning brings real short-term comfort: renewed routines, familiar faces, restored family ties, a sense of purpose again. That relief is valid and can feel like mercy.

Others, after returning, eventually face familiar struggles—authority issues, prophecy disappointments, financial pressures, or the same controlling dynamics—and find the peace they sought doesn’t last. Cycles of leaving and returning happen because the core emotional needs keep resurfacing.

Many who choose not to return (or who return briefly and leave again) discover, slowly and painfully at first, that healing comes through addressing the wounds directly: finding safe support, rebuilding identity outside the group, experiencing grace without strings, and forming connections based on mutual care rather than shared doctrine alone. It’s not instant, but for many it becomes deeper and more freeing than what they remembered.

You Are Held in This Moment

Wherever you land—whether you step back toward a group, stay where you are while you keep seeking, or move into something entirely new—you deserve gentleness. God, if He is the loving Father the Scriptures describe, sees your struggle, your tears, your questions. He doesn’t demand perfect certainty or instant answers. He invites honest seeking, and He meets us in the mess.

You are allowed to take time. You are allowed to feel conflicted. You are allowed to want both truth and kindness toward yourself.

You don’t have to figure it all out today. Breathe. Be kind to the part of you that’s hurting. Whatever comes next, may it bring you closer to real peace, real love, and real freedom.

You matter. Your heart matters. Take all the time you need.

Afroman’s Wild Ride: From Stoner Anthem to Courtroom Victory Over Police — And Why It Hits Home for “Banned by HWA” Readers

 

If you’re a regular reader here at Banned by HWA, you already know the drill: speak truth about corrupt leaders in the Armstrongist/Church of God world, and get banned, silenced, threatened, or threatened to be sued (Wade Cox) for your trouble. Well, hold onto your purple hymnals — rapper Afroman (real name Joseph Foreman) just lived through a near-perfect mirror of that exact nightmare… and won.

On March 19, 2026, a jury in Adams County, Ohio, delivered a full defense verdict in under a day. Seven sheriff’s deputies who raided his house in 2022 sued him for defamation, invasion of privacy, and emotional distress. Their crime? He turned their own body-cam-style security footage into several savage, hilarious music videos that went mega-viral. The jury said: Nope. This is protected speech. Afroman walked out of court in a stars-and-stripes suit, yelling, “We did it, America! Freedom of speech!” Here’s the full story — and exactly why it matters to every ex-member who’s ever been banned, disfellowshipped, or told to shut up for posting the truth.

Who Is Afroman? Back in 2001, this guy dropped “Because I Got High” — the ultimate stoner anthem that hit #1 in multiple countries, got featured in movies, and made him a household name overnight. Grammy-nominated, independent as hell, and never one to bow to authority. Fast-forward two decades: he’s still making music on his own terms, living in rural Ohio.

August 2022. Adams County Sheriff’s deputies show up with guns drawn on suspicion of drugs and kidnapping. They kick his door in, ransack the place, flip through his cash, paw through his CDs… and find absolutely nothing. No arrests. No charges. Just broken doors, broken gates, disabled security cameras, confiscated over $4,000 in omeny and scared his neighbors.

But here’s the twist that changes everything: Afroman’s home security cameras caught the whole thing. Instead of crying about it, he did what any true artist (or truth-telling blogger) would do.

The Response: Satire as a Weapon

He turned the raw raid footage into two songs:“Lemon Pound Cake” — where a deputy is hilariously caught staring at a cake on the counter while supposedly searching for evidence.

“Will You Help Me Repair My Door” — straight-up mocking the door-kicking and the whole pointless invasion.

 

Millions of views. 

Other videos are crude, over-the-top, and brutally funny, directed at the Sheriffs. He didn’t just complain; he exposed the overreach with humor and evidence. 

Sound like anything we do here? 

The Retaliation: “How Dare You Post That!”

In 2023 the same deputies sued him. Their claim? The videos hurt their reputations, made their jobs harder, and invaded their privacy by using footage of them doing their actual jobs — on his property. They wanted money and to force the videos down. 

During the court proceedings, which is so over the top that you can't draw yourself away from the trainwreck these sheriffs created for themselves. Watching them squirm as they were forced to listen to the videos in court, in front of the jury, was hilarious.

This is the part that should feel eerily familiar to Banned by HWA readers. Replace “sheriff’s deputies” with “COG leaders, ministers, deacons, or church headquarters,” and it’s the same playbook:

Authority figures overstep.

• Someone records and exposes it.
• The powerful try to punish the whistleblower with legal threats or bans instead of fixing their own mess.

The Victory (March 19, 2026)

After a quick three-day trial, the jury said no to every single claim. Not liable on defamation. Not liable on privacy. Not liable on anything. The judge read it out: “In all circumstances, the jury finds in favor of the defendant.”

Afroman didn’t just survive — he turned the raid into a bigger platform, more views, and now a very public win for the First Amendment. The same footage that was supposed to bury him became his shield.

Why This Matters to “What We Say and Post” Here at Banned by HWA

This isn’t just a funny rapper story. It’s a blueprint for every ex-COG member who’s been banned, blocked, or threatened for posting documents, exposing financial waste, calling out abusive leadership, or simply telling their exit story.

Corruption and self-appointed narcissistic COG leaders hate sunlight. Whether it’s a sheriff’s department or a splinter church group, the powerful hate when you use their own actions against them.

Satire and evidence are powerful. Afroman didn’t just rant — he used their footage + humor. We do the same with COG news, leaked letters, financial misappropriation, sexual escapades, and yes, sometimes sarcasm. Oh wait, ALL THE TIME.  It may not be “nice” at times, but it’s effective.

They will try to silence you legally. Lawsuits, cease-and-desists, disfellowshipping, website takedowns — same tactics. Afroman’s win proves that creative, truthful posting (even when it stings) is often protected.
Persecution can become your platform. The deputies thought they’d shut him down. Instead, he got more attention, sold more merch, and now has a fresh “I beat the cops in court” story. Every time someone tries to ban us here, the blog just gets stronger, and the readership grows.

So the next time a church leader threatens you for what you post or say in church,  remember Afroman in his flag suit yelling “Freedom of speech!” Keep recording. Keep writing. Keep posting. The jury of public opinion — and sometimes actual juries — is still out there.
We didn’t start Banned by HWA to be popular with the elites. We started it to tell the truth they wanted buried. Afroman just proved the truth can fight back — and win.
Stay bold, friends. The door they tried to kick in might just be the one that opens wider.

Crackpot Prophet Gaslights Us Again. Adultery Is Bad, Unless It Happens In Africa

Here he is again, our intrepid blog warrior, God's gift to the entire church and the world, bravely mounting his digital soapbox day after day to inform the entire world just how bad, wrong, sinful, and irredeemably stupid everyone else is. It's truly inspiring. The man possesses an almost superhuman ability to spot moral failings from thousands of miles away—except, curiously, when it comes to sweeping the front porch of his own rapidly stagnating ecclesiastical empire. Funny how that works.

Today’s sermon? A classic greatest-hits edition: railing against the immorality plaguing Americans and the rest of the heathen masses. Adultery topped the list, naturally, because nothing says "I'm morally superior" like thumping the Bible extra hard while quoting scripture at people who didn't ask. He lectures, he preens, he radiates that special glow of self-anointed righteousness. We should all be so grateful for this beacon of purity guiding us poor sinners toward the light.

Except… oops. One of his top ministers in Malawi—yes, one of the very men he hand-picked to represent his grand "continuing" vision—stands credibly accused of committing the very adultery Bob was busy condemning from his California throne. Suddenly, those laser-focused moral binoculars develop a severe case of selective blindness. Who could've seen that coming?

Remember Priscilla, the original wife of Radson Mulozowa (along with their children, who apparently had zero qualms about speaking out publicly)? When their shocking story of infidelity and betrayal hit the blogosphere, the response from on high was… crickets, excuses, and a whole lot of "nothing to see here." Priscilla's account paints a rather unflattering picture: her then-husband caught in adultery (gasp!—a massive doctrinal red flag in Armstrongism circles, where that's basically cardinal sin #1). Yet somehow, this same man gets fast-tracked into Bob's ministry, no pesky vetting required.

Adultery Scandal of Continuing Church of God Pastor In Malawi - ExWife Shares

Don't Swallow Bob Thiel's Shallow Stories About Africa

Priscilla herself was the first in the family to join Bob's group and even got ordained as a Deaconess. Meanwhile, hubby Radson, fresh off his SDA-preaching/adultery/fraud combo platter, slides right in as a respected leader. Evans Ochieng (Bob's go-to guy in the region) reportedly assured the good doctor that Radson was a "true Minister of God in good standing." And Bob, ever the discerning shepherd, apparently thought, "Great! Another notch on the growth belt—numbers up, prophecy cred intact, no need to ask follow-up questions."Pride? What pride? This is just humble leadership, folks—adding warm bodies to the roster without bothering to check if they come with baggage the size of a Malawi cargo plane. Why let trifling details like credible accusations of adultery, fraud, and doctrinal hypocrisy slow down the glorious expansion? It's not like Bob's whole brand is built on being the one true remnant who actually obeys God's laws while everyone else wallows in sin.

Radson's wife, Priscilla

John Machemba, a Deacon fired by Evans Ocheing for coming forward with the truth of Radson Mulozowa

Benjamin Radson speaks about his father:

Victor (Radosn's son) speaks:

Favour, daughter of Continuing Church of God pastor Radison Mulczowa talks briefly about her father's affair and what has happened financially to her mother and family.

So here we are: the man who can't stop lecturing the world about immorality has, once again, allowed (or willfully ignored) a walking contradiction in his inner circle. But fear not—Bob will keep posting, keep quoting, keep judging from his place of unassailable privilege. After all, cleaning one's own house is for lesser mortals. Real prophets have blogs to maintain and superiorities to flaunt.

Truly, an inspiration to us all. Keep those tall tales coming, "prophet." The irony is delicious, and we're all just here for the show.

A Flurry of Hymns

 

Conceived in the wake of rebel churches feeling the tyranny of the WCG and wishing to retain their fleet cars, these hymns are finally digitally remastered in all their end-time glory.

Seven: A Psalm for the Uncreated

 

The Plethora of Numbers (Fair Use)

Seven

A Psalm for the Uncreated

By Scout

I have to handle this topic gingerly.  Armstrongism has some odd ideas about numbers.  In particular, the numbers 7, 12, 19 and 40 can arouse glassy-eyed excitement.  I think it started, maybe, with Herbert W. Armstrong’s excursus into pyramidology long ago.  He “discovered” that the Egyptian pyramids were full of numerological significance.  Some of the measurements, he believed, created a timeline for this Age.   Or something like that. I did not research it and never will.  So, if you don’t have a ready Palantir in order to read the future, you can peer into the Great Pyramid. 

Numbers play a significant role in Armstrongist theology.  I have always found the idea that Armstrongists have about the numbers 2 and 3 to be puzzling.  The number 2 to them is an “open” number.  It is susceptible to expansion in some way.  There are 2 members of the God family but the number 2 permits there to be many more.  Whereas the number 3 is a “closed” number.  Then, Armstrongists deduce, the Trinitarian idea of three persons in the Godhead means that the God family cannot be expanded, and becoming God-as-God-is-God cannot happen.  This is meant to be anti-trinitarian and supportive of bitheism.  But 2 and 3 are just numbers.  Go figure. 

This odd religious arithmetic aside, I do believe there is something profound to be learned from numbers. I would like to view numbers from a theological angle in this small essay.  First, let me say that I know that some people are irritated by theology.  To them, theology is a senseless barnacle on the resolute hull of common sense. This view renders them ineducable, but we must try anyway.  Let me hasten to say that I am not a theologian or a philosopher.  I am just a guy with a laptop and some books, including several translations of the Bible. The disputability of my views is undeniable. I don’t teach others so much as learn with them. 

After that self-reflective prologue, I would like to proceed to examine a few theological ideas with some aplomb. These ideas cause a few people some heartburn.  In past articles, I have stated that God is “timeless” and “uncreated.”  For Armstrongists in particular, these are not commonly used terms.  You can search some of the online archives of Armstrongist literature and you will not find these terms.  This suggests that these terms might be illicit in some way.  To some Armstrongists out in Splinterland, these are terms that are bandied about by those blowing theological smoke.   But let me assure you that we all encounter these concepts all the time without mental collapse.  So, let me start this contemplation with the number 7.  It could be any number. 

The Uncreated Number 7

First, the idea of being uncreated.  I believe God is uncreated.  He has always existed.  Nobody made him. He is the uncaused, first cause.  I believe that because he creates reality (not just the Cosmos, a real object, but unqualified existential reality itself), he is absolute.  He himself is existence.  He “donates” existence to all that is created. And his existence is rational.  The term Logos means not only words but reasoned words.  And John tells us that the Logos created all things.  And the eternal Logos was not created (in spite of what the Arianists in the Millerite Movement assert).

One might conclude that being “uncreated” is an odd idea, but that is because we live in a realm where we never create; we only fabricate out of existing materials.  But the number 7 that is commonly and frequently used by all of us is uncreated.  I don’t mean your awareness of 7 is uncreated.  Nor do I mean that at one point there were seven countable objects in the Cosmos, so then the number seven came into existence.  Seven existed even without anything to count.  I mean the pure numerical concept of 7.  It exists without creation.  It had no beginning.  That brings us to timelessness. 

The Timeless Number 7

Further, the number 7 is timeless.  It had no beginning, and it will have no ending.  While it can exist in a succession of moments like we do, it is not contingent on a succession of moments. If the succession suddenly stops, 7 will continue. Verb tenses do not really fit the number 7 (or any number). You can’t say yesterday there was 7, but tomorrow there will be no 7.  While tensed grammar can be expressed, it doesn’t mean anything.  Tenses are superfluous because seven is eternal.  Past, present, and future, the number 7 is always there. 

Numbers and Beings

The term philosophers use to describe the uncreated, timeless features of 7 is “a priori.” It means that 7 exists as a matter of reason rather than creation.  It is not based on experience but is, rather, self-evident.  

Without a doubt, the difference between God, an infinite being, and 7, a simple number, is infinite.  But being uncreated and timeless are a couple of points of similarity between God and 7.  In another way, 7 is like us.  We are finite beings, and 7 has a finite value. 

This next point is harder to explain.  The idea that there is an uncreated great spirit being that created the Cosmos is difficult for the human mind to grasp.  How can God always have been?  Who made him?  The answer, of course, is that nobody made him.  He has always been.  And I admit that this begs the question.  It is just that we are talking outside our usual created-world boundaries.  

The concept of God is a part of the rational existential order just as the concept of the number 7 is.  Anyone who believes that there is an uncaused, first cause is comfortable with this idea.  On the other hand, when atheists argue against the existence of god, they almost always include the proposition that the Universe has always been. They accept the eternity of a non-being and deny eternity as it relates to God.   So, Dawkins and Hitchens use the same arithmetic of eternity that Theists use but the atheist version is less convincing because it pertains to things that we know can, unlike God, undergo entropy.  The rational existential order in which God and the number 7 are reflected makes them both seem intuitive to many people. 

The Last Analysis

Words like “timeless” and “uncreated” are not just pseudo-intellectual jargon.  They are descriptors for something that we use all the time, like the number 7.  The number 7 is timeless and uncreated yet feels natural.  We are comfortable with it.  It does not challenge our belief systems.   To many people, the existence of God feels natural.  This is a part of what some theologians call General Revelation.  I would hasten to add that a “feeling” is not a “proof.”  Providing an incontrovertible proof of his existence for us today does not seem to be God’s critical path.  But the number 7 or any number is a little aperture through which a glimmer of some great and glorious light now passes.  

                        

UCG has just pulled off a truly brilliant and dangerous move

UCG has just pulled off a truly brilliant and dangerous move:

Don’t Be a Spiritual Pack Rat! 

 

Is it just me, or do we all tend to accumulate things? Over time garages and closets fill up. There’s even a name for people like that—pack rats. 

 

Maybe you’ve cleaned out the garage before. You haul out piles of stuff and sort through it all, and when you’re done, somehow a few “selected items” end up right back inside. 

 

Spiritually, that can happen too. God calls us to recognize the junk that can accumulate in our lives—wrong attitudes, bad habits, lingering sins that quietly take up space where they don’t belong (1 Corinthians 5:7). 

 

Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread remind us that real spiritual growth requires real spiritual housecleaning. That kind of spiritual housecleaning begins with honest self-examination (1 Corinthians 11:28). Getting rid of the trash isn’t easy—but it’s necessary. 

 

So, let’s take the lesson seriously. Let’s be more determined than ever to clear out what is ungodly in our lives and replace it with what truly belongs—God’s truth, His character, and His way of life (2 Corinthians 7:1).
Steve Myers

By solemnly instructing members to purge the “spiritual junk” that’s been cluttering their lives, they’ve unwittingly handed every last one of them the perfect theological crowbar. As Passover season rolls around, members now have official headquarters-approved permission to conduct the mother of all spiritual spring cleanings. And oh boy, what a golden opportunity: 

• Toss every dusty UCG booklet 
• Chuck the entire Herbert W. Armstrong library 
• Bin the nostalgic relics from the “glory days” of the mother church

It’s basically a sanctioned ecclesiastical garage sale. 

“Honey, the ministry said we need to declutter—start with that stack of old Plain Truth magazines and the 1975 in Prophecy reprint, would you?”

This Passover, they can finally do a proper spiritual housecleaning: sweep out the legalism, the endless qualifying works, the endless qualifying “qualifications,” and—just maybe—turn toward the One they keep claiming to follow. Imagine the shocking simplicity of resting in grace that’s already been given, sanctification that’s already been accomplished, righteousness that’s already been imputed… and not having to sweat 613 new checklist items to try to earn what’s freely offered. Who knew “getting rid of the junk” could end up meaning getting rid of the very doctrinal junk drawer they’ve been guarding for decades?

Getting rid of the trash is painful.

It’s uncomfortable.

It might even feel like betrayal at first. But it’s also the only way out of spiritual hoarding disorder.

UCG just gave its people the biblical green light to do the one thing the organization fears most: actually start following Christ instead of following a 20th-century church manual. 

Careful what you preach, folks. 

Sometimes the members listen.