Escape From The Iron-Fisted Worldwide Church of God Cult into The Power and Freedom of Jesus Christ!

The following was sent to me by a reader here concerning a story by a former COG member who escaped the clutches of Armstrongism, legalism and the Hebrew Roots Movement - of which Armstrongism played a major part in, and moved into grace.  Grace is a much hated word in the more legalistic splinter groups of Armstrongism.  It is a concept that is maligned and denigrated as much as they do Jesus.

Their sites claims:

Joyfully Growing In Grace engages in an examination of beliefs found in the Hebrew Roots Movement, Messianic Judaism, and Netzarim streams of thought and related sects.

The term “Messianic” is generally understood to describe Jews who have come to believe in Yeshua/Jesus as their Messiah. Jews who are believers in Jesus/Yeshua typically call themselves Jewish/Hebrew Christians or simply, Christians. 

Many Christians meet folks who say they are ‘Messianic’ and assume that those folks are Jewish Christians. Most aren’t Jewish at all, but are Gentile Christians who have chosen to pursue Torah observance and have adopted the Messianic term, calling themselves Messianic Christians, adherents to Messianic Judaism, or simply, Messianics. Some will even try to avoid that label and say that they are followers of "The Way".

These Gentiles (and to be fair, some Messianic Jews) preach Torah observance/pursuance for Christians, persuading many believers that the Christianity of the Bible is a false religion and that we must return to the faith of the first century sect of Judaism that they say Yeshua (Jesus Christ) embraced. According to them, once you become aware that you should be 'keeping' the edicts and regulations of Mosaic Covenant Law, if you do not, you are then in willful disobedience to God.

It has been my observation that Christians who adopt the label of Messianic identify more with the tenets of Judaism than they do with the tenets of Christianity. Many reject the label of Christian altogether and some eventually even convert to Judaism. 

Escape From The Iron-Fisted Worldwide Church of God Cult into The Power and Freedom of Jesus Christ! 

by Mark Smith

The following is my testimonial of 18 long years in the Worldwide Church of God (HRM) Cult founded by Herbert W. Armstrong.  For more information on the founder and this cult, simply do some research on Google for more details and the history of the WCG cult.  [Exit and Support Network is a great resource. - jgig]

My father heard the founder’s convincing message in 1964 when I was 3 years old and converted wholeheartedly – my mother went along out of love for my father.  From the age of 3 years old to 21, I was indoctrinated in following and observing all of the old covenant teachings of the Torah/Mosaic law, the holy days and feast days, the Sabbath, plus extra biblical doctrine the founder imposed on us as further bondages and heavy burdens.  As children, we were not allowed to participate in the regular holiday celebrations at school, enjoy birthdays or participate in sports that typically scheduled games on the Sabbath.

While growing up, my father worked hard to support my brothers, sister and I with very little left over after paying income taxes and multiple tithes to the CULT.  For years, my mother would cook simple meals and shop at thrift stores, grow gardens and sew clothes for us to make it - and my father made good money - but gave much of it to support the cult’s “iron-fisted” control to OBEY and PAY!

There was 99 percent law mixed with their exclusive (we have the truth) spin within their doctrine claiming to being the ONLY one with the TRUTH while the rest of the world is lost.  The other 1 percent was teaching on the work of Jesus Christ and His suffering on the cross for our sins which was quickly diminished and perverted by the other 99 percent false doctrine.

Several magazines, books and correspondence courses were the means of being brainwashed and indoctrinated into their (“The”) way of spiritual growth, including fear based manipulation woven into the writings to compel followers into adhering to all the teachings of the founder.  There was the Plain Truth and Good News magazines to pitch to the followers and also to reach out to potential converts on a worldwide scale consisting of modern events, news, prophecy and God’s kingdom to come.

Problem was, there was NO emphasis about salvation in Jesus Christ.

Scripture they used to support the doctrines found in their publications were (TYPICAL OF A CULT) used out of context – and can be clearly discerned and recognized once you DO know the truth that reveals the errant false teachings!  Sin and scandals were common among members including leadership as well as the founder which demonstrated to me that their moral benchmark for godly living was skewed by legalism – NOT having the Holy Spirit moving through TRULY converted people demonstrating the power of the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ.

Their basis for conversion was the required reading of two NON biblical books written by the founder and then water baptism.  Keeping the Torah’s dietary laws and paying first, second and third tithes filled the cult’s vaults and fueled the propagation of their doctrine worldwide as well as funding a luxurious lifestyle for the founder.  The pastors, deacons and so-called evangelists, did NOT reach people with the “true love of God” but infused control and manipulation that came from the very top – the founder.

The works-based righteousness that I and others tried to walk-in produced the fruit of SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS and a pious, pride-filled life.  Looking back at the fruit of people’s lives, it was clear that the Spirit-filled life of love, joy, peace, patience – etc… was null or void of the fruit that IS evident in a converted person demonstrating the love for God and others.

Falling away or leaving the cult equaled a one-way ticket to the eternal lake of fire.  Powerful, manipulative preaching kept (me) the followers/members in fear and awe that their teaching was OF GOD and somehow anointed.  Once you were a member, you were ensured of salvation within the chosen group of God’s elect, or FACE THE LAKE OF FIRE!!

The real kicker is… their version of the Gospel was what they call the “Good News” – the kingdom of God during the 1000 year millennium to come and that we would all be small gods occupying our own planets - kind of like what the Mormons believe.  Yes, the kingdom of God will be an awesome time, but the cult’s primary focus and doctrine of the kingdom is front and center OVER and above the gospel of Jesus Christ our Savior first… AND His kingdom to come!

Truth is, I don’t remember hearing TRUE solid and sound evangelism about the Gospel of Jesus Christ that would be centered on His redemptive work and the gift of salvation and eternal life through Him!

I left the cult in 1983 after suffering serious emotional and mental anguish about whether I should continue to live under that cults heavy hand or leave since my heart was no longer in remaining as a member.  Fact is I WAS FED UP, and even though I felt that I was condemned at the same time for leaving, I left out of feeling a need to save and salvage my sanity!

Before leaving though, I asked for counseling with my (cult) pastor, who then proceeded to bash me loudly and harshly about being emotional and showed zero compassion and love.  That was all I needed to make my final beeline for the exit door out of that cult once and for all in 1983.

However, my mother went along with it all those years from 1964 until she was fed up and then divorced my father in 1988.  Six years later, in 1994, my father committed suicide due to a complete breakdown from guilt and failure of losing a marriage, and felt like he failed his children, including feeling he was a failure in that cult as a deacon.  His death was extremely heart-breaking to us all… however we felt compassion on our dear dad who was caught in the destructive teachings of a cult.
I don’t remember any of us (my siblings and myself) condemning our father for our childhood… that’s because we know our dad did the best that he thought he could.

My brothers and sister came out of it shortly after I did.  I guess you could say I paved the way to coming out of the cult after many lost years under mind control and manipulation.  My mother drank herself to death in 2009.  My younger sister is not a believer, my younger brother moves all around the country as a vagabond, and my other brother who was a year and half younger is now gone; he died in 2006 from cancer.

I pray for my two remaining siblings that the Lord would reveal to them His Gospel having mercy and grace on them as He did with me.

Several years later, the Lord brought the gospel to me through coworkers and others in the public (thank God for people not afraid to share Christ), yet I vowed never to listen to any man again, but wanted to hear from GOD and GOD only what the truth was.  In August of 1996, I was searching for something to listen to on the radio and heard a man preaching and can’t remember who it was since it was a Christian station with many different teachers and ministers.  I broke my vow to not listen to any man and knew that I just had to keep listening to a new message (the gospel) that spoke to my heart.

Little did I know it was the Holy Spirit drawing me to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Gospel, our salvation and the forgiveness of sins that weighed so heavy on me!

After strong conviction from the Holy Spirit regarding my past and present sins, I received Jesus Christ as my Savior and experienced the NEW BIRTH, and started reading the New Testament learning about OUR SAVIOR, about faith, mercy, grace, redemption, sanctification, justification, fruit of the Spirit, love fulfilling the law, Christian living, eternal life to come, Revelation and the Kingdom of God, the message of the Old Testament and the Messianic line along with prophecies of Jesus and so much more!

Now fast forward to the present at 51 years old…

I praise God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ for His glorious love, mercy and grace upon those of us who receive Him and his Word by faith, revealing the wonderful promises to come – from everlasting to everlasting!

Unfortunately, there are several men online that have persevered [known as 'splinter groups' - info available at link provided above] and are pitching the teachings of the cult I grew up in.  THEY ARE MISSING the mark big time leading people into bondage.

As the days are growing more troublesome globally, the Lord has laid it on my heart to reach the lost with the (TRUE) message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I thank God for the TRUE warriors in the faith that are battling against and exposing the lies of false prophets and teachers that are everywhere.

Even though I would love to battle solely against cults and false teaching, I can do MORE damage against the evil one and false teaching by SOLELY focusing on preaching the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ which the evil one hates more than anything!

If you are reading this testimony about my life in a Hebrew Roots/Messianic-type cult and don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior… repent and turn to Him, calling out to Him in His name “LORD and Savior Jesus Christ” and believe that He died for our (your) sins, was buried and rose from the dead three days later.

If you’d like someone to pray with you about receiving Jesus Christ, contact the author of this site, or feel free to comment on this testimony.

After receiving Jesus Christ by faith, you will receive the gift and promise of the Holy Spirit and He will reveal to you the truth in His Holy Scriptures about the Godhead – who our Father in heaven is, who His Son Jesus Christ is, who the Holy Spirit is and MORE.  Read the New Testament books to learn about Jesus Christ… the gospel of John is a great place to start and read the other gospel books about Jesus.  Read the rest of the New Testament to understand the wonderful truths of Him and His Word.

I believe the Old Testament is best understood after you receive Christ as your Savior where you will become a new creation in Christ through the regeneration power of the Holy Spirit that will open up your spiritual eyes of understanding for His Word and the entire biblical message of God’s salvation plan for humanity.

Thank you Lord GOD of heaven and earth for this website and your glorious Truth and promises.

Love in Christ our Lord,

Mark Smith
If you want to contact Mark check out the website for his address.

Dennis On The Concept of Church of God "Ranks"

"There is God, Christ, Herbert Armstrong, Garner Ted Armstrong , Myself and a few other leading Evangelists..."

Roderick C Meredith

Harmony of the Gospels Class

1968

That's the first time in my WCG experience I ever heard the concept of ministerial "rank" spelled out with names affixed.  I understood the God...Christ...part, but after that I recall as a young 18 year old, still basically Presbyterian kid, thinking politely, "WTF...?  Who does this guy think he is...?"    It was all downhill after that.  Even back then I knew the Bible said things like, "he that is greatest among you, let him be your servant,"  "pride comes before a fall," and concepts like that. 

I had heard often in the Presbyterian Church growing up:

Philippians  2:3-11

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ... 

James 4:6
 
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Matthew 23:12

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Corinthians 11:30

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness

Ephesians 2:8-9 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Luke 18:9-14

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ...

1 Peter 5:5

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Ephesians 4:2

With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

James 4:10

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Proverbs 16:18 

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall

Luke 18:9-20

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ...

Something seemed lacking in the WCG Hierarchy and now even worse in the Splinters and Slivers that remain.

I never in my youth heard my minister indicate he was of any particular rank or in any kind of pecking order in the church.  I certainly never heard statements such as...

"And yes brethren...I am an Apostle"

"I am 'That Prophet'"

"I am a Prophet"

"I am the Two Witnesses"

("I are the Two Witnesses"?)

He's the Elijah to come

He was the Elijah to go

I am Joshua the High Priest

I am BSC (bat shit crazy)

and so on...

Of course, as time went by I learned there were Apostles, Evangelists, Pastor Ranks, Preaching Elders, Elders, Deacons, Deaconesses , Husbands, Wives, Children and Small Animals.  

I myself was "raised" from mere graduate to "Elder" at 23.  A ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...Anyway...  At 24 I became a Preaching Elder because I was preaching I guess and already had two churches.  When I left college, I was told that after the manpower meetings concerning me, "the sky is the limit for you.."  Somehow that troubled me and struck me as a strange comment for ministry.  I did not grow up with the sky being the limit for ministry.  See the above scriptures.  I think that mean in time I could be awesome of rank and power but rank and power were not my concepts and never were.  At any rate, Pastor Rank could not be far away after rising so quickly but somehow, not being in the inner circle and perhaps that being obvious after just two short years out of college, I never got raised in rank again!  I was not a Pastor while I pastored 13 congregations over 26 years.  I was merely a preaching elder.  By any measure in the ranks of ministry in WCG, I was a flop. 

I even tried to get a summer off once from all the drama in church by teaching swimming, canoeing, lifesaving, first aid etc which I had some great credentials in.   I had taught as a camp counselor for the Salvation Army camp and even a camp week for unwed mothers for three years when a kid. But...no banana.  They gave the job to a guy who could not actually swim and had no credentials that I could tell, but was better connected.  I learned something from that episode too.  

When I hear the Apostle Pack use phrases like "lesser ranked ministers," it awakens a bit of snark in me yet again.  With Joshua C Pack it is all about numbers and rank of course.  He grew quite concerned when he realized he might have a problem if an evangelist came into RCG and he was merely a Pastor Rank Minister.  Who ordained him that!  The sky was the limit for me not him!  lol.    I repent of my part in Dave's returning to the ministry after he was terminated shortly after he was hired, when my Regional Director in Chicago asked me what I thought the Director doing so. The Regional Director was close friends with Shirley Pack's father and seemed some kind of favor.  Anyway,...Solution to the Evangelist fear?  "And yes brethren, I am an Apostle."  Problem solved.  He also had to figure out where in the pecking order the Two Witnesses lay since they would spring out of RCG.  We can't have them being of greater rank so I suspect they might be evangelists at best.  Of course there is plenty of time for Joshua C Pack to declare himself both of the Two Witnesses with the appropriate length sermon.

Others along the way who were a bit more realistic and practical noted that rank was just another name for a smell.  This I found to be a more satisfying outlook and quite accurate.

In the actual New Testament, the men who seemed to have no rank such as ..oh...Jesus and the 12 disciples seemed to do the best.  Now of course they did get into who was the greatest and such, but that was just theatre and stage setting for Jesus to teach.  I can imagine the endless "well excuse me!" the brothers James and John got when mom asked the favor of her boys getting to sit on the right hand and on the left of Jesus in the Kingdom.  Oh mom!   Besides, those positions are saved for Herbert Armstrong and Joshua C Pack. 

I finally have figured out why God the Father has gotten little done on earth here since Jesus ascended back to the throne.  Jesus is sitting on God's right hand!  He can't get up!....sorry :)  Of course , according to The Surprising God Blog and Ted Johnston, Jesus would be sitting next to himself on his own hand..but I spare you.  I have no clue where the Holy Spirit sits, but possibly on God's left hand or on his own left hand too next to himself and himself.  Holy Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva Batman!  That rank thing gets confusing even at the Throne.

But seriously...Once men, and it's always men take on offices and ranks, it's all downhill from there in the world of religion.  Paul had a great time bouncing between being the least of the Apostles when he felt humble and the greatest when he felt threatened.  He was both the smartest pencil in the box and the most arrogantly humble.  He was all things to all men and also not a man pleaser.  His ranks messed him up big time I think.  Men of other rank meant nothing to him , were considered reputed pillars who added NOTHING to his message.  Kinda like the Apostle Joshua C Pack and Flurry among others.  

George Armstrong Custer--Some high ranking  bite off a bit more than they can chew

 and make all the wrong kind of history.

The "And yes brethren...I am..." baloney in the COGs will prove to be its downfall.  These men of renoun will come and go.  Their lofty titles and ranks among men of lesser rank will not save them or coerce any Jesus into coming back so Haggai or Zechariah can be proven to have predicted types of future nutcases in religion.  They have not and only the blind deaf and dumb who need to believe the untrue and unbelievable will fall for that to their harm.

La la la la..we're going with what the Apostle tells us

The concept of rank, be it Apostles, Prophets, Priests, Witnesses or ultimate fulfillments of characters out of the Biblical past like Elijah, Joshua or John the Baptist is just ridiculous.  That is that God again "trying" to get things going again when actually it is not so in reality. 

In my view, titles, rank and position are for weak minded and insecure humans.  "I am an Apostle" does not carry the real weight or maturity of "I am an average human being,"  "I have my shortcomings and strengths just like everyone else," or "I am willing to sit down before the truth as a little child and let it take me wherever it actually goes."  The rank conscious tend to sit down before truth, twist it up a bit, make it conform to their inaccurate view of themselves and shove it down everyone else's throats.  It ultimately does not work and does not take those who accept such foolishness on a genuine journey of self exploration and learning. 

“It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

 

“The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes.”
― Winston Churchill

 

“Who is more humble? The scientist who looks at the universe with an open mind and accepts whatever the universe has to teach us, or somebody who says everything in this book must be considered the literal truth and never mind the fallibility of all the human beings involved?”
― Carl Sagan

 

“In the course of my life, I have often had to eat my words, and I must confess that I have always found it a wholesome diet.”
― Winston Churchill

 

To believe you are magnificent. And gradually to discover that you are not magnificent. Enough labor for one human life.”
― Czesław Miłosz

contact Dennis at   DennisCDiehl@aol.com

E. W. King: Offical Start of Laodicean Era Started October 7, 2011

E. W. King writes:

Official Starting Point of the Laodicean Era

Jesus promised the 6^th church that He [Jesus Christ] “opened a door which no man can shut”. [Revelation 3:8]. So the door to the true Philadelphian church shall be open all the way into and through the Great Tribulation. What all of the offshoot groups have ignored is this very fact!  This means that the NAME OF THIS CHURCH [WCG] CANNOT BE CHANGED!

Now we have studied the fact that during the sixth church era, the Philadelphian, God chose an apostle to direct this organization. We must understand that this true restored church government cannot be changed! During the Philadelphian era God called His church, “The Worldwide Church of God” and promised that this very church would go right into and through the 7^th church time, that of Laodicea.

As many of you who have studied now know, we began entering the typical Laodicean era right before the death of Mr. H.W.Armstrong because of the apostasy of his son. Then, the Laodicean era became even more pronounced after the death of Mr. Armstrong. We officially entered the Typical Laodicean era, the seventh church time (era or epoch) on October 7^th 2011 due to the “resurrection” of WCG and the revealing of the Hidden Doctrine of Mr. H.W.Armstrong.

After a short period of spiritual darkness [1986-2011], truth seeking men and women are returning to the true Church of God. They have recognized that many of the doctrines being taught by the offshoot and splinter groups have been distorted and mistaught. They are now seeking greater light and have found it in God’s remnant church, the true Worldwide Church of God.

Eat your heart out Joshua C Pack!  You are just another irrelevant splinter cult now.  King  runs the one true church where all true COG members are flocking to.

COGSR is the last true remaining ministry of the original Worldwide Church of God. This is the last true ministry of the original Worldwide Church of God. This ministry came forth and has appeared in this present epoch of time, the Typical Laodicean Era, through one of God’s Epoch Porter messengers. 

This ministry was officially founded on October 7^th of 2011. Since the public appearance of this Last Day ministry many have come to the pure understanding of the true Gospel of the Kingdom. Only at this online location can one receive pure Crystal Clear teachings of True Christianity.