How Subtly the MInistry Changed Scripture to Meet Their Own Agenda

This particular quote was found in the Good News Magazine of January - April, 1971. Look carefully at the quote and see exactly where the change came in. 

Did you find where the Ministry subtly changed the entire meaning of the verse to fit their already conceived agenda? Take a look at the parallel Bible to see if the inserted text is anywhere in here: 

https://biblehub.com/parallel/john/3-18.htm

The correct text was "He that believeth on Him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already."

What the author added into the text was "In His purpose". 

"In His Purpose" was not in any text or translation anywhere of John 3:18. It was added to support what they already believed: That the world is not being "called now", only the "elect", being the Worldwide Church of God, and the rest of the world would not be given opportunity until after Christ - in direct opposition from the reality of what the verse actually says. 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believethin him should not perish, but have everlasting life.For God sent not his Son into the worldto condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.Anyone who believesin Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned,because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God."

Every translation, including the King James translation, agrees that this verse says that God so loved the world that he gave his Son Jesus Christ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life - and that it is believing in HIM that there is no condemnation, but anyone who does not believe IN HIM is already condemned. That's what the translation says. 

This flies directly in contradiction to the Church's belief. And to support their twisting of the Word of God, they added "In His Purpose" to completely change the meaning of scripture, downplaying the role of belief in Christ because they didn't believe the WORLD could know Christ. 

But what exactly did he mean "In His Purpose"? The article states:

"If you truly believe in God's purpose through Jesus Christ and are going ALL OUT for that purpose in your life, then you are properly discerning the Lord's Body and are eating and drinking eternal life unto yourself. But if your life and actions show a half-hearted, lethargic support and dedication to His work, you are eating and drinking damnation to yourself."

The author - Albert J. Portune - took the clear and unmistakable intent and clarity of the Word of God - in every translation - as to what it meant, inserted his own bracket text, changed the entire meaning of the verse to fit their own doctrinal bias, and then claimed that it was not belief in JESUS but in "His Purpose" which mattered - which of course meant supporting the Work and being dedicated to it with your whole heart. In other words - sending in your money. Without inserting in this text John 3:16-18 is completely against the doctrinal position of Armstrongism. This is why Armstrongism was and is ANOTHER GOSPEL.  

This is exactly how the scam worked. This is how the Word of God was twisted and distorted. It's one example of MANY. 

submitted by SHT

COG Chief Pharisee Claims It Is Possible to Be Sinless

Where would the Church of God be without all of the lying false teachers it currently has?  It would be boring indeed!  Crazy prophets have always inhabited the church over the last 8 decades, but over the last few years, the craziness has reached new levels of idiocy.

James Malm, the self-appointed prophet and guru of the Shining Light crapfest of legalistic mumbo-jumbo puts forth loads of nonsense that would send anyone to an early grave if they tried to attain his high level of legalism.

In his ongoing effort to bastardize the law and make it into something it is not, he claims that current members of the church can remain sinless after baptism.

The sacrifice of Christ is only APPLIED to the REPENTANT; to those who STOP sinning! and it is sincere repentance to stop sinning and the application of the atonement of Christ for our PAST sins; which justifies and purifies us.

After that, we are to go forward; avoiding sin and living by every Word of God. But keeping the commandments does not justify anyone from PAST sins. It is sacrifice of Christ which justifies us and makes us right with God and atones for past sins.

But apparently not for future sins.

The Firm Bond: The Book That May Have Triggered George Geis' Termination from the Church

Today, while researching some historical anecdotes on the Church and College, I came across a bit of interesting information from the Los Angeles times, dated January 12, 1985. 

It seems that a book, entitled "The Firm Bond", which was written by Robert Kuhn and Goerge Geis, may have triggered Geis being called into Headquarters and asked for his resignation. Granted, this was an allegation purported by Garner Ted Armstrong: 

Soon after the book, published in October, appeared in Vroman's bookstore in Pasadena--where it is enjoying brisk sales--Geis was called in by Worldwide authorities and asked to submit his resignation. Apparently, according to Ted Armstrong, "people (church leaders) thought they saw themselves in the book." The Worldwide Church of God is not mentioned in the book, nor does it reveal the connection of either Geis or co-author Robert Kuhn, a former top Worldwide official who has also been disfellowshipped, with the church or college.

The book in question was thought by GTA to be a problem with the Church, probably because of it's content:

A section of the book (Praeger, $21.95) deals with personal meaning and entrepreneurial drives within an unaccommodating structure. "How does one deal with such people and pressures?" the authors ask.

“The easy answer--get rid of them!--deprives the company of innovative potential. On the other hand, strategies that allow for the expression of such needs promote mutual benefit for employee and organization.”

"The resignation was his (Geis') choice; the book was something he chose to write," said La Ravia, the Worldwide Church press secretary, who would not explain the reasons for the dismissal.

One of the reviewers of the book was from Harvard Business School - C. Roland Christenson. He writes:

This is a book not simply to be read, but to be savored. It poses for the reflective practioner the question of relationship between religion and economic creativity and productivity. It gives practical suggestions to any leader on the achievement of that critical motivational force--the linkage between personal inner needs and corporate mission.--C. Roland Christensen, Harvard Business School

One of the reasons why a business may possibly terminate an employee is if they, without authorization, released or revealed confidential intellectual property to the public. If this book revealed some of the internal corporate strategies used within the Church - it could well explain a possible reason why Gies was terminated from the Church. In a response to questions by the TImes concerning his termination, Ellis LaRavia said, "He chose to write the book."; seemingly confirming that the book did have something to do with it. 

Or, it could have just been because he was collaborating with a disfellowshipped individual outside of the Church - the co-author, Robert Kuhn, something that he, as a minister of the Church, would have been looked on as an act of rebellion, since disfellowshipped members were to be shunned and avoided.  

This book is available at Amazon for 12.95. As of this writing, 37 New and Used copies are available.

submitted by SHT