The Toxic Culture of the Armstrong Churches of God

As Bereans Did has a great article up about why they continue with their blog helping Christian escape the clutches of abusive ACOG leaders and ministers.

One of the things they mention is the "toxic culture of the Armstrong Churches of God. With hundreds of splinter groups now eating the church alive. Its astounding to watch as none of them ever take any accountability to the damage they are causing to members and to unity.  It is always corrupt leaders in other groups that are the issue, instead of the core belief system common to them all, though embellished currently by several miscreants who claim they have an Elijah ministry.

Toxic Culture
Even you can't deny that the COGs have a toxic culture. Oh, not the COG that you attend, of course, just all the other ones. Rather than consider that the shared doctrines might be causing the dysfunction, you blame the guy(s) at the top of the other groups. Don't forget that they're ALL trying to imitate the same guy, and restore what he taught to some degree or another. Yes, even "so-called Christian" churches have struggles that are inevitable as long as men are in charge. But even ugly disagreements are handled with a level of discussion and grace that is unheard of in the COGs. It infuriates us to see you demeaned, slandered and cast aside, especially by lifelong "friends." We want better for you. On a Personal Note: Why We're Here

The festival both the Jews and most of the Christian churches keep, but the COGs ignore

The festival both the Jews and most of the Christian churches keep, 

but the COGs ignore

by TLA

One festival omission from the COG calendar is surprising considering how much the COGs love the OT festivals.

This is the Feast of First Fruits, the day when the Jews have the wave sheaf offering to celebrate the beginning of the harvest. This is the day when Jesus was accepted by the Father after His resurrection.

All the COGs know this and recognize this happened.

So why don’t they keep it?

It is because all the Christian churches call it Easter Sunday.

Instead of keeping and honoring and thanking God for Jesus’ resurrection and acceptance by the Father, they instead focus all their energies on proving Jesus was in the grave three days. (Some Jewish sources dispute the COG understanding – plus the other scriptures talk about Jesus being risen on the third day.

^{1 Cor 15 v3} For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance^[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third dayaccording to the Scriptures).

BUT – this should not be the big point. The big point is Jesus was resurrected and accepted on the day of the wave sheaf offering.

NIV ^{9 Romans 9 v 9 to 11} Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!¹⁰ For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!¹¹ Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Note: we are reconciled by Jesus death, but SAVED through His life.

The Resurrection of the Dead 1 Cor 15

¹² But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. ¹⁵ More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. ¹⁹ If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

So, let us all keep the Feast of First Fruits (Jewish name) / Easter Sunday (pagan name), or give it a good COG name – but let’s keep and celebrate if we truly consider ourselves Christian. Our Savior is risen as the first of the first fruits on the wave sheaf offering day – the day after the Sabbath – the first day of the week.

(And if you are a COG leader, remember HWA wrote and said the Church was always willing to change if shown it was in error – like Pentecost Sunday and divorce and remarriage.)

Submitted by TLA

Yes, many are DUPED, and are worshipping HWA IN VAIN

For anyone who says idolatry is not present in the Armstrong Churches of God, there is this:

You will read in the seventh chapter of the book of Mark, Jesus saying " Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."(verse 7) 

When we refuse to throw aside what Christ taught through Mr. Herbert W Armstrong, and admonish you our brethren to never compromise nor depart from these teachings, are we teaching for doctrine the commandments of men? Is what was taught by Mr. Armstrong, who is the apostle of Jesus Christ, of MEN and not of God? 

Continue what Christ is saying, "For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men...And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.(verses 8-9) 

Ask yourselves this! If you put what Mr. Armstrong taught into action, and OBEY it, are you throwing aside the commandments of God to OBEY Mr. Armstrong? 

Go to God's Word and prove this! What does God say? Do the people of God obey the voice of God's servant? See Isaiah 50:10. 

Does a servant of God ever preach contrary to what God has said through previous servants? NO!!!!  

Now, would you be OBEYING GOD and putting God's Word into ACTION if you were to stay faithful and true, and never compromise what the servant of God had given them from God? YES YOU WOULD! 

What did Mr. Armstrong teach that would lead you into disobedience TOWARDS God? Nothing!  

Now, if rejecting what the servant of God teaches from God is in fact rejecting God as the Bible says ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS CONTRARY AND DIFFERENT IS A TRADITION OF MEN!!!!! 

If Mr. Armstrong says DON'T, anyone who says DO is not in league with the servant of Jesus Christ, therefore is NOT WITH CHRIST!  

People accuse us of holding to traditions of men, but they accuse us falsely and they themselves are guilty of what they accuse. 

Yes many are DUPED and are worshipping Christ IN VAIN. They call themselves a member of the Church of God, and they say they are worshipping Christ, but it is ALL IN VAIN. Very few people understand the real truth! 

God's way makes sense! And why would God work through His servant, and teach the Church one way then throw it all away after his death and then teach another way? 

That is a way of SATAN! DON'T BE DECEIVED ANY LONGER! Samuel Kitchen