Radio Interview On Journey Out of Armstrongism

When the Sunday [Satruday] sermon blamed the delay of Jesus’ second coming on women wearing makeup, Angela Himsel began to wonder if God didn’t have more important things to worry about. This began her on a spiritual journey that took her from the Worldwide Church of God to Orthodox Judaism. On today’s Leap of Faith, Penina talks with Angela about her spiritual journey and how sometimes there is more than one right answer. Join Penina for another inspiring episode of Leap of Faith.

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