Within the past week or so I had a once-in-a-lifetime talk on the phone with the only person I probably would ever ask my one lifelong WCG ministry question to that I would trust to give me as true an answer to as any human being could. I won't say who, but to me, a most, if not the most credible source I could personally ever hope to ask my one burning question to. I'll leave it at that.
But after an hour and a half or so on the phone, I finally realized that this was the one person I could ask and pretty much get the best answer possible. In other words, to me, the only credible source to ask. I had my own view based on observation through the years and as the drama and trauma that unfolded in the WCG until my sentence in it as a pastor was up. This explanation resonated with me personally and I accept it.
I know for others it would never be and that's ok too. We all have a story and all of our experiences, at whatever level we had it, are valid in one's own personal interpretation of it all.
MY QUESTION:
"Was Herbert Armstrong sincere in his beliefs?"
THE ANSWER
"Yes, absolutely…"
MY NEXT QUESTION:
"What went wrong?"
THE ANSWER
From one I would finally trust to know, unshaded and with no reason to paint it any other way.
The gist.... (Not direct quotes)
Herbert Armstrong was very naïve as to the personalities and motives of the men he surrounded himself with. He trusted that every one that came to him was telling him the truth and many were not or shaded it for advantage. When HWA finally figured it out it was generally too late and reactions were not always helpful either. The damage done was done. He had the inability or did not choose to see or believe what others said they saw and tried to tell him. He was slow to believe bad things about people. He often seemed incredulous that someone was actually doing what he was told they were doing or had lied to him when he had to admit something to be so....etc
You get the point. I did not record it but this is the gist of the answer given to my one lifelong question about HWA. It has always been my own personal opinion from all I observed over nearly three decades. I never saw HWA as a religious con man. I did not see him as conniving to achieve outcomes one who was would want. I felt he did get caught up in his success, which may have surprised him as well but he, as well as Ted (who I feel had other issues, which I also understand and whom I am not speaking of here. ), had a gift of charisma in presence and speech. Like winning the Lottery, it can bit you in the ass if not well handled.
Those that surrounded him did strike me as most of the problem and drama in WCG.
The Father to Son pass of religious empires never seems to go very well. Jerry Falwell Sr made the same mistake. Dave Pack won't have to worry about that. When he goes, it all goes.
In business, it is said "The First Generation founds it. The Second Generation maintains it. The Third Generation sells or destroys it. Always made sense to me and I had a number of examples both in Religion and Business to back that up as I am sure we all do. Oral Roberts did it as did Jimmy Swaggart and Robert Schuller of Crystal Cathedral fame.
So I accepted the answer. It was a much longer conversation but I felt I had gotten my question across and appreciated the honesty of the answer as well as a myriad of specific examples as to why this person, extremely trusted and close to HWA had a credible experience and view.
I realize this would not be everyone's view as it is an emotional topic based on one's own personal experiences and opinions real or imagined.
But now that the fuse on this topic is lit.....
What say you and why?
As one said to me once, "I don't care WHAT you believe. But I want to know WHY you believe it"
