Is Armstrongism the only viable version of Christianity?

Is Armstrongism the only viable version of Christianity?

Lonnie Hendrix/Miller Jones

Ian Boyne recently made some interesting remarks in the comment thread for a post on the Banned by HWA blog (“Is Rod Meredith The Most Uniquely Qualified Man To Write About The Protestant Reformation?”). Mr. Boyne spoke of what he described as Dr. James Tabor’s “benign assessment of Armstrongism” which appeared in the most recent issue of Dixon Cartwright’s The Journal (see “I had a valid, positive spiritual AC experience” at http://www.thejournal.org/issues/issue192/jx022817.pdf). Mr. Boyne went on to say:  “He gives a perspective that is radically different from what one encounters on these blogs. In my view, he grasps some strengths of Armstrongism which I have always felt should be acknowledged by critics. It is refreshing to see that an ex-member can take this dispassionate view of the movement, particularly vis-à-vis orthodox Christianity.”

As a former Armstrongite, this brings a couple of questions to mind:  Does Armstrongism have any strengths to be acknowledged? and, Are Dr. Tabor’s and Mr. Boyne’s views of the movement truly dispassionate?

We could say that Herbert Armstrong’s questioning of the conclusions and traditions of Catholic and Protestant Theology was a strength, but we would have to immediately qualify such an assertion with a few addenda. Mr. Armstrong’s questioning often turned into contemptuous dismissal and disdain for those views – things to be ridiculed and mocked. Over time, this produced a pronounced feeling of superiority among Armstrong and his followers. And, it led to the same phenomenon among Armstrongites that Mr. Boyne is accusing their critics of exhibiting on these blogs:  The careless dismissal of, and callous disregard for, anything perceived as being a part of the rejected system.

We could say that Herbert Armstrong’s emphasis on the Hebrew roots of Christianity was a positive development and one of the strengths of his theology, but we would once again be forced to qualify that assertion. As all serious students of history understand, a story can be radically revised by emphasizing certain facts over others. And, of course, this can lead to ignoring or denigrating evidence which doesn’t support the new thesis. For instance, it would be a gross distortion of both the historical and scriptural evidence to suggest that all early Christians observed the dietary laws and kept the Sabbath and Festivals outlined in the Torah.

We could say that Herbert Armstrong’s understanding that there was a northern kingdom (Israel) and southern kingdom (Judah) is critical to a proper understanding of Scripture and is a strength. However, we would also have to point out that this led to the theologically and historically inaccurate teaching about Anglo-Israelism (which for Herbert and some of his followers led to racism).

We could say that Herbert Armstrong’s teaching that God was not going to condemn the majority of humanity to the fires of hell without first giving them an opportunity to accept “His” truth was a great improvement over the traditional model and a strength. Once again, however, we would have to point out that Armstrong’s theology predicted that untold billions would eventually end up in the Lake of Fire anyway. Sure, according to Armstrong, they would have their chance; but many of them would reject that opportunity and suffer the consequences. Armstrong’s God was angry, and he wasn’t going to tolerate one iota of deviation from “His” expectations/plans.

We could say that Herbert Armstrong’s teaching about man’s incredible potential (that man is to become God, part of the Elohim family) was a strength; but even Ian Boyne has seen fit to modify that teaching by publishing his own booklet on the subject. After much study and consideration, many former Armstrongites have concluded that to say that man will be God as God is God (In other words, full equality) is blasphemous and not supported by Scripture. We also have to remind ourselves that in both The Incredible Human Potential and Mystery of the Ages Mr. Armstrong reasoned that man’s potential was the consequence of the angels’ sin (that God was effectively working on “Plan B”).

We could say that Armstrong’s understanding of Jesus as King was a grand improvement over the Catholic/Protestant view of him as Messiah (the agent of salvation) and a definite strength; but we also have to ask ourselves:  Did that understanding come at the expense of a full appreciation of Christ’s role as Savior for Armstrong and many of his followers? Sure, a few of the offshoots from the old Worldwide Church of God have “rediscovered” Jesus as Savior (but that is certainly a post Herbert Armstrong development). We could certainly say with some justification that Catholic/Protestant theology overlooked this important aspect of Christ’s work, but couldn’t we also say that its rediscovery and emphasis by Armstrong and his followers led to the de-emphasizing of Christ’s role as the Sacrificial Lamb?

In his remarks, Ian Boyne went on to state:  “It is interesting that those who left Arnstrongism and have gone on to gain recognition in the scholarly world---Tabor,Lester Grabbe,Phillip Arnold,Greg Doudna and Robert Kuhn as a philosophical interlocutor---have a more nuanced, less acerbic view of their religious past than those on these blogs. Could a wider grasp of theology and philosophy actually lead one to recognize some of the strengths of Armstrongism --certainly in comparison with orthodox Christianity--while acknowledging its obvious and dastardly elements? When one considers the grotesque nature of Calvinist theology, for example, how can one not deeply appreciate Armstrong's teaching that a loving and just God could not condemn people to an eternal hell fire just because of His decree? Those who reject Armstrongism for atheism, deism or agnosticism I can certainly understand, but not a smart fellow like Byker Bob who has gone to vacuous orthodox Christianity. No version of Christianity is any viable alternative to Armstrongism.”

Mr. Boyne suggests that “a wider grasp of theology and philosophy” might actually lead to a greater appreciation of “some of the strengths of Armstrongism.” It may come as a surprise to Mr. Boyne, but it isn’t that many of us have an insufficient grasp of these fields (theology and philosophy). We have simply reached different conclusions about Armstrong’s theology than the ones Mr. Boyne has reached. Moreover, I don’t think that it is too outlandish (or overly emotional) to suggest that almost any version of Christianity would be a superior alternative to Armstrongism. In my humble opinion, the real strength of Christian theology is found in its teachings about love, forgiveness, redemption and spiritual salvation.

For myself, I do not regret my experience in Armstrongism – I wouldn’t be the person I am today without having had that experience. I am willing to acknowledge that my philosophical and theological views have benefited from my former exposure to Armstrong and his teachings (in my view, a necessary step in the evolution of those beliefs). I am also glad to acknowledge that I met many wonderful people within that culture through the years who had a profound and positive impact on my life. Nevertheless, as for any strengths inherent in that theology, I do not see them.  

Philadelphia Church of God: Cal Culpepper, Wayne Turgeon - Gerald Flurry's Gestapo Agents

From Exit and Support:

A Dis-fellowshipped man told of what his daugter saw when she worked as an Office Assistant for Wayne Turgeon:

I personally know a former PCG member who told me about some of his experiences with being disfellowshipped by Cal Culpepper and Aaron Eagle. He recently told he that when he was dis-fellowshipped at the Feast by Cal Culpepper he was told point blank that Culpepper had received orders directly from Gerald Flurry to "clean house!" Culpepper went on to tell him that they want to get down to a hard core of dedicated elite members who are not lukewarm and sinful--"God's elite army." This was around 4 years ago. Flurry knows exactly the kind of carnage and suffering he is doling out to PCG members who run afoul of the ministry. Cal Culpepper does nothing without Gerald Flurry's direct consent. 

This man's daughter, as part of her AC tuition payment, worked as Wayne Turgeon's office aide. Often as she did her duties she saw that Turgeon's desk was full of disfellowshipment/suspension papers as they were sent into HQ by the PCG ministers. These were read by Turgeon before they were sent to "That Prophet" to read. Apparently, when a minister puts a member out he has to fill out a pre-printed form that has very particular and explicit details of the person(s) sinful acts and what they did to get into trouble. His daughter said that she was told by Wayne Turgeon that she was not to discuss the details of what was in those files to anybody. I particularly find it creepy that Wayne Turgeon is sitting in his nice office, sipping coffee and reading form after form (for how many years now) containing in depth detail of troubled PCG members sins and faults. Those things should only be between those people and God and is not the business of some guy whose only job qualification is that he married Flurry's daughter. --Former PCG member

UPDATED: Living Church of God: Richard Ames Hospitalized With A Stroke

Several LCG sources have emailed me today about Richard Ames.  He was rushed to the hospital today complaining of slurred speech, headache, and numbness on his right side.  It is feared that he has had a stroke. His doctors have been conducting numerous tests on him to determine the damage from the stroke.  He has had health issues for some years now, which have taken a turn for the worse.   With Ames out of the picture, Gerald Weston has free reign to implement his reign of terror.  Ames, being the senior Evangelist was able to reign in the more abusive elements of the church.  Many LCG members fear that protection is slipping away.  If Meredith and Ames both die soon from their health issues, the Living Church of God is destined for major  problems.

Tough times are ahead for LCG members

UPDATE:

Dear Fellow Ministers:

I want to update you on a situation that occurred this afternoon.  Mr. Richard Ames called me to request anointing as he was having a health problem.  It was clear that he was having trouble speaking as his speech was slurred and he reported having numbness on his right side.  Dr. Winnail, Rod McNair and I anointed him and he was better immediately, but reverted back to the slurring shortly thereafter.  We decided to call the paramedics and he was taken to hospital where he is going through a series of tests and will remain there overnight.  The problem seems to be intermittent and so far there has been no diagnosis.  Initial tests at the hospital were favorable. Your prayers will be greatly appreciated and we will keep you informed when we know more.

Kind regards,

GEW

March 9, 2017

Greetings from Charlotte,

As some of you are aware, Mr. Richard Ames had a medical emergency this week but is now doing very well. He called for anointing, which we did, but felt it was prudent to have him checked out. His speech at times was slurred and he had numbness and weakness on his right side. Tests indicated that it definitely was a stroke. The good news is that he was released from the hospital, his speech is back to normal and he is able to move about normally. For this we are most thankful to the God we serve! Mr. Ames would like to convey his thanks for all the encouraging messages, as well as your prayers and support. I had an hour-long visit with Dr. Meredith this morning at his home. I updated him on the Work in general and shared with him some goals I have going forward, and he had a number of points of advice to pass along to me. It was a good meeting. Dr. Winnail arrived safely in South Africa after a couple of long flights and a long layover. He will conduct Church business meetings on Friday. He will also be conducting Tomorrow’s WorldPresentations. We are seeing a higher degree of interest from subscribers than we normally expect. We need more laborers in South Africa, as in all areas, and God may be moving people to get involved in that part of the world while there is still time to act.—GEW 

 

The Way of Giving Facebook Page: How To Suck More Money Out Of COG Members

The Way of Giving Facebook Page

Leave it up to another Church of God member to suck money out of gullible church members.  Church members have always been fertile ground for greedy unemployed members who could manipulate people to easily be separated from their hard earned money.  This has been easily done be crooks trotting out Herbert Armstrong who supposedly restored things lost for 1,700 years by a weak and impotent god.

Those fun folk at WCG Archives have spent many years stealing videos, booklets, articles, films, etc from the Worldwide Church of God with the dishonest claim that they are, by law, allowed to plagiarize and steal intellectual property by publishing it as "educational." They feel that Herbert Armstrong was on par with the bible in the things that are relevant to human kind.  Jesus Christ would not be able to return without Herbert Armstrong in the mix.  The Kingdom of God would not be able operate without Herbert Armstrong being directly under Jesus Christ. After all, government is the most important thing about the Kingdom of God that church members should be worried about.  Jesus be damned, government rocks!

For church members to be able to make it to the Kingdom they must be willing to fork over their money.  Labeling it tithes and offerings places a guilt trip on members.  They think their magical god is watching them and that if they do not give money or tithe then they will all out of favor.  Usually those demanding the money are those who are too damn lazy to work an honest day in their lives and have no scruples whatsoever in stealing money from gullible church members.  Just look at Flurry, Pack, and Thiel for that proof!

The WCG Archives folk are expecting COG members worldwide to finance their dishonest sites of illegally posted materials.  Brethren SEND US YOUR MONEY!!!!!!!  These folk are now Jesus Christ's TRUE end time representatives!

It is deceitful, manipulative and totally untrue!

Welcome to "The Way of Giving" facebook page!

Those of you who are loyally staying true to what Christ has given and taught through Herbert W. Armstrong, Christ's chosen apostle and end time Elijah, now have the opportunity to support and to be apart of the broadcasting and advancing of the work of God! 

We are commanded to pay God's tithes and to give those tithes to Christ's representative so the gospel message can be reached by the largest audience possible! By becoming an advertiser with this page, you can place God's tithes straight into the work of God, so that the preaching done by Mr.Armstrong, Christ's apostle and end time Elijah, can be advanced and broadcasted!

How it works...
At the top right corner, click the "send message" button, and in your message, request to pledge your support. This notifies us that you want to help in the advertising of our website, posts and materials of this page.  

One of our Admins will contact you shortly, and will make you an advertiser for this page. This is a special role, that opens a door for the individuals of God's Church to personally place God's tithe into the work of God, in advertising and making available the gospel message that was preached by God's apostle and end time Elijah Herbert W. Armstrong! You are not giving God's tithes to us. We are not handling any money. You are. And it's your responsibility to place God's tithes into God's Work, where God's apostle can reach the world with the true gospel message! Your support, will advance God's Work and Truth!
We are providing the materials of Mr.Armstrong and God's Church, on our website- wwcg-archives.com. 

In turn, we publish those materials on 3 facebook pages.

This page. The Way of Giving page.

A Voice Cries Out- Herbert W. Armstrong page.

The Worldwide Church of God Archives page.

This has become a three-point spearhead for God's Work.

What we post will be shared here, on "The Way of Giving" page, which will give you the opportunity to advance it with God's tithes in advertising and boosting the posts if you are a part of the advertising team.
You even have the option to just boost our website.

Make sure brethren that the money goes to them and not to some lying false prophet leader of another splinter group, such as Bob Thiel, Flurry, Pack or Meredith.  These men are lying crooks, the WCG Archive folk are not.

There are many false ministers who want you to fund them with God's tithes. There are some websites that want you to send them donations and God's tithes, so "their work" can keep afloat. You can see the donate buttons everywhere!
We are not like them! We are not an organization.
We do not want donations, nor do we want God's Tithes!
We are just lay-members of the Worldwide Church of God, an unincorporated spiritual organism, and not ordained ministers. So we are not ordained to collect or handle God's tithes.

What this page opens up, is the opportunity for you to directly place God's tithes into the Work of God.

There is no ministry on the entire earth that is doing the world that these folk are. None whatsoever!  Hear that Bob Thiel!

Today, there isn't a ministry like it was under Herbert W. Armstrong. 
Those who were one time ministers left the spiritual body, to become ministers of a human organization or church. This is why you see so many COG groups. What we are today facing is the 2 Thes 2 Great Falling away, and none of these COG groups are the true body of Christ! They are not the Worldwide Church of God. They are merely corporations of human creation.
So what are we to do, if there is no true minister available to give God's tithes to? God's Work is still going forward in God's true Church!
God has personally showed us that we can put His Tithes into God's Work. But a lot of you wanted to help too. And since there is only ONE WORK, not a bunch of them, I think people have been waiting and searching for God's true Work!

We won't "take" your tithe money so we have cooked up a new name for our tithe payers, "advertisers" we will pretend your tithe money is "advertising" money.  Problem solved!

We couldn't handle God's tithes from others, so we provided this page, so you can do your part in God's Work. We now have the opportunity to work in cooperation, in unity, TOGETHER in backing and broadcasting God's apostle who is doing the preaching of the gospel and whom Christ is using to warn our laodicean brethren!

Remember how the old World Tomorrow programs used to say "The Worldwide Church of God presents.....Herbert W. Armstrong"?
This is still true! And you can still be apart of that presentation.

So if you have any questions, or if you want to request to be placed as an advertiser so you can do your part in God's Work, click the "send message" button in the top right corner and let us know.

We appreciate your prayers, as your prayers are the MOST ESSENTIAL ORGAN IN THE WORK OF GOD!

God's Church is a tithe paying Church. And God's Tithes are designed for the Work of God! And until the Two witnesses show up on the scene we are to be continuing in obedience towards God!

Thank you brethren. May God bless you all in your sacrifices and efforts in this Great Work of God!

God's church is NOT part of this crooked ministry. No Church of God member should be supporting this fraudulent "ministry."  Your tithe and offering money can go to better use taking care of the homeless, the widows and orphans in your community than to yet one more fraudulent Church of God ministry.

Philadelphia Church of God Money Problems: Gerald Flurry's Desire For A Jet = The Malone's Swan Song?

From a PCG source:

The Malone's Swan Song? 

My source recently informed me that Gerald Flurry is cutting back on the Performances at Armstrong Auditorium. Apparently future plans to produce/bankroll any of Ryan Malone's Musical extravaganzas now takes a back seat in Flurry's mad quest to buy a used private Jet. The recent crash and burn of "The Widow's Mite" and it's poor box office proceeds and public interest has convinced Flurry to severely cut back on the Edmond Elites River dancing fun. Could the negative Publicity surrounding Flurry's River-dancing excesses exposed by Anti-PCG blogs/websites be finally taking its toll on the troubled Prophets mind? Is this a good excuse to drop a embarrassing money drain that is not all that popular with the exploited non-Edmond PCG sheep? Why fund musicals to half empty auditoriums? 

Flurry had also said in the Sermon that the PCG has some qualified church members who work or have worked in the field of Aviation and that they would serve to maintain Flurry's private jet. There maybe a possibility that the PCG will have its own PCG pilots to fly Flurry around the world and PCG ground crews to maintain the Jet in flying order. Of course there will be no shortage of potential Stewardesses (Armstrong College coeds?) to serve the top ranking PCG male leaders as they take their message around the world. This use of only PCG members to man Flurry's Jet will apparently reduce the cost to the Church as they would not have to contract out with a "worldly" firm. 

The Key of David will also be axed from some "unproductive" stations. It seems the PCG rates the productivity of a TV station by how much money and solicitations for Literature they receive. As some have already said Gerard Flurry's is no Garner Ted and his very poor, uninspiring, and lackluster pretense as the main Key of David presenter is the chief handicap to getting more interest in the show worked up. 

There are whispers amongst the PCG members on Flurry's recent demand from the Pulpit. Most of the more sensible non-kool aid drinking people are asking "How can we afford a Plane"? However the hard core Flurryites are ecstatic that old 6-pack will be following in HWAs footsteps and will be the catalyst for the PCG to finally go to their Petra reward. Flurry was wise to throw the PETRA bone the the PCG members at the same time he asked for a Private Jet. Carrot and a Stick?

The Journal: Issue 192 Online

Issue192

The latest issue of The Journal: News of the Churches of God is now online.

The Journal marks 20 years this month
THE JOURNAL, as of February 2017, has been publishing for 20 years. This newspaper’s Vol. 1, No. 1, came out in February 1997 one month after In Transition, published by John Robinson, ceased publication with its January 1997 issue.
“Although In Transition was the inspiration for our newspaper, we are not the same paper and not a continuation of In Transition,” said JOURNAL publisher Dixon Cartwright.
“John decided to end his paper after two years, 1995-97, and I could not talk him out of discontinuing it. We also could not come to an agreement by which I would buy it or otherwise acquire it and keep it going. So when he folded up shop in January of ’97 my wife, Linda, and I began THE JOURNAL” in February of 1997.
“Hard to believe it’s been 20 years and, so far, 192 issues.” Mr. Cartwright said. “Time marches on.” 

The cover page includes an article about the Church of God Ministries International and Tom Terry's latest adventure. Kerry has been quit concerned about the lack of patriotism and the removal of God from the national psyche by leftists and democrats over the decades.  He cites these three indicators:

He listed three events that he says marked the “beginning of removal of God” from American affairs ca. 1925:

• The repeal of Prohibition.
• The Scopes so-called monkey trial, pertaining to the teaching of Darwinian evolution.
• Christians campaigning for Herbert Hoover for president.

In the case of the latter, when President Hoover was seen as causing the Great Depression he, and his Christian supporters, were discredited. 

Dixon Cartwright continues his series of Church of God historical events, this time focusing upon Amarillo Church of God Pastor Jeff Booth and how Herbert Armstrong fired him 7 times in one afternoon.

Church pastor recalls the time he was fired seven times during one meeting with his boss 

Fired seven times

It was January 1980. Not many WCG members, even church pastors, could muster the temerity to request an appointment with Mr. Armstrong to ask him anything, much less probing questions about his opinions on pressing doctrinal questions of the time.

Though direct and to the point in the interview, Mr. Booth says he was never disrespectful, never raised his voice and never asked any personal questions, although the founder of the WCG and Ambassador College did “fire” Mr. Booth from his job as a church pastor seven times over a span of three hours and 20 minutes. 

This issue also features an article by our very own self-appointed, doubly blessed, Chief Overseer Bob Thiel expounding upon the miraculous African work he is doing.   We all know how well that has worked out for him.

Linda French is conducting a survey on Servant Leadership in the church:  Executive Servant Leadership Scales (ESLS) and Church Attitude Inventory (CAI) instruments

My name is Linda French and  I am conducting a research study entitled “A Correlational Study between Servant Leadership and Church Climate.” The purpose of the research study is to discover the nature of the relationship between pastors’ attitudes toward servant leadership and attendees’ attitudes towards pastoral servant leadership, the nature of the relationship between pastoral attitudes toward church climate and attendees’ attitudes towards church climate, and the nature of the relationship between combined pastoral and attendee perceptions of servant leadership within the church climate and church climate. Understanding pastoral and attendee perceptions of church climate and pastoral servant leadership could lead to changes and improvements of methods and use of servant leadership strategies leading to improved church climates and attendee outcomes.

There is also an article about those nasty Catholics and Jesuits who are out to destroy the United States and the church.  This will play well into he conspiracy theories of the Kitchen family and others who find the Catholic Church to be the big bogey-man.  How involved is the Vatican in U.S. politics?

There is also an ad for the HWA Storehouse that will send you a free 21 gigabyte USB drive of HWA and church literature and programs. Oh joy...

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Dave Pack: I am the ONLY COG leader who has NEVER compromised

Superfantabulous Dave Pack claims he is the ONLY COG splinter group that has NOT compromised on ANYTHING!  All of he hundreds and hundreds of splinter groups are being led by little men who compromise the law, allow mixed marriages, let their women were make up like harlots, marry outside the church, eat vegetarian, dance Irish dance, build auditoriums, establish colleges, and start new splinter groups.  Bob Thiel is once again suffering major butt-hurt.

All of the splinters have compromised terribly. I haven’t compromised anything about the Sabbath; not just the Sabbath, but about it, or the Law, or the Holy Days, or the knowledge that we’re born again, or the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Now you might say I have, because of prophecy. Okay, then. I’ve not taught there’s an immortal soul. There’s no dead in hell for all eternity. I’ve not said you can interracially marry, or wear makeup, or marry outside the Church. We have thorough baptismal counseling. We maintain all standards of dress, and hair, and no tattoos. You know, we don’t allow all that stuff in the wrong way.

Dave wants it made clear that he has the best child rearing standards too.  The youth he has kicked out of the church over the decades and their parents would beg to differ.

We have childrearing standards.

Dave also wants it known that he has not compromised the word of God by watering down his message by preaching wimpy-ass 45 minute or one hour sermons.  Real men of God preach 2-4 hour sermons!  Dave is like John the Baptist, he has come to show the true way.

We haven’t altered services down to an hour and a half, with 45-minute sermons, the way it is in most of the splinters, never mind Worldwide. The manner of doing the Work is the same. We haven’t watered down any elements of tithing, any aspects of it. The calendar; we do broadcasts; we follow the pattern of doing the Work. Ambassador College; the publications we produce; the quality of conferences and Feasts, and writing literature, and youth tools; building a world headquarters the way I saw it and was taught. We haven’t compromised any of that. The splinters compromise all of it. All I’ve done, like John, is come and show, in many ways, what they always believed.

Dave does admit to changing one thing though...prophecy.  Dave imagines that he has not changed anything or added anything, only that he has explained it properly.

Prophetic understand is the only thing I’ve changed…but I haven’t changed anything, because I’m not adding a new book of the Bible. I’m just explaining what was always there. So, I’ll leave you to look at that principle and go over all of the different things that we have held to, that I have not compromised—for all the decades of my ministry—and it didn’t make any difference how many people stood with me or didn’t.

The families ripped apart, the marriages broken, children thrown out, financial lives ruined, all beg to differ that Dave is the most upright and uncompromising minster ever.

Dave Pack: Those That Eat Vegetarian Open Their Minds To Demons

Uncle Dave Pack writes:

“…and to abstain from meats…” I’ve explained, many times, that vegetarianism is not just wrong, but it’s dangerous, because it opens the mind up to demons. There are critical proteins found in clean meats that strengthen the cerebral cortex. That’s the frontal lobes of the brain, where the human will was installed or created by God. And Demons don’t want people to eat meat. That’s why India is shot full of demons and mediums and wizards of every kind. They don’t eat any meat, even though there’s more beef “on the hoof” there than in Texas.

Is Rod Meredith The Most Uniquely Qualified Man To Write About The Protestant Reformation?

Gerald Weston and the Living Church of God have been heavily promoting the "new" earth shattering series of articles that Rod Meredith is "working" on regarding the "truth" about the Protestant Reformation.  The Living Church of God, as well as Rod Meredith, feel that he is the most qualified human ever to comment upon the Protestant Reformation.

This is coming from a man who has had no theological training outside of the Church of God information stream.  He has had zero historical education, by qualified and well versed professors, on the Protestant Reformation movement.   Most of his knowledge is garnered from anti-Catholic sources that are just as biased as Herman Hoeh's and Dean Blackwell's treatises on church history and the Reformation that the old Worldwide Church of God claimed to be historically accurate.

The latest issue of the Tomorrow's World contains the article:  The Plain Truth About the Protestant Reformation.  Ah yes, the "Plain Truth,"  how veeeeery original.  Why is it that none of the men in any of the splinter groups can ever come up with something original?

The byline for the article states this:

“Roderick C. Meredith, the Editor in Chief of the Tomorrow’s World Magazine and Presiding Evangelist of the Living Church of God, is uniquely qualified to write this series. His ministry spans almost 65 years, from the earliest years of Herbert W. Armstrong’s worldwide work to today’s multi-media continuation of that Work of reaching the world with the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of God. 

Dr. Meredith has long been an expert concerning the history and significance of the Protestant Reformation, and this series collects his research on this highly misunderstood subject. 

The article starts out with this:

The Protestant movement today is on trial. The Protestant Reformation has spawned a veritable Babylon of hundreds of different denominations.

Seriously?  He has the gall to start out like this when he is part of a movement that has spawned hundreds and hundreds of harlot daughters of the mother church!  The Church of God is the most fractured single church movement in modern history.  Lecturing others about a "movement" being "on trial" is pretty hypocritical from a man who has helped spawn church divisions.

This entire article is nothing new for Rod Meredith.  It is not like he has been focused upon studying the Protestant Reformation over the last few years, and particularly now that he is on his death bed.  What Meredith has done is republish his 1961 thesis that was a requirement of the unaccredited Ambassador College "graduate" program.  This is a paper that never defended in front of real theologically and historically trained professors.

Church of God News has this to say about Meredith's series:

Roderick Meredith has not collected “his research on this highly misunderstood subject” during “his ministry (spanning) almost 65 years.” 

He wrote The Plain Truth about the Protestant Reformation 61 years ago, when he was a student at Ambassador College. His thesis was written in ‘Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Arts in Theology’.
The first article in this “ brand-new series” comprises chapters1-3 of this thesis. It is almost word for word, with some slight (or should that be ‘sleight’?)amendments by the editors, e.g. “thesis” is changed to “series”; “the following chapters” to “this series of articles”; and “the present work” to “this series”.

Why does the Living Church of God need to deliberately deceive their members by pretending that this is an all new series that Rod Meredith's been working on?

Dave Pack Salivating for Christ...

Sniff sniff...wink wink

"Now, here’s some bad news that I wanted to announce, but in a way, it can be good news (Well , I mean it is GREAT NEWS! really )when we understand such things from God’s perspective. You’ve heard the name, Mr. Meredith, Roderick Meredith, many times. He performed my marriage and baptized my first wife, and of course, was a dear friend for a full 30 years. I was Uncle Dave to his children and he was Uncle Rod to my children. (Actually I was Uncle Dave to every Evanglists family in my mind)

Mr. Meredith has, apparently, terminal cancer, and it was announced on Thursday in a way that was inconclusive. And then yesterday, an additional announcement came out stating that it definitely is cancer and he is…And I salute him for this, (Now die please and soon I have people to snag) and he’s 86 years and well, almost 87. In June, he’ll be 87, and so he’s lived a rich life. (No pun intended) He’s not going to do anything about it. (As if he could)  He said, “No heroic efforts. They may or may not be able to extend my life, but would they even extend the quality of my life?” So he’s basically home now and I will maybe at some later time talk a little bit more about this.

I think the fact that he is leaving the scene is much more significant than meets the eye—maybe much, much more than meets the eye. I would love to think, of course, (Uh huh) that he is a saint and I will see him again.(But I can't do that or I'd have to acknowledge there can be other sincere Christians outside of ME) It’s interesting, about a week ago I thought about writing him a letter, (I doubt it,  but maybe share what you would have said?)  maybe it was last weekend, and then of all things, on Thursday, we got these announcements. 

...But, I will say, he is the last of those seven original evangelists. He represents the end of an era. I certainly am not in any sense…I would think I don’t need to say this…I’m not, in any sense, happy about this,  (Of course you are),except (told ya!) in the sense that I can explain later on, something that you will appreciate understanding. It means he’s not part of the events to come, ( Neither will you be Dave) and I hope you can readily add two and two there and get four. (Doubt that too. RCG members are too brain dead already to add anything correctly anymore).  He does not need to go through the fire. There’s no…I mean, he’s had multiple strokes, and so how you see these men who are taken away is very important." (They are taken away by old age if lucky)

But in the splinters…Only God knows how individuals are seen in His eyes… (Oh lots more people than just God do too) But in the splinters, he is a titan and when he is gone, a church of 10,000-plus, many thousands of whom I know…are going to be thrown into turmoil. (Yay!!!!) Because virtually all the other senior ministers who were there have already died. And so I don’t know how that will go, I hear a lot of rumors, but we’ll talk more about it, maybe down the road. I just wanted you to know that. (Thanks!  Somehow we knew you would!)

As a brother in Christ, (umm...brother in Christ?  Really?  Then LCG types can stay put and be fine) then we can be praying for him (that's nice Dave)—but be praying for all the other brethren who are going to be thrown into terrible uncertainty when a man who was ordained an evangelist in 1953, I think, February’ 53 in Britain, is gone. (Come unto me, I mean us...pulllleaaaaase!) And since…And he even said in his comments he knows God could heal him, but he reportedly said, “I’m realistic. At my age, I doubt that’s going to happen.” So if he’s not doing anything to try to reverse it and makes that comment, then you can imagine how it will end. So, I’ll leave you with those thoughts. (Thanks but I got it figured out already)

David C Pack

Screed* 64

* "A long speech or piece of writing, typically one regarded as tedious"

Dave Pack: The Church has always been full of wizards and spell-casters

Dave has been really frustrated that thousands of COG members still have not jumped ship to join his superfantabulous Church of God.  He has racked his brain for years trying to figure out why no one seems to care.  Apparently the light came on in his empty head.  His god has deliberately kept people out and is only letting in a hand selected few.  These hand selected few are vital to run the new world government that Dave and his "jesus" are setting up in their First Dominion.  Just let your mind wander a few minutes and realize that some of those batshit crazy RCG members will be in charge of the First Dominion.  They will be the rulers of cities and planets.  The teachers.  Heaven help humanity!

I could not understand why, when we had everything that they professed that they wanted back. Here it is, all back again. The wonderment of the golden age of Philadelphia is all back. Where were they? Why weren’t they coming? Why didn’t we hear the sound of their feet like thunder entering our halls all over the world? But we didn’t…just trickle, trickle, trickle…here one, there one…here three, there two, there five…one, one, one…five, five, two, two. That’s the way it’s been for, now, many years.

But now we understand. I repeat…now we understand they weren’t going to come unless Christ handpicked them, because he deemed them important to the establishing of His government, because there was enough there to work with. And brethren, don’t let that puff you up, but there’s no other reason why we’re here—and be very, very thankful, because there, but for the grace of God, go we, in terms of what those in all the other places are going to have to endure.

I knew He wanted to keep many out. I never understood, until recently, how it was that He kept them out, and He tells us through Paul, in II Timothy, in these two perilous times, that wizards would arise—eventually weighty wolves, not sparing the flock. And it would get worse and worse. Not evil men will arise and get worse and worse, and wizards will come after that, meaning just three of them, but there’d been a long series of them. But they are goēs…they’re always goēs, wizards—spell-casters.

Dave Pack: Were the Tkach's and Associates Actually Witches In Disguise?

Superfantabulous Dave Pack seems to be surrounding himself with people who have ties to witchcraft or Wicca.  He also claims that the leadership of the old Worldwide Church of God were actually witches that beguiled the membership.

I was talking to one our ministers the other day, and he told an incredible, chilling story. He’s in this room. He came home one day after school and suddenly—out of the blue—while he was in school in the afternoon, his father, a Roman Catholic, had married the housekeeper, who happened to be a witch and a practicing Sunni Muslim, who prayed five times a day, looking at Mecca. And they caught her trying to cast spells, and this minister’s father is now divorced from this witch. But, he has a brother who’s demon-possessed…His father asked him, not long ago, “Do you think there’s any way the witch I married…[He didn’t even know he married a witch; she was a practicing Muslim, five times a day; a Sunni, I mean, hard-line, Sunni Muslim, who was a witch.] She cast a spell on him, and he ran off and married her while his kids are at school. That’s a father of one of our faithful ministers.

The brother of another of our ministers married a witch…knew he was doing it and they’re divorced, too. Obviously, they weren’t in the Church. But when the father’s a Roman Catholic and marries a Sunni Muslim…You sit and think…WOW! That’s a strange thing to do. When nobody knew. They’d never dated or done anything. She’s just a housekeeper. He was obviously divorced from his first wife, the mother of the minister. Those things happen.

My wife had a witch, one time, in a nursing home. I believe up in Buffalo, and she said “I’m a witch and I demand to be called a witch.” And my wife said “We’re not going to call you a witch. We’re going to call you Ms. so-and-so.” She was telling me about it this morning, in detail. A horrible, bitter, awful, hateful, hateful woman. She said she looked like a witch; even had the bump on the nose and everything. [laughter] And she ran around in her wheelchair, and she would sometimes have enormous power, and she plagued the whole place.

And one time my wife’s three little boys were dropped off by their father, to meet Mommy when she was off the shift, and the little boys…My wife would tell them to go up and down the halls and meet all the old people—it was a nursing home—and, go meet them all, but don’t go into the room…that’s a bad lady in that room, don’t ever go in there. And so, they’d go up and down…and they’re real friendly boys, if you know them, and they’d meet all the elderly people. Wish more young people would do that, but that’s the way they would occupy themselves in the nursing home…two boys and a little tag-along, who was four years younger.

And one day, she heard them screaming “Mommy! Mommy! The witch is chasing us!” [laughter] and here she was, coming down the hallway with…a fierce look on her face…I mean, wheeling that thing at Mach II…her wheelchair…and chasing them. And she jumped in front of them stopped her, and the woman tried to attack her, and the little boys were scared. But, eventually, they had to get rid of her; but by law, you don’t put her to death. You’ve got to put her in a nursing home, and if she throws her feces all over the wall and all the kinds of vile things she did…horrible, horrible lady…you’ve got to put up with it.

Eventually the nursing home couldn’t and I don’t know what happened to her, and my wife doesn’t. But when you don’t put them to death—well we don’t have the civil authority to do that; then they can plague people in a host of different ways…including some of the things I’ve described to you. They can trouble a nursing home; they can cast a spell on a man and get married; or they can control a whole city or a whole nation. You’ve got to come to understand this. Why, if I had time, I’d read all 117 verses to you. Well, let’s read another one that’s in Deuteronomy this time, Chapter 18 and verse 9…

“When you are come into the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. [Well, what’s God have in mind?] There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer…[We’re reading the Word of God. God’s people are never to have anything to do with these.]…For all that do these things are an abomination [to] the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD your God does drive them out from before you. You shall be perfect with the LORD your God” (Deut. 18:9-13).

Now remember, in II Timothy 3:13…Don’t go over there…It says evil men and wizard-imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. You need to think through, for a moment…Let me just plant a little seed before we keep reading. It doesn’t say that evil men will grow worse and worse, and at a point, wizards will arrive on the scene.

It says “evil men”—that’s one category; and “wizard-imposters”—goēs—that’s the Greek for when a wizard is not just an “Elymas” and says…and claims to be somebody else, he’s a special kind of wizard. He’s an imposter. He’s not somebody who says “I’m the Wizard of Oz!” or “I’m the witch of Endor” where they just…“I come as advertised.” This is someone who is a wizard, but comes as someone, or some high office other than what he is—an impersonator, a counterfeit. In this case, a very plausible counterfeit. So it’s a type of wizard. Some wizards, as you saw, can claim to be God; others claim to be prophets; others just claim to be wizards. But you should keep in mind it says evil men and wizards will grow worse and worse.

For a long time, brethren, I have struggled with understanding how is it that a hundred thousand people followed a number of crude men I knew were not of God. I knew they were satanic. You’ve heard me say it for decades. How did they do it? How did they get them to keep Sunday and put up Christmas trees, and chase Peter Cottontail down the bunny trail? Has them going back to Easter…How did they do that? Give up the Sabbath, the Holy Days…the Law of God? 

Dave Pack's mind is dreaming up more and more idiocy as the days go by.  Why do his cabal of HQ ministers, his advisers sit there week after week agreeing with this stuff?  Deep down they know it is a load of bullshit, yet they nod approvingly.  Who is really worse,  Dave Pack or his yes men that know better and do absolutely NOTHING? Men who sit by and watch members be spiritually and financially abused.  Impotent, deceived little men.

Living Church of God, Satan, Trump and Brexit

What does the Living Church of God, Donald Trump, Brexit all have in common?  Satan is apparently on a rampage against the Living Church of God, dividing the country over Donald Trump and giving England a headache over Brexit. More importantly, He is out to cause division in the only true church on the face of the earth today.  No other Church of God is experiencing such attacks as the LCG is.  Satan is upset that the LCG is sooooooooooooo unified, that it is the ONLY COG doing a real "work" today and is upset that the LCG is the only COG practicing "true" government.  Almost-arrested Elijah Thiel's head was seen exploding when he read that!   Thiel claims to be running the only true church. Dave Pack claims to the the only true church.  Gerald Flurry claims to be the only true church.  How can Rod Meredith be right?  What's a poor church leader to do?

Brethren, right now we do have a very dedicated and unified ministry and church—as you all know. But certainly, Satan is “lurking” out there and trying to find an “opening” to cause division in the very Church which is doing God’s Work! So we do need to be “on guard” more than ever in the years to come. All of us realize that Satan is busy dividing even the carnal citizens of our nations right now—in the nations of Israel, as well as the rest of the world. Since Mr. Donald Trump’s selection as the next President, there is more division in the United States than there has been in many, many decades. Satan is causing division in our nation. He is causing division in Britain over the “Brexit” situation. He is causing division in the European Union, with many nations thinking about “opting out,” as Britain has done. All over the world, Satan is causing division. So we must not think that he is going to leave alone the very Church of God. Let us do our best to resist this. Let us be loyal to the leadership that Christ has put in place as long as that leadership continues to teach the basic Truth and do the Work.

Remember, brethren, I have always said that there is no “perfect” church. But when you think about what to do—as most of you have—you must always keep in mind the three basics: (1) Which church is preaching more fully the complete Truth of God? (2) Which church is actually doing the Work of God more completely? (3) Which church is teaching and practicing the genuine Government of God in the church more fully than others?

Sorry Elisha Habakuk Thiel, but Rod Meredith just Trumped you....

As I have stated, there is no church that is doing all of these things perfectly. However, when you consider those three basics, it should be obvious that there is one Church which is doing them more fully than any other on earth. We in the Living Church of God are that group. This does not make us “better,” but we have had our minds opened to realize that we should follow the basic pattern Christ showed through His servant Herbert W. Armstrong for all those years, by carrying on the Work and seeking to be those instruments that Christ can use to finish the Work and “prepare a people” for God.

I guess that "basic pattern" of Christ that Rod followed included bankrupting Global Church of God by taking all of their money, bad mouthing Leona McNair from the pulpit, depressing Terry Ratzman to the point he murders LCG members in church, disfellowshipping thousands without any recourse, preaching hundreds and hundreds of FAILED prophecies, ripping marriages apart, and more.  Yes, that is the same path Jesus walked down.

Of course it is vitally important that any true church MUST have proper government. Without government the Churches of God cannot exist.  The leaders would be powerless.  That is why you see no focus in the New Covenant concerning power from the top down.  Abusive tyrants lose all power in the new covenant.