It's Tithe of the Tithe Time! Get Out Those Checkbooks!

The one thing that Armstrongism was good at was bilking its members out of their money. Whether it was the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd tithe demands, which are not commands of the New Covenant, its pathetic member appeal letters begging for money, to its building funds for elaborate auditoriums and dance studios for the elite's children, to jet aircraft purchases, the money-making activities of the church receive more effort and mention than any gospel message they attempt to preach.

As we are in Feast of Tabernacles season in COGland, the appeals are already going out for people to tithe on their tithes.

LCG has this up:

For many decades, the Church of God has practiced what is called the “tithe of the Festival tithe.” What this means is that brethren who can afford it are asked to send a tenth of their Festival tithe to the Church before the Feast, to help pay for meeting halls and other Feast expenses as well as to help brethren around the world who have limited resources to attend the Feast (Deuteronomy 14:27; 16:14). If you are able and you have not already done so, please send in your tithe of the Festival tithe for this year. This contribution is greatly appreciated.

Then, to really take advantage of members, they will ask for members to send in their excess 2nd tithe.

Gotta keep those coffers full!

The True Calendar, the Olympics Calendar: Armstrongite Wade Cox descends to his lowest level yet

Welcome Boys and Girls to another fun day in the lunatic land of the Churches of God! For a church that claims to be the "one true church that God sent the world" it is amazing to constantly witness the endless batshittery of Armstrongism. I guess part of the reason for all of this nonsense is that their focus is NOT upon The Way or the One they "claim" to follow, but instead upon many man-made irrelevant opinions of self-appointed apostate spiritual gurus.

This time it is not our favorite crackpot prophet the Great Bwana Bob Mzungu Thiel, but on that other dingbat, Wade Cox.

According to him, our salvation rests upon accepting the "true calendar" and things he calls "the law". Reading the drivel below entirely avoids the salvational work of Christ in people's lives and instead focuses upon a pissed-off "messiah" coming down to wreak havoc and destroy humanity till all who are left will be the "holy seed" of his cult members who keep the law and the Temple calendar. Everyone else will be exterminated by some giddy god who wants to come and annihilate humanity.

Humans always seem to know better than God when to regulate His Calendar system rather than paying God due deference and obedience. Judah has been punished and had millions killed simply because they will not do what they are told. So also has Israel been punished, and over the Twentieth century millions have been killed and now in the Twenty-first century untold millions more will die until Messiah arrives to put an end to the blatant and wilful insubordination of mankind and enforce God's Law and Calendar system on the world. At the end of this age the only people left alive will be the Holy Seed (Isa. 6:9-13; Am. 9:1-15) keeping God's Laws and Testimony according to the Temple Calendar. No one else will be left alive save those who obey God's Laws under the Messiah. Rabbinical Judaism and the Churches of God keeping Hillel and other than the Temple Calendar (No. 156) and who do not repent will be exterminated under the Witnesses and by the coming of the Messiah (Nos. 210A and 210B). One must realise that these people who keep this system of Hillel and the Talmud are not Jews. They are Khazars and North African and Canaanite pseudo-Jews converted to a false system, keeping a false calendar and pseudo-Jewish religious system that is based on the Babylonian Calendar system of postponements. All that system will be destroyed at the return of the Messiah.

 

That will also include the Greek Olympic system under the Olympiads. That system will be wiped out for the Olympiad of 2028 which will be under the Messiah and will simply end with the millennial system and the removal of Satan and the Fallen Host being placed in Tartaros. See The Last Olympiad (No. 299G). The paper will show what it is they understand and believe using their own hymns.

Who knew our calendar system was based upon the event calendar of scheduling the Olympics? Armstrongism's stupidity is at its lowest. 

This is just a glimpse of the asshattery of Cox and his sycophants in the so-called "christian" Churches of "god" in regard to the last Olympics in 2024. I guess I need to return my 2028 Los Angeles Olympic tickets. Bummer, dude!!

The bidding for the (34th) XXXIV Olympiad commenced in the Sabbath Year of 2019 and announced ca 2020. 2028 will be the First year of the 121st Jubilee. It is expected to be the beginning of the Millennium under rule from Jerusalem and the entire ancient Pagan system is expected to be eradicated by Christ. It is our task to warn the nations of the coming of the Messiah and we have been doing that in accordance with the instructions of Jeremiah 4:15-16.

The games coincide with the election years of the presidential terms of the USA. At first glance one might think that is merely a coincidence. However, the empirical system of the Last Days was destined to be transferred from Europe to the US as the Babylonian system was moved from the empire of the two feet of iron and miry clay of Daniel which was the Fifth Empire of the Beast. This was the Babylonian Holy Roman Empire which lasted from 590 CE to 1850 CE or a prophetic 1260 years to the Sixth and Last Empire of the Beast that was formed from the British Empire which was not formally recognised as Mystery Babylon but it served as the King of the South while it was in charge of Egypt; although it was to be the dominant imperial force of the European Sunday Worshipping Trinitarian system. 

 

The US was originally settled by the Sabbatarians under the Pilgrim Fathers from Britain via the Netherlands. However, they were followed by the Trinitarians and more importantly the Wiccans from Europe who established their ancient pagan systems there and using also the secret societies of Freemasonry. In 1776 their pagan systems were set up independently. Using the ancient timings of the early Olympiads they developed their four and eight-year cycles from the ancient pagan systems. They developed their calendar based on the ancient Wiccan calendar and based it all on the days of human sacrifice using the 13-day cycles and the feasts of Imbolg and other sacrificial feasts renamed as St. Valentine’s Day, and All Hallows Eve (Halloween) etc. and also those of Christmas and Easter.

After getting his little boy panties in a knot over the United Nations, Jesuits, Masons, NWO, and globalists he continues on with this:

They think they are in control, but they are merely pawns of Satan and they will be destroyed over the period we will term the Last Olympiad. The Games of the 33rd Olympiad were held in France in 2024 and were made into an openly Satanic Ceremony and the authorities were forced to acknowledge the problem. We explained how the end of the Four Hundred Years of Abraham’s Legacy ended in December 2023 in the Text at (No. 212J). 2024 began the Great Tribulation (No. 141D_2) This period will continue now on through to 2028. We expect to see the Vials of the Wrath of God continue on under Messiah from end 2027 to March 2028 and on to Pentecost 2028, The Vials of the Wrath of God will be in full force by 2028 having commenced sometime from the end of the 33rdOlympiad in 2024 and hopefully by Trumpets of that year.

The Tokyo Olympics were affected due to the Corona Virus outbreak of December 2019 and continuing development into 2020 and the subsequent crises to 2023.

We know that the Two Witnesses will be here 1264 days before the Messiah. 

 

We know that the Messiah will arrive to end the rule of Satan. His rule ends in end 2027 at the Jubilee in any case being 6000 years from the close of Eden in 3974 BCE. From the example of the entry to the Promised Land we deduce it can be that year that Satan is imprisoned.

The Empire of the Beast will last for one prophetic hour and rule from Jerusalem for 42 months over the time of the Witnesses (see No. 141D). The world will be dealt with and driven mad by the curses of Deuteronomy 28 (and esp. 28:34). The priests of the pagan system will be incapacitated as will the leaders of this evil system and much of it will be in captivity to the Beast and the nations it chooses to rule the administration of the Ten Toes.

No nation will be independently surviving for the Olympics under the Beast system. Thus they know that their time is short and Satan and the Demons must realise that this is the Last Olympiad of their rule. More importantly the Games of the 33rd Olympiad in Paris must also be the last of the national teams to compete in the games. Similarly, the wars of the Sixth Trumpet from the conflicts from 2024-2025 will have killed a third of mankind and the wars will desecrate the nations on an ongoing basis.

This kind of asshattery of Armstrongism is exactly why it is dying off. Its focus is on hundreds of useless topics and mindless conspiracy theories instead of on The One they are supposed to be following. The One who says His burden is easy and his yoke is light.

Armstrongism has burdened its followers with these kinds of useless tidbits and outright lies for decades. The yoke has been heavy and merciless because all of these men despise the One they are supposed to be following. 

Whether it is Cox, Thiel, Pack, Weinland, Flurry, or Billingsley, the end result is the same, liars all. No one who is a real follower of Jesus would EVER follow these apostate blowhards.

 

The Bobbsey Twins Want To Know If It Is OK To Eat Bugs

Why is it that certain self-appointed prophets who have set themselves up as church leaders live ein a different reality than normal people.

The Middle East is about to explode, Russia feels justified in slaughtering Ukranians, and Islamic terrorists are on the rise in Africa and elsewhere.

Then there is the Great Bwana Bob Thiel and Steve Dupuie wondering if it is ok if people eat insects.

Should Christians Eat Insects? 

 

It is reported that 2,205 insects are being eaten around the world in 128 countries as part of the food supply. Is this being pushed by the World Economic Forum, United Nations, and the government of the United States of America? Does the Bible endorse eating any insects? If so, which ones? Some people promote “cockroach milk” as well as larvae-derived “Entomilk.” Does France have the biggest insect farm? Are there thousands of insect farms in Thailand? Does the New Testament support that Christians are to be holy and not eat unclean meats and insects? Could God have had health reasons to tell His people not to eat certain creatures? What are some health issues that eating insects, mealworms, etc. have reportedly caused? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie address these matters.

It is amazing the endless brain fart streams of semi-consciousness that continue to dribble out of the mind of the Great Bwana Mzungu Bob. Never will you hear him discussing Jesus and his salvational work, instead you will be subjected to endless shit-streams of useless information that no one really cares about.

Will The Doors To The Kingdom Be Shut In Your Face In Regards To How You Dress For Church?

 

Armstrongism had a lot of idiotic teachings that were not founded upon any scriptural basis but upon late 19th-century/early 20th-century cultural norms and personal opinions, most of which stemmed from Victorian standards ingrained in the culture here.

The internet is filled with countless websites, blogs, Facebook groups, Reddit pages, Instagram, TicTok, and Rumble accounts that sing praises to Herbert Armstrong and the pre-1986 version of the Worldwide Church of God. The church was pure and untainted before January 16, 1986. Then, the very instant Herbert breathed his last breath Satan entered into the church. Satan was never interested in the church before that or actively seeking to destroy it. The second Herbert died, the demonic realm went into overdrive. After all, Satan is the much-discussed all-powerful god of Armstrongism. God the Father and Jesus were too weak to stop him from destroying the church.

Despite all the numerous sites preserving Herb's writings, there is a new one on the block, as if we need another one! 

Only Armstrong

One thing for sure about their site, it is well done. It puts the Mickey Mouse run-on sentence junk of Bob Thiel's blogs to shame. It is a slick well well-crafted site that is visually appealing and keeps the reader intrigued for more.

Like all of the hudnreds of other splinter groups out there entrenched in legalism and law-keeping, this one seeks to recapture the old values of HWA and the church. Particularly when it comes to dress.

The article by Corey Smith is reminiscent of the fire and brimstone articles and shouting sermons by HWA over the proper dress for church. Armstrong says your very salvation is dependent upon the clothing you wear. This is just pure utter bullshit, but yet here we are...

Double-click to enlarge, or read it here: Proper Attire 

Mocking The Disabled People In UCG?

Luke 14: The Banquet | Mural by Hyatt Moore, painted during Global Access Conference, 2015.

A Guest Commentary: Serving Disabled People

True Christians or truly good people in general It should sadden our hearts to see the great suffering of the disabled people. Like the Shriners hospital for children, we should remember the disabled members of our community and those who care for them.

UCG supports law enforcement but when they had the opportunity to do justice, the pastor said we should leave the justice up to God. He thought the courts and police were working for God. How come, if God is real, he never punishes people himself like striking them down with a lightning bolt? The only things God ever does is stuff that is humanly possible, and that is done by humans themselves - never God himself.

We ought to feel saddened by the suffering of disabled people. A minister said, "Don't take them to the feast because you have to watch them." That's discrimination because the UCG minister told someone not to take them to the feast because they would need to be watched. After all, they are disabled. If they truly had an outgoing concern, they wouldn't mind watching someone who's disabled I would want them to have a good time at the feast. That is what he told someone who invited us to the feast last year.

IN THE UNITED CHURCH OF GOD, there is an arrogant ableist that is prejudice towards disabled people so a United Church of God member told someone, pointing at me and my brother, "I can't hang out with these guys." Someone asked, "Why can't you?" Who was this man? Only the most arrogant and hateful person, who claims to follow Jesus Christ but does not live up to it! He said that we talk funny and are socially awkward. Even though the bible says, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." He also called us "retards" to our face!

Jesus commanded to invite the disabled to feast with you. "Then Jesus said to the man who had invited him, 'When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite only your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. At another time they will invite you to eat with them. Then you will have your reward. Instead, when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Then you will be blessed, because they cannot pay you back. They have nothing. But you will be rewarded when the good people rise from death.'" - Luke 14:12‭-‬14 ICB

Persecution is a crime that is defined as severe discrimination that results in the denial or infringement of fundamental rights. Practice inclusive love as Jesus loved. Treat everyone as if they were an angel in disguise. One of the people who refused to help disabled people said, "We need a president who can speak!" - putting down Joe Biden on a Facebook post for his speech impediment. It is commonly believed Moses had a speech impediment too. Would you say he is not a good leader because of how he talked too, really? They like Moses but pick on people with speech problems in our time. Moses’ own description of himself is that he had trouble speaking, and God allowed his brother Aaron to act as spokesman for him (Exodus 4:14–16; 7:1–6).

People will know the distinctiveness of Christians by the nature of their sacrificial love for one another. Loving one another invites a test of the validity of genuine Christian living. Love is the badge of a Christian. I wonder why Christians would treat someone with a speech impediment in our time badly when the Bible says Moses had one? Even though you shouldn't pick on someone for having a disability, did you imagine they would pick on someone who for something that someone in the Bible also had, like Moses was known as a stutterer, but they pick on Joe Biden for also being a stutterer, they love Moses, but they pick on Joe, but he has the same thing that Moses had?

The person who bashed Joe Biden for his speech impediment also has a Facebook account he shares with his wife. Isn’t the Bible talking about how we should behave with humility and sacrificial love? Interestingly, that goes against our nature. We tend to want to be the best, the strongest, the first in line. Jesus teaches being a servant. The church called "The United Church of God" discriminates against the disabled apparently their churches college doesn't offer any accommodations for people with disabilities.

What does Judaism say about this? The commandment "Thou shalt not oppress the weak" applies to all individuals, including those who are disabled. In Judaism, every person is valued and worthy of respect, regardless of any physical or mental disabilities they may have. We are taught to treat all individuals with kindness, compassion, and empathy, following the principle of "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18). Disabilities are not a measure of a person's worth or value in the eyes of our faith. In Judaism, every individual is considered to be created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), regardless of any physical or mental disabilities they may have.

The Torah teaches us to treat all people with respect, kindness, and compassion, including those with disabilities. In fact, there are specific commandments and laws in Jewish tradition that emphasize the importance of caring for and supporting individuals with disabilities. For example, Leviticus 19:14 states, "Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. | am the Lord." This verse teaches us not to take advantage of someone's disability or mistreat them in any way.

Additionally, Jewish tradition places a strong emphasis on the concept of "tikkun olam," which means repairing the world. This includes working towards creating a more inclusive and accessible society for people with disabilities. Overall, Judaism values the inherent worth and dignity of every individual, and teaches us to treat all people with compassion and respect, regardless of any disabilities they may have.

The Bible teaches that every person conceived in this world is a unique creation of God. Ultimately, in the eyes of Judaism, individuals with disabilities are valued members of our community, deserving of love, respect, and support just like anyone else. It is our responsibility to ensure that they are able to fully participate in society and have their needs met with dignity and compassion. There is a commandment in the Jewish 613 commandments it says " Not to oppress the weak—Exodus 22:21 "

About the disabled, we should show them compassion and serve them as equals. Remember, Jesus healed the blind, the mute, and the lame during Jesus's time on earth. Each one of them was a precious child of God, deserving of dignity and respect. We must not look upon them with condescension or sadness, but rather with understanding and empathy. For we are all in need of healing, whether from physical infirmity or spiritual blindness.

Additional notes: Bullying is hurting or threatening people who seem weak. If a church does not give disabled people the same equal opportunities as non-disabled individuals, it could be considered discrimination. Discrimination on the basis of people with disabilities goes against the principles of equality and fairness. All individuals should be treated equally and without discrimination regardless of their disabilities and abilities.

About the Bible: The four gospel accounts record that Christ performed many miracles during His ministry. Many of His most dramatic were healings. He made the lame walk—gave sight to the blind—healed lepers—healed others with the palsy—and “healed all that were sick” (Matt. 8:16). He also performed many healings of the mind by casting out demons from those who were possessed.

My brother was going to Suffolk Community College now, but UCG bullies were so arrogant they were trying to recommend a day program. I remember when someone even said, "They can walk!" And the church also didn't punish someone who made disabled people cry or want to hang out with them because of their disabilities and punched another church member in the face when they were fighting!

When we see Christians who mock the disabled, It means that there is a disconnect between the teachings of Jesus, who showed love and compassion towards the disabled, and the actions of some individuals who claim to follow him. By mocking the disabled, these individuals are not embodying the values of kindness, acceptance, and empathy that Jesus exemplified. This behavior is not in line with the teachings of Christianity and goes against the principles of love and respect for all individuals, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.

NOTE: The author of this post, my friend, is a very articulate, bright, and thoughtful young man with a cognitive disability. He is curious about the world around him and wants to be a part of it. I believe that he and his brother should be treated with the same respect and compassion which Scripture enjoins us to do for others. I should also note that I edited out some individual names from the original and inserted a few pronouns and punctuation marks. What do you think?

 Miller Jones/Lonnie C Hendrix 

NOTE:  I also received a copy of the email which these people described what happened to them in UCG. It did not surprise me at all. Banned

Lone Wolf Crackpot Prophet Ticked Off Football Season Starts Today

Football season has arrived with the start of September here in the United States.  Both College and NFL teams are starting their seasons off this month. Football stadiums will be filled to the brim with diehard fans. Televisions will be tuned to the games and food and drinks will be overflowing with fans.

But not in Grover Beach/Arroyo Grande, CA! No sirree, Bob! Our favorite crackpot, self-appointed, and deluded prophet is back getting his holistic undies tied up into another indignant knot.

After numerous quotes about sports injuries during the games, he has to open his undignified sacred mouth and make a royal ass of himself, once again. Satan is the father of American football and the Great Bwana to Africa is having none of it!

The National Football League (NFL) season is upon us as the 2024 NFL season is set to kick off on Thursday, September 5th. 

 

Should Christians support this? 

 

Early Christians would not have watched sports like it. 

 

What kind of sport is NFL football? 

 

A violent and damaging one. One that will hurt people this season.

The Great Bwana is "crying aloud and sparing not" when it comes to football. He is a beta boy when it comes to preaching about Jesus, but not when it comes to football! He speaks with force and power for all to see and hear! 

Many non-Philadelphian Christians do not wish to seriously consider that American tackle football is harmful, despite the facts, and would prefer that I not post about it. 

 

The Bible suggests otherwise:

1 Cry aloud, spare not;

Lift up your voice like a trumpet;

Tell My people their transgression,

And the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1) 

 

The reality is that American tackle football is evil–the players get harmed. This really is not debatable as it is an established fact.

A little later he has to drag Living Church of God into the mix due to the bitterness still raging inside him after all of these years. The Great Bwana Bob suffers from LCGDS: Living Church of God Derangement Syndrome. It eats away at his soul daily ever since the church rejected him en masse when he apostatized.

Clearly with any who have eyes to see, the fruits of this ‘sport’ are evil. 

 

Over the years, I have seemingly stood alone among Church of God leaders in the 21st century warning against American tackle football. I first spoke against it at the old Spokesman’s Club in the Worldwide Church of God last century. And, when I brought the subject up in the Living Church of God, it made many uncomfortable enough to take steps leading to my departure from that group. 

 

There is no doubt that American tackle football is dangerous to health. While some in the world consider watching it to be an ‘ethical uncertainty,’ true Philadelphia Christians (as well as many who are not) realize that something about this sport is physically harmful and should not be encouraged.

Apparently, Bad Philadelphians are justifying sin by watching football and not heeding the Bwana's words:

Let me state that there is a human tendency to try to justify sin. Many think if something feels right to them, it must be. According to the Bible, that is a wrong attitude:

9 “The heart is deceitful above all things,

And desperately wicked;

Who can know it?

10 I, the Lord, search the heart,

I test the mind,

Even to give every man according to his ways,

Bad Philadelphians are also displeasing God by watching football and those scantly clad cheerleaders. Sigh. 

I could not reconcile loving my neighbor as myself and cherishing my flesh and not doing violence to any man by watching others do it in a football game. Consider also the following:

9…You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:9-10)

Jesus also said:

20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God. (John 3:20-21, NKJV). 

 

Is watching American football a deed that would be pleasing to God?

 

He drags in Apostle Paul to prove football is wrong:

The Apostle Paul wrote:

12… they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.(2 Thessalonians 2:12) 29 … they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:29-32, NKJV) 

The Great Bwana Bob then has to drag Herbert up out of the grave to use him to support his LCGDS:

The late WCG Pastor-General Herbert W. Armstrong categorized American tackle football as evil. 

 

You may be telling yourself, well since my church does not (presuming you do not support a group like the Continuing Church of God which does) condemn football and/or possibly encourages it, the Bible really does not apply here. If so, be careful about accepting that type of tradition. Jesus Himself taught:

7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth,

And honor Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me.

9 And in vain they worship Me,

Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:7-9) 

 

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 

 

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked — 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. (Revelation 3:14-19)

The Great Bwana Bob then goes off by letting you know that in his household NO ONE watches evil satanic football and those who do are Laodiceans (especially LCG members who refuse to heed his call).

I do not watch American football. I consider that it is evil (also, no Christian can really defend how professional football cheerleading females are often publicly dressed and displayed). Others want to falsely act like there is nothing wrong with watching it. 

 

Some may not wish to hear about any of the evils of violent sports, and instead prefer smooth things, but hopefully I have tried to follow the Apostle Paul who declared:

26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:26-27) 

 

The bodies and blood of those who engage in violent sports is important. It does not show Philadelphia love. 

 

Regarding American football, do you believe that Jesus or the Apostle Paul would endorse it? This is something that Christians, and those that claim to be, should think and pray about. 

 

Those Laodicean Christians who are fans of American tackle football are NOT Philadelphians and will be subject to violence themselves as they will have to go through the Great Tribulation if they do not repent (Revelation 3:14-22). 

 

Encouraging violence in sports does not show brotherly/Philadelphian love. 

 

Philadelphian Christians do not watch American tackle football–whether the USA or Canadian version of it.

Armstrongism in Contention with Christianity: Concerning Jesus' Fulfilling of the Law of Moses

The Apostle Paul 

A Reasonable Likeness from the Fayum Mummy Portraits (Fair Use)

See note at end.

 

Armstrongism in Contention with Christianity

Concerning Jesus Fulfilling of the Law of Moses

 

By Scout

 

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; 

I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. (Matt. 5:17, NRSV)

 

When I think of Armstrongism the word that often comes to mind is “contrarian”.  I formed an impression years ago that HWA felt a kind of boost to his self-esteem by adopting the dissenting viewpoint – as if he were saying, “I seem like I came from the backwoods of theology but I am so right and you all are so wrong.”  And I believe this is a life-theme of many of his followers as well.  It is common to be a contrarian in politics but, alas, religion is not politics although there are some surface similarities.  One can be totally wrong in politics and it will have only secular, durational consequences.  Not so with religion.  Here is a midrash on a topic where Armstrongism takes the heterodox road.  This is an ancient doctrine that Christians sorted out long ago.  But it has been newly challenged by Armstrongism. (When I write Law with a capital that refers to the Law of Moses; law without the capital refers to the philosophical concept of law.)

The Initial Point of Reference

I will put my cards on the table.  The next paragraph is what I think Armstrongism says about Jesus fulfilling the Law of Moses.  I may be wrong.  Let me know.  I haven’t been an Armstrongist for a long time. 

Armstrongism maintains that Jesus came to fulfill the Law of Moses by making it stricter by requiring obedience not only to the letter of the Law but also the spirit of the Law.  And in this way Jesus magnified the law and made it honorable (Isaiah 42:21).  The Israelites had been unable to successfully keep the Law.  But God fixed this by granting the Holy Spirit that makes it possible for converted humans to keep the Law of Moses even in its new more demanding form.  And the Law of Moses is written on the hearts of everyone who is a converted follower of Jesus.  The exegesis for this is found in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus, for instance, tightened up the commandment concerning adultery by taking the requirement beyond the letter to include also lusting after a women.  Therefore, all Armstrongists are responsible for keeping all of the Law of Moses in the letter and spirit. Rod Meredith declared that this included not just the Decalogue but all of the statutes and judgements because the statutes and judgements are derived from the Decalogue.  Herman Hoeh stated that the statutes and judgements pre-dated the Old Covenant and could not be abolished when the Old Covenant was terminated.  But even though the statues and judgements are considered binding, to my knowledge Armstrongism has never defined a comprehensive catalog of spiritual intents for this body of legislation. The statutes and judgements seem to continue only in the letter.  Further, Armstrongists believe that they must follow the example of Jesus and Jesus kept the Law of Moses.  Excluded are the sacrifices and what Armstrongists refer to as the Ministry of Death.   The wild card is that Armstrongist leaders believe they can loosen and bind Biblical mandate including the Law of Moses although the doctrine is not well defined. 

Jesus Kept the Law of Moses Perfectly for a Reason

Jesus kept the Law of Moses perfectly but is that the example that we are intended to follow? Jesus was born under the Law of Moses. He was an Israelite living in the polity of Israel. And Israel was party to a covenant with God.  That covenant required the observance of the Law that had been conveyed through Moses.  So, Jesus was obligated to keep the Law of Moses by circumstances of human birth.   This is so even though he was Yahweh and had created the Law of Moses. 

Beyond this Old Covenant context in which Jesus lived, there is a profound, new, spiritual meaning. The perfect Law keeping of Jesus is important to all of us because it is part of the way that God implemented salvation for us.  We are blessed with the Vicarious Humanity of Christ.  Jesus met conditions for us, in our stead, securing salvation for us.   One of the conditions he met for us was the keeping of the Law of Moses. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NRSV) it states:

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

We cannot be made righteous in him unless he were perfectly righteous.  God expects perfect righteousness and that is what we cannot deliver.  The righteousness of Jesus is our righteousness by ascription.  And this ascription is not contingent on works.  While there is debate among different denominations how precisely the ascription happens, there is no debate about the fact that the righteousness originates with Jesus and is credited to us.  In the simplest terms, “by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous (KJV, Romans 5:19).   In Romans 4: 6 (NRSV), Paul states:

“So also David speaks of the blessedness of those to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works:”

In the larger context of Romans 4 we understand that this righteousness comes to us through our justification by God through the faith of Jesus that resides in us through the Holy Spirit.  There seems to be no exegesis that supports the idea that Jesus’ conforming perfectly to the Law of Moses created a requirement that Christians must follow the Law of Moses and in an even more exacting way.  Such an assertion would contradict the Biblical statements concerning justification by imputation.  

Nor is there any implication that since Jesus kept the Law of Moses that we then should follow his example, in his footsteps, and also keep the Law of Moses.  What we have seen this far is that Jesus kept the Law of Moses vicariously in our stead.  1 Peter 2:21 says that we should follow in the steps of Jesus in regard to suffering.  It does not mention observing the Law of Moses.  This aligns with James 5:10. Our relationship with Jesus keeping the Law of Moses is not one of imitation but imputation.    

The disposition of the Law of Moses after the Crucifixion is explained in Pauline theology.  It has been replaced by the Law of Christ.  Jesus as Yahweh can promulgate a new modified Law and did so.  The disposition of the Law of Moses is seen in this scripture from Romans 7:6 (NRSV):

“But now we are discharged from the law, dead to that which held us captive, so that we are enslaved in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the written code.”

The message is clear.  We are discharged from the Law – dead to it.  Its past impact on our lives is characterized as captivity and enslavement.  It is not the foundation on which the future will be built. Paul’s metaphor could not be clearer.  I remember hearing a sermon in the WCG in which the minister stated that “dead to the law” really means “dead to the penalty of the law” and that we do not experience the penalty of the Law any longer because we keep the Law and the penalty is not exacted – apparently we had to be keeping it perfectly for this model to work.   But there was no basis for inserting “the penalty of” into Paul’s language.  This was an artful dodge to justify the heterodoxy of continuing to observe of the Law of Moses after it was no longer in force. 

The Messiah will Magnify the Law and Make if Honorable

Jesus fulfilled the Law by transcending the Old Covenant and the Law of Moses with a new covenant and new law leading to a new purpose and by his personal example as the living Word of God.  It is a fulfilling of (not the abrogation of) the Law of Moses because it retains the moral imperative of the Law of Moses while rescinding or modifying the letter (think of circumcision). This fulfilling is not simply the idea that Jesus kept the Law of Moses perfectly as an example for us to imitate.   The reason for that is addressed in the previous section of this essay.  But the Greek word for fulfill is plēroō.   This word means to make abundant or to complete or to make something abound.  

The New Testament explains to us the way in which Jesus accomplished this flourishing.  Jesus achieved the fulness of the purpose of the Law by vacating the letter of the Law of Moses (Romans 7: 1-6), establishing in the place of the Law of Moses a new law, called the Law of Christ in scripture (Galatians 6:2; Romans 8:2; 1 Corinthians 9:21), and in his words and deed, as the living Word of God, setting a new example under this new covenant that we should follow (1 John 2:6) with the ultimate goal of accomplishing better purposes than the Law of Moses could provide (Hebrews 8:6).  This is what the Bible documents – an abounding of purpose intended and of purpose achieved. 

One might think that Jesus fulfilled the Law like someone fulfills the condition of a contract.  When the fulfilling action is complete, then the condition is satisfied and has no further bearing.  But in this contract model, not only the letter of the Law would be terminated but its moral intent also.  We know the moral intent reflects God’s nature and will not go away.   Jesus kept the Law perfectly not because he was simply discharging a contractual obligation but because his righteousness would be ascribed to believers, justifying them, as an essential element in the plan of salvation. 

Jesus fulfilled the Law by showing us a new, better way to the outcomes that the Law intended but Israel was never able to achieve.  And he showed us a better way by his words and actions as the living, embodied Word of God.  Jesus had the authority to change the Law.  Several times is the Sermon on the Mount he says, “You have heard that it was said, … But I say to you…”  Jesus was not inferior to Moses (Hebrews 3:3).  It was Jesus as Yahweh that gave the Law to Israel through Moses.  This establishment of a new way by Jesus was done not by preserving the letter of the Law and making it more rigorous but by superseding it with a better way of life – known to Christians as The Way.  

Jesus magnified the Law and made it Honorable by showing that it was not just a grounds for measuring performance but a grounds principally for love.  Jesus said:

“He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (NRSV, Matthew 22:37-40)

This is the purpose of the Law and the Prophets, these two commandments about love. This is not a new statement.  Deuteronomy 6:4 and Leviticus 19:18 together say the same thing.  But the Judaic tradition at the time of Christ was not following this.  The scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman taken in adultery to see if he would participate in her stoning.  And Yahweh who gave the Law and knew how he wanted it applied said let him who has not sinned cast the first stone.  This is radically different way of applying the Law – a way based on love and grace.  Jesus did not magnify the Law by making it harsher and more punitive.  He did it by bringing it to its original purpose – love of God and love of neighbor.

Conclusion

Jesus fulfilled the law, magnified it and made it honorable, principally by making love its focus, by giving us the New Testament, the Law of Christ and Vicarious Humanity of Jesus.  Dissenters from this view would assert that Jesus made the Law greater by making it more rigorous.  And keeping the Law of Moses is a requirement for salvation.  As for the Armstrongist idea that the giving of the Holy Spirit made it possible for people to keep the new demanding Law, this did not seem to work for the Apostle Paul (Romans 7:21-25). Nor did it ever result in Armstrongists keeping the full Law of Moses – they keep only select parts of the Law of Moses.   We should follow the example of Jesus not in the observation of the letter of the Law of Moses but in following the Law of Christ (The Sermon on the Mount and New Testament principles broadly).  And the Law of Christ carries forward whatever is essential in the Law of Moses.

Note:  For the image of Paul at the top of the article, I chose a portrait from the gallery of Fayum Mummy Portraits.  I believe Paul looked much more like this portrait than the common depictions of him as a Western European. While we cannot know Paul’s facial features, we can at least get the physical anthropology right.  The Fayum people were Egyptian or a mixture of Greek and Egyptian. Their genetic profiles are mostly Egyptian.  The portraits date from around the time of Jesus. Some may be early Christians.   We know from Acts 21:38 that a Roman Tribune mistook Paul for an Egyptian.  Later in the same account, Paul addressed a group of Jews at the Temple, and they were not comfortable with him by appearance.  He had to identify himself as a Jew and speak to them in Hebrew before they would settle down and listen.  Clearly, Paul was dark-skinned, perhaps darker than some of the Jews he was addressing. My guess is that he looked “Gentile” to these Jews. Followers of British Israelism will see in this an issue.  Paul is of the tribe of Benjamin and should have looked like a Norwegian.  The Norwegians are thought by Armstrongists to be the modern-day descendants of Benjamin.  This is a Biblical refutation of this point in the Armstrongist version of British Israelism.