Article: A Shocking Lack of Discernment: Promoting the Heresies of Herbert W. Armstrong

COG followers were ecstatic a year or so ago when Joe Kovacs from WorldNetDaily wrote a book Shocked by the Bible that sounded just like it was from the pen of Herbert Armstrong.  Many have claimed he is a chruch member.  Kovacs will nto repsond to the accusation.  The mere fact that he is connected to WorldNetDaily is a concern right of the bat regardless of his affiliation with Armstrong.

This article is very much Christian based and will not appeal to some here as it attempts to disprove Armstrongism theologically.

Here is a religious blog that goes after him and Herbert Armstrong:  Worldview Weekend News

While Rood may be blatant,  WND ’s executive news editor Joe Kovacs is more subtle. Kovacs calls himself a “Bible believing Christian” and attends a non-denominational church. His books  Shocked by the Bible  and  The Divine Secret  are sold not only by  WND  but also by many of the splinter groups from The Worldwide Church of God who still follow the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong.

This is not surprising, for many of Kovacs’s theological positions line up with those of the late cultist Armstrong. For example, Kovacs’s theology of the Godhead parallels that of Armstrong’s polytheist view of a family of gods. In  The Divine Secret , Kovacs writes, “Yes, God is indeed a family. Jesus is the Word and He’s one member of the God family, and God the Father is yet another member of that same God family” (Kovacs,  The Divine Secret,  24).

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While Rood may be blatant,  WND ’s executive news editor Joe Kovacs is more subtle. Kovacs calls himself a “Bible believing Christian” and attends a non-denominational church. His books  Shocked by the Bible  and  The Divine Secret  are sold not only by  WND  but also by many of the splinter groups from The Worldwide Church of God who still follow the teachings of Herbert W. Armstrong.
This is not surprising, for many of Kovacs’s theological positions line up with those of the late cultist Armstrong. For example, Kovacs’s theology of the Godhead parallels that of Armstrong’s polytheist view of a family of gods. In  The Divine Secret , Kovacs writes, “Yes, God is indeed a family. Jesus is the Word and He’s one member of the God family, and God the Father is yet another member of that same God family” (Kovacs,  The Divine Secret,  24).

Armstrong wrote: “The sole value of human life lies in the human spirit and the potential of being begotten of God, later to be born VERY GOD, a child in the GOD FAMILY” (Herbert W. Armstrong,  Mystery of the Ages , Pasadena, CA: Worldwide Church of God, 1985, 92). Implicit in this statement is the idea that men will become gods. Kovacs may soften this position slightly, but his theology goes in the same direction: “… we will…be born into the spirit world, not composed of flesh and blood anymore, but looking like yourself, composed of spirit just like God the Father and Jesus are composed of spirit, and be members of the actual Family of God…. This is exactly what the Bible says and it calls us the children of God. God is having children. God is reproducing Himself after the God kind” (http://www.wnd.com/2009/12/118220/).

An offshoot of Armstrong’s Worldwide Church of God interviewed Kovacs in their publication  The Journal . From his comments, it is clear that he believes we shall become divine, again paralleling the teaching of Armstrong.

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We live in a time of growing biblical illiteracy. Because many are unfamiliar with the genuine, they may be swayed by the arguments of the counterfeit. Again, no one denies the very real peril descending upon this nation. That peril, however, is not alleviated by joining with the enemies of the gospel. In  The Divine Secret , Kovacs doesn’t present the biblical gospel that sets men free. His message is one more system of “works”: “By honoring God and keeping His commandments, we’re learning the way the divine family lives. We’re practicing day after day, week after week, year after year how to live like God...” (Kovacs,  The Divine Secret , 142).

Much like Armstrong, Kovacs’s “gospel” delivers no certainty. And rather like Armstrong, the verses that speak of believers being a new creation in Christ (2 Cor:5:17) are made to refer to the resurrection. All that’s left are “works” until that time. Romans:8:11 tells us, “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Kovacs applies that Scripture to the future resurrection of our human bodies. “Yes, all of us are currently sinful, mortal beings headed for everlasting death if we don’t repent…and we can actually ‘put on immortality’ if we’re faithful to God” (Ibid., 52). There is no assurance if our works don’t measure up. “But, once the jump is made from physical bodies to spiritual ones, being literally ‘born OF GOD,’ born into the actual family of God, the Bible indicates sin will not be possible…” (Ibid., 77). No one can miss the parallel to Armstrong who stated, “Until the resurrection, therefore, we cannot see, enter into or inherit the Kingdom of God. WE CANNOT BE BORN AGAIN UNTIL THE RESURRECTION!” (Armstrong, Pamphlet,  Born Again? ).

For the rest of the article which inlcudes an interview with The Journal and Kovacs click here

Knockers Church of God Warns You About The Doubt Demon

Those crazy folks over at the Knockers Church of God have been working over time on exposing the unwanted demon that is our arch enemy.  This pesky demon is usually the busiest when you are praying.  This demon is doubt.  How dare you question!

Armstrongism has always tried to present itself as the epitome of assurance in all things.  Doubt was considered evil, and still obviously is.  COG leaders never had an ounce of doubt in their  little minds.  Because Herb said it, so let it be done. It was easier to be told what to do and what to believe than to dare to question.

I don't know if this is Mike Venish  or Frank Maschio.  All I do know that it is one of the most annoying voices I have heard in a long time.

Exercising DOUBT is Satan's best hope for a True Christian to shatter Godly Faith! It is as a "demon of doubt' that whispers in the ear of those who are attempting to stand in faith. This demon is a master of injecting doubt and disbelief AFTER and often DURING prayer time.

The "Doubt Demon" is an arch enemy, and Satan's primary tool in destroying faith. Do YOU frequently give in to doubt?

Listen and find out HOW to overcome doubt and grow in Godly Faith for answers to your prayers!

Beware the Demon of Doubt

Would You Have The Guts To Do This? Paul Keane Donates Burial Plot For Boston Bomber

 

 I offer the plot next to my mother (above photo) 

in the Mt. Carmel Burying Ground in Mt. Carmel, Connecticut 

to the Tsarnaev family, gratis.

I am willing to donate a burial plot next to my mother in Mt. Carmel Burying Ground to the Tsarnaev family if they cannot obtain a plot. The only condition is that I do it in memory of my mother who taught Sunday School at the Mt. Carmel Congregational Church for twenty years and taught me to"love thine enemy."

I own the plot.  No one can refuse me access.

Paul D. Keane

Master of Divinity '80

M.A., M.Ed.

(and this time I intentionally invoke my Yale Divinity School degree)

The Mount Carmel Congregational Church (Founded 1757) . My mother taught Sunday School and led the Junior Choir at this church for decades. I taught Sunday School there when I was sixteen.

Paul Keane Reminds Us What It Really Means To “Love Your Enemies” 

E.W. King Says: " As a matter of fact Christians are more critical in their thinking process than other people who are not Christian."

The King is back with more words of wisdom for the REAL Worldwide Church of God, though it can't use that name legally, but  does.  Apparently only REAL Christians (i.e. REAL COG members) have the only intelligence that is legitimate. All other intelligence is illegitimate and of lower standing than what the minds of TRUE Christians can come up with.

E. W. King starts off with this mind numbing truth about TRUE THINKING with this:

It truly amazes me how many so called Christians have no true solid doctrinal foundation when it comes to their beliefs in Jesus Christ. The Worldwide Church of God [COGSR] has always taught Christians proper theology and has grounded Christian students in the Word of God. In this article I will talk about the human mind and discuss what it means to be a Christian Critical Thinker.

Sadly, many who once claimed Christianity as their faith have turned to speculative-science and New Age thought because they felt unsatisfied with their Christian understanding. Jesus told us that we would “never thirst again” if we studied His word. [John 4:13] God’s word is rich with deep understanding. [Daniel 2:22] The problem is with all the false denominationalism. False theology has left people spiritually dry. The teachings of WCG theology agree with sound science.

REAL Christians never thirst for the Word?   I know many devout Christians who are always thirsting for more understanding who also are not afraid to jettison useless beliefs.   They use critical thinking all the time. The problem though in most of the COG's no one seems to be able to use their critical thinking without first getting permission from their leaders.  With the 700 splinters (denominationalism) of Armstrongism it is proof positive of that.  Critical thinker's would have LEFT and not followed so many of the useless buffoons.

King contues with:

Christians approach everything by a proper understanding of God’s word. What is a proper understanding of God’s word? The Bible proclaims that only those who have the Holy Spirit can truly and properly understand God’s word. Christian comprehension of truth relies on intervention from God himself. [Philippians 2:5] In this article I will rely on God’s Holy Spirit to articulate the meaning of Truth in human thinking. [1 Corinthians 1:18] From this perspective I cannot prove to anybody what I am saying is true. I must rely on the Holy Spirit. [Proverbs 3:5-6] This approach is from a factual understanding of static or absolute Truth from God himself. Only those who are called of God and or who have the Holy Spirit shall comprehend. [Romans 8:16]

There you have it folks.  Only those in the REAL Church of God under E.W.King (25 people or less) are the only intelligent life forms on this planet!  The Holy Spirit is not accessible to anyone outside the COGSR/WCG. What an awesome god!

As Christians we are commanded to “prove all things”. [1 Thessalonians 5:21] We do this by testing our thinking against what the Word of God proclaims. [Acts 17:11] I have studied many religions and philosophical ideas but without a foundation to base it all on I am simply “blown here and there by every wind of doctrine”. [Ephesians 4:14] God is not the author of confusion. [1 Corinthians 14:33] The Bible asks us to use our intellectual capabilities but to keep them in ‘check’ with absolute and revealed revelation from God. Christian thinking is therefore a disciplined practice. [James 4:10]  It goes against conventional ideas of thinking. [1 Corinthians 1:25] This does not mean we cannot be critical in our thinking. As a matter of fact Christians are more critical in their thinking process than other people who are not Christian. Christians can look at what is called “the bigger picture”. They can learn to broaden their scope when looking at an issue.

Logical thinking in and of itself is only based on mans five physical faculties. With only these limited tools man can come up with numerous if not infinitesimal amounts of conclusions to even simple questions.

Only those in the TRUE COGSR/WCG have open minds:

Christians are not closed-minded, they are open-minded. Christians are those who have broadened their mere human intellect into receiving pure revelation from God himself! Jesus stated; “Behold, I stand at the door [human intellect] and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” [Revelation 3:21] Closed minded people are those who only rely on their five physical faculties. They rely on the “spirit of man” and not on the “Spirit of God”.

According to King the Christian perspective rules out logic.  I do have to agree with him on this one.  Many in the COG certainty do not have any logically thinking capabilities in their minds at all!  They have checked their brains at the door.

It is not extreme to pursue the issue of Truth. It is not extreme to want to be proper and correct. As Christians we are commanded to be truthful, proper and correct. [2 Corinthians 10:5] Mans thinking is based on inadequacies of perception. [Proverbs 16:25] The very fact of inadequacies points to a better way, a static way! The simple fact of “error” points to the reality of Truth. What is “truth”? This is what Pontius Pilot asked Jesus Christ at his trial. [John 18:38] Jesus remained silent. Why? The very presence of Jesus Christ was a testimony to the Truth. Christian perspective out rules human logic. This does not mean that human logic is not a good thing when properly used. Logic is used properly when used as a tool of Christian perception.

 Never fear though. Truth may be found in King's group.  They use the WHOLE Bible instead of picking and choosing like all the OTHER COG's do.  Truly laughable!  King and his group do nothing of the sort.  They don't keep all the law of Leviticus and refuse to follow the created creature they call Jesus Christ.

God instructs us not to live with one foot in His church and one foot in the world. People who change their thought patterns around certain people to compromise their faith are what the Bible calls “double minded” people. [James 4:8]

One reason why most people who attend a fallen denominational church do not really read their Bible’s is because when they do read their Bible’s they find that their church is teaching something or doing something completely different from what it says. Those who do read their Bible’s from fallen churches are very selective in what portions they read. Here at COGSR we use the whole Bible!

 King then leads up to what true Christian faith is.  Again, this is something that can only be found in his group.  Take that you pussy-boys in RCG/PCG/LCG!

True Christianity is to seek God's will rather than your own. “He who is called while free is Christ's slave”. [1 Corinthians 7:22] Slaves do their master's will, not their own. Jesus always put the Father's will first in everything He did and said. To live God's way we need the Holy Spirit power. So is it possible to practice Christianity in your own way and whatever church you choose? The answer from Christ would be, “no”. We either worship God's way and do things his way or we worship our way. How do we find out God's way? We read his word, study his word and ask for Holy Spirit help. We thus find the one and only true Church of God.

The Bible proclaims “one faith”, not many. [Ephesians 4:5] Just because true Christians are people of faith does not mean that we are blind. We do have to open our eyes! Please understand, there are not many ‘faiths’ to a true Christian. There is only one. There is only one ‘faith’, one ‘church’, one ‘body’ [church], etc. [Ephesians 4:4-6] And believe it or not, there is only one true God and one true Jesus Christ! Would it be wrong to say that there is only one true “you”? No. It would not. There is only ONE true God and only ONE true understanding of that God. We find it in and through God’s word through and by the power of the one and only Holy Spirit! There are not many denominations to true Christians!

Does that include the 700 some splinter groups of Armstrongism too?  There is more division in the COG than there is in the Christan community.

Why cannot the minds that develop spacecraft, computers and marvels of science, technology and industry solve the problems that demonstrate human helplessness?”
 

Most people know that something is wrong, a sense of sin. People deal with this differently. They have tried to deal with the problem in all the false denominational teachings, they then move on to “self-esteem” programs and right into paganism. But are they satisfied? No. What is the answer? The answer is the Truth as found in the only true Church of God.