Church of God / Herbert Armstrong

[justin.jocewicz]

Hey all,

I was wondering if anyone has had a run in with the Church of God (reformed) or any of the old magazines/books by Herbert Armstrong? I just had a second run in with the Church of God organization (through the website) and it is ....well.....confusing.

I am a new christian, but have been reading and praying a lot in my short venue (2 years). I am actually just starting a study group at my house.

I personally believe that if we are lead by the spirit and we can see him changing us and setting the desire in us to serve Him and others we are on the right path.

Both times I have read about Mr. Armstrong and the church I have to question their doctrine. Is that just because I'm prideful, or the Holy Ghost telling me to stay away.....?

They do make some interesting points, but most of their doctrine reminds me a JWs, so I don't know if I'm just trained to stay away from it. What do you guys think? Take care and God bless.

No Jesus, No change
Know Jesus, Know change

[Sing4Him]

The United Church of God an International Association was formed in 1995 by ex-members of Herbert W. Armstrong’s Worldwide Church of God. Its doctrinal platform is Armstrongism.

Armstrong denied many of the doctrines of the New Testament faith and founded a heretical cult. He rejected and reinterpreted many of the Bible’s teachings, including eternal Hell, the Trinity, the Divinity of Jesus Christ, and justification by grace alone without works. He held to the heresies of baptismal regeneration and soul sleep. He taught that the Sabbath and some of the Old Testament feasts are binding upon New Testament Christians. Armstrong also promoted a three tier tithing system which required twenty percent of the member’s earnings annually and an additional ten percent every third year. He boldly claimed that all existing churches, except his, are apostate.

When Armstrong died in 1986 his position was filled by Joseph Tkach, who, by 1993, made significant changes in the doctrinal position of the organization. The top WCG leaders announced that they no longer believe many of the things which Armstrong taught. In particular, they acknowledged the doctrine of the Trinity, justification by grace alone without works, and the eternal security of the believer.

Determined to hold to the “old paths” that Armstrong had blazed, roughly 100 Worldwide Church of God ministers formed the United Church of God. The organization, which is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, is ruled by a 12-person council of Elders that “oversees the strategic direction and activities of the Church.”

The United Church of God is aggressive in its missionary thrust and claims to have congregations in more than 40 countries. We have met some of their people in South Asia. They attempt to proselytize those who already profess Christ by pushing their heretical doctrines.

The United Church of God denies the Trinity and rejects the doctrine that Jesus Christ is God. They call him Lord and “the divine Son,” but not God. The Holy Spirit is not a Person but is “the power of God and the spirit of life eternal.” Salvation is a process that requires faith in Christ, repentance, water baptism, the laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit, and living a life of obedience. The Sabbath is obligatory. The seven Jewish feasts described in Leviticus 23 must be observed. These are the Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Weeks or Pentecost, Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles. The unclean animals of the Old Testament are still unclean and cannot be eaten, and the Old Testament system of tithing is still in force. Death is not a journey to heaven or hell but is merely a sleep that ends in the resurrection. “God’s faithful servants” will be raised “to spirit life” as “spirit beings” (a denial of the bodily resurrection of the saved) at the beginning of the Millennium, but following the Millennium there will be a resurrection “of the vast majority of all people who have ever lived,” and they will have an opportunity to be converted and gain eternal life. The United Church of God does not believe in hell as a place of eternal suffering.
http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/beware-unitedchurchofGod.html

[justin.jocewicz]

[QUOTE=Sing4Him;128950]Armstrong denied many of the doctrines of the New Testament faith and founded a heretical cult. He rejected and reinterpreted many of the Bible’s teachings, including eternal Hell, the Trinity, the Divinity of Jesus Christ, and justification by grace alone without works. He held to the heresies of baptismal regeneration and soul sleep. He taught that the Sabbath and some of the Old Testament feasts are binding upon New Testament Christians. Armstrong also promoted a three tier tithing system which required twenty percent of the member’s earnings annually and an additional ten percent every third year. He boldly claimed that all existing churches, except his, are apostate.

Thanks for the additional information on the "true" doctrine. As I said, this doctrine had me thinking of the JWs straightway with the denial of the Trinity and Hell. If there is no Hell, why would we need Jesus? uh....:doh .... I think he came for a reason.

Anybody else have another perspective besides Slim and I? I hope that God's mercy abounds for all of us.

No Jesus, No change
Know Jesus, Know change

[lovingugod]

I was born and raised 3rd generation on both sides of my family in the world wide church of God. Please stay away from this church. It is defenitely a cult. My parents and sister, my husbands parents and brothers still go. I have been praying for them for years. (If you all wouldn't mind saying a prayer to release my family members.) I was fortunate to get out when the church split 14 or so yrs ago. Praise Praise Praise God!!!!
They do believe in hell but call it the lake of fire and when you are thrown in you no longer exsist. Hell is still a hard concept for me. I don't understand why someone has to be in eternal torment. That is just the most horrible scary thing to think about. Why couldn't God just kill them and be over with it?

[LindaLee]

I was a member of the WCG for about 30 years. Any offshoots of the WCG need to be avoided as they do still adhere to the old ways and teaching.

The WCG headquartered in Pasadena, under Joseph Tkach Jr, has come a long way since Mr. Armstrong died. The church under Mr. Tkach Jr is accepted in Christian circles and no longer considered a cult.

As with ANY church, one needs to deligently search the scriptures to see that that particular church is teaching what Christ taught. If not, I advise not to attend it.

[rriley]

Run to the nearest exit!

[Sing4Him]

Thank you all for your information.

lovingugod-- I will be praying for your family. PTL you are standing strong in the truth of our Savior, Jesus.

[1CatMom]

Run to the nearest exit!

Very well said. :thumb


I too have had dealings with the WWCG and their offshoots. RUN!! :panic :panic


If you want solid Biblical teaching, I suggest checking out Calvary Chapel. :scripture

[zooboo]

The WCG now can ordain woman as pastor and don't beleive in a 6 days creationMany women have pastoral or shepherding skills. If a woman's gifts are in this area, she should be encouraged to pastor and teach.
But God has not given us tangible evidence of a six-day creation. Actually, he has given us a lot of evidence to the contrary.http://www.wcg.org/ and Being Saved After Death Is Still Alive in the Worldwide Church of God http://www.pfo.org/beingsaved.htm

I've been in this church for age 3 til age 30, my parents are still there if you need more in info, be free to ask...

Yvan

[LindaLee]

When I left the WCG women could not be ordained a "pastor"...she could teach other women and children, or instruct as per her talents. This was AFTER the change occurred in 1995 and when I left in 2000 it was still the same.

They always believed in the 7 day creation period where God rested on the 7th day. Where did you get that they don't believe in a 6 day creation? I see a so-called quote, but where is it from?