The Modern Worldwide Church of God WCG?

[Jim1999]

Eric,

Many of the cults made changes over the years. Subtle changes and made them appear like they had found truth, and this includes Mormons..who placed more emphasis on the Bible in public, and less on Smith's writings; JW's have publications that sound as orthodox as some baptist writings; Seventh Day Adventists changed White's views on the second coming when Jesus did not appear on earth back in 1917 (I can't remember the exact year now),,He came in the air, she wrote...)My note on this: Many writers do not place modern-day Adventists on the cult list and indeed they are clear on many doctrines we hold dear....I count a goodly number as my dear friends and heaven-bound as surely as I am....

My caution is that we should never throw caution to the wind when it comes to cultists "conversion". I shudder to think about all the dispensationalists who have read British Israelism books and took them as gospel.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Eric B]

Nobody threw caution to the wind there. At first, people were skeptical, of course; but pretty soon, it became clear that this was a total turnaround, not simply a doctrinal modification, or rehashing in a more orthodx sounding fashion. (You could add the Catholics greater emphasis on Jesus and the Bible than in the past). They would not be in the NAE if they hadn't really changed (unless you acuse the NAE of "compromising", but that would be quite a stetch for them!).

British Israelism is one of the things they abandoned, thank God. It jibed so much with the message of old-evangelicalism (both the racial "chosenness", as well as the moralistic "national righteousness" they were trying to restore (which continues with many of us, today); I am so surprised that the doctrine was rejected by most. Perhaps they didn't like the "national judgment" aspect of it? (Though many of them preached judgment of the nation anyway. I guess the difference is, in their less uncomfortable pretribulational theory, they get to escape when the nation is judged).
Armstrong simply took all of this and made the Sabbath the ultimate issue of "The lost 10 tribes'" sin, on top of the immorality, humanism and atheism, etc.

 

[Bro. James]

The leopard spot analogy is: No, he cannot change his spots(sins)(depraved nature). Only the shed blood of Jesus Christ removes sin and provides a covering for the sinner. He also ever liveth to make intercession.

Thank you for the update on Garner Ted. Seems it has been many months since he was on the "T.V.". The cult-like legacy remains for him and his Father, Herbert W.

How does one "reform" a cult? This same question applies to the "holy? see".

Selah,

Bro. James

 

[Marcia]

How does one "reform" a cult? This same question applies to the "holy? see".

Bro. James, I agree with you on the leapord's spots -- only through the blood of Christ!

The Armstrong cult/church was not reformed from the outside. It was the President and his son, that I posted about earlier. Apparently, they were convicted about this by the HS -- that is the only way. Read the link that I put up there -- it tells the story. I personally heard the son talk at a conference about this. He had been questioned and examined by a several Christian cult experts. The church changed its doctrinal statement.

This was a true reform, not just trying to appear orthodox like the Mormons. They really changed. The change is what caused the explosion of all the split-off churches/groups who did not agree with orthodoxy and left. These groups are the ones fighting - not surprising since they remain in heresy.

So the main WCG has turned orthodox while the split-off churches are not. The names are confusing because they might still sound like a Church of God. You can't go by the name; you have to check it out carefully. This is always true, anyway.

 

[Bro. James]

From within or without--what's to reform?

Luther tried from within--failed. He also failed from without--nihil ex nihil fit.

This is just more religion--started by man.

Selah,

Bro. James

 

[Marcia]

Bro. James, are you saying that the WCG did not throw out their heresies and adopt orthodox doctrine. This is just fact.

This was not really reform, it was complete change. It happened. It's fact. It's a done deal.

 

[Bro. James]

It matters not what they have thrown out nor what they may have adopted/adapted. The point is they are without divine authority from the "gitgo".

The scripture does not allow just anyone to pick up a Bible, get a following, and start a church--i.e. Joseph Smith Jr. What if the LDS repented and adopted "orthodoxy"? Would they be considered a True Assembly? Whose orthodoxy would make them qualified?

Selah,

Bro. James