Herbert W. Armstrong
COGwriter
Tomorrow is USA Independence Day.
Many in the USA will celebrate it.
But what about being independent of the world?
The Apostle John wrote:
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
The world and its ways will pass away and be gone.
But being a true Christian allows one to abide forever.
Regarding the Church, the late Pastor General of the old Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:
Jesus Christ said: “I will build my Church.” What IS that Church — human organization, or spiritual organism? Of whom composed? How does one become a member? Does it have a divine Commission?—and if so, WHAT? — and HOW carried out? By organization, or by individuals acting independently?
MANY ARE CONFUSED about the nature of the Church founded by Jesus Christ. How shall we know? WHO or WHAT is the AUTHORITY to give us the right answer?
It was Jesus Christ who said, “I will build my Church.” He is the “WORD” of God (John 1:1-3) in person — the Spokesman. The Bible is the Word of God in writing — the Maker’s Instruction Book for mankind. The Bible, therefore, is the Authority.
HOW One Becomes a Member
The first place the word “church” is used following the inception of that Church (Pentecost, 31 A.D.) is Acts 2:47: “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” This immediately gives insight into the means by which one enters the Church as a member. God adds each one. It is God who puts each one into the Church as a member.
Again, For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body” (I Cor. 12:13). The word “baptized” means immersed — put into. So, again, it is GOD who puts one into His Church. And HOW? By His Spirit! When God bestows within one His Holy Spirit, that puts the believer into the Church.
So note it well! One cannot enter the true Church by putting him{her}self in — by “joining. One may join a social club, a sports team, or a secular group — but NOT the Church of God. Incidentally, is it not significant that so many of this world’s “churches” have become, virtually, just social clubs?
Notice, too, the Church is here referred to as “one body.” In several passages the Church is referred to as “the body of Christ.” I Corinthians 12:12 says: “For as the body is one, and hath many members. …
How the “Body of Christ”
The twelve disciples became the twelve original apostles. But HOW did they, with the other disciples, become “the BODY of Christ”?
While Jesus was starting the Work of God, He said, “I can of mine own self do nothing,” and again, “The Son can do nothing of himself,” and again, “… but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”
It was the power of God’s Holy Spirit, dwelling in His individual human body, doing THE WORK OF GOD.
Without this same Spirit dwelling in them, His disciples would be utterly impotent. The very night before His crucifixion He said to them: “As the branch [of a grapevine] cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches… without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:4, 5). It is sap flowing from the vine into the branch that produces grapes. It is the Spirit of God and of the living Christ, flowing into the collective Body that is the Church that produces results.
After His resurrection, just before ascending to God’s throne in heaven, Jesus commanded these apostles: that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father…” — that is, for the Holy Spirit, the same power that did the Work of God in Jesus’ human body.
On the day of Pentecost, 31 A.D., this POWER of God did come and enter into the COLLECTIVE BODY — the Church — that now was to carry on the Work of God.
The Head of God’s Church
When Jesus ascended to the throne of God (the Father of the divine creating — ruling — governing Family) in heaven, He became the Head of the Church. Notice Eph. 1:22, 23: “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body.”
The CHURCH is composed of those who are the begotten CHILDREN OF GOD — of the FATHER of the divine Family. One becomes a begotten SON of God upon receiving within him{her} the Holy Spirit of God.
This Spirit comes from the very Person of God — it is, first of all, the impregnating LIFE of God — divine, eternal, ever — living LIFE. As the physical sperm cell from the body of a human father begets a human embryo that develops into a fetus and later is born a human child, so the Spirit of God begets us into a state by which we are called, even now in this life, sons of God (I John 3:2).
Of What Composed
And thus it is that the CHURCH is composed of those who are the children of God. That is why the CHURCH is the Church of GOD, even as the Old Testament Church was called “the congregation of Israel” — the human children of Israel.
That is why, also, one CANNOT PUT HIM{HER}SELF into the Church by “deciding to JOIN.” When he becomes a son of GOD, by having and being led by the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:14), then God has PUT HIM{HER} INTO the Church by begetting him{her} as a son {daughter/child} of God.
“Joining” a group that calls itself a church — having one’s name on the membership roll of some group calling itself a church — does not make one in true fact a member of THE Church Jesus founded. Here is positive proof: “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his” (Romans 8:9). …
GOD Chooses Each Member’s Job.
We do not all do the same job!
These special spiritual gifts are given “to profit withal.” That is, to profit THE WORK — not the individual.
These gifts are aptitudes, or spiritual “tools” to use in doing the Work — not ornaments to embellish the person, as some have seemed to think — bragging about the least of the gifts.
God Himself decides which gifts to give each member: “But all these [gifts] worketh that one and the self — same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as HE will” (1 Cor. 12: verse 11).
Continue: “For the body [of Christ — the Church] is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?” (Verses 14-15.)
If one young man has been given special aptitude for a certain more or less routine office job that is actually a big help in the whole organized Work, he is doing HIS PART in the Work. But is each one free to decide whether he will be the apostle, or the pastor, or a teacher, or a routine office worker making it possible for them to do their jobs?
Here is your answer: “But now hath GOD set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased HIM” (verse 18).
But what if one is placed, by those God has set over him, in an office that this individual considers very unimportant, not honorable enough to suit his vanity?
Here’s the answer: “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem [to us] to be more feeble, are necessary: and those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor, and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness… but GOD hath tempered the body together… THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO SCHISM [division] IN THE BODY…. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And GOD hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of languages. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?… but covet earnestly the best gifts…” (verses 22-31). (Armstrong HW. Just What is the Church? Tomorrow’s World magazine, July-August 1970)
What about being part of the truest Church?
Well, although the Worldwide Church of God is no more, the true Church of God was never to die out as Jesus said:
18 … I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)
That means that the true Church would not die out, but continue.
In the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) we strive to be the continuation of the Philadelphia portion of the Christian church. This is consistent with the following
1 Let brotherly love {Philadelphia} continue. (Hebrews 13:1)
We strive to do that.
Yet, Jesus warned in His messages to the churches in Revelation 2 & 3 that most end time Christians would NOT be Philadelphian. Most will be Laodicean–a term that roughly translates as “people judge.” While many seem to think that is great, Jesus harshly scolded the Laodiceans (see Revelation 3:14-22).
We have links to articles on dozens of Christian groups explaining where they differ from the Bible and the Philadelphian work, and more in the CCOG in the article: How does the Continuing Church of God differ from other Sabbatarian COG groups?
The Apostle Paul wrote:
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them (2 Timothy 3:14)
Those who used to claim to be part of the old Worldwide Church of God should consider what Herbert W. Armstrong taught about God’s government in the Church of God.
In a sermon titled Rely on God, Herbert W. Armstrong said:
KEY ISSUE IS GOVERNMENT …
THE WHOLE THING WAS GOVERNMENT! THE THING THAT SATAN TOOK AWAY WAS GOVERNMENT. THE THING THAT CHRIST IS COMING TO RESTORE IS GOVERNMENT. AND WHAT HE RAISED ME UP FOR WAS TO RESTORE GOVERNMENT IN HIS CHURCH. And the whole test, the challenge in the first place …, was a point of government. (Armstrong HW. Rely on God. Sermon, April 6, 1985)
Notice that Herbert W. Armstrong said God raised him up to restore church government in His church. And he did for the Philadelphians, though most end time Christians do not accept that.
Do not let naysayers, negative past experiences, and/or accusers of the brethren convince you to not accept proper hierarchical church governance.
Here is some of what Herbert W. Armstrong taught:
The government of God has been restored to the Church, and the government of God has been placed in the Church. You read that in Ephesians 4 and I Corinthians 12. Christ is the head of the Church and under Christ in the administration of the government. … And the Church is restored in that form of government. The Sardis Church even didn’t have the right form of government (Sermon. Mission of the Philadelphia Church Era by Herbert W. Armstrong given on December 17, 1983).
The government of God is of necessity government from the top down. It cannot be ‘government by the consent of the governed’ …
The Presbyterian Church is organized with the presbyters or ministers in control. The Congregational Church delegates top authority to the congregation–“government by the consent of the governed.”
And so it goes. The churches of this world of Satan are organized according to humanly devised patterns. But the Bible gives explicit directions in regard to Church government. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. God’s form of government is, indeed, hierarchical. God the Father is head over Christ–the sole Lawgiver and supreme authority…
To administer these many operations, God–not a vote of the members–“hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers.” Or, as stated in more detail in Ephesians 4:11 (RSV): “And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers.”
An apostle is “one sent forth” with Christ’s gospel message, including the supervision of proclaiming that message to the world by means and persons other than himself. Also an apostle was given supervision over all the local congregations or churches (I Cor. 16:1). The apostle Paul had oversight over the churches of the Gentile world (II Cor. 11:28).
The prophets set in the foundation of the Church…
Evangelists were leading ministers, proclaiming the gospel to the public, even raising up local churches and having supervision over some churches under the apostle. Therefore an evangelist may hold executive functions under the apostle in the Church headquarters or work today. An evangelist is not necessarily stationary. Pastors are stationary pastors over a local church or contingent group of local churches…
Old Testament Israel, the Church of the Old Testament, was also a nation in the world–though not OF the world as God organized it. Its GOVERNMENT was HIERARCHICAL. It was theocratic government–government from the top down–the very opposite of “democracy.”
The CHURCH is organized under theocratic government, hierarchical in form. The members do not set officials in the Church. God sets EVEN THE LAY MEMBERS in the Church (I Cor. 12:18).
Jesus said explicitly, “No MAN CAN come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44). The world, except for the specially called, is CUT OFF from God!
We have just covered the truth that GOD set officials to serve on the human level under Christ, in the Church. Members do not elect them. Yet in the churches of this world some believe in government by the entire congregation–“democracy”–and call themselves “Congregational.” Others have organized themselves into government by ministers or presbytery and call themselves “Presbyterian.” ” (Mystery of the Ages, Dodd & Mead, 1985, pp.49, 242, 244, 246-247).
The ‘loner’-the individual Christian’ who wants to climb up into the kingdom some other way than by Christ and His way through His Church-is not being trained in Christ’s manner of training, to rule and reign with Christ in his kingdom!… The person who says, ‘I will get my salvation alone, outside of the Church’ is totally deceived.
“Individual Christians”–Ex-Members
Now what about the “private,” or “individual Christian,” who says, “I don’t want to be a part of the Church–I want to seek my salvation direct and alone with Christ.” …
The Church is ORGANIZED on GOD’S pattern of mutual teamwork and cooperation to function perfectly together. They shall become the GOD FAMILY as it shall exist at the time of Christ’s Second Coming. Remember God IS that divine FAMILY! (Mystery of the Ages, pp. 270-271).
God has always, in dealing with humans, worked through ONE MAN at a time — one who believed God! Some in ancient Israel challenged this one-man leadership. Some, like-wise, have challenged it today! First, Moses’ own brother and sister challenged his one-man leadership. … That is the case of Korah, Dathan, Abiram and On.
“And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes … famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses … Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Eternal is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Eternal?” (Numbers 16:1-3).
They accused Moses of appointing himself — though there had been ample evidence by the fruits of Moses’ leadership and even miracles God did through him, that they were without excuse, just as many are today. What happened to them?
“And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up … They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation” (verses 32-33). …
God has always worked through one man, primarily, at a time. God chose David and worked through him. Two of his sons, at different times, conspired to wrest his throne from him. But God protected David, and those sons were destroyed! …
In founding God’s Church, Jesus worked primarily through one man, Peter, even though He originally chose His 12 disciples. Few have ever noticed that Peter was the real leader… “Simeon [PETER] hath declared …” — And James merely CONFIRMED Peter’s decision, making it official. That ought to make clear this crucial 15th chapter of Acts — the one classic example of settling any disputed doctrine in the Church. And, though there were other apostles, God worked primarily through ONE man –PETER! Has God changed? Or is He the SAME still today? …
The Jerusalem conference (Acts 15) showed that PETER was predominant over even Paul, although Paul was the ONE MAN God worked through primarily in the ministry to gentiles. … Acts 15. This crucial crux chapter has been misinterpreted, twisted and distorted. I have tried to take space to MAKE IT CLEAR in this article. The other apostles and ministers were all in confusion, arguing and disputing. But CHRIST silenced them by speaking through His CHOSEN chief apostle, PETER! (Armstrong HW, And NOW Christ Sets Church Back On Track Doctrinally. Good News, April 1979).
Jesus came to start God’s world, and He came to start it by starting the Church. The Church was started with one Man. … Now He came to restore the government of God on this earth. …  It’s a matter of government. It’s a matter that makes sense all the way through. There had to be a Church Age to have time to train people that God is calling out of the world. … Now restitution means restoring to a former state or condition, or restoring something that had been taken away and lost. Jesus is coming to restore the GOVERNMENT of God. He’s coming to knock Satan off of that throne over the world, and Christ will sit on the throne and rule over all nations. … And then, finally, we are going to go out to the other planets all over the vast universe. … In other words, I’m giving you THE TRUNK OF THE TREE—the roots, and the trunk, and the major branches. And the others fill in with the smaller branches, and its smaller branches than that; then the little twigs. And all those are important too. They are all part of the same tree. (Armstrong HW. The Trunk of the Tree. Sermon, October 16, 1983)
The government of God has been restored to the Church, and the government of God has been placed in the Church. You read that in Ephesians 4 and I Corinthians 12. Christ is the head of the Church and under Christ in the administration of the government are an apostle or apostles, then evangelists, then pastors, then all are called elders, all ministers all the way up clear down to the lowest. So then there are teachers and elders both speaking elders and preaching elders, deacons and deaconesses. And the Church is restored in that form of government. The Sardis Church even didn’t have the right form of government (Sermon. Mission of the Philadelphia Church Era by Herbert W. Armstrong given on December 17, 1983).
God has always, in dealing with humans, worked through ONE MAN at a time — one who believed God! Some in ancient Israel challenged this one-man leadership. Some, like-wise, have challenged it today! First, Moses’ own brother and sister challenged his one-man leadership. Miriam and Aaron said, “Hath the Eternal indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?” (Numbers 12:2). And the Eternal heard it… . And the Eternal came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth … My servant Moses is not so” (as the others), “who is faithful in all mine house … Wherefore then were ye NOT AFRAID to speak against my servant Moses?” (verses 5-8). “And the anger of the Eternal was kindled against them” (verse 9). And Miriam was inflicted with leprosy for a while. Yet, though our members and ministers all know this, some are NOT AFRAID to speak contemptuously, in hostility or defamingly against Christ’s apostle today! They need not fear ME! For I will not turn on them or strike them.
Why, then, do they not fear GOD? …  In founding God’s Church, Jesus worked primarily through one man, Peter, even though He originally chose His 12 disciples. Few have ever noticed how Peter was the real leader. Jesus had told His disciples to go NOT to the gentiles, but to the “lost sheep of the House of Israel.” … Notice now PETER’S preeminence. Few have ever put all these scriptures together as I shall now do. This shows PETER was leader. … And, though there were other apostles, God worked primarily through ONE man –PETER! Has God changed? Or is He the SAME still today? … The Jerusalem conference (Acts 15) showed that PETER was predominant over even Paul, although Paul was the ONE MAN God worked through primarily in the ministry to gentiles. The CHURCH is GOD’S Church. (Armstrong, Herbert W. And NOW Christ Sets Church Back On Track Doctrinally. Good News, April 1979).
God has always worked primarily through ONE MAN at a time — as Abraham, then Isaac, then Jacob, then Joseph — later Moses, then Joshua, later Samuel, then David — and, in the New Testament Church, PETER. (Armstrong HW. How Christ Gives The Church Its Beliefs. Good News, November 20. 1978)Â
God has always, in dealing with humans, worked through ONE MAN at a time — one who believed God! Some in ancient Israel challenged this one-man leadership. Some, like-wise, have challenged it today! First, Moses’ own brother and sister challenged his one-man leadership. … That is the case of Korah, Dathan, Abiram and On.
“And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes … famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses … Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Eternal is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Eternal?” (Numbers 16:1-3).
They accused Moses of appointing himself — though there had been ample evidence by the fruits of Moses’ leadership and even miracles God did through him, that they were without excuse, just as many are today. What happened to them?
“And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up … They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation” (verses 32-33). …
God has always worked through one man, primarily, at a time. God chose David and worked through him. Two of his sons, at different times, conspired to wrest his throne from him. But God protected David, and those sons were destroyed! …
In founding God’s Church, Jesus worked primarily through one man, Peter, even though He originally chose His 12 disciples. Few have ever noticed that Peter was the real leader… “Simeon [PETER] hath declared …” — And James merely CONFIRMED Peter’s decision, making it official. That ought to make clear this crucial 15th chapter of Acts — the one classic example of settling any disputed doctrine in the Church. And, though there were other apostles, God worked primarily through ONE man –PETER! Has God changed? Or is He the SAME still today? …
The Jerusalem conference (Acts 15) showed that PETER was predominant over even Paul, although Paul was the ONE MAN God worked through primarily in the ministry to gentiles. … Acts 15. This crucial crux chapter has been misinterpreted, twisted and distorted. I have tried to take space to MAKE IT CLEAR in this article. The other apostles and ministers were all in confusion, arguing and disputing. But CHRIST silenced them by speaking through His CHOSEN chief apostle, PETER! (Armstrong HW, And NOW Christ Sets Church Back On Track Doctrinally. Good News, April 1979).
“The PURPOSE for which Christ built the Church exemplifies its WORK…1) To ANNOUNCE to the world for its witness the coming Kingdom of God…2) To prepare the people to whom God adds to the Church…God has always worked with humans. He has worked with O N E  M A N at a time…The WORK consists of proclaiming the Gospel, by radio, by television, in print” (Armstrong HW. JUST WHAT IS THE WORK? PASTOR GENERAL’S REPORT – VOL.3, NO.6 February 6, 1981).
God only deals through one man at a time. GOD DOES NOT WORK THROUGH COMMITTEES. God works through ONE MAN AT A TIME. I want you to notice it as we go along now. Let’s understand the way of God. The world has not understood it. So God worked through one judge at a time. (Armstrong H. Building The Temple. Sermon, February 14, 1981)
Now HOW HAS GOD WORKED THROUGH HUMANS? He has always worked through one man at a time as a leader. He gave the promises on which all salvation depends to ONE MAN, Abraham. He repromised them to ONE man, Isaac, and again to Jacob. Four hundred thirty years after Abraham, God raised up ONE MAN as leader—Moses. Moses was specially trained from childhood. He didn’t let Moses die until his commission of leading the chosen people to the promised land was COMPLETED, when Moses was 120 years old.
God used ONE MAN to lead the Israelites across the Jordan river into that promised land. After Joshua, at first there was no leader. Every man did what was right in his own eyes. The Israelites disobeyed God and soon became a conquered vassal nation. God raised up ONE MAN—a “judge”—to deliver them into freedom again. Again and again the nation sinned and became a vassal nation. Again each time God raised up ONE MAN to deliver them — see book of Judges.
Then God raised up ONE MAN, Samuel, specially prepared from childhood, by which GOD ruled the nation (1 Sam. 8:7). The people wanted a KING like other nations (verse 6). God allowed them to have Saul as king. Then God chose ONE MAN, David, to lead His people. (Armstrong HW. CO-worker Letter, March 19, 1981)
God … He has always worked through ONE MAN at a time. He worked through Abraham. He worked through Moses, through Joshua, through one “judge” at a time, through Samuel, through David, through Solomon. He worked through Peter and when Peter had left the Middle East, through Paul. These men had, in greater or lesser number, staff assistants under them, but God’s WORK was through the ONE MAN AT A TIME! THIS IS THE “WORK OF GOD” — and not a humanly organized institution, operation or organization on the worldly corporate type of organization, function and procedure. (Armstrong H. Just What Is ‘The WORK’? Good News, April 1981)
God never works through committees. God works only through one man at a time, and always did. All through the Bible you will find that God had to work through one man at a time. (Armstrong H. Another Civilization. Sermon, October 2, 1982)
To administer these many operations, God–not a vote of the members–“hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers.” Or, as stated in more detail in Ephesians 4:11 (RSV): “And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers.” …
Evangelists were leading ministers, proclaiming the gospel to the public, even raising up local churches and having supervision over some churches … an evangelist may hold executive functions under the apostle in the Church headquarters or work today. An evangelist is not necessarily stationary. Pastors are stationary pastors over a local church or contingent group of local churches. (Armstrong HW. Mystery of the Ages, Chapter 6)
Now what kind of a building do you have if part of the facade, one or two stones, or one or two pieces of the wood of it is over one place and some of it is over in another State, and a part of it is in another nation, and another part of it is somewhere else? Would you call it a building? And yet there are those that say; “Well I’m a loner, I’m an individual Christian. I don’t want to be a part of any church organization.” And then there’s those who say; “I don’t want to follow a man.” And yet that’s what they do do, they follow a man usually. And they go off into many little cliques, each one of them following one man.Â
Now God has always worked through one man as leader. But that man is only a leader, and always it has been God. For example, when Samuel was a prophet leading the people of God, they didn’t want Samuel anymore, they wanted a human king like the other nations. God said; “It isn’t you they have rejected Samuel, you weren’t the real ruler, I was. They have rejected me that I should not rule over them.” (I Samuel 8:7Â paraphrased). This is eighth chapter of I Samuel. And, you see it was God ruling them, not Samuel.Â
And so it is really Christ leading the Church today, it is not I. I am only an instrument. (Armstrong H. Ephesians 3 & 4 Bible Study, January 2, 1981)
So, ask yourself, who is that one man today? Could God somehow have put him in his office and somehow confirmed it?
Anyone who had been in the old Worldwide Church of God in the 1980s, while Herbert W. Armstrong was alive, should have heard him repeatedly emphasize the importance of proper Church governance and one man hierarchical rule.
But most, after his death in 1986, DID NOT accept this teaching, and many of those who thought they did had issues truly understanding and abiding by it–they became cold or lukewarm (see also Laodicean Church).
Now, the Laodicean churches are different than other church eras. The letter to them begins with:
14 And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write (Revelation 3:14)
All but one of the other letters in Revelation are addressed to a church using the singular–the Laodicean letter is addressed to the plural. These churches do not accept the ONE MAN at a time that God uses to lead the most faithful church.
The Laodiceans do NOT accept how God works and DO NOT accept any true prophet of God.
“The PURPOSE for which Christ built the Church exemplifies its WORK…1) To ANNOUNCE to the world for its witness the coming Kingdom of God…2) To prepare the people to whom God adds to the Church…God has always worked with humans. He has worked with O N E M A N at a time … The WORK consists of proclaiming the Gospel, by radio, by television, in print” (Armstrong HW. JUST WHAT IS THE WORK? PASTOR GENERAL’S REPORT – VOL.3, NO.6 February 6, 1981).
Anyone who had been in the old Worldwide Church of God in the 1980s while Herbert W. Armstrong was alive, heard him repeatedly emphasize the importance of proper Church governance. But most did not later accept this teaching, and many of those who thought they did had issues truly understanding and abiding by it.
You need to know who the O N E M A N at this time leading the final phase of the work is.
Many believe that they have been hurt by individuals, ministers, and/or church organizations in the past, and because they still keep basic doctrine, that this is acceptable to God. Jesus did NOT agree as His comments to the Laodiceans demonstrates that.
The New Testament has the following warnings:
8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
In the day of trial in the wilderness,
9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,
And saw My works forty years.
10 Therefore I was angry with that generation,
And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,
And they have not known My ways.’
11 So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest.’ (Hebrews 3:8-11)
15 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion. (Hebrews 3:15)
7 Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts. (Hebrews 4:7)
Many have hardened their hearts. Look, when Pharaoh hardened his heart, he thought he was doing what was best for Egypt. When the children of Israel hardened their hearts, they apparently thought that they were the people of God, hence they were doing the right thing–yet they had rejected one-man rule under Moses. According to Herbert W. Armstrong, the rebellion Hebrews 3 referred to was “in the days of Moses” (Armstrong HW. Law and Grace. Radio broadcast) The children of Israel thought committees of leaders (cf. Numbers 16) or simply trusting themselves was proper (cf. Numbers 16:3)–but they were wrong. Sadly, independent Laodiceans are like that.
For more details on church governance, check out the article The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government. Another item of interest may be the sermon: Dreams, COGs, and One Man Rule.
Is God is calling you (or has called you), and will you learn, continue, and seriously do what is taught in the Bible? If so, you can be a member of the Continuing Church of God.
If God is calling you, notice what the Apostle Peter said you should do (those wishing to argue against this, obviously would not wish to be part of the CCOG):
38 “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39)
If you have already been appropriately baptized, then we also suggest that you read the Statement of Beliefs of the Continuing Church of God. If you agree, will live as a true Christian, and wish to be part of us, then we accept true believers who wish to support us as we lead the Final Phase of the Work by proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of God as a witness (Matthew 24:14), teaching all that Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:19-20), working to reach the full number of those called in this age (see What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles), while also preparing for the ‘Short Work, remembering the poor (Galatians 2:10), and proclaiming the Ezekiel Warning.
You can contact a minister or other representative near your area to let him know you wish to be part of us. We also would expect you to live as a Christian and, among other things, keep the Sabbath, attend or watch our church services, and strive to attend the Feast of Tabernacles.
If you have not been appropriately baptized, or are not sure if you have been, and you believe you are being called to become part of the Continuing Church of God, you will want to meet with a deacon or minister in the church to discuss church teachings and get questions answers. We have many congregations around the world, several of which are listed on our Congregations page. You can also read about the teachings of our church throughout this www.ccog.org website as well as the www.cogwriter.com website. For more on counseling, etc., check out the article: How does the CCOG handle Counseling, Prayer Requests, Funerals, and Anointing of the Sick?
Please understand, there is no minimum or maximum amount of time required to learn about the church. The important thing is to believe the word of God and understand the about living as a true Christian. We also have a booklet that may help online: Christians: Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, Biblical instructions on living as a Christian.
Once you have turned you life over to God and learned about the church, you are ready to become part of the body of Christ. You become a member of the Church of God through being baptized by a representative of the church. Baptism is a critical and fundamental step. Baptism signifies the death of our carnal nature and our being begotten as a follower of Jesus Christ. It allows us to partake God’s plan of eternal salvation. Furthermore, baptism is a public statement to the church and the world that the believer is turning away from loving the world and dedicating his/her life to God.
Additional information on baptism can be found in the article Baptism, the Early Church, and the Continuing Church.
If you are not already a properly baptized part of the Church of God, in order to be considered a real member of the Continuing Church of God, you must:
- Be called of God (John 6:44).
- Be willing to seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33).
- Repent of your sins (Acts 2:38; 1 John 1:9).
- Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior (Acts 2:38).
- Strive to obey God (Acts 5:32) and to fully live as a loving Christian (Matthew 23:23; John 15:12).
- Prove that our beliefs are biblical (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, KJV).
- Contact a CCOG leader for counseling (cf. Proverbs 11:14; Romans 10:14; 1 Timothy 5:22).
- Be properly baptized and have hands laid upon you (Acts 2:38, 19:5-6).
- Support the work of Matthew 24:14, Matthew 28:19-20, and other aspects of the Philadelphian work (Revelation 3:7-13).
- Continue to live as a Christian, including keeping the Holy Days, and endure to the end (Matthew 10:22).
We also have literature to assist you in the process.
YOU can be independent of the world as well as non-Philadelphian Christianity.
Those interested in being part of the Continuing Church of God may also wish to read the following: How Do I Become a Member of the Continuing Church of God?
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Independent/Unaffiliated: Independent Members of the COG: Herbert W. Armstrong Comments, Plus Questions and Answers What did Herbert W. Armstrong teach about being independent of the organized Church? Should independents who claim to accept Herbert W. Armstrong’s teachings support the end time Philadelphian work? Here is a link to a related sermon: Church of God Unity. Watch also Zephaniah’s ‘Gather Together’ Prophecy.
How Do I Become a Member of the Continuing Church of God? This article has scriptures, links, and other information for those interested in being part of the CCOG. Here is a link to a related sermonette: 10 Steps to Be a Member of the CCOG.
Is God Calling You? This booklet discusses topics including calling, election, and selection. If God is calling you, how will you respond? Here is are links to related sermons: Christian Election: Is God Calling YOU? and Predestination and Your Selection.A short animation is also available: Is God Calling You?
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? Two related sermons about this are also available: Real Repentance and Real Christian Repentance.
Baptism, the Early Church, and the Continuing Church Was it by immersion? Did it include infants? Does Polycarp prove infant baptism? Here is a link to some information in the Spanish language: Bautismo de infantes o bendición de los niños pequeños. A related sermon video is titled Baptism: What is it and how should it be done?
Christians: Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, Biblical instructions on living as a Christian This is a scripture-filled booklet for those wishing to live as a real Christian. A related sermon is also available: Christians are Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God.
Real Conversion Many think that they are converted Christians. But are they? Would you like to know more about conversion?
False Conversion! Have you really been converted? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote an article on this important subject–but more scriptures have been added to it. How can you tell false conversion? A related video is also available: False Conversion. A Spanish language version is also available: Falsa Conversión.
About Baptism Should you be baptized? Could baptism be necessary for salvation? Who should baptize and how should it be done? As far as early history, see also Baptism, the Early Church, and the Continuing Church.
Laying on of Hands This is an elementary principle of Hebrews 6. Have you properly had hands laid upon you? Here is a link to a related sermon: Laying on of Hands and Succession.
Living as a Christian: How and Why? In what ways do Christians live differently than others. What about praying, fasting, tithing, holy days, and the world? There are also two YouTube video related to this: Living as a Christian: How and Why? and Living as a Christian: Pure Milk of the Word.
Faith for Those God has Called and Chosen What is faith? Can faith be increased? Are you saved by faith? What about works? Do Christians need to keep the Ten Commandments? What is the ‘faith chapter’? How do the just live by faith? Is faith one of the weightier matters of the law? How does faith come? Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Fe para aquellos que Dios ha llamado y escogido. In German: Glaube für die von Gott Berufenen und Auserwählten. In French: La Foi pour ceux que Dieu a Appelés et Choisis. Here is a link to a related sermon titled: Faith for the Called and Chosen.and here is a link to another sermon Faith and Courage. Here is a link to shorter version of the written article in Mandarin Chinese N{ÇQsNŽOáNðv„\e‡zà.
Prayer: What Does the Bible Teach? This free booklet contains 28 biblically-based tips on improving the effectiveness of your prayers. This is a pdf. A related two part sermon is available: What Does the Bible Teach About Prayer? and What does the Bible Teach About Prayer (& Healing)?
The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You? This free online book helps answers some of the biggest questions that human have, including the biblical meaning of life. Here is a link to three related sermons: Mysteries of God’s Plan, Mysteries of Truth, Sin, Rest, Suffering, and God’s Plan, and The Mystery of YOU.
Herbert W. Armstrong, the Philadelphia Church, & the Mantle Herbert Armstrong claims God had him raise the Philadelphia up. Are there reasons to believe that the Philadelphia mantle in now within the CCOG? Here is a link to a related sermon: Herbert W. Armstrong and the Philadelphia Mantle.
Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18? Does any church have the confirmed dream and prophetic signs of Acts 2:17-18? Should one? Here is a link in the Spanish language: ¿Tiene la CCOG confirmadas las señales de Hechos 2: 17-18?
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from lower level leaders? Two related sermons are available The Work per HWA and the Bible and Priority of the Philadelphia Work.
Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word What is the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28? Who is preparing for it? Here is a link to a related video sermon titled: The Short Work.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism The CCOG is NOT Protestant. This free online book explains how the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants. Several sermons related to the free book are also available: Protestant, Baptist, and CCOG History; The First Protestant, God’s Command, Grace, & Character; The New Testament, Martin Luther, and the Canon; Eucharist, Passover, and Easter; Views of Jews, Lost Tribes, Warfare, & Baptism; Scripture vs. Tradition, Sabbath vs. Sunday; Church Services, Sunday, Heaven, and God’s Plan; Seventh Day Baptists/Adventists/Messianics: Protestant or COG?; Millennial Kingdom of God and God’s Plan of Salvation; Crosses, Trees, Tithes, and Unclean Meats; The Godhead and the Trinity; Fleeing or Rapture?; and Ecumenism, Rome, and CCOG Differences.
4. The Thyatira Church Era was predominant circa 1050 A.D. to circa 1600 A.D. The Church during the Inquisition.
5. The Sardis Church Era was predominant circa 1600 A.D. to circa 1933 A.D. Discusses early history of the Seventh Day Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and COG-7th Day.
6. The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now the remnant of that era is basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.
7. The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. The Laodiceans are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG or its offshoots. They do not properly understand the work or biblical prophecies and will face the Great Tribulation if they do not repent. One video of related interest is 17 Laodicean Errors in Prophecy.
Christians: Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, Biblical instructions on living as a Christian This is a scripture-filled booklet for those wishing to live as a real Christian. A related sermon is also available: Christians are Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God.
The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast This is a free pdf book explaining the what the Ten Commandments are, where they came from, how early professors of Christ viewed them, and how various ones, including the Beast of Revelation, will oppose them. A related sermon is titled: The Ten Commandments and the Beast of Revelation.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. Here are links to three related sermons: The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries and Continuing History of the Church of God: 17th-20th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
CCOG.ORG Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God.
