Church of God News

An engraving allegedly of Irenaeus, in Gaul (now Lyons, France)

COGwriter

The Tkach Worldwide Church of God which now calls itself GCI, sponsors a website that yesterday posted the following:

The Surprising God Blog

A forum for discussing Christ-centered, trinitarian theology

6.09.2009

Irenaeus on the Trinity

In about A.D. 180, Irenaeus … wrote the following important statement concerning the triune God (quoted from “The Christian Theology Reader” by Alister McGrath, p. 93).

We find here the basic elements of the doctrine of the trinity…

GCI then quotes some passages from A. McGrath’s book.  GCI apparently concluded that Irenaeus supported the trinity.

But perhaps it should have included comments from other scholars on the same passages.

For example, commenting on the above passages from Irenaeus, scholar F. R. Montgomery Hitchcock, M.A. D.D. (Formerly University Student, Fellowship Prizeman and Donnellan Lecturer of Trinity College, Dublin) wrote:

We now come to a rather complicated problem, in
which it is difficult to mark the exact positions of
Irenaeus the relation of the Divine Persons of the
Godhead to one another. In some passages the Persons
are coordinated ; while in others there seems to be a
subordination in the relations of the Son to the Father.
and of the Spirit to the Son.

Thus, I am not the only scholar who realize that the passages in question do not clearly support the trinity.

Furthermore, GCI and others seem to overlooked the following writing from Irenaeus:

…there is none other called God by the Scriptures except the Father of all, and the Son, and those who possess the adoption (Irenaeus. Adversus haereses, Book IV, Preface, Verse 4. Excerpted from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 1. Edited by Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson. American Edition, 1885. Online Edition Copyright © 2004 by K. Knight).

Notice that Irenaeus states that only the Father, the Son, and those who possess the adoption (Christians) are God. This is a binitarian, not a trinitarian view.

While we in the Living Church of God do believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, that does not mean that we believe in the Greco-Roman trinity that was adopted at the Council of Constantinople in 381 A.D.

Even though he was a heretic, nor did Irenaeus espouse what became adopted as the Greco-Roman trinity.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Binitarian View: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning Is binitarianism the correct position? What about unitarianism or trinitarianism?
Is The Father God? What is the view of the Bible? What was the view of the early church?
Jesus is God, But Was Made Man Was Jesus fully human and fully God or what?
Virgin Birth: Does the Bible Teach It? What does the Bible teach? What is claimed in The Da Vinci Code?
Did Early Christians Think the Holy Spirit Was A Separate Person in a Trinity? Or did they have a different view?
Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity? Most act like this is so, but is it?
Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church? Many, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, claim it was, but was it?
Binitarianism: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning This is a shorter article than the Binitarian View article, but has a little more information on binitarianism.
Irenaeus: The Most Dangerous Heretic? Was Irenaeus a faithful peacemaker or was he possibly the most dangerous of the early heretics?
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?

COGwriter

Even though it is now late May 2009, the latest issue (April 20, 2009) of The Journal just came out.  As it was a single month issue this time, it appears that schedule at The Journal is improving.

Its main articles included the name change of WCG (previously reported at COGwriter, see WCG Changes Name to GCI!), PCG buying the swan sculpture (previously reported at COGwriter, see PCG Acquires Big Sandy Sculpture), someone claiming an angelic visitation 28 years ago, Wesley White wanting a another web confederation for “independents”, CBCG’s new Bible translation (see also Christian Biblical Church of God and its Teachings), some 2008 Feast of Tabernacles reports, and a report from CGI in Jamaica.

Dixon Cartwright, editor of The Journal, correctly pointed out that J. Tkach indicated that the name GCI is what it wanted in 2005, while in fact it wanted GIC.  Dixon Cartwright reported that “Armstrongism” was the original reason for why WCG wanted to changed its name.  WCG wanted to have a name that distanced themselves from biblical Christianity, derisively called “Armstrongism” by critics who refuse to live by what the Bible teaches.

I am quite pleased that WCG changed its name as having the expression “Church of God” in its name is misleading for many reasons, including the fact that it simply no longer holds to most key Church of God doctrines.

The following was in the “Prayer Requests” section of The Journal:

Bernie Schnippert, slow-growing carcinoid cancer.

As far as I know, Bernie Schnippert, is still with WCG/GCI and supported the heresies that group adopted.

While The Journal is available only by paid subscription, you can view the pdf. of its front and back page is available at: www.thejournal.org/issues/issue134/jf043009.pdf

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Who Was Herbert W. Armstrong? How is He Viewed Today? Includes quotes from the 1973 edition of The Autobiography of Herbert W. Armstrong and explains who he was and how he should be viewed today.
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 be part of LCG?
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.
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 basically the Living Church of God.
The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. These are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.

COGwriter

In his latest update, GCI/WCG’s Joseph Tkach wrote:

Mother’s Day

One of the last things Jesus did on the cross was ask a friend to look after his mother. The Gospel of John tells the story in chapter 19, verses 25-27:

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” (NIV).

It’s a touching story, and it points up how important it was to Jesus that his mother be properly cared for. The disciple whom Jesus loved, a person referred to only in the Gospel of John, was John himself. And as a close and dear friend, he was Jesus’ choice to see that his mother would not fall destitute with no one to provide for her.

Honor your Father and your Mother, the Commandment says. And Jesus certainly honored his…

Of course, no mother is perfect, and precious few mothers are what their children would call ideal. But whatever their flaws and shortcomings, most mothers do love their children in a profoundly deep and unconditional way. And such unconditional love is rare in today’s world. But it’s there, and wherever you see it, it’s a reflection of the unconditional love our heavenly Father has for us.

More than 40 countries have an annual celebration of motherhood. In the United States, Mothers’ Day owes its origins to the work of Ana Jarvis of Grafton, West Virginia. Her letter-writing campaign eventually resulted in President Woodrow Wilson’s 1914 proclamation of a national observance of mothers, to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May.

Sunday, May 10th is observed in many lands as Mother’s Day.

Perhaps, an article of related interest may be Women and the New Testament Church.

COGwriter

WCG’s recent name change (reported here the day it happened on this page, see WCG Changes Name to GCI!) has been picked up by another religious news source:

Worldwide Church of God Changes Name to Signal Inner Change

Religion News Service reports that the Worldwide Church of God, which re-examined and later rebuked the teachings of founder Herbert W. Armstrong after his death in 1986, has changed its name to Grace Communion International. “We are a church that God radically transformed,” said church president Joseph W. Tkach, who is a board member of the National Association of Evangelicals. “Our new name is consistent with the transformation and aptly describes what God has made of our fellowship.” Armstrong denied the Christian belief in the Trinity and took Old Testament law to heart and encouraged works of righteousness to earn salvation. The church lost half its members, 95 percent of its 1,000-person staff, millions of magazine readers and its college in Pasadena, Calif., when it officially repudiated Armstrong’s teachings and “prophetic speculation” in the mid 1990s. http://www.crosswalk.com/news/religiontoday/11602619/

Of course, while we in LCG believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we would not agree that the Greco-Roman Trinity that WCG, now GCI, adopted is a proper “Christian” doctrine.  We also strongly deny that the old WCG taught that any can earn salvation through our own works of righteousness.  It is only by grace that one is saved, through faith.

We in the Living Church of God truly believe the following:

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:8-10).

The reader who sent me the link to this news item wrote:

the interesting thing to me is the quote “The church lost half its members, and 95 percent of its 1,000-person staff”  and the people who report on that write as though it is a good thing? Of course they never mention where the lost souls went to?

And of course, that is also a good point.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Binitarian View: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning Is binitarianism the correct position? What about unitarianism or trinitarianism?  Is there a threeness in the Godhead?
Did Early Christians Think the Holy Spirit Was A Separate Person in a Trinity? Or did they have a different view?
Did the True Church Ever Teach the Modern Trinity? Most act like this is so, but is it?  Did they have a different viewthan the one adopted by Theodosius’ Council?
Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church? Many, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, claim it was, but was it?
Are You Saved? Do You Love Jesus? What is a True Christian? What is the Gospel? Evangelist Richard Ames answers those important questions.

TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH

COGwriter

Finally, WCG has changed its name!  Here is what J. Tkach wrote in his latest letter:

April 2009

After reviewing all the submitted names and discussing the viable ones at length, the search team isolated key terms that reflect the church’s values and mission as a denomination while avoiding key terms that are normally associated with other denominations as well as those that are already in use by other organizations.

The name search team presented their findings and recommendations to a combined meeting of the Board and the Advisory Council of Elders on Dec. 20, 2005. After all factors and criteria were considered, the Board and the Council settled on the name “Grace Communion International.” Grace lies at the heart of our values and mission as a transformed church. Our spiritual unity with God and with one another is reflected in the word Communion. The word International identifies us as a unified body of believers who span the globe, sharing a common history and journey of faith.

The decision was announced in the February 2006 issue of WCG Today and was met with mixed reactions. Although a majority of members expressed their support for the new name, many were uncomfortable with it, so we decided to put the name change on hold, praying that God would reconfirm, in time, whether or not this was truly where he was leading us.

As time has passed, the consensus in favor of the name “Grace Communion International” has continued to grow. Although we cannot expect 100 percent agreement on any name, we have now reached a point at which more than 80 percent of U.S. members favor a change to this name.

We are a church that God has changed radically from what we once were to what we are today. Our change to a new name – one that accurately describes what God has done with us – will be consistent with that transformation.

Of course, most of our congregations have already taken on local names, demonstrating the value in putting before the public a name that better represents who our Father has made us, through the Spirit, to be in Jesus Christ. Grace Communion International describes our spiritual journey together, celebrates our new life in Christ, and communicates our Trinitarian, Christ-centered theology.

As a reminder, local churches, and our international regions, will still be able to choose their own name that may or may not be the same as our denominational name. In some countries, it is even prudent for them to keep the name “Worldwide Church of God.”

You will see the name change take shape in a carefully orchestrated way over the next several months. The name, “Worldwide Church of God” will still be ours. Our web address, www.wcg.org, will continue to belong to us, and will eventually redirect users to a new web address. New publications and other media will begin to reflect the new name in the next month or so, but keep in mind that all Worldwide Church of God copyrighted material will continue to belong to us, as will everything pertaining to the name Worldwide Church of God…

May God bless you with a joyous Easter season!

With much love in Jesus’ name,

Joseph Tkach

I have been waiting for this for a long, long time (although WCG seemed to lean more towards Grace International Communion than Grace Communion International before).

WCG is NOT a real “Church of God” and I am very happy that they will no longer officially use that name in Pasadena.

The Bible does NOT endorse GCI”s (Grace Communion International) view of the Godhead, nor Easter.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Binitarian View: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning Is binitarianism the correct position? What about unitarianism or trinitarianism?  Is there a threeness in the Godhead?
Did Early Christians Think the Holy Spirit Was A Separate Person in a Trinity? Or did they have a different view?
Did the True Church Ever Teach the Modern Trinity? Most act like this is so, but is it?
Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church? Many, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, claim it was, but was it?
Binitarianism: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning This is a shorter article than the Binitarian View article, but has a little more information on binitarianism.
What Happened in the Crucifixion Week? How long are three days and three nights? Did Jesus die on “Good Friday”? Was the resurrection on Sunday? Do you really know? Who determined the date of Easter?
Did Early Christians Celebrate Easter? If not, when did this happen? What do scholars and the Bible reveal?

COGwriter

In its weekly announcement last night, WCG’s J. Tkach wrote the following:

Universalism

Some people argue that repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ are really not necessary for salvation…

What a person believes, what a person does, or how a person lives, makes no difference – salvation for everyone is already determined and certain. Such a belief is called universalism.

Certainly, the grace of God is very wide. We’re told in 1 John 2:2, speaking of Jesus: “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (NIV)

And Colossian 1:19-20 says, “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (NIV)

That tells us that everyone, without exception, is included in Christ’s atoning work and is reconciled to God through Christ’s blood.

And yet, Paul also wrote in Romans 1:16: “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:…”

…Contrary to universalism, the Bible teaches that there is salvation only in Jesus Christ…all who remain hostile to God remain unsaved by their own choice.

… Those who refuse God’s love and fellowship are refusing salvation. And he will not allow hostile, destructive people, to whom his love means nothing, spoil his kingdom for everyone else.

Although there is a line above that I will comment about (and I edited out several statements that were in biblical error), WCG generally speaking (based upon previous writings), has not completely abandoned the notion that God will ultimately offer salvation to all, though the above does not state that.  It appears that J. Tkach put that letter out to distance WCG from the accusation that it teaches “universalism”.

Now while he is correct that all need to accept Christ, he neglected to mention that many are blinded now and will not have their real opportunity for salvation until after the resurrection.

When he stated, “all who remain hostile to God remain unsaved by their own choice”, he neglected to state that there have been untold numbers of people throughout history in islands, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America, Australia, and even Europe and North America, who have never even heard of Jesus Christ, and billions more who did not learn enough about Christ to truly accept salvation.

At this point, I wish to clearly remind everyone that God does have a plan of salvation, that His plan of salvation is all emcompassing, that God will offer salvation to all that ever lived, and that nearly everyone who ever lived will apparently accept His offer.

WCG used to teach that this opportunity for salvation came on the last of the biblical holy days called the Last Great Day.  But since it no longer endorses the biblical holy days, but instead now endorses those with non-Christian traditions like Easter, it has trouble understanding God’s universal offer of salvation.

Basically, those of us in the Living Church of God believe that God has revealed His plan of salvation in the Bible, and that when we observe the biblical holy days, that they lay out God’s plan of salvation in a clear way.  A way that those who prefer non-biblical substitutes (like Christmas and Easter) generally do not understand.

The first of the annual holy days is Passover.  It pictures that Jesus was sacrificed for the sins of humanity.  It is followed by the Days of Unleavened Bread which picture that forgiven Christians still should be diligent about trying to keep sin out of their lives.  It is later followed by Pentecost which pictures that God is only calling a relative few in this age, months later it is followed by the Feast of Trumpets which shows that Jesus will return, which is followed by The Day of Atonement which shows that Satan will be bound, which is followed by the The Feast of Tabernacles which pictures Christ’s 1000 year reign on the earth, and that is followed by the Last Great Day which pictures that God will then plead with all humanity and offer salvation to all that were not called in this age.

Thus, while J. Tkach is correct that the Bible does not teach “universalism” (salvation for all no matter what), he failed to teach that God will offer salvation to all.  And I found his letter misleading as it implies (perhaps unintentionally) that everyone can be saved now, and that simply is not the case.  But all who do not have their real opportunity now, will be granted a clear opportunity for salvation later.

And if this is a new concept to you, you really need to prove this from your Bible.  Please study it along with the article Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis).  While many claim to understand salvation, many simply do not realize what the Bible really teaches.

Some articles of related interest could include:

Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants How the Living Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis Do you believe what the Bible actually teaches on this? Will all good things be restored? Does God’s plan of salvation take rebellion and spiritual blindness into account?
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
Passover and the Early Church Did the early Christians observe Passover? What did Jesus and Paul teach? Why did Jesus die for our sins?

TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH

COGwriter

Here is the first portion of the letter that WCG sent out today:

Letter from Joseph Tkach:

March 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This month marks the first U.S. regional conference of 2009, followed by meetings with our international Mission Developers. Please join me in praying for God’s blessing on the meetings and for the safety of all who attend.

We will be taping interviews with our Mission Developers while they are here and making those available on our website. I do hope you have been able to view the interviews already on the website.

On our WCG Together program Mike Feazell has interviewed Reconciliation Ministries Director Curtis May, Superintendent of Ministers Dan Rogers, African Mission Developer Kalengule Kaoma and his wife Nsama, Asian Mission Developers Rod Matthews and Eugene Guzon, as well as my wife, Tammy, and me.

Upcoming WCG Together programs include interviews with Pat Shaw of Church Administration, Russell Duke of Grace Communion Seminary, Ted Johnston of Generations Ministries, Randy Bloom of Church Multiplication Ministries and Regional Superintendents Ken Williams and Lorenzo Arroyo, Camp and Events Director Greg Williams, CAD personnel Charles Albrecht and Nancy Akers, Treasurer Mat Morgan, Information Technology Director Robert Meade and many others.

These interviews are a wonderful way to get to know fellow church members and be inspired by the spiritual journeys of others.

You also want to be sure to watch every episode of You’re Included, our unique and fascinating interview series devoted to exploring the practical implications of Trinitarian theology in today’s world.

So, apparently WCG feels that interviewing its own employees and affiliates is helpful to its current objectives.

However, I would like to focus on the last portion above, some of the ramifications of trinitarian theology.

First of all, I believe that WCG likes to repeatedly emphasize that so that it will be more acceptable to the religions of this world: that is not good (Luke 6:26).

Second, I would remind everyone that although the Living Church of God does believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, it does not accept the trinitarian explanation of the Godhead that was ratified at Theodosius’ Council of Constantinople in 381 A.D. Perhaps, for historical reference, I should mention here that both the Bishop of Rome Liberius (Arendzen, John. “Pneumatomachi.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 11 Jul. 2008 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12174a.htm>)and the Bishop of Constantinople Macedonius (Forget J. Transcribed by W.S. French, Jr. Holy Ghost. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VII. Copyright © 1910 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight. Nihil Obstat, June 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York) in the mid-4^th century endorsed what would better be considered as binitarian, not trinitarian, views of the Godhead. The late acceptance of the trinitarian formula by the “Constantinians” should show those with “eyes to see” (cf. Ezekiel 12:2) that it was not a doctrine held by the original Nazarene faith of the Apostle Paul (see Hurtado LW. Lord Jesus Christ, Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity. William B. Eerdmans Publishing, Grand Rapids, 2003, pp. 175-176).

Third, I do not believe that WCG truly understands the longer-term ramifications of their trinitarian position.  There are a variety of Marion apparitions that make odd claims about the Trinity.

Notice what “Mary” allegedly stated in an apparition Pfaffenhofen, Germany on June 25, 1946:

I am the great Mediatrix of Grace. The Father wants the world to recognize His handmaid…My sign is about to appear. God wills it…I cannot reveal my power to the world as yet…Then I will be able to reveal myself…Chose a sign for yourself so that the Trinity may soon be adored by all! Pray and sacrifice through me!…I will impose crosses on my children that will be as heavy and as deep as the sea because I love them in my sacrificed Son. I pray, be prepared to bear the cross in order that the Trinity may be honored (Culleton, Reign of Antichrist, pp. 217-218).

Real Christians would not pray and sacrifice through Mary–but that Mary wants the trinity of Theodosius adored.

Two Catholic prophetic writers have claimed:

Soon all will call Mary, “Queen”…The Holy Trinity has sent Mary, the Mother of God, Mother of the Church, to warn us. (Flynn Ted and Mary. The Thunder of Justice. MaxKol Communications, Inc. Sterling (VA), 1993, Acknowledgements and p. 4).

Notice another rather bizarre claim made by the apparition of Tre Fontance (1947):

I am she who is in the Divine Trinity; I am the Virgin of Revelation (Culleton, Reign of Antichrist, p. 220).

I would think that even most trinitarians would have trouble accepting the above statement (even though it is in a book by a respected Catholic priest) as they would not accept that Mary is in any way the “Divine Trinity”. But, again, in the end-time, many will probably accept a lot of strange statements from what the Bible refers to as “lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9).

Anyway, my primary point is that the end result of trinitarian theology, to a degree, will possibly lead to the acceptance of Marian visions and ultimately a reconciliation between an ecumenical religion composed of a compromised Catholicism, Orthodoxy, and Protestantism.  And as I reported here a couple of days ago, this is consistent with the warnings of an evangelical writer that within the next decade there may be no more evangelicals (see The End of Evangelicals Next Decade?).

While most who accept the 381 A.D. Council of Constantinople’s views of the Godhead do not have sinister motives, I strongly believe that the acceptance of that doctrine will help the religion that the Bible warns against of the final beast power (Revelation 13) take over pretty much all of the world.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions Do you know much about Mary? Are the apparitions real? What might they mean? Are Protestants moving towards Mary? How might Mary view them?
Binitarian View: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning Is binitarianism the correct position? What about unitarianism or trinitarianism?
Is The Father God? What is the view of the Bible? What was the view of the early church?
Jesus is God, But Was Made Man Was Jesus fully human and fully God or what?
Virgin Birth: Does the Bible Teach It? What does the Bible teach? What is claimed in The Da Vinci Code?
Did Early Christians Think the Holy Spirit Was A Separate Person in a Trinity? Or did they have a different view?
Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity? Most act like this is so, but is it?
Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church? Many, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, claim it was, but was it?
Binitarianism: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning This is a shorter article than the Binitarian View article, but has a little more information on binitarianism.
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 This article explains how the LCG views this, and compares this to Ellen White.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? What is ahead for Europe?
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer.
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them.

TRANSFORMED FROM TRUTH

COGwriter

In his latest commentary, announced today, WCG’s J. Tkach asked and gave his answer to the following:

Have you ever wondered why the doctrine of the Trinity is so important to Christian faith?…

The fact that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three in one and one in three means that Jesus Christ and the Father are not separate Gods. And that means you don’t ever have to worry about what God thinks about you, how God feels about you, or what is going to happen to you when you die…

We know the Father loves us, because we know from the Bible that Jesus the Son loves us.

That’s why the doctrine of the Trinity is so important. It lets us know exactly where we stand with God the Father, because since the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one God, where we stand with Jesus is where we stand with the Father.

I’m Joseph Tkach, speaking of LIFE.

Huh?

One does not need the explanation of the trinity to understand that how Christians stand with the Father is the same as they stand with the Son and that God loves them.  Also, since the trinity was not accepted by the majority of those who professed Christ until the latter portion of the fourth century, it must not have been an explanation that real Christians ever needed.

The reason that the trinity is important to people like J. Tkach is because he and some of his associates wanted to be accepted by the mainstream churches of the world, nearly all of which have accepted some version of the trinitarian doctrine.

Of course, this was not always the case even among the mainstream.

Into the fourth century, most who professed Christ accepted a binitarian (also known as Semi-Arian) view of the Godhead.  Notice what The Catholic Encyclopedia admits:

Semi-Arians…A name frequently given to the conservative majority in the East in the fourth century…

The “majority” mean most.  “Conservative” means that they were making some attempt to retain a longstanding position.  But, as will be shown later, it was also accepted by at least 400 bishops of the West (and hence it was apparently the majority view of both the East and the West in the middle of the fourth century).

The trinity was adopted in the late fourth century and became important after the Roman Emperor Theodosius decided that it would be.  Theodosius wanted unity within his empire, and to enforce it he persecuted those who did not accept his version of “Christianity” (see Persecutions by Church and State).

Catholics and Orthodox rarely seem to realize it, but the heads of their church until the middle of the fourth century were not clear trinitarians, but supported a binitarian/Semi-Arian position.

Actually notice the following which are from three Catholic-bishop approved writings:

The second Formula of Sirmium (357) stated the doctrine of the Anomoeans, or extreme Arians. Against this the Semi-Arian bishops, assembled at Ancyra, the episcopal city of their leader Basilius, issued a counter formula, asserting that the Son is in all things like the Father, afterwards approved by the Third Synod of Sirmium (358). This formula, though silent on the term “homousios“, consecrated by the Council of Nicaea, was signed by a few orthodox bishops, and probably by Pope Liberius, being, in fact, capable of an orthodox interpretation. The Emperor Constantius cherished at that time the hope of restoring peace between the orthodox and the Semi-Arians by convoking a general council (Benigni, Umberto. “Council of Rimini.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 11 Jul. 2008 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13057b.htm>).

Pneumatomachi…The majority of this sect were clearly orthodox on the Consubstantiality of the Son; they had sent a deputation from the Semi-Arian council of Lampsacus (364 A.D.) to Pope Liberius, who after some hesitation acknowledged the soundness of their faith; but with regard to the Third Person, both pope and bishops were satisfied with the phrase: “We believe in the Holy Ghost” (Arendzen, John. “Pneumatomachi.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 11 Jul. 2008 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12174a.htm>)

“In the Council of Rimini, 359 A.D…nearly all bishops present, 400 in number” decided “to sign a semi-Arian creed” (Kramer H.B. L. The Book of Destiny.  Nihil Obstat: J.S. Considine, O.P., Censor Deputatus.  Imprimatur: +Joseph M. Mueller, Bishop of Sioux City, Iowa, January 26, 1956.  Reprint TAN Books, Rockford (IL), p. 164).

So at least 400 bishops, including the Bishop of Rome, agreed to a Semi-Arian position in the fourth century.  Since Rimini is in Italy, it should be clear that a majority in the West (and not just the East) also supported binitarianism.

What about the Orthodox?  Notice that even the Orthodox bishop of Constantinople in the fourth century held to some form of Semi-Arian view:

Towards the middle of the fourth century, Macedonius, Bishop of Constantinople, and, after him a number of Semi-Arians, while apparently admitting the Divinity of the Word, denied that of the Holy Ghost (Forget J. Transcribed by W.S. French, Jr. Holy Ghost. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VII. Copyright © 1910 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight. Nihil Obstat, June 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).

Hence, any who claim that the trinity is somehow essential to Christianity miss the point that even the leaders of the mainstream churches in the fourth century did not hold the trinitarian position to be essential–and actually most did not hold it until the latter portion of that century.

But binitarianism existed from the beginning according to the trinitarian-leaning scholar L. Hurtado:

…the “binitarian” pattern of devotion in which both God (the “Father”) and Jesus are objects of such reverence goes back to the earliest observable stages of the movement that became Christianity…The central place given to Jesus…and…their concern to avoid ditheism by reverencing Jesus rather consistently with reference to “the Father”, combine to shape the proto-orthodox “binitarian” pattern of devotion. Jesus truly is reverenced as divine (Hurtado LW. Lord Jesus Christ, Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity. William B. Eerdmans Publishing, Grand Rapids, 2003, pp. 605,618).

Furthermore, this is consistent with the Bible.  Notice this admission from another trinitarian scholar:

The binitarian formulas are found in Rom. 8:11, 2 Cor. 4:14, Gal. 1:1, Eph. 1:20, 1 Tim 1:2, 1 Pet. 1:21, and 2 John 1:13…No doctrine of the Trinity in the Nicene sense is present in the New Testament…There is no doctrine of the Trinity in the strict sense in the Apostolic Fathers…(Rusch W.G. The Trinitarian Controversy. Fortress Press, Phil., 1980, pp. 2-3).

Thus, the trinity is not important as far as the Bible is concerned, nor was it important enough to the early church.

The trinity became important in the fourth century to those who changed the beliefs and practices of the original church that Jesus founded.

But the true church was not to change doctrine (Jude 3) nor be carried away by doctrinal changes (Hebrews 13:8-9).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Binitarian View: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning Is binitarianism the correct position? What about unitarianism or trinitarianism?
Is The Father God? What is the view of the Bible? What was the view of the early church?
Jesus is God, But Was Made Man Was Jesus fully human and fully God or what?
Did Early Christians Think the Holy Spirit Was A Separate Person in a Trinity? Or did they have a different view?
Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity? Most act like this is so, but is it?
Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church? Many, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, claim it was, but was it?
Binitarianism: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning This is a shorter article than the Binitarian View article, but has a little more information on binitarianism.
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes.
Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome What actually happened to the primitive Church? And did the Bible tell about this in advance?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Living Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions. Português: Qual é fiel: A igreja católica romana ou a igreja viva do deus? Tambien Español: Cuál es fiel: ¿La iglesia católica romana o La Iglesia del Dios Viviente? Auch: Deutsch: Welches zuverlässig ist: Die Römisch-katholische Kirche oder die lebende Kirche von Gott?
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Orthodox Church and the Living Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?

COGwriter

In it latest email, WCG had a letter from its J. Tkach that stated the following:

Around the world, with Africa not yet reporting, 33 new elders were ordained in 2008, more than 500 new believers were baptized, and some 60 new churches and Bible studies were started. Africa’s report will probably more than double the baptism figures. We currently have a worldwide membership of about 42,000 meeting in more than 850 churches in more than 90 countries and territories.

WCG seems to have had membership statistics in this range the past few years.

A lot of the non-Church of God doctrines have been adopted by the Tkach WCG–hence their new “believers”, would do not seem to believe the original faith (cf. Jude 3).

Three articles of possibly related interest may include:

Hope of Salvation: How the Living Church of God differ from most Protestants How the Living Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background.
Is There “An Annual Worship Calendar” In the Bible? This paper provides a biblical and historical critique of several articles, including one by WCG which states that this should be a local decision. What do the Holy Days mean? Also you can click here for the calendar of Holy Days.
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?

COGwriter

In it latest email, WCG announced the following:

Mike Feazell talks with Elmer Colyer, professor of theology at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. Dr. Colyer talks about the weaknesses of the concordance method of theology, that the Bible is not an end in itself, our knowledge of God is participatory, and the promise of Trinitarian theology to transform our vision of what it means to be a Christian and what it means to be the church as the antidote to the church’s current consumerism, individualism and never-ending programs to get members.

Trinitarian theology means that one accepts the decisions of a Greco-Roman council in the late 4th century that was enforced with Imperial edicts and persecution.

Trinitarian theology means that one rejects the fact that the early true Church always held a Binitarian View of the Godhead.

Even compromisers, like the Bishops of Rome and Constantinople, endorsed some type of a Binitarian View as late as the middle of the fourth century.  Some type of Binitarian View was the majority position of those who professed Christ, even among many of the Greco-Romans in most of the fourth century.

Accepting Trinitarian theology means that one has rejected what Jude referred to as “the faith that was once for all delivered for the saints“.

Those interested in understanding the truth on these matters, should study the following with their Bibles open:

Binitarian View: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning Is binitarianism the correct position? What about unitarianism or trinitarianism?
Is The Father God? What is the view of the Bible? What was the view of the early church?
Jesus is God, But Was Made Man Was Jesus fully human and fully God or what?
Virgin Birth: Does the Bible Teach It? What does the Bible teach? What is claimed in The Da Vinci Code?
Did Early Christians Think the Holy Spirit Was A Separate Person in a Trinity? Or did they have a different view?
Did the True Church Ever Teach a Trinity? Most act like this is so, but is it?
Was Unitarianism the Teaching of the Bible or Early Church? Many, including Jehovah’s Witnesses, claim it was, but was it?
Binitarianism: One God, Two Beings Before the Beginning This is a shorter article than the Binitarian View article, but has a little more information on binitarianism.

On other matters, a couple of years ago WCG proposed the possible name “Grace International Communion” (GIC) for itself (Together, November-December 2006).  It is still trying to determine if now is the time to change its name:

FAQs About Changing the Church’s Name

We haven’t heard anything about changing the church’s name for a while. Have we dropped the idea?

No, not at all. But we are not rushing into adopting a new name just to make a change. This is a serious and important decision, and we must make it carefully…The next most desirable name, Grace International Communion, was met with mixed reactions when we announced it as a possibility.

Such as?

Many people told us they did not like the sound of the name. That is to be expected. Any new name will take some getting used to. Some people who initially did not like it have told us that they eventually warmed up to it.

Since, WCG is no longer a Church of God (and has not been one since probably the late 1980s/early 1990s), any name change that removes the expression “Church of God” as a descriptor is likely to be an improvement as far as I am concerned.